The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 32

[32. Peter and Andrew]

-Eastern Roman Empire-

Prince John returned to the guest house, looking weary.

“In any case, the agreement with the Eastern Roman Empire has been successfully concluded.”

His three vassals greeted him:

“You’ve worked hard.”

“You are truly amazing.”

“To leave behind such achievements.”

Prince John chuckled at their reactions.

“I didn’t do anything. I was just lucky. Gentlemen, you’ve all worked hard, so rest comfortably. I have to go to the palace at the invitation of the Eastern Roman Emperor.”

With that, John departed.

As their lord left, the three vassals who had followed him from Ireland began to converse.

“I didn’t expect this to happen,” said Charles from France.

Charles was from the Mortain territory in the French region and had become a vassal, serving as fleet commander, after being impressed by Prince John’s fairness.

“If the Prince had been captured by those pagan pirates, he wouldn’t have been able to achieve this.”

“Did you see the surprised expression on the Earl of Pembroke’s face earlier? It means that even the great knight didn’t expect this,” Duke Robin of Norfolk replied, agreeing with Charles’s sentiment.

All the vassals present had directly witnessed and experienced how the diplomatic negotiations had unfolded.

Strictly speaking, this diplomatic negotiation wasn’t solely centered around Prince John.

Earl William of Pembroke had initiated preliminary agreements with the Crusaders and the Eastern Roman Empire beforehand.

Prince John had ‘nicely’ finalized the work.

However, there was a key factor: the Eastern Roman Empire hadn’t made a decision during the preliminary negotiations.

Strangely, they specifically wanted to speak with Prince John.

They believed that the most reliable person was not the best knight in the West, but the Good Prince.

The vassals had been very worried.

No matter how diplomatically skilled Earl Pembroke was in assisting, it seemed unlikely that Prince John could bridge the differences with the Eastern Roman Empire through standard diplomatic negotiations.

But Prince John had managed to do it, and Europe was taken by surprise!

Godfrey, the most experienced of the three, thought about the lord he had watched over since their time in the Mortain territory.

“If coincidences continue, they are no longer coincidences. People in the world will no longer see our lord as a lucky prince.”

Then Charles smiled brightly and said, “That’s why we Franks [French] came all the way to Ireland to sign a vassal contract, isn’t it? Isn’t that right, Duke of Norfolk?”

“That’s right.”

After that, the vassals were genuinely pleased with the achievements of their lord, whom they had considered a promising figure, and drank wine.

Perhaps because it was wine from the Eastern Roman Empire, it had a taste that evoked history and tradition.

As everyone gradually became intoxicated, Robin thought about the lord who had achieved such great feats.

‘My choice was not wrong.’

Originally, Duke Robin of Norfolk had wanted to become a vassal of Prince Richard, not Prince John.

Because Richard was considered the greatest prince among Henry II’s accomplished sons.

However, when he requested to serve, it was his father, the Duke of Norfolk, who opposed it.

[Son, the accomplished princes like Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey have already found the knights they wanted. Even if you go, there’s a high possibility they won’t value you that much.

But Prince John desperately needs his own people. I want you to become Prince John’s vassal, just like I chose Duke Henry of Anjou (Henry II) in my youth.]

Thus, Robin’s father, the Duke of Norfolk, wanted his son to join Prince John’s ranks rather than those of the other princes.

Robin didn’t answer immediately.

Firstly, his father’s words were correct, but he also wanted to learn more about Prince John.

And he learned many things:

A prince who does not betray a love once fallen into.

Even though Princess Agnes rejected his proposal for the 200th time, he did not give up on her.

And when Princess Agnes left for the Eastern Roman Empire, only then did he give up on love and find a new love.

Even after getting married, unlike other princes, he showed that he had ‘never’ had a mistress.

He did not desire a rich territory without any contribution.

He was satisfied even with receiving the Mortain territory, which was like a rural backwater.

Unlike any other lords in Europe, he showed the 모습 [image/demeanor] of a nobleman who genuinely served the people.

And the most touching thing was that John treated and embraced the bastards his father had fathered!

Moreover, with the consistent 모습 [image/demeanor] John showed in Ireland, Robin decided to pledge allegiance to Prince John.

