The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 76

76. England, the Great Nation of Jerks

I was in awe of the scene unfolding before me.

‘Indeed, it’s the not-so-Great England.’

[In the original world history, when something strange happened, blaming England usually hits the mark. As expected, this story also originates from that root of all evil.]

[The most heinous things in the world are all made by the British.]

The root of all evil, the nation of detestable character, the Great British Empire of Jerks.

I could feel the essence of that ‘nation of jerks’ right now. My father, Henry II, seemed to have a serious personality problem.

Even in the Middle Ages, an era of chaos and intrigue disguised as the age of chivalry, there are limits.

This isn’t like the days of the ancient Roman Empire, parading captured barbarians in triumphal processions. How could he bring Illiam I, a former monarch, here and humiliate him like this?

Scotland has a long history of resisting England, but isn’t this a bit much?

Usually, titles like Duke of xx, Count of xx, or Baron of xx are associated with the respective region.

Now, Illiam I is under Safe John, the Grand Lord of Ireland, reduced to a pitiful state of a mid-sized noble bowing his head. And they gift him the title of Count of Scotland?

It’s such a cruel act to proclaim to the world, ‘Illiam I is only fit to be John’s lackey!’

This is even more outrageous than Philip IV, who created a new papacy in Avignon and forcibly installed a pope in later years.

Even the usually stoic expressions of my brothers behind Father almost cracked, as they were dumbfounded by his personality.

“Ha.”

My accomplished mother sighed.

“John, isn’t your father going too far?”

“He really is.”

If my mother was gasping for air and my wife, Mary, was whispering in my ear, it really meant he was going too far.

At that moment, Father, who had suddenly made Illiam the Count of Scotland, looked at us watching from afar.

“Come with me.”

He brought Illiam I, who was barely suppressing his anger, and my brothers, who were silently by his side, to where we were.

First, he approached my mother and said,

“Eleanor, I have missed you dearly.”

100 percent. There’s a 100 percent chance he’s being affectionate to Mother because he forgave Rosamund de Clifford and accepted her as his own.

“Are you that happy that I forgave your mistress?”

As Mother delivered that factual blow, Father shamelessly continued, knowing people were watching.

“I heard you’ve become close to Peter as well?”

“That child is our John’s capable vassal, so it can’t be helped.”

I could feel the shamelessness of my mother calling me ‘our John,’ but Safe John, who had already accepted Mother with forgiveness and reconciliation, simply smiled in response.

“Great Queen, your benevolence is like that of the Virgin Mary.”

Father praised Mother lavishly, as if he was fine with it.

And next was Mary.

Matilda’s expression hardened as Father sought out his youngest daughter-in-law instead of his own daughter, but Father didn’t care.

“I’m truly grateful that you married John, Mary. I couldn’t have easily found a daughter-in-law like you.”

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

“Why are you being so distant? This father-in-law loves his youngest daughter-in-law, Mary. I’ll take good care of you, so don’t worry about anything.”

Young King Henry seemed to be barely holding back a gag. Richard and Geoffrey were truly amazing for maintaining their composure in this situation.

Next up was our eldest sister, who shared the same parents as Father!

“Matilda.”

“Yes, Father.”

Our sister was very sulky. Even as she greeted him, her expression clearly showed she was upset!

“Good things will happen soon.”

“Yes?”

“There’s no excitement if I tell you in advance.”

“No, please tell me, Father.”

Without answering Matilda’s question, Father left only a hint and approached me.

“John, my son.”

He disgustingly embraced his ‘grown’ son. And looking at my ‘eldest son,’ he said,

“And you’re James?”

“Yes, Grandfather, I’m James.”

“Have we ever had such an adorable, bright-eyed grandson?”

Father, who adored my grandson, then said,

“But to name him James, in the Scottish style, is truly disappointing! My son. I could have passed on my name, Henry, instead.”

He was regretful.

In the original history, the foolish King John named his son Henry, and that son, Henry III, became an unfortunate monarch who tried to fix his father’s blunders but died exhausted by the world. Why would I be crazy enough to name him Henry III?

That thought wriggled in my mind.

But I wore a kind, safe smile and said,

“It’s merely to commemorate Your Majesty and my brothers raising a great army and conquering Scotland, so I named him in the most Scottish way possible.”

“Hahaha, so there was such a hidden meaning.”

Next to Father, Illiam I, the former monarch of Scotland, stared at me and my son with a blank expression.

I felt sorry for Illiam I, but what could I do? The loser bows his head before the barbarians, or something like that.

“John.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Count of Scotland.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That child is the Grand Lord John you will serve. Do you feel the difference in power?”

“……”

His personality… truly…….

* * *

—Westminster Palace—

Father, Henry II, returned looking more robust than I expected.

He can drink three bottles of Champagne in front of me and not get drunk!

“My son!”

“Yes, Father.”

“Was life as a prince that burdensome?”

“Yes, it is burdensome.”

“So burdensome that you joined forces with that Richard fellow? You scoundrel.”

Father didn’t seem pleased that I had joined hands with Richard, who had tried to bury him in the Great Revolt.

I have a valid reason.

“In the Angevin dynasty, where power is bought with contracts with the devil and conflicts are abundant, I cannot survive with my own strength alone.”

