The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 78

78. A Song for Philip

—1187, Ireland—

It was a truly beautiful day, with the sunlight blooming warmly.

A new couple was being joined, ready to fulfill God’s command to be fruitful and multiply.

Baudouin’s heart felt heavy as he watched his handsome cousin Richard walk alongside his beautiful sister. Or rather, he was actually very happy.

‘She’s smiling… my sister is….’

Because the most beautiful bride in the world was his sister.

It was the first time Baudouin had ever seen his sister smile so brightly.

The fact that she had an iron mask to hide the perceived hideousness she gained from leprosy couldn’t have been better. Because it could hide her face that had become ‘hideous’ in another sense.

Baudouin felt deeply sorry towards his one and only sister. He knew very well how much his sister Sibylla had suffered because of her abnormal younger brother.

‘Baudouin, why are you like this? You should have been born a man; why are you making Father and Mother suffer? Why!’

He still remembered that day long ago.

The first time his sister cried upon learning that her younger brother was a ‘leper.’

Just as his heart warmed, he felt the pain he had been holding back all over his body.

It was a great pain that felt as if it would take his life at any moment, but as always, he could endure it.

Baudouin smiled secretly.

‘My body, with so little time left to live, is so bitter. But this moment is so happy.’

In fact, Baudouin himself knew that his illness was worsening and that he was a sick man who could die at any moment.

But he still had to endure. The man who had abdicated from the Kingdom of Jerusalem and became Baudouin d’Anjou was having the happiest moment right now.

Neither in her first marriage nor in her second, had his sister Sibylla ever shown such a bright expression.

That there was such an occasion was thanks to Richard, who didn’t just think of Sibylla as a woman to enjoy for one night but truly loved her.

Richard, who was also a distant relative, had told Baudouin IV in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

[I will ensure that Your Majesty can retire comfortably without any worries. Because I like Baudouin d’Anjou, the human being, more than Baudouin IV, the ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, who carries a heavy cross (burden).]

He felt grateful to Richard for giving him this peace after a lifetime of suffering with the cross (hardship). And to the man next to him as well.

Baudouin turned his head. Next to him was John, the Count of Mortain, the Duke of Ireland, and the Prince of England, watching the wedding with a warm smile alongside his wife.

Perhaps because it was his unwed older brother’s wedding mass, he looked very happy.

‘Of course, Richard helped me, but this situation is because of John.’

Baudouin d’Anjou, who was once King Baudouin IV of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, knew very well.

That ‘John’ saved his teacher Thomas Becket, and as a result, the forgiveness and reconciliation between Thomas Becket and Henry II strengthened the bond between the Vatican and England.

Thanks to England becoming a mediator between the Holy Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire, his Kingdom of Jerusalem was not only not destroyed but became safer.

It was all thanks to Safe John.

Baudouin, seeing such a distant relative, looked up at the beautiful sky.

And he prayed.

‘Almighty God, I, Baudouin, am a weak sinner who is no wiser than Job. But I have regrets. Just a little… just a little… I want to watch this beautiful world that the Lord has created a little longer.’

To show him the beautiful world just a little longer.

* * *

Richard hyung [older brother] and Sibylla hyung-soo’s [sister-in-law] expressions were bright. Even though it’s the doomed medieval Europe, love is always right.

Anyway, seeing that, I felt a warmth in my heart and said to my fiancée, Mary.

“It’s a very heartwarming moment.”

“I felt that way too. Blessed couples always bring happiness to those around them.”

Just then, I heard a weeping sound from the side.

“Sniff, my son is getting married. This mother is happy.”

Including the half-sisters she had with Louis VII, she has a total of nine children.

But the person Mother loves the most is Richard hyung!

Soon, there was an opening address from Father Henry II. The banquet was about to begin.

“Well, distinguished guests. There isn’t much prepared, but I hope you enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”

I was the one who prepared the banquet with blood and sweat, but Father Henry II took the credit. But Safe John, the true filial son of England, must endure.

Anyway, the wedding banquet, where we would drink and have fun, began in a pleasant atmosphere. I was about to start eating, drinking, and enjoying myself.

But my insidious hyungs [older brothers] wouldn’t leave me alone.

“John, you’ve grown up so much. This hyung [older brother] is really proud of you and has high expectations.”

Holding a golden cup in one hand and trying to look cool, young King Henry hyung [older brother] gave words of blessing. This isn’t praise; it feels like a grudge?

“Henry hyungnim [term of respect for older brother]. Thank you for gracing this occasion despite your busy schedule.”

Of course, Safe John is smiling.

