Chapter 3

The youngest prince of the Bean Flour House - Chapter 3 (3/205)

I approached my father, just like a pitiful crown prince of Joseon who was about to renounce the throne.

"I have something to say to the King of England and the Great Lord of Western France."

I deliberately used the term "father" but Henry II was in a good mood when I called him by his full name.

"Say whatever you want. John, I want to give you Aquitaine."

Ah, I don't want it!

"Aquitaine should belong to Henry II."

"Of course it does."

"Then why say that?"

Why did you give me the trigger button of offering the Aquitaine territory?

To this question, my father calmly replied.

"To see the loyalty of your brothers."

Wow... he's using this to his advantage.

"But not a single one of them fell for it. It's really a shame."

Seeing my father's very disappointed expression, I sighed.

Indeed, Henry II.

How devious!

"Then, is the matter of the Aquitaine territory unrelated?"

"I don't know."

He's making me feel uneasy again. Bang!

At that moment, I wanted to go on a trip.

"Because I was startled by Father, I must go to France to become engaged to the princess."

"Huh, are you still determined to challenge her? I don't think it will be easy for you to request another engagement."

But I spoke with a firm voice, not backing down.

"Father, this son wants to marry the most beautiful woman in the world. Then, wouldn't my children also be the most beautiful?"

Most of Father's mistresses are French.

"Hmm, that's true."

"I am a brave Englishman and a glorious descendant of Conqueror William. Giving up is something the French do."

This era is barbaric, but it's also a romantic time when chivalry thrives.

To show the spirit of the youngest prince born to the great Henry II, my father clapped his hands awkwardly.

"Oh, my son! Then challenge her again!"

This world gave me a chance.

To be honest, it wasn't extremely great, but I was slightly grateful.

"Thank you, Father."

Thinking about it myself, I seem to be a prince who deserves to be loved.

No matter what, I went to the Kingdom of France with the protection of countless knights.

I still haven't fully adapted to seasickness.

The moment I stepped on land, I could smell France.

"Peter! Look at that sunshine. Don't you think this time I'll win the princess's heart and succeed in the engagement?"

"Prince... I have nothing to say."

"Haha, I was just saying."

I laughed awkwardly at Peter's obvious reaction.

Of course, the Kingdom of France in this era was in a pitiful situation, having lost the west to our Plantagenet lords.

But my father, Henry II, wants to completely annex the Kingdom of France.

Of course, the devious French royal family, like Louis VII, won't just sit and watch!

"Our great France welcomes Prince John."

As soon as I entered Paris, French nobles belonging to the Louis VII faction spoke with determination, emphasizing their pride.

Of course, even if the knights act tough, I won't be swayed.

I recognize the romance of the Capetian dynasty, but what I like is the Valois and Bourbon France.

And now, the French are gaslighting our Bean Flour family in a sly way.

"I am a prince who only has love, not a fief."

I went to Paris, which is France itself, with such a pose.

There, the king was waiting.

"I greet His Majesty, the King of the Kingdom of France."

'They're actually East France. The west has all been taken by my father.'

I thought to myself but greeted the potential father-in-law with full courtesy.

"Oh, the great youngest John of England, you're here again."

"Challenge me again. My daughter is a precious child, but I will give you a fair chance, John."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Though his words sound like he's supporting me, Louis VII is actually provoking me.

"Our Kingdom of France has many things for Prince John to enjoy. It would be even better if you spend a lot of money."

Since I came in person, they seem to be expecting tourism revenue.

After greeting the French monarch Louis VII, I immediately went to find my target to propose engagement.

"Princess Agnes."

Agnes, known as the Helen of France (an incredibly beautiful woman). Of course, that's a future story, and as a girl now, she was so cute I wanted to bite her.

"Since you know my situation, why did you come again?"

"I want you to become engaged to me. My angel."

Agnes, the princess of France, who will surely become the world's most beautiful woman when she grows up!

The one targeting her is, in fact, the cursed Greeks, those pitiful and miserable people who call themselves the Roman Empire.

"Princess Agnes, may I recite a poem to you?"

Though I look like a decent teenager.

Having already sent my conscience down the River Lethe, I was a 'minstrel' like a global idol.

"Hmm... Okay, I'll listen once."

Good, cute princess.

I'll show you something good!

"Peter, give me the lute."

"Yes, Prince."

Let's tune it a bit first.

-Ting ting. Ting ting.

I picked up the lute again and sang a song created by an old poet named Edgar Allan Poe from a distant past.

I changed my voice to a lonely tone suitable for a minstrel.

The important thing is that my voice is still a boy's.

"Many years ago

In a kingdom by the sea

Lived a girl you might not know.

Her name was Agnes—

She loved me and refused to be loved, but it was a painful reason~"

In tune with the lute's gentle accompaniment, a soft song flowed from my lips.

Agnes, who had refused my engagement with a troubled face, seemed to be momentarily captivated.