“I didn’t raise my son to be so weak. Even if you’re afraid of your brothers, you must fight and overcome them alone!”

“Compared to my brothers, I am lacking in many ways. Conversely, I am merely the youngest prince who can do nothing without Father’s favor.”

This is true.

If it weren’t for all sorts of connections and luck, I would have become Death John, enshrined in a stone coffin somewhere in a cathedral by now!

Moreover, it’s even more so when I think about the future.

‘The early 13th century is such a mess.’

And there’s the natural disaster called the Mongols! Well, that’s a problem for my son James to handle.

No, now that I think about it, the Kingdom of Poland has been rebuilt, so Kazimierz II might be able to handle it on his own?

“Ah, more than that, there’s something I want to tell you.”

“Yes, please do.”

“That is… ah, there are listening ears, so I should show it to you in writing.”

With those words, Father took out a piece of paper from his bosom and handed it to me.

But the contents were so much the essence of a nation of jerks that even I felt dizzy.

“Wow… you truly have no blood or tears. Even so…….”

“It can’t be helped for England to survive. Originally, the tradition in Europe is to join forces and beat up a successful country with a superior people, isn’t it?”

Looking at it, isn’t Henry II the father of the Great British Empire?

* * *

—Kingdom of France, Paris—

The series of territorial wars among the small and medium-sized lords had ended. The minor chaos in the Kingdom of France was over.

Of course, Philip II passively mediated the lords’ battles.

After all, he would have quietly watched even the territorial wars of the great nobles if it benefited him.

Giving Middle Eastern territories or large business networks to the second and youngest sons of noble families who had nothing to do because of the Crusades.

The lords of mainland France had re-established ‘order.’

But then came the unfortunate news.

It was the irritating news that the youngest prince of England had suppressed the rebellion in Scotland as easily as eating a cake.

In fact, France had previously received a proposal from Scotland. Not a proposal to directly confront England, but a proposal to confuse England in various ways.

Of course, at that time, Philip II was still considering helping the unprepared fledgling Scotland.

However, there were those who would do unnecessary things by moving Scotland. Denmark, who once saw England as beneath them, the Elector Princes of the Holy Roman Empire who were jealous of John, who was close to Frederick, and some cunning countries.

But with Prince John and Duke Heinrich the Lion’s suppression operation, the rebellion in Scotland was suppressed far too quickly. Before France could take its next action.

The fact that the rebellion was easily suppressed by Prince John, who was considered the weakest among the princes, gifted the Scots with immense depression.

‘We couldn’t even stand up to the youngest prince?’

‘Even so, to endure the just plunder of the city and create an elite force that only aims to capture the central city! Isn’t that too cowardly!’

The Scots wailed.

‘Foolish Scots, how dare you resist Prince John?’

‘A commander faster than lightning, this is our Safe John.’

‘Isn’t the current situation Dangerous John?’

‘Anyway, our lord.’

Perhaps because they were already warm and full? The Irish, who had completely assimilated as Safe John’s subjects, instead ridiculed the foolishness of the Scots.

‘I told you, you should have been careful.’

‘If it weren’t for Duke Heinrich the Lion…….’

In that situation, Henry II turned Illiam I, the King of Scotland, into the Count of Scotland under Ireland.

Philip thought there would be the Eastern Roman Empire or other rebels.

The Angevin-Waren family, the family of the Earl of Surrey, Henry II’s half-brother, disappeared as obstructors of becoming the new owners of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

As if the negotiations were over.

Although the excellent monarch Baldwin IV was holding the center, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which was slowly collapsing due to incompetent nobles, was a delicacy.

The Kingdom of France also recognized it as a Middle Eastern delicacy, so Philip II planned to gradually take over the interests of the Kingdom of Jerusalem when Baldwin IV died through pro-French knights.

But Philip II didn’t know that another mastermind would target Jerusalem.

The Kingdom of France was mistaken. The mistake that Prince Richard would have no interest in Jerusalem!

But contrary to the thoughts of the Kingdom of France, Surrey’s son, William, was originally a close aide to Prince Richard. Richard, after negotiations with Baldwin IV, made William, who was close to him, the next King of Jerusalem.

As the Jerusalem Accords, the aftermath of the Crusades, ended, Baldwin IV eventually abdicated for health reasons.

William became the new monarch of Jerusalem—the Angevin dynasty as William I.

Anyway, William was the legitimate son, unlike his father, the Earl of Surrey. The Earl of Surrey, who suddenly had the King of Jerusalem as his son, had to act differently politically than in the original history.

Then came the latest news.

King Henry II of England’s ‘Count of Scotland, Investiture Incident’ was truly an outrage that made the Kingdom of France feel, ‘This doesn’t seem right, England.’

“Are the English thinking that this is their era now?”

Thanks to that, Philip II was suffering from stress again today.

“You have many worries, my brother.”

“Sister…….”

“But don’t necessarily think it’s bad. Sometimes a crisis can be an opportunity.”

“What do you mean…?”

“The princes have united, and Prince Richard, who has never had a lover in his life, is now getting married, isn’t he?”

At that time.

“The English royal family has sent an invitation to Your Majesty.”

“Ha…….”

“What is it? Let me see too.”

As her younger brother sighed after reading the invitation, Princess Alix looked at the invitation.