The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 84

84. An Ireland-Style Tripartite Assembly (3)

‘This feeling isn’t so bad.’

All eyes were on me, and a heavy silence fell.

But I didn’t drag it out much.

I’d like to draw attention by prolonging the moment, but this isn’t a variety show. Things like [Revealed in 60 seconds!] or [Just a moment!] don’t work here.

So, Wild John immediately revealed the agenda.

“The first agenda of this historic Tripartite Assembly is to unify the methods of calculation used in Mortain and the Irish territories.”

Calculation methods—it sounds difficult, but it simply means how to count numbers. One, two, i, er, won, two.

Sero, un, deux!

It’s the least urgent but seemingly most urgent thing I can think of. Of course, it’s also useful for appearances!

“…!”

The expressions of those who were trying to observe the Tripartite Assembly with indifferent faces changed. They looked surprised, as if thinking, ‘What the hell is that?’ Godfrey and Peter were also taken aback because they hadn’t informed even their closest aides, except for Bishop Rotrou, about the agenda in advance.

Counting numbers. The reason I’m suddenly bringing up number systems is that France has a problem: the ruling class is of Germanic origin, but they haven’t abandoned the customs of the lower-class Celtic people.

Why am I, in the Safe Zone, worrying about France’s problems?

The current England will later be known as the Angevin Empire. It’s essentially an empire that occupies both western France and England.

Conversely, England, having secured considerable territory in the French region, was a French-flavored England, and the reason my brother Richard named his daughter Adelais last time wasn’t for nothing.

Thanks to that, there’s a problem. France’s bad habits shouldn’t contaminate England.

There are many terrible things in the world, and one of them is the French way of counting.

In particular, the French way of counting in the 21st century uses unique numbers from 1 to 16, a decimal system from 17 to 69, a vigesimal [base-20] system from 80 to 99, and even a sexagesimal [base-60] system later on. It’s a country where riots are practically inevitable.

If France had such a counting system and used the mile system instead of the metric system for units, it would likely have been divided into three parts like Poland a long time ago.

‘But France hasn’t fully developed that gem-like counting system yet.’

Of course, it’s the end of the 12th century now, before the French counting system was corrupted by Baroque-era French mathematicians. They don’t use such a chaotic counting system yet, but I have to stop it in advance!

This is a really important matter.

Because the Kingdom of France must remain… manageable. More precisely, it means that we cannot lose the territory of western France, which is England’s continental bridgehead and our core base area.

The Original John was an incompetent guy who made too many enemies and lost it, but western France is a place that England must not lose, like Dokdo [a set of disputed islets in the Sea of Japan].

Of course, I only have Mortain in the French region with a proxy right now. I don’t intend to acquire real, profitable land right now, but…

Is it because it’s the French region? Impurities like the vigesimal system that are naturally present in the Mortain region must not be allowed to spread.

“I plan to integrate Mortain and Irish territories into the decimal system.”

When I said that confidently, the expressions of the delegates from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes became strange, and the VIPs looked bewildered, as if thinking, ‘What?’

But there are also people who support me. Friends who are sensitive to numbers.

“That’s right!”

“That’s correct!”

Merchants and clergy who work alternately in Mortain and Ireland agreed.

I guess it resonates with them? It must be really necessary for those who travel between the two regions and exchange information.

It may be just a counting system, but it’s also a practical matter. The counting system varies from region to region, even from ‘state’ to ‘state.’ How many annoying problems would arise because of that?

At that time.

“Your Highness, may I offer my opinion?”

Godfrey, whose maternal family was a native noble family of Aquitaine and who was as closely connected to France as his name suggested, rose from his seat and addressed me.

“Speak, Lord Godfrey.”

“I believe Your Highness has considered something more than simply counting numbers.”

He understood my intention without me even explaining it. As expected, my Zhang Liang [a famous strategist] and Cardinal Richelieu is Godfrey.

I looked at Godfrey, who asked a good question, and said.

“I intend to create a French language based on that counting system.”

Of course, the decimal counting words will be modern English.

In the first place, the modern French counting words are chaos itself. Instead, the rest will be replaced with modern French by creating an Ireland-style Hall of Worthies [a place to honor virtuous figures].

I said again.

“I am thinking of creating a school for those who will learn how to properly apply the integrated calculation method. A school for the young ladies (daughters) and young masters (sons) of noble families in my territory.”

“Yes?”

“The language to be used in both Mortain and Ireland is improved French.”

To be exact, it’s modern French.

It will be later that French becomes an international common language; the nobles of today actually use Latin more often. Because that’s the way things are in this era.

In order to achieve unity among the people ruled by the English, especially among various ethnic groups, the same counting system and the same language are needed, and I’ve been constantly thinking about that.

Anyway, I want modern French. To be precise, it is formal French that excludes dialects from various regions as much as possible.

If I had taken the loss of the French region for granted, I would have reorganized it mainly with modern English, but whether I die as a vassal of my brother Richard or I become the ruler, I have no intention of ever losing the French region.

‘My goal is to live as an ‘Angevin’ rather than an ‘Englishman.’ If there is a new identity, an efficient language is needed.

The origin of modern French was the process of creating ‘one France’ through the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, which were dynasties born from collateral lines of the Capetian dynasty.

However, the purpose of the Tripartite Assembly is not a place for conversations with one’s close aides, but to share opinions with various people.

“I will give the first class clergy a chance to speak their opinions.”

Of course, it was not Bishop Rotrou who spoke, but another clergyman.

“Is the language used in the church the same?”

“The holy servants of God may use Latin as before. Everyday life and holy mass are different.”

After roughly expressing my opinion, I looked at the others and said.

“Next, the delegates from the second class, the nobility, please give your opinions.”