In the end, he had no regrets in the sight of heaven for that decision.

Prince John’s consistent 모습 [image/demeanor].

A 모습 [image/demeanor] of treating subordinates as people, not as chess pieces.

A 모습 [image/demeanor] of embracing even the lowliest serf.

And even the composure he showed during the pirate attack.

Moreover, Prince John showed excellent tactical skills.

‘Just like Goliath died from David’s slingshot, everyone is vulnerable to an arrow. He told me to develop innovative tactics using longbowmen.’

Just as Robin finished reminiscing, Godfrey, who was drinking wine, put down his glass and said, “As you all already know, all we have to do is be loyal, no matter what path Prince John takes.”

“That’s a matter of course!” Charles answered Godfrey’s words cheerfully.

Robin quietly nodded and said, “My arrows will only exist for my lord.”

**

-Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople-

In Constantinople, which flourished enough to be called the capital of the world, the most important diplomatic mission was successfully completed.

And he also received the hospitality of Empress Agnes and Alexios II.

Princess Agnes treated me lavishly, perhaps feeling sorry for rejecting my proposal 200 times.

Alexios, who knew very well that Mary was the only woman for me now, calmly watched the friendly 모습 [image/demeanor] of me and Agnes.

“John, this is a gift.”

He handed me something shiny that I liked.

Anyway, I felt good because I was well-treated by the Emperor and Empress.

Of course, a series of events led to this, and I can only say that ‘I was lucky.’

Anyway, I was happy that things worked out well.

Life in the Eastern Roman Empire was as peaceful as in Ireland.

‘Of course, there are those who are wary of me.’

But not everyone liked me.

No matter how much pro-Western policies had been implemented since Emperor Manuel I, even if the anti-Western forces had lost power due to the failure of Emperor Andronikos’s great rebellion, it was natural that there were forces in the Eastern Roman Empire that checked the West.

Not only because of the Greeks’ unique distrust of the West, but also because of the various gains and losses caused by the rise of the West, their position became what it was.

So I had to enjoy it while being careful.

Even a small mistake could give the anti-Western forces here an excuse.

I sighed, because I was anxious.

‘Things are progressing too much in my favor. This is not necessarily a good thing.’

‘Richard has gone to Jerusalem.’

Richard, the only brother who was close to me, had also left the base.

According to the story, Richard had already gone to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

King Baldwin IV of that place was purging the incompetent rulers of Jerusalem one by one in front of Richard.

Reynald of Châtillon, that damn knight, was miserably executed by hanging.

Reynald’s specialty was the massacre of pilgrims! I didn’t like him since he was a bandit, so he died really well.

Anyway, I could only reminisce up to this point, because the important time was approaching.

“His Imperial Majesty is leading the army himself.”

Because the Eastern Roman Emperor came to where I was.

“I will forget all the grudges our empire had against the Crusaders in the past.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

I just expressed my gratitude to the Eastern Roman Emperor.

Honestly, the main reason why the Eastern Roman Empire came to hate the West was the 1st and 2nd Crusades.

The 1st Crusade, where the West and the Eastern Roman Empire only engaged in a battle of nerves and emotions were hurt, so it did not become a proper expedition.

The 2nd Crusade, where anti-Eastern Roman hooligans, who said they would sweep away everything, including the Eastern Roman Empire, made all sorts of blunders.

Anyway, the Eastern Roman Emperor said something meaningful to me today, and there is a reason why I gratefully accepted it.

Because today is the day the Eastern Roman Empire welcomes the Crusaders.

Still, the West and the Eastern Roman Empire have not completely reconciled.

“Our empire and you are all those who serve Jesus Christ.”

“That’s a matter of course, Your Majesty.”

“But not those damn pagans.”

“This is also a matter of course, Your Majesty.”

No matter how much they hate the West, if they think about the Islamic Empire that directly threatens the Eastern Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Emperor can declare, ‘We are one in the Lord. Even if the denominations are different, we only look at one Jesus!’

Unlike the 1st Crusade, the Eastern Roman Empire prepared much more systematic and proper support, because the members of this Crusade were unusual.

