The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 22

[Episode 22, A Touching Mother-Son Reunion (1)]

I oversaw the division of Ireland into four administrative regions.

The northeastern region of Ulster was granted autonomy under the control of my powerful Clare family.

The remaining regions, the northwestern Connacht and southwestern Munster, also received governors from my trusted French territories.

Of course, the most reliable English personnel were diligently working with me in Dublin, the heart of southeastern Leinster.

With that settled, another day began!

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

I jolted awake.

As a safety-conscious individual reborn into the Middle Ages,

I naturally woke up at the crowing of the rooster.

Having been reborn for decades and even becoming a father,

I seemed to have grown accustomed to being a medieval person.

“Wah!”

“Did our little one wake up? Mommy was the last one to wake up today.”

Baby James woke up before his mother!

Perhaps because my son was also born in the Middle Ages,

he woke up to the sound of the rooster.

“Your day has begun too.”

A refreshing day in Ireland.

Of course, I had a lot of work to do.

“Is this everything we have prepared?”

“This is all that our Irish territory can provide in terms of military supplies and rations.”

Good.

Once my brothers and father make their move,

I need to show them the impressive side of the youngest and score some points!

I spent a typical day and sent a letter to the Papal States.

A letter asking for help.

My mentor in the Papal States would surely understand my desire for priests to restore the public sentiment of the Irish territories, so the reply came quickly as expected.

“Your Highness, a letter from His Holiness the Pope.”

“Bring it to me.”

I read the letter from my former mentor, Pope Pius II.

It began with “To the Grand Lord of Ireland, greetings,”

and ended with “May the grace of the Lord be upon the lands of Ireland.”

It was filled with concern for me, ruling a large island (Ireland) as a lord,

and also conveyed that he was healthier than before, so I shouldn’t worry.

It still doesn’t feel real.

That my mentor who taught me as a child has become the Pope.

Ireland.

The moment the efforts of Safe John, the Grand Lord managing this island that the English call a city of rebels, began.

“Now, proceed with the work as I have instructed.”

“Your Highness, there is a slight problem with your plan. We must consider the future value of everything. What is most urgent right now is not that.”

Lothaire put on the brakes, but I wasn’t particularly angry.

If it were my accomplished brothers, they would have said, ‘How dare such an insolent fellow!’

“What is the reason?”

I pressed for an explanation.

“The purpose of the Saint Patrick’s Way project that Your Highness has meticulously planned is commendable. It is a good policy as a servant of the Lord. But there is one thing you must consider first.”

Let’s hear what he has to say.

Of course, I need to tell this novice lord to speak plainly.

“I am a less astute lord compared to my brothers. So, priest, can you explain the reason simply enough for the commoners to understand?”

If it were the original John, he would have been furious, saying, ‘How dare you, who are you to question me, the favorite of my father (Henry II)?’

But Safe John, I maintained a humble learning attitude.

Because I still don’t know much about medieval Europe.

As I spoke gently, Bishop Lothaire paused for a moment, then said,

“The people of the territory need rest right now. They have suffered a lot recently.”

Well, it’s been a bit of a problem since our father plundered and conquered Ireland.

“From the perspective of our church, Ireland is an attractive diocese [a district under the supervision of a bishop]. To achieve the glory of Saint Patrick that Your Highness has proclaimed, we must first repair the devastated territory.”

“The glory of Saint Patrick…”

Saint Patrick.

The patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the island.

I will carry on his legacy.

“Soon, I plan to act as John, the political successor of Saint Patrick. So, Bishop Lothaire, please continue to help me as you have today.”

Of course, I am Safe John, not Saint John.

I respected Saint Patrick for political reasons.

Listening to Lothaire, I realized that I needed to think more and prepare thoroughly for my plan to succeed.

‘Still, Bishop Lothaire is a better person than I thought?’

In that sense, Lothaire’s opinion is reasonable.

But it’s a bit too reasonable.

“I don’t think that’s right.”

“This part requires this.”

“I hope you will listen.”

