The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 60

60. Indiana Jones (3)

—1186, Valley of the Kings, Egypt—

At our excavation site, nestled between the tombs of Ramses II and Ramses VI, the team members worked tirelessly under the blazing sun.

In the most dangerous front line were the enslaved laborers from the Islamic army, followed by the second line of danger: enslaved thieves and bandits. Finally, the proud territorial soldiers of Ireland brought up the rear. A truly diverse workforce, to say the least.

The excavation method employed a division of labor, a system that had already proven its efficiency back in the 21st century. Everyone doing their part would make the process faster and safer.

‘How…efficient.’

Seeing us all united and working together on the excavation, I contemplated the…interesting world we were building together.

The sight of people who were once mortal enemies, now joining forces to excavate… it was a moment where the ideals of freedom, equality, and fraternity were…tangibly present.

‘It’s taking a while, though.’

My second cousin, Pierre, from the 21st century, once told me that even in modern times, Egyptian archaeological digs, which involve a lot of hand-tool work, are an exercise in patience.

[The excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb is a legendary moment in Egyptian archaeology… Howard Carter, that lucky Brit, really struck gold. He certainly knew how to play the waiting game.]

Anyway, since I knew what the future held, I wasn’t too bored waiting.

“Is it really in there?”

“Masoud, don’t worry, it will be found soon. It has to be.”

“Hmm… just a dream, then?”

“Weren’t Jacob’s, Joseph’s, and Daniel’s dreams more than just dreams? They were prophecies.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Masoud, the former ruler of Khwarazm [a large Persianate empire of Turkic Mamluk origin], said with a bored expression. Of course, it must have been incredibly dull for someone who was just watching.

“Your Highness, I heard that Egypt is famous for hippopotamus hunting. I’m eager to finish the excavation quickly and bag a hippopotamus.”

Even the patient Robin was itching to hunt a hippopotamus.

Just then.

“Allah be praised!”

The slave from the Islamic army, excavating in the first line, exclaimed in shock. Naturally, in medieval Arabic.

But when someone shouts like that, you can usually understand what’s going on even if you don’t speak the language! Immediately, the excavation command team gathered.

‘Lucky.’

That was the only emotion I felt. As if divine providence was on our side, the work was finished faster than expected thanks to the abundant ‘manpower.’

Safe Zone managed to replicate Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb much faster.

I felt a surge of pride in my great achievement.

But I had to confirm it myself.

“Everyone, cover your mouths with cloth.”

“Is it really necessary to cover our mouths with cloth?”

“The impure energy of the heathens can harm us, the faithful.”

After explaining that to Masoud, I added:

“Now, let’s go in!”

I gave the order to enter. So, after donning makeshift masks made of cloth, we ventured inside.

The moment the torches illuminated the dim interior, the ‘preserved’ ancient Egyptian tomb revealed itself.

“……”

As if by unspoken agreement, everyone fell silent.

‘This is the scene of a real excavation?’

The tomb seemed to emit a golden glow.

“Wow… this is…”

Ak Bulhwe, who came from the East, exclaimed for the second time. The first time was when he saw the Great Pyramid, but the reaction of feeling overwhelmed by seeing the pyramid was quite understandable.

But this time, he was admiring not the scale but the beauty. Of course, I understood. The mystery of ancient Egypt, subtly glowing with gold, would be especially striking to Ak Bulhwe, who came from China, a land filled with magnificent sights. Moreover, when opening the sarcophagus and seeing the golden mask…

A silent awe filled the air.

“Is this the golden mask of the heathen pharaoh? It’s truly awe-inspiring.”

I knew for sure, having known Godfrey for so long, that my best knight, Godfrey, was genuinely impressed.

The mystique of ancient Egypt is truly captivating.

Duke Robin of Norfolk.

He marveled at the ancient Egyptian model bow that was included as a burial item.

“Good heavens… Your Highness, the ancient Egyptians also used composite bows! Unbelievable.”

And one remaining knight.

“Why wasn’t this looted?”

Charles, with his somewhat hooligan-like pirate mindset, asked, seemingly baffled.

Well, I understood too. The fact that ancient Egyptians were a nation of looters was already ‘common knowledge’ to medieval Europeans.

But the reason why such splendid burial goods remained was simple.