The Holy Roman Emperor, the King of England, the King of France, and the King of Hungary all participated.

If the 1st Crusade was a war of French nobles who were trying to make a fortune under the pretext of protecting the Holy Land, this 3rd Crusade is a war of ‘monarchs’ who are trying to create a new order under the pretext of protecting the Holy Land.

Honestly, I was nervous too.

Under the banner of Christianity, an All-Star Game where the monarchs of European kingdoms gather!

This is so grand that it feels like it’s about to explode.

“The Crusaders are coming.”

Ah, ah, the Crusaders are coming.

Those scary brothers too, that accomplished father too.

Thinking about seeing them after a long time, my longing grew.

And an enormous army of over 100,000 began to join the Eastern Roman camp.

‘Wow…’

Looking at the great scale of the Crusader expedition, I could realize it: these people really gathered great strength to defeat the Islamic forces.

The Crusaders appeared under the banner of the Holy Roman Empire with the double-headed eagle drawn on it.

Emperor Frederick I of the Holy Roman Empire, Redbeard!

“I greet the Emperor of the West.”

“Thank you for welcoming us like this, Emperor of the East.”

Two emperors who were conscious of each other in a solemn atmosphere.

Right, the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire! They didn’t bother to bring up the word ‘Rome.’

It was good to see them acknowledging each other.

“I pay my respects to His Imperial Majesty, the Holy Roman Emperor.”

“Oh ho… Are you the great youngest, John?”

The Redbeard Emperor looked at me with a hot expression.

Why is he looking at me so 부담스럽게 [uncomfortably]?

Was he a fan who liked my minnesang [medieval ballad]?

**

-Italy, Papal States-

Pius II is overworked today in connection with the Third Crusade.

‘I miss being in England.’

For a while, he was immersed in inertia and craved power, but England, his hometown, where he almost died at the hands of Henry II, he thought that it was more comfortable to work as the Archbishop of Canterbury there.

While in the position of Pope when the Crusades were taking place, there were many things to endure.

Pope: he had risen to the highest position that all aristocratic clergymen dreamed of.

There were many tiring things in many ways, but today there was good news: the Orthodox Church reached out.

“So, is this the will of the Eastern Roman Empire?”

“That’s right.”

“Haha.”

Pius II chuckled, because the Eastern Roman Empire would actively support the Crusades, and they declared that they would withdraw the ‘excommunication’ that the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Eastern Roman Empire had imposed on the Western Church.

Even if Prince John had a friendship with the Eastern Roman Emperor Alexios, it was really amazing to have achieved such a triumph.

“We must also reciprocate.”

“…”

Cardinal Ubert, the Secretary of State and right-hand man of the Pope, was surprised by the Pope’s words.

“Cardinal Ubert, while we were divided, that Islamic pagan grew so strong.”

“… That’s right.”

Cardinal Ubert thought at the Pope’s words: there was no justification for stopping the current Pope, so he would rather follow his opinion.

“Of course, it will be difficult to integrate the Western and Eastern Churches due to long divisions and conflicts, but at least we will not call each other heretics.

With that alone, how much can we gain? Besides…”

Pius II paused for a moment.

“They call us the Western Great Schism betrayed by the Western Church, and we call the Eastern Roman Empire the Eastern Great Schism betrayed by the Eastern Roman Empire.”

“That’s right. Our Catholic and Orthodox Churches have declared each other heretics from each other’s standpoints.”

At the words of the Secretary of State Cardinal, Pius II closed his eyes for a moment.

“The Eastern Roman Empire becoming ‘moderately’ stronger is the way to protect the Christian world from the Islamic world.”

And not long after, Pope Pius II did something that stirred up various Western countries.

The excommunications that the Orthodox and Catholic Churches had thrown at each other in 1054 ended with the mutual withdrawal of excommunication in 1184, 130 years later.

‘Muhammad mapso-sa! [Muhammad is dead!]’

The Islamic Empire was 깜짝 놀라게 [shocked/surprised].

Something that should never have happened happened again: the forgiveness and reconciliation of the Eastern and Western Churches.

This was a miracle that could not have happened until the 20th century in original history.

The Sultan’s Resolve