“Lord Lothaire, you are going too far.”

“Do not be rude any further.”

At the words of the other ministers,

“Ah, I apologize.”

Bishop Lothaire finally shut his mouth.

“Haha.”

I understand why my brothers sent this person.

In the 21st century, it’s like making a Harvard graduate the aide to the youngest son.

A ploy to provoke the youngest son’s temper!

The original John would have foamed at the mouth, but I’m not bothered at all?

“Today’s meeting is adjourned. Everyone, leave.”

After the meeting ended,

I had many thoughts.

Stabilizing the Irish territory is important, but more than anything, I need to take care of family matters.

‘First, I need to reconcile my father and brothers.’

Of course, it would be difficult for my brothers and father to get along until they died.

My father wouldn’t compromise, and my brothers would never be satisfied.

I’m the only normal one, I guess.

**

News came from afar.

After the last great army, contrary to expectations, my father had given a lot of territory to my brothers.

The problem is my father’s attitude.

My father, Henry II, abandoned his attitude of the past decades

and ceded territories to our brothers.

Just as I received all of Ireland, my brothers also received several territories that had been trampled by the great army.

To be honest,

my father gave all the territories he had gained from this great army to our brothers.

Many lords were shocked by this news,

saying, ‘Has that cheapskate Henry II gone senile?’ and were speechless.

However, our father did not divide the territories for a simple reason.

While giving the most fertile territory to the eldest brother, Henry,

he made the earth-shattering statement that “It is only natural to empower my successor”.

Goodness.

This is a trick that even the nobles of Mortain [a region in Normandy] would recognize.

Our father used Philip II’s basic technique of sowing discord.

‘From the start, our brothers are rivals who would stab each other at any opportunity?’

Perhaps the Young King Henry will be checked by his younger brothers in many ways.

Because he received the most fertile territory.

‘Ugh, stop with the complicated thoughts and look at the livestock.’

I quietly looked at the green meadows of Ireland.

No matter how I think about it, the future of Ireland is in the livestock industry.

-Moo.

The cows were happily grazing on the grass,

-Moo.

and mooed.

At the perfectly natural sounds of the two beasts,

I dreamed of my golden life.

Those livestock are precious lives that will be responsible for the livelihood of my territory.

As I was looking at the meadow, Peter came and said.

“I have something to tell you, Your Highness.”

After confirming that Lothaire had just left, Peter

began to badmouth Lothaire.

“Bishop Lothaire is very arrogant. No matter what, in front of the master of Ireland… wasn’t he crossing the line too much?”

“He can’t help but be arrogant. All the nobles that person has seen were foolish.”

Information is power.

I knew very well why my brothers sent Lothaire to my territory.

That’s because a person like Lothaire has a personality that is prone to conflict with the lord.

But I’m okay.

“The more capable a person is, the more firm their own thoughts are. You too, Peter.”

“I… have always… been obedient?”

Oh? Look at this? Obedient?

A guy who inherited the name value of the Apostle Peter (Peter), who cut off the ear of a soldier when Jesus was arrested?

[Your Highness doesn’t understand the heart of a bastard.]

[My birth mother suffered enough at the hands of Queen Eleanor.]

“Thinking about when I first met you, Bishop Lothaire is more docile.”

As I tried to recall the first meeting with Peter, who showed the wariness unique to bastards,

“Please forget about that time.”

Peter looked troubled.

**

“The Duke of Normandy has landed.”

My brother suddenly visited my territory. Oh my, what a surprise.

[John, I will visit your territory when I have the chance.]

I received the letter and was prepared,

but I didn’t expect him to come to Ireland so soon.

Coming from Normandy to Ireland by boat.

Safe John.

Will it be safe today?

Not long after,

the second brother entered my lord’s office.

Duke Richard of Normandy!

A brilliant general who possessed both military prowess and strategy, and who completely defeated Henry II in the original history, said to me?

“I’m disappointed, why isn’t my nephew’s name Richard? Besides, James is a name that Scottish guys often use.”

He’s disappointed.

