The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 98

98. Opening (2)

—Holy Roman Empire, Aachen—

A very sensitive time, with the brothers of the Angevin family showing signs of starting a heated family feud.

Aachen, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, in the imperial palace there.

—Swish, swish.

Someone was writing, with a very dissatisfied expression.

The person who finished writing the official document, setting down the quill, spoke to a man who had been watching him.

“Well… I’ll concede this much.”

Redbeard Friedrich.

This old emperor was fortunate enough not to drown in the river thanks to the Safe Zone, but he suffered greatly from poor child-rearing.

The only clever ones were his ‘daughters,’ but what good are princesses who will care more about their husband’s family than their own once they marry? The important ones are the sons.

But because his sons openly antagonized the Prince-Electors [powerful nobles who elected the emperor], his own position, having achieved a great victory in the Crusades, became very difficult. An old father has to clean up the mess his children made.

He’s already annoyed by the slight smile of the ‘guy’ looking at him with pity. None of his children are helpful. It’s truly worrying.

‘War was much easier.’

As a man who hasn’t forgotten the unique feeling of cutting down infidels with a sword, he dislikes such complicated and annoying processes and outcomes.

Unlike war, ‘political strife’ isn’t just about ‘power.’

The nobleman, carefully examining the documents written by the old emperor who was so openly annoyed, said with a pleased face.

“Thank you. All of our nobles will know of His Imperial Majesty’s righteous actions.”

“Heinrich, our deal must be solid.”

“Your Majesty, have I ever broken a promise?”

In this European society, is the word ‘promise’ truly reliable? But at least Duke Heinrich the Lion never broke a promise.

Of course, the ‘meaning’ contained in that word ‘promise’ might change when the old emperor dies, but Friedrich thought that was a different matter.

‘Anyway… I’ve done all I can. If they lose in the political arena even after I’ve done this much, it’s their fate.’

Emperor Friedrich was the one who shed countless tears and made efforts to stand tall as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, born as one of countless Germans.

He strengthened the royal authority to the point of recalling the old Carolingian Empire [Charlemagne’s empire], but that royal authority became a golden tower built on sand.

“It would have been better to be the lord of Ireland. I envy that Safe Zone guy.”

“Indeed. Ireland was a very good place.”

“But why did you return?”

“Your Majesty, would a bee give up its honey pot?”

Ironically, there is no one as trustworthy as a visible adversary.

Friedrich had always thought of Heinrich, the young pup who dared to challenge him, as such a person. Because he pursued power, he didn’t desperately return even after experiencing humiliation from him.

“The Holy Roman Empire, the greatest empire, is not in a position to be doing this right now. The Angevin family next door is having a family feud.”

“Aren’t you nobles hindering it?”

“We are merely demanding our rights.”

“Damn bastards.”

Duke Heinrich the Lion, who was reinstated as the Duke of Saxony. The reinstatement of this ambitious nobleman, who was also the emperor’s adversary, was for political reasons. Because the noble faction was annoying. Still, there must be an agreement with the noble faction. That’s politics. If there is no force to keep in check, that in itself is a problem.

Just then, someone came.

“Richard, the Grand Duke of Normandy, has sent a letter to His Majesty and Duke Heinrich.”

The Count of Sulzbach brought the sealed letter.

Duke Richard of Normandy, knowing that Emperor Friedrich and his brother-in-law Heinrich would have to ‘work’ in this palace of Aachen for many days, sent a letter to Aachen.

“A letter……”

Heinrich, the Duke of Saxony, who was also known as the Lionheart, unfolded the letter he received and slowly read the words. The doubt turned into shock, and the shock turned into joy.

“I didn’t know my brother-in-law Richard would send such a letter.”

Like Richard, who values efficiency, the content of the letter was simple. It meant not to interfere with the family feud, and if even the Holy Roman Empire intervened, they would have to ‘be prepared.’

“Could it be that you too?”

“It seems Your Majesty also received a letter with the same content.”

Emperor Friedrich I of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke Heinrich the Lion of Saxony.

The two men, exchanging glances that said, “You too? Me too!”, became curious. How fierce would the Angevin family feud be?

Anyway, it was someone else’s family feud.

* * *

—English Normandy—

Henry, the self-proclaimed Duke of Aquitaine, met his half-sister Princess Alix. Information that Prince John was training to show off was also known in the Normandy territory.

Prince Richard, who was already making ‘preparations’ by sending letters to the Holy Roman Empire, could once again reflect on people’s greed.

“Brother Henry, were you so greedy for the throne that you would seek out a half-sister you’ve never seen before?”

The Count of Champagne, who had already joined Prince Richard with his army, asked his lord and uncle, with whom he had worked for a long time.

“Your Highness, what are you planning to do now?”

“Brother Henry and that Geoffrey… have already crossed the Rubicon [made an irreversible decision].”

Crossed the Rubicon. It’s already irreversible. The Count of Champagne said with a hollow voice at the words from his uncle and lord, Richard.

“It’s such a sad reality.”

Because Henry, a man close to the Crown Prince, visiting his half-sister during Henry II’s illness has various complex meanings.

‘Uncle Henry meeting Aunt Alix was for purely political reasons.’

It might not seem like a big deal for Duke Henry of Aquitaine to visit his half-sister, but Alix is not just any woman.

Madame Alix, who controls the nobles who hold power and financial resources among the close aides who follow Philip II, was a ‘politician’ who was the head of a faction as a woman.

To show such a sight.

No matter how good Richard is, it was an unacceptable level.

Anyway, Richard, having finished thinking, said.

“Let’s mobilize our faction, starting from the bottom.”