And next is Geoffrey hyung [older brother], the Duke of Brittany.

“John, there will be many things to come. However, since it’s a special day, let’s just eat and enjoy ourselves here.”

To interpret those words, it’s Geoffrey hyung’s [older brother’s] way of saying that there isn’t much time left before we start confronting each other, but for now, let’s share brotherly love.

“I understand Geoffrey hyungnim’s [term of respect for older brother] words well.”

“As expected, our John is smarter than I thought.”

Smarter than the cunning Geoffrey hyungnim [term of respect for older brother]? Anyway, received!

As soon as the uncomfortable hyungs [older brothers] left, Mary came to me and asked.

“John, are you okay?”

She’s checking if the hyungs [older brothers] were being difficult.

“They were just giving blessings.”

As I answered my wife, the main characters of today, Richard hyung [older brother] and Sibylla hyung-soo [sister-in-law], came to me.

“Please take care of us in the future, Prince John, and Mary.”

Sibylla’s gaze towards Mary just now was a bit strange, but.

Mary and I welcomed our new political ally with a friendly smile.

“Hyung-soo [sister-in-law], please take care of us in the future.”

“Now that you’ve become the Duchess of Normandy, there will be good things to come.”

As the warm meeting between my full-blooded siblings, the hyungs [older brothers] who share the same mother and father, ended. My brothers-in-law, who were acting as kings of Sicily and Castile, came to me, but.

[Ah, yes.]

[I see.]

[Those are truly good words.]

I only had polite conversations with those people, as my first impression of them was already ruined.

Matilda, Eleanor the Younger, and Joan, the nims [term of respect] who share the same father and mother, had talked so much the day before that there wasn’t much to say.

As I finished the perfunctory conversation with my brothers-in-law. A relative wearing a unique iron mask came and said.

“Thank you for creating this occasion, John. Because you are here, such happy things happen.”

Of course, there were regrettable things because there were Islamic bastards and traitorous lords who had infiltrated the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but despite that, my relationship with Baudouin was close.

In this harsh medieval Europe, there were many things to respect about Baudouin, and I respected him normally, but it was also because Baudouin was on good terms with Richard hyung [older brother] and looked favorably upon me.

“Duke Baudouin, now that you’ve put down the heavy burden, I hope only good things will happen in the future.”

To my words that he should happily finish his remaining life now that he’s quit being the King of Jerusalem.

Baudouin said indifferently.

“…Yes, it should be.”

I filmed a touching real-life story with my distant relative Baudouin, but.

That emotion was soon shattered.

Philip II, the ruler of the Kingdom of France, which was virtually East—France, started acting pretentious after drinking.

“Oh, my beloved brother John.”

That pretentious remark from Philip.

Whether he was tipsy or pretending to be tipsy. It wasn’t enough for him to act friendly towards me.

“The Lord’s peace!”

This damn Philip shouted the Christian active skill, the Lord’s peace.

One thing that God taught: To love your neighbor as yourself + to embrace your enemy.

In other words, he was using this occasion to have me forget the insidious things Philip himself had done to me in the past.

“In fact, there is no prince as great as you, John. You have achieved more than your other brothers. You clung to my sister, received the love of Great King Henry, and now you have the support of nobles not only in Ireland but also in the French territories. Perhaps you have the ‘qualifications.’ Anyway, the Lord’s peace.”

Ha?

He’s picking a fight while praising me.

But it’s ‘the Lord’s peace’ time. If I get angry here, I’ll have no choice but to become a petty man who doesn’t live up to the descendants of the Germanic people. After accepting the Lord’s peace, I immediately started praising Philip.

“Your Majesty King Philip, the Kingdom of France has the most excellent army in Europe.”

“That’s right, our French knights and soldiers are the most daring and brave, and there is no impossible task for our strong army.”

“And the fertile land of France produces the most fragrant grapes in the world.”

“That’s also correct.”

Philip’s expression is gradually changing. He’s wondering what I’m thinking.

“I have made a song for the King of France, who rules such a great kingdom.”

If it’s a song, it’s John; if it’s John, it’s a song. Singer-songwriter John.

“Peter, bring John’s guitar.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I created the baroque guitar (the acoustic guitar of early modern Europe) of the future. Its name is John’s guitar, named after me.

Anyway, I grabbed John’s guitar and flicked my fingers. Ting-a-ling-a-ling. Ting-ting.

Good, the melody is amazing. Philip II, friend. Open your mouth, praise is coming!

“I love Philip’s France~ The sun rises behind the Louvre Palace~ The great French King Philip II reigns~”

I borrowed a bit of the melody from the Tiananmen song in China.