“Brother, my child must live as a nobleman.”

Since I have no interest in succeeding to the throne anyway, I gave a short answer that I named him a Scottish name.

“To make your son live as a nobleman… I see, you had such a heart.”

“I will only be a vassal of my brothers.”

“To have such a heart. How commendable.”

Honestly, it’s not like my future to become king through brotherly inheritance is set in stone,

so I was thinking of creating a foundation for a ‘great nobleman’.

Leading an army and thoroughly messing up Burgundy [a historical territory in France],

my second brother who properly ‘subjugated’ the Duke of Burgundy.

Why on earth did he come to Ireland?

“John, your brothers have started to check you.”

“I know that very well.”

I know that, but?

He probably came to me for another special reason.

“Actually… unlike my other brothers, I don’t envy you, who are moderately cunning.”

I’m thankful that he thinks that way,

“Then what is the reason for coming here?”

“I have a simple request.”

“Brother Richard, just say anything.”

He’ll only ask for something I can grant, right?

He said it’s simple.

Brother Richard said with trembling eyes.

“Request to Father to release Mother from exile.”

Huh?

Our Brother Richard… was he a filial son?

Honestly, I have to manage my expression in front of this brother,

but at this moment, I was so surprised that I was speechless.

“You have an unbelievable face.”

“The other brothers…”

“Those guys won’t say anything either. To those people, Mother is just a living ‘justification’.”

Mother is a living justification, our family is really messed up.

“That… that’s.”

“John, you are the only son who is loved by Father anyway.”

“Sigh, even if I say it, Father will…”

“He will definitely listen!”

Cutting off my hesitant words, Brother Richard said as if it were natural.

“Yes?”

“The Ireland you rule is also an island. Even if Mother’s exile is lifted, if she stays here, her actions will be restricted.”

My worries grew longer.

‘Queen Eleanor. My mother.’

Honestly,

I had a lot of resentment towards Eleanor, my mother in this life.

During my childhood when I hadn’t properly adapted to the Middle Ages,

saying ‘Cursed youngest!’

I had many wounds, even as a reincarnated person, about my mother who only favored my other brothers.

But.

Now a lot of time has passed,

and my mother must be getting old.

Brother Richard, you’re making my heart too weak.

After much deliberation, I said.

“I will do that.”

Then Brother Richard grabbed my hand tightly and said.

“As expected, you are… a good brother. This brother will help you on your way to becoming a great nobleman.”

I scored points with the future Richard the Lionheart.

**

[I will do so.]

Unexpectedly, my father easily lifted my mother’s exile.

Even though I requested it, he lifted the exile so easily?

“The Great Queen of England has arrived in Ireland.”

The Great Queen is a title used by my mother to distinguish her from the co-Queen, my sister-in-law.

Anyway, my mother really came back.

“The Great Queen is entering.”

‘Wow… she’s really youthful.’

No matter how naturally beautiful she is, she’s bound to get old.

Our mother was still maintaining the beauty of her late 30s.

Why did my father have an affair with such a mother? I don’t understand.

But appearance isn’t everything.

My mother, who is maintaining her beauty despite her long exile,

is a woman who has gone through many chaotic situations as the Duchess of Aquitaine [a historical region in France], as the Queen of France, and as the Queen of England.

She must have an enormous amount of cunning in her heart.

But what can I do?

Still, isn’t she the birth mother who gave birth to me in this life? Anyway, I forgot the feelings of the past and greeted my mother as kindly as possible.

“Mother, welcome to the Irish territory.”

Our beautiful mother was really amazing.

Wearing a full set of high-end Byzantine silk, which is hard to believe for someone who has just been released from exile.

“John, thank you so much for forgetting the feelings of the past and lifting this mother’s exile. Now, let’s resolve the misunderstandings and get along well.”

She suggested ‘forgiveness and reconciliation’ that would come out in the last episode of a makjang [Korean drama] drama.

This is the terrain of Ireland.

Safe John is in Dublin.

A Touching Mother-Son Reunion (2)