The fight has already begun.

* * *

—English Aquitaine—

Now all the people of Europe were familiar with 1190.

Every year, unusual ‘years’ continued, but they knew that something would happen this year.

Duke Henry of Aquitaine, who had recently had a passionate family reunion, was also such a medieval European.

Of course, Duke Henry of Aquitaine was the one who plotted the most heinous things in the world, like the distant ancestor of the British Empire.

He was a powerful figure in Europe who worked day and night to plan a national salvation decision. Therefore, he was sensitive to the news of the world.

“…That’s what they say.”

The news of Prince John was heard. It meant that he had a big training session with the Irish army.

“Our youngest has drawn his sword?”

Duke Henry of Aquitaine smiled happily.

He knew well the meaning of training the army, especially moving elite soldiers at a high cost.

That is to show that Ireland will not just stand still and that they are ready to project force at any time.

Now all the nobles of Aquitaine knew that Prince John in Ireland is ready to land at any time.

Of course, the Duke of Aquitaine preferred this appearance.

‘Yes, it’s going to be a fight anyway.’

From a long time ago, when it was just a mere lord of the Kingdom of France, the Angevin family only prepared greed. It’s not for nothing that they say they sold their souls to the devil.

“Tell Geoffrey to build the walls high, prepare weapons, and prepare military provisions.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And prepare the fleet. Isn’t the navy the pride of our English people!”

“Your Highness, do not worry.”

As the vassal left, Duke Henry of Aquitaine looked out the window. The weather was much better than in mainland England.

“Father is helpful at times like this.”

Duke Henry of Aquitaine already knew his father’s plan. After the failure of the Great Rebellion, he never underestimated his father, Henry II.

‘The most cunning person in this world was my father, but he overdid it by being obsessed with women.’

During the Third Crusade, Henry II presented many traps in front of him. He showed gaps to the point of making him greedy. But it was Duke Henry of Aquitaine who suppressed the desire to revolt right away.

Now that his father, who couldn’t control his lust, had collapsed, the era of that hateful father… will not last long.

Then a report came.

“Your Highness, the lords of Prince Richard’s faction have started territorial wars.”

“Fight back!”

Territorial war was the first move.

* * *

—1190, Ireland—

Blue sky. Blue sky, dreams bloom.

Of course, my children would enjoy this sky as it is, but for an adult, Safe John, the sky didn’t just feel clear.

Middle Ages.

This period is called the age of knights, but it was also the age of cruel schemers. Right now, my brothers are doing various diplomatic maneuvers. Right now, Richard, who is on my side, is also an Angevin prince. They are playing invisible mind games, and inside the French sphere, a silent ‘tightrope walking’ is in full swing.

Maybe the nobles are having a headache in many ways right now because they have to choose between Justice John and Avengers Geoffrey.

Of course, I, Safe John, moved as busily as my other brothers. I was not idly playing while managing the internal affairs of Ireland. I worked with the feeling of spitting blood to protect security with an invisible hand.

I already sent a letter to Richard about how we would move. As we are the same Justice members, we need each other’s interaction.

If Geoffrey is the staff in the Avengers team, then I am the staff of England in the Justice team.

‘And we need the cooperation of people.’

War is, after all, a battle of power. To win favorably in our upcoming rough-and-tumble Angevin battle and drive out the static Henry and the axis of evil Geoffrey, we must receive the support of many people.

Although he has a miserable end with countless failings, being ignored by the English nobles, and doing the ‘Magna Carta’ [a charter of rights] like a dog, the reason why Original John can act as the King of England for a while after King Richard dies is also because he sought the cooperation of nobles who have matching interests.

You can’t save the world alone.

The core of the Justice John faction was the support of the youngest and the bastards, but now we have to start the work of turning the nobles belonging to the neutral faction into the Richard faction.

It’s not that there are only doomsday nobles who like fighting unconditionally in the Middle Ages. There were clearly nobles who wanted the preservation and safety of existing territories rather than new territories.

Our Justice John forces are enthusiastically recruiting them.

“At this point, the gentry of Britain will have understood well, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Those nobles should behave well.”

The nobles on the lonely island next to Ireland, Britain (a large island including England). When I went to suppress the Scottish rebellion, I made friendships with the nobles on the Britain side.

Of course, I told the nobles of Britain at that time that the future of England is only the hero Richard.

Humans are cunning beings. They are selfish animals who are better at calculating gains and losses than anyone else, so they know very well that a moment’s hesitation is likely to ruin everything.

A few days later.

[I will follow Prince John’s words.]

Fortunately, cunning nobles who understand the situation are not only gathering in Justice John. It is the moment when the money and time spent so far are rewarded.

Not only these, but the nobles in the West French sphere were convinced of ‘justice.’

[We regard Prince Richard as the next king.]

[We will trust Safe John and the great Prince Richard.]

[If you give the order, we will move the knights.]

Under the flags of Richard and my faction, and Henry and Geoffrey’s flags, the nobles pointed their swords at each other.

Territorial wars began to break out in small territories.

At times like this, my teacher in the Vatican remained silent. It’s a natural thing. Even though the Pope’s power comes from mediating secular affairs as Christ’s representative, the Angevin family feud related to the ‘disciple’ has far exceeded the line where mediation is needed.

Yes… it’s a fight like this.

I said to the Earl of Surrey, who greatly helped with the recruitment of nobles.

“Uncle.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I will make Richard the Lionheart.”

“Lionheart… a good epithet.”

I said again, looking at my uncle, who was stroking his beard.

“It will be a very good revenge for Uncle.”

“Revenge… a very good word… John.”

For the first time, my uncle called my name.