‘Tutankhamun’s tomb *was* looted. The looters who discovered it only took small burial items that they could easily pocket, and whether they were caught or not, they didn’t loot it completely.’

Of course, I didn’t need to explain all that to Charles.

“I didn’t expect this… how can such a place exist? The West really is full of surprises.”

Ak Bulhwe seemed to have gained a new appreciation for the West.

It wasn’t just my close aides who were impressed.

“Prince John, your dream seems to be real. It’s truly amazing.”

“I was certain.”

Anyway, Godfrey, who regained his senses, said to me.

“With this, Prince John’s plan will succeed.”

[Old Friedrich promised me that if I found the pharaoh’s tomb, all ownership would be mine.]

I even made the old man give me a notarized document.

‘He probably thought I’d never find it!’

Anyway, I felt great about getting the treasure.

“If… the burial goods are pilfered during transportation… be prepared for Eastern Roman-style torture, as well as being stuck in mines and ships until you die.”

Of course, security would be provided by the Flemish mercenaries, who were worth every penny.

In any case, I had engraved the name ‘Safe Zone’ in world history.

At this point, even if I just flattered my brother Richard for the rest of my life and then died, I would still be remembered as a great man.

Wouldn’t ‘John’ be known not as John the Landless but as Safe Zone, the great archaeologist of the Middle Ages, even in future distant lands?

My heart was already full.

‘That being said, the Europeans… will have a lot to say about this.’

Ah, the pharaoh from Prince John’s dream.

Ah, the issue of the Limbo of the Infants mentioned by that pharaoh in the dream.

I had confirmed two topics to throw to my European friends who slander me because they have nothing better to do.

Now I had to tell Old Friedrich a new dream story.

A heartwarming story of Abraham giving two cups of cold water to the pharaoh in the dream.

* * *

—Ireland—

It was an era without newspapers or televisions, but rumors spread quickly by word of mouth.

At first, when Prince John said he had a dream about a pharaoh suffering in hellfire.

The reaction was, ‘What strange antics is he up to now?’

No matter how much he was Lazarus John or Safe Zone, John was not a prophet or theologian.

So, discerning politicians saw John’s sudden dream story as a trick to quell the public opinion that slandered him.

But now the atmosphere had reversed.

A pharaoh had appeared in Prince John’s dream.

John had directly excavated the tomb the pharaoh mentioned.

The fact that the heathen pharaoh had spoken in the dream…

Prince John’s successful excavation was widely publicized.

[Prince John really proved his dream.]

[Prince John really excavated the pharaoh’s tomb.]

The moment John excavated Tutankhamun’s tomb!

Europe was in an uproar.

In particular, the young ‘servants of the Lord’ could no longer contain their excitement.

Because the issue of the Limbo of the Infants had become a hot topic.

[Prince John’s claim doesn’t make sense.]

[Oh, are you resorting to such harsh words?]

In the midst of this, people from ‘The Western Youngest,’ one of Prince John’s support bases, who had become clergymen, greatly amplified the Limbo issue under the direction of Bishop Lothair.

It was gradually gaining traction among Europeans who were bored with the Crusaders’ endless propaganda.

Mary and Eleanor, who were living peacefully in Ireland, correctly understood the meaning behind Prince John’s success in the excavation in Egypt.

“Mary, could this be…?”

“John is trying to reverse public opinion.”

And.

—You are right in your thinking.

They received confirmation from Bishop Lothair.

“Our son is very clever at times like this.”

“That’s why I chose him as my husband.”

“Our daughter-in-law is even more clever.”

Recently, there had been a lot of public opinion that seemed to be subtly criticizing John. It spread not only throughout Egypt, which John had directly experienced, but also to Europe.

Prince John flattered Emperor Friedrich and created achievements with his ‘mouth.’

Prince John is a manufactured hero.

In fact, John, the youngest of the Angevin family, is as dangerous as the bastard William (the Conqueror William’s alias, who conquered England from the Norman aristocrats), hiding great ambitions.

…Stories that would make Safe Zone shudder.

But now, the public opinion insisted that John is actually a clever prince!

At the end of the 12th century, the issue of the Limbo of the Infants, which had been a topic since the age of 12, was a truly sensitive issue.

While it was such a mess.