“We nobles… regarding the issue presented by His Majesty……”

I didn’t explicitly state the agenda, but I told each class ‘in advance’ what ‘attitude’ to show. So, the classes expressed their thoughts mainly based on ‘impressions.’

After all, what we’re doing now is a Tripartite Assembly that’s a step ahead of the real ‘Tripartite Assembly.’ I can’t reveal the really sensitive parts of state affairs, can I?

“Finally, the people of the third class, please give your opinions.”

“We of the third class think of Your Majesty’s thoughts in this way.”

Bastards and younger sons, merchants, and local leaders who didn’t have many opportunities to raise their voices seem to feel honored by the opportunity to make their voices heard, even if it’s limited to ‘impressions.’

In that way, I listened carefully to each and every word, even if it was a little different from my own thoughts or if it was a worrying word. Even to the third-class delegates, politely.

Because this place is such a place in the first place.

I showed a preview of the Tripartite Assembly in a completely different way from Philip IV, who opened the first Tripartite Assembly, saying, ‘I’m going to collect taxes, so won’t you listen to the wonderful speech of a great king?’ to the three classes and held a solo concert.

* * *

—Ireland, Baroque Restaurant—

“Everyone has worked hard. With that, today’s Tripartite Assembly comes to an end.”

The public Tripartite Assembly is over. To be exact, it means the show is over.

‘The purpose has been achieved.’

I smiled coolly. Because I had achieved what I wanted.

However, those who wanted the agenda to be concluded right away in this unfamiliar place looked a little disappointed.

The tutorial Tripartite Assembly ended vaguely. In the first place, it was for show, not an issue to be decided on the spot.

After finishing such a fierce debate.

Anyway, since the Tripartite Assembly is over, it’s banquet time.

I prepared a lot of things to eat and drink today.

How many precious people have come from precious places.

Luxurious foods that are easy to make in fantasy novels but not easy to make in the Middle Ages.

“I will give special meals to the ten people I have designated.”

In the Middle Ages, hospitality doesn’t just mean treating grand dukes, dukes, and counts, among the grand dukes, dukes, counts, barons that appear in fantasy novels.

Of course, there are times when power is maintained in the order of titles, but now it is an era where people are treated according to the presence or absence of real power rather than the greatness of the title. How many influential figures who object to the Original John and his descendants would be mere ‘barons’?

“This is chicken.”

A dish made with flour, eggs, milk, chicken, salt, and spices is just luxury itself. This era is an era where everything is precious.

“What a delicacy.”

“Oh, unexpected hospitality.”

The 10 people included the governor of the Eastern Roman Empire and our brother Richard.

The 10 VIPs are eating deliciously, but I can’t put on a truly happy face like in Japanese isekai or Korean fantasy novels. The chicken made in this era will never taste like 21st-century chicken, and the price is also expensive.

That oily chicken is truly a luxury item.

But the rest of the people weren’t particularly dissatisfied either. Pseudo-fried chicken is eaten by a small number of 10 people, but there are still a lot of delicious meat dishes.

Besides, Irish wine and beer that anyone would like were abundantly prepared.

‘Of course… this is a project I prepared with my belt tightened.’

These are things I prepared with the determination to really starve.

“…It was a good event, John. You’ve learned a lot.”

“No. I am a younger brother who is inferior to my older brother.”

“For our royal family, which has territories in France and England, no, now even the British Isles and Ireland, it’s difficult to be neither one nor the other, so we should think about calculation methods and ‘language’ for our territories as well.”

Suddenly, Richard said with a warm face. Is this the brotherhood right here? Even in the fierce and tiring medieval Europe. I felt good because there seemed to be an invisible value.

“In that sense, John, wouldn’t you like to buy more livestock on our territory?”

“How much are you thinking of?”

But as expected, I forgot that my brother Richard is also a great lord who has many thoughts for the benefit of his territory.

* * *

The schedule that gave Prince Richard a shocking feeling in many ways ended with the meal event.

“John… this guy.”

Perhaps the world will be surprised before long. I never thought, but he’s preparing something so ambitious.

A guest came to Richard, who had left Normandy for Ireland after a long time.

“Queen Eleanor is entering.”

“Mother? Tell her to come in.”

Soon.

A beauty who has maintained a youthful appearance despite her age entered the room.

She thinks that her life has been twisted because she married the wrong husband twice, but she still thinks she raised her sons well, Queen Eleanor.

“Our proud son Richard, how could you be so great.”

They say couples resemble each other, and now Queen Eleanor was showing the way Henry II cherished and loved his youngest son, John.

She is so extremely fond of her son that she shows a near-obsessive affection.

“Ha… Mother, I am no longer a young son… I am the father of a child.”

“I know. So, how was today’s work?”

My mother wants to ask about the public Tripartite Assembly that was held today.

The fact that she didn’t hear it through a servant or another noble makes it obvious that she wanted to hear it directly from her son.

“First of all, John, that child mentioned calculation methods……”

“Well, there are different calculation methods for each territory…… What’s interesting is what comes next.”

Richard is closer to the French side of the Angevin identity, which is neither fully English nor fully French.

Queen Eleanor, who was born as the Duchess of Aquitaine, had many ‘French’ sensibilities. She naturally considered herself French.

Even from her point of view, the eccentric behavior of Prince John, whom she gave birth to, was remarkable in many ways.

“Even if we put aside the calculation methods, a new French language…”

The existing French language itself has already been developing for a long time. To change it again…

The clever Queen Eleanor knows the power of language well. The part that John is thinking about probably concerns the more distant future.

“So, what is John doing now?”

Richard said in response to his mother’s words.

“He is meeting a distinguished guest from the Eastern Roman Empire.”