The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 44

[Episode 44, Special Vacation (3)]

Mary.

That isn’t her real name.

The name ‘Mary’.

She used someone’s name, someone she might like the most or hate the most, as her own.

In any case, Mary’s official identity is:

The Duchess of Ireland, the only daughter of the Claire family.

Mary has accomplished a great deal by properly utilizing this identity.

So much so that even Queen Eleanor acknowledged,

‘I really like our youngest daughter-in-law!’

As with many medieval power players, Mary’s true strength is a hidden force, like a dagger.

Her true strength is immeasurable.

With the cooperation of her mother-in-law, Queen Eleanor, who knows her true identity well.

Mary summoned her ‘vassals’ to Ireland after a long time and spoke in a sharper voice than usual.

“John almost died. What on earth were you all doing?”

“Your Highness, we are sorry.”

Mary did not use honorifics to her vassals, including Peter, as she usually did.

And her ‘vassals,’ who were hiding their identities like her, called her ‘Your Highness’ instead of Duchess.

That’s how long they had known Mary.

Seeing the vassals’ troubled expressions, Mary spoke again, using honorifics.

“Still, it’s a relief that John is alive. But this must not happen again.”

The moment her husband John woke up, there was no need to further torment the vassals.

“I will give an order. Tell our people in the Middle East to give John more help.”

After all the ‘vassals’ disappeared,

Mary quietly called her husband’s name.

“John…”

Mary.

She didn’t fall in love with John’s face at first sight.

Of course, John inherited the beauty of Henry II and Queen Eleanor, who were considered the most handsome and beautiful in Europe, so he had a handsome face.

But Mary didn’t fall for John’s face.

And the same goes for John’s status.

The youngest prince of the Kingdom of England, a powerful nation that could put pressure on France!

That status might entice many ‘women,’ but.

Considering her hidden power, there was no need for that.

From the beginning, John was just a complete stranger to Mary.

But as John’s reputation grew,

And Mary heard the testimonies of the servants and maids who watched John’s actions in Westminster,

She became interested in John.

Unlike the men of the Angevin-Plantagenet family [the ruling dynasty of England at the time],

He showed a different side from the family’s father, brothers, and sisters in many ways.

And one day,

After John failed in his 200th proposal,

And Princess Agnes went to marry the Eastern Roman Empire,

Mary realized that John was showing interest in her family.

Her family members and her vassals knew that John’s interest was because of ‘Ireland,’ but.

She didn’t feel too bad.

And on the day of the London outing,

‘John’ said that he saw ‘Mary’ who appeared in London first, but.

In fact, it was Mary herself who persuaded her brother to meet John before that.

John thought he was secretly watching Mary, but Mary was observing John even before that.

And at that time, Mary saw it.

The true face of ‘John,’ who seemed cheerful or eccentric.

‘An expression of utter indifference, and the eyes of a ruler who looks down on everyone.’

When she saw John making that fleeting expression and then immediately putting on a warm smile,

‘I’ve found him, my love.’

Mary felt love.

Because John was so much like her.

**

After finishing her reminiscence, Mary

looked at her husband next to her.

‘From John’s point of view, he had no choice but to participate in the Crusades, even if it wasn’t a safe place for him.’

If he couldn’t join the great ‘game’ of the Crusades, there would be many disadvantages.

She knew that.

And as a Christian, she needed to support her husband.

She didn’t want to be Michal, David’s wife, who mocked King David for dancing with joy [a biblical reference].

Just as King David in the Bible laid down all pretense and danced joyfully,

No matter what frivolous things her husband did, she would firmly support him.

And whatever John wanted,

She would fulfill it all.

Perhaps that is

the reason she lives?

**

-1185, Ireland-

The reason my father sent me to Ireland

isn’t just to rest.

So, I rested a bit in Ireland

and met people from the English mainland or Western French territories in between.

First, I met Henry II’s representative.

‘Robin said he owes you a lot.’

The Duke of Norfolk was cooperative with me.

‘Brother-in-law, don’t overdo it. And don’t worry about the mainland. This brother-in-law will take care of monitoring it.’

I also met my cheerful eldest brother-in-law, Richard the Lionheart.

At that time, I received new news from a letter from the Middle East.

Good heavens.

The Sultanate of Rum [a Turkish state in Anatolia] has collapsed.

I don’t know much about the history of my Middle Eastern friends.

But I heard that the Sultanate of Rum was fine until it was submerged by the Mongol friends later.

“The Sultanate of Rum has collapsed…”

“Your Highness, both we and they have sectarian conflicts, but we Christians get along better.”

As Peter said, the reason why we are at an advantage is that the unity of our Crusaders is stronger.

My father, Henry II, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, and the Eastern Roman Emperor.

It’s like the triumvirate of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey in the old days [a reference to Roman history], but there is much closer cooperation in the Crusades.

But the Islamic friends were less united than our Crusaders.

On the surface, they seem to be united under the Caliph [the supreme religious leader of Islam], but they haven’t even finished coordinating the command structure properly yet.

Besides, the Islamic coalition forces, who rushed to support the Middle East, were also physically exhausted.

At that time, there was an incident where I was hit by an arrow instead.

And the Holy Roman Emperor was saved.

Because of that, the morale of the Crusaders rose.

And the front line became more unfavorable to the Islamic forces.

In the end, as the situation on the front line became urgent,

The moment of choosing between two options came to the Islamic coalition forces.

“Besides, Syria and Egypt are much more important than Anatolia.”

If Anatolia, called Asia Minor, is the Islamic forces’ advance base against the Christian forces,

Egypt and Syria are the ‘foundation’ of the Islamic forces.

Of course, even if I were the Caliph, I would give up Anatolia when choosing between the two.