John’s wife, Mary, detected someone’s ‘political’ maneuvering.

“Mother, there’s news that Queen Marguerite is visiting the Duchess of Brittany, who is about to give birth.”

“Our daughters-in-law are up to something again.”

“Oh my, isn’t Queen Marguerite a person who is favorable to our John?”

“Mary, are you pretending not to know even though you know?”

“I am Safe Mary, a duchess of Ireland who loves peace.”

‘As expected, the Anjou family is entertaining.’

Anyway, Mary, who smiled in front of her mother-in-law, thought she had married well into this chaotic family.

* * *

—Western France, Duchy of Brittany—

[So, can babies who have not been baptized be saved?]

[Isn’t it too pitiful to go to hell with just original sin?]

[Oh, Lord…….]

While outsiders were noisily debating the issue of the Limbo of the Infants, which Prince John had brought to the forefront, Brittany was surprisingly quiet.

As people who served Duke Geoffrey of Brittany, the Duchy of Brittany was also filled with condemnations of ‘John.’

But the biggest topic in Brittany Castle right now was the duchess’s childbirth.

This was an important day, as the next Duke of Brittany could be born.

“Duchess, please try a little harder.”

“Aaaagh.”

“Ha……”

“Wah!”

A baby was born with a loud cry.

“It’s a son.”

It was a son.

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s the new Prince (son of a high aristocratic family) of Brittany.”

The Duchess of Brittany, who had safely delivered her child, thought of the words her husband had left behind.

[Madam, our son must be born quickly so we can assess the other princes.]

“What should we name him?”

To the midwife’s question, the Duchess of Brittany said.

[If a daughter is born, that’s fine too. But if a son is born, that name is…….]

She said the name her husband had decided.

“Arthur, let’s name him Arthur.”

“Wah!”

Arthur, born a year earlier than in the original history in 1186, cried sadly as if he had already grasped the harsh realities of the world.

Not long after Arthur was born, a guest arrived at Brittany Castle.

“Congratulations, Constance.”

“Princess… have you come?”

At the words of the Duchess of Brittany, Queen Marguerite smiled wryly and said.

“Princess, well, I was just a princess of France… but now I am the co-Queen of England with my mother-in-law (Eleanor).”

“I’m sorry.”

“Pfft, I was just joking.”

“A joke?”

“Raise him well. Constance, you have gained a precious life, and get him baptized as soon as possible.”

Even while saying those words, Marguerite thought of her son who had passed away.

‘If William were alive, would things be a little better?’

Marguerite’s heart ached as she thought of William, her only son, whom she cherished more than her life, who died just three days after he was born in 1177, nine years ago.

If William had lived, Princess Marguerite would have walked a completely different path than she had until now. She would never have helped Richard and John.

“Shall we have a conversation just for adults for a moment?”

“Nurse, take Arthur away.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the baby, who should not be privy to the world of adults, was taken away.

The Duchess of Brittany addressed the main point to Queen Marguerite.

“I need Your Majesty’s discretion?”

“…Discretion?”

“I don’t know Your Majesty’s true feelings, but anyway, our husbands are in the same boat, right?”

“That’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Didn’t you hear about the secret that Prince John had in his baby days recently?”

“Of course, I know it well.”

Marguerite reacted nonchalantly to her sister-in-law’s words, and the Duchess of Brittany said with a more cautious expression.

“I hope you will protect the secrets that Prince John doesn’t know as much as possible… I’m talking about the unfortunate incident that happened when he was a baby.”

It’s the Anjou family itself, which is a chaotic mess, but there is a secret that only Duke Geoffrey of Brittany and the young King Henry and his wife know.

But the Duchess of Brittany, who had already guessed that Queen Marguerite had a complicated fondness for John beyond ‘neutrality,’ was afraid that Queen Marguerite would reveal the secret to the Duchess of Ireland, Mary.

Queen Marguerite, who understood her thoughts, smiled enchantingly like her younger sister Agnes and said to her sister-in-law.

“Duchess of Brittany, what are you going to give me to keep my mouth shut?”

“Didn’t you already have something in mind when you came?”

In fact, the reason why Queen Marguerite visited her sister-in-law, who had just given birth today, was to subtly threaten her.

Isn’t the most important thing about blackmailing the implication that the happiest moment can collapse at any time?