The key to this song is rhythm; I entrusted my body to the rhythm while flicking my fingers.

“I love Philip’s France~ The sun rises behind the Louvre Palace~

The great French King Philip reigns~

I love Philip’s France~ The sun rises behind the Louvre Palace

The great French King Philip reigns~”

Now raise the tempo and put respect into it.

“I love Philip’s France~ The sun rises behind the Louvre Palace

The great French King Philip reigns~”

Sometimes praise varies depending on who does it.

The current state of France is that our Great has eaten up West France and regards the cute France, which occupies the Ile-de-France (the Gyeonggi Province of France) region, as a ‘weakling.’

So what would it mean if I, the prince of such a powerful country, sang a blatant hymn praising the French ruler Philip II?

It would be the same as handsome and pretty people adopting the ‘outsider’ concept in their vlogs!

Philip, whose face soon turned red as if he were drunk, said with a ‘game well played’ expression.

“I’m too drunk, so I’ll go back.”

I won.

* * *

After the banquet ended and time passed again, there was an event in England proper.

It was the public execution of the traitor Robert, whom I had captured.

Father Henry II, the final decision-maker, wore a solemn expression.

‘Forgetting the mercy of England and committing treason, this bastard doesn’t even deserve beheading!’ he said.

Robert was subjected to a terrible punishment: a death penalty exclusively for traitors called hanging, drawing, and quartering.

I thought Robert would say the wonderful line ‘Freedom’ that William Wallace said at the end of the movie Braveheart, but of course, that didn’t happen.

However.

[England will decline like ancient Rome.]

Robert cursed just before he died and screamed terribly.

Well, it’s not a particularly good spectacle, and it’s too gruesome, so Safe John can’t describe it.

Ak Bul-hoe, who came from the East, didn’t have much emotion and just reacted with ‘It’s still better than dismemberment (slicing alive).’

Anyway, all the world’s heinous punishments came from China.

After seeing Robert’s literal ‘talent show,’ I started to peacefully rule Ireland to forget that gruesome sight.

Mortain is being run by appointing François, one of the maknae club [youngest members] members, as my agent, so there’s no need to worry. What I need to worry about is Ireland.

As I was dedicating my life to Ireland, an old man who should be working hard in the Holy Roman Empire came to my territory.

“I love Friedrich, the sun doesn’t rise in Rome~”

An familiar person coming while singing a slightly strange song. Seeing the Friedrich old man, I said annoyedly.

“What brings Your Majesty here?”

“Ha, damn bastards. Ungrateful things. To harass me, the rightful successor to the Western Roman Empire. I was so angry because of those nasty things that I decided to take a sabbatical.”

Well, I also agree that the Holy Roman Empire is the rightful successor to the Western Roman Empire. Is this old man going to come here and vent his anger in an ugly way?

“Isn’t it a bit much for the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire to be slacking off here? Besides, haven’t you already subdued the prince-electors?”

“Hey, shouldn’t you be sympathizing in times like this?”

Although Lionheart brother-in-law was dissatisfied, Friedrich old man was still strong. Even if Friedrich old man comes to Ireland for a while, the Count of Sulzbach, a subordinate of the old emperor, firmly controls the Holy Roman Empire.

At that time, Norfolk’s son Robin rushed in and said urgently.

“Prince John, you must go to Normandy urgently.”

Why Normandy? Did Richard hyung [older brother] have a son?

Well, even if he had a son, I could become the English version of Duke Zhou (a royal uncle who dedicated everything to his nephew). If things go wrong, I could just go to America.

“The former ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Baudouin, is critically ill.”

“What did you say?”

“Huh.”

I was surprised, and Friedrich old man was saddened.

No, wasn’t Baudouin healthy now?

For the person who boasted of his health by gulping down wine at the last wedding to suddenly be critically ill.

Friedrich old man, who gulped down beer next to me, said.

“Is a hero who dominated an era… going?”

No, you old man, don’t act cool while pouring beer like that.

Baudouin IV, who was perfect in every way except for being sick in every Crusader movie, especially the ones where the Kingdom of Jerusalem is the main character.

I thought he would become healthier because of the changed history due to me.

I thought he would live comfortably watching over his newly married sister. To be critically ill.

“Duke Baudouin said he wanted to see Prince John one last time.”

“Then I have to go too…….”

The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who was going to see Baudouin’s last moments with me, couldn’t fulfill that wish.

“Your Majesty, the King of Germany is.”

“You unfilial bastard!”

It was because his precious son, who was the successor, was trying to drive a wedge into his heart.

I can’t help it; I have to go alone.