"Beautiful song, but I will not accept your proposal this time either."

I was rejected again.

But it doesn't matter.

I didn't really want the engagement to succeed in the first place.

**

Whether in the 21st century or the 12th century, one commonality is that rumors spread very quickly.

Unfortunately, my third brother, who was plotting a sinister scheme in the Brittany fief, came to find me.

My brother Geoffrey, who was drinking milk to grow taller, came to me with a face as handsome as a Hollywood actor and mocked me.

"Ha ha ha, our John's tragic love story has reached Brittany, no, the ends of Samaria."

"Brother, don't laugh. This youngest one has been rejected."

"Ha ha ha."

Geoffrey, whose specialty is sneering, burst out laughing.

In this era, to the ends of Samaria!

In other words, it means that the whole world will know that I was rejected again.

'I need to grow taller.'

I had to drink another glass of milk out of shame.

Drinking unprocessed, sweet, and expensive milk gave me courage.

"Brother, I will definitely get engaged."

"Of course. You've given up the fief of Aquitaine and become a Paris like a love-thirsty man."

Paris.

A prince from Greek and Roman mythology.

Without going into the long myth, he's a prince who messed up his country by touching the wrong woman.

No, no, you can't compare me to such a man.

"If you can't get love even with such unprecedented minstrel poetry, you really have no luck in love, how sad."

"It's because my brothers are too handsome."

"Stop the worthless talk. The important thing is that soon your reputation will spread throughout the world. Many people will laugh and enjoy your tragedy."

"Ah..."

Going to Paris and confessing to Agnes was half a strategy.

But to become a laughingstock is honestly a bit pitiful.

To the ends of Samaria... it's really terrifying.

"John, the fate of a celebrity is like that."

At that moment, I looked at Geoffrey's face.

Indeed, he is the evil Geoffrey.

**

As Geoffrey, the prince, predicted in his slightly strange curse.

Here in the French countryside.

A beautiful woman, exiled and often drinking sweet milk like a son, said sadly.

"Rejecting our John again. The French princess is really too much~"

"Mother, I don't feel your sincerity."

Beside her was the young King Henry of England, the 'co-king', who inherited her beauty.

Of course, the youngest John, who was rejected again, was pitiful.

"Henry, this mother always speaks sincerely."

"Then why don't you visit the youngest more often? How lonely must he have been to make Peter, a bastard, his attendant? Isn't he cute?"

"That's why I saved Peter's 'birth mother', didn't I?"

"Anyway, John, that boy won't know anything."

Eleanor, who smiled again at her eldest son's words, said.

"It would be better if we had two French princesses as our daughters-in-law. Why is the French princess so indifferent?"

"Isn't it because of the Byzantine Empire? She's wary of the alliance between France and the Eastern Roman Empire and is playing along with the youngest. My cruel father-in-law."

"My son Henry, don't worry. I will live for you."

Thus, the wicked mother and son renewed their hatred for Henry II.

And here, despite the massive debt, complex diplomatic relations, and various trials.

The Eastern Roman Empire, which is experiencing a revival!

The palace of the country, which calls itself the legitimate Roman Empire, received sad news.

The world-renowned minstrel and Prince of England, John, was rejected by the French princess, a news that brought tears to their eyes.

Although they are preparing for the marriage of their own son and Princess Agnes.

"So, Prince John was rejected again?"

Emperor Manuel I really didn't know Prince John.

To the world, Prince John is just a jester.

Perhaps his son, Alexios, the heir, is his rival, who can't win people's hearts.

'Tsk tsk, after such a humiliation, he should give up.'

These days, there are many things to be angry about, but thinking about Prince John's confession makes him laugh.

Even the citizens of Constantinople, who usually grind their teeth at the mention of the West, are trying to hide their laughter at the uncivilized British prince John.

'Ah, why does Prince John keep getting rejected?' they sigh.

If the reaction of Constantinople, which foams at the mouth at the mention of the West, is like this, what about other places?

Here is the Kingdom of Jerusalem, founded by French nobles.

The king, who protects the holy land of God, also heard the news.

"Sister, John has failed in engagement again."

"Your Majesty, why does John keep making such futile attempts?"

"Though he is always rejected, John is a singing prince, a very charming boy. I wish I had a younger sister."

"Can't be helped, can it? Still, John's minstrel poetry thrills me today. If I were a little younger."

Here is the Holy Roman Empire.

The red-bearded ruler, hearing the news of John, said.

"He's too weak, he should be more like my father. For example, by taking the French princess Isabella."

"Your Majesty, that would start a war between France and England."

"Wouldn't that be better?"

And here is Egypt, where the desert can be felt.

There are people who pity Prince John.

"Prince John has been rejected again."

"Ah, the infidel prince's love has failed again, how sad."

Even the devout Muslim Saladin felt his heart ache at the infidel's suffering.

John's news spread everywhere, even to the ends of Samaria.

A guest from the Eastern Roman Empire.