‘The problem is that our Christian friends are celebrating as if they have won, causing trouble…’

I had many worries again.

The time has come to release everything I have been saving.

‘In fact, I pretended to spend a lot of money, but I saved as much wealth as possible. Besides, this time, His Majesty the Holy Roman Emperor gave me a lot of pocket money.’

I had the heart of Joseph, who collected grain during the seven years of abundance [a biblical reference].

I hoarded as many supplies as possible.

Since the scale of the Crusades is large, there will be a lot of demand anyway.

Now, all that’s left is to sell military supplies at a reasonable price.

The problem is the method.

“Now, call that person.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

**

A letter came from my father, who is confronting the Islamic forces in the Middle East.

[John, you will have to assist the Holy Roman Emperor again this time.]

This is exactly like being an adjutant serving an old man.

Am I destined to fight with my German (Holy Roman Empire) friends?

Besides, there are brothers near my father, Henry II.

Maybe a kind old man is more comfortable than uncomfortable brothers?

Anyway.

“I’ve worked really hard to make it.”

“It’s faster than expected.”

“Since it was an improvement, I was able to do it in just a few years.”

“You’ve worked really hard.”

The blacksmith Liam, who improved the longbow, said to me with a proud face.

From the time I employed Robin,

I commissioned him to ‘improve’ the current level of the longbow to the level that England used during the Hundred Years’ War [a historical war between England and France].

Now it’s time to check.

“Robin, shoot it once.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“….”

The Duke of Norfolk, Robin, shot the arrow wonderfully.

He couldn’t speak for a while with a shocked expression.

“Your Highness, this longbow is?”

“It’s a new longbow that I ordered to be improved.”

“The arrow shaft, the arrowhead, the fletching… no, everything about the bow has changed. It’s not a complete development, but it’s much easier to pull the string.”

“Then that’s good. Peter, give this blacksmith Liam a reward and make him our exclusive blacksmith in Ireland.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After finishing the work, I returned to my office and thought.

‘I can’t enjoy my wealth and glory with the power of the Irish territory alone.’

I realized something while experiencing the fierce battlefield.

I have to make a living through cooperation with many people, not just my own strength.

And a few days later,

A man disembarked from a large Venetian merchant ship and paid his respects to me.

“I never thought I would personally meet the youngest prince of England like this.”

“Welcome, Enrico.”

Even if there is a problem with his personality,

The only Venetian (Venice) merchant whose performance can be expected is

Enrico Dandolo, only one person.

**

This is Saladin’s camp in the Middle East.

The Sultan, who was staring intently at the map, muttered.

“Is all we can do is defend after all?”

Of course, Saladin put all his strength into it.

But it was all he could do to protect his allies.

The power of the great Third Crusade was getting stronger.

An even more bitter fact for Saladin was

that the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which only had to defend, had launched an active offensive.

And it is getting stronger to the point of having a complete supply line.

Saladin was busy with his own affairs, and he couldn’t stop the fall of the Sultanate of Rum.

Although the Ayyub Sultanate of Saladin and the Sultanate of Rum fought each other due to various interests related to the Middle East,

Saladin’s heart was very complicated when he heard the news that the Caliph was retreating.

Although the old grudges had not disappeared,

The country that relied on each other under the crescent moon, facing the common enemy, the Crusaders, was

the Sultanate of Rum.

Then, surprising news came.

“Sultan, the Bey [a Turkish title denoting rank] of Egypt has arrived.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

As they hurriedly moved their seats,

“Brother.”

Saladin’s brother, Saphadin, returned alive.

With his whole body covered in blood.

Once a beloved brother,

recently, a brother who had been kept in check for power.

But the brother in front of him now was so miserable.

Saladin’s heart was torn.

“So, you were betrayed?”

“One of the Shiite guys took the opportunity to stab me. If my loyal subordinate hadn’t ‘acted as a substitute,’ I would have already been executed by the Crusaders or become an obstacle to my brother. But I didn’t just sit back and take it. Because….”

So, Saphadin told his brother everything he had learned on the battlefield.

And he said as if emphasizing at the end.

“Richard and Baldwin are all dangerous people. Prince John, you must be most careful of him.”

“…. I understand.”

“Brother, I really want to eat dates… Keuk.”

With those words, Saphadin collapsed.

“What is my brother’s condition?”

“Fortunately, his life is not in danger, but he needs rest.”

“Allah has helped.”

Anyway, Saladin moved his brother to the hospital room and said to the summoned commanders.

“We are fighting a difficult battle now.”

It is a difficult fight.

The powerful combined attack of Richard and Baldwin IV

was difficult for Saladin, who received strong support from the Islamic coalition forces, to stop.

“But we have not yet been defeated, and these difficulties always exist.”

Then, one of the commanders asked the Sultan with a curious face.

“Sultan, do you have a good way?”

“Christians are the same as us. They say nice things like brothers of faith, but in the end, they are also people who have gathered for their own interests.”

Clearly, the Crusaders were at an advantage.

But the moment they become complacent, thinking they have ‘won,’ they will bring about their own defeat.

Just as we Muslims are forgetting the words of our precious prophet (Muhammad), wouldn’t Christians also be forgetting the words of their prophet (Jesus)?

Perhaps, if the war gets longer, the Christians will become violent.

It is clear that they will eat murder, rape, and human trafficking like bread, going beyond looting for supplies.

At that time, Saladin will never touch Christian civilians and will reduce executions.

Yes, he is trying to show generosity.

Of course, I don’t know if that generosity is unconditionally good for Christians.

Some time later, the Marcionites and Gnostics [early Christian sects considered heretical], who had died in the old days when Emperor Constantine manipulated public opinion, ‘appeared’ again and were suppressed.

Abraham in heaven will shed tears of blood.

You Know Nothing John