Chapter 6

### The Youngest Prince of the Pea Family - Chapter 6 (6/205)

England was bustling with activity, preparing to welcome the guests, and I observed the members of the embassy. Among them, Andronikos, a member of the Eastern Roman royal family, was a complete troublemaker. He boasted about his close associates to the powerful figures of England in elaborate Latin. The young crown prince followed his uncle silently. However, even to me, it was clear that the crown prince was just a figurehead in that setting. The so-called royal uncle talked as if he were the main character.

Seeing this, my father said, "If that royal uncle ruins Greece, I'll bet on you, John."

"Huh?"

After a moment of confusion, he continued, "I'm joking. Do you think I'd sell my child like Jephthah? John, the crown prince wants a private meeting with you."

Jephthah was a judge from the Bible who, after winning a war, made a vow to offer a human sacrifice to God, and the first person to come out of his house was his own daughter, whom he sacrificed. A complete scoundrel!

Anyway, enough of the jokes. Being a companion to the Greek brat was a hassle, but since it was an order, I had to comply. I went to the Eastern Roman embassy and said to the young crown prince, "Your Highness, is it a convenient time?"

"I always have time."

Fortunately, Crown Prince Alexios accepted my request. Since we had had several conversations before, I drank beer with him without any hesitation. However, it seemed that the Eastern Roman Greek was weak in alcohol. He suddenly started to complain.

"You may not trust the Eastern Roman Empire, but please believe me. I will follow my father's will and, through an alliance with the West, drive out those damn Islamic bastards."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just something I said while drunk. Anyway."

Anyway, what?

"I envy Prince John."

"Envy? I also have my struggles. My father's favor is everything to me, but I have to endure a lot for it."

Seeing the royal uncle, it seemed that the Eastern Roman Empire was in chaos, but our family was no different. How could any wife, in a fit of anger, lead a rebellion with three sons, almost to the level of a civil war? Thinking about such a family situation, the youngest son was certainly not someone to envy. Until now, I was protected in this pea family because of my young age, but now that I'm 13, the age when one is considered an adult, I might be forced to make choices. It also means I could be under the watchful eyes of my intimidating older brothers.

"Prince John, I am now returning to my homeland, but I will not give up Agnes."

"Haha, really?"

"Really."

Yes, don't give her up. Our marriage to Agnes will never happen. Even if our family agrees, Louis VII, who has already married his eldest daughter, Margaret, to my eldest brother (Henry), will not give another princess, Agnes, to me to form a double in-law relationship. I proposed to Agnes, knowing she would refuse, to have a reason to meet the French princes and to make my name known.

The guests from the Eastern Roman Empire left, and my father, who did not go to the French territories to meet French women, looked very tired, as if he had met five mistresses at once.

"Damn Greeks. They can't even reclaim Anatolia, but they still have their pride. They still think they are Romans."

Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire hasn't come to its senses.

"I'm tired too."

"John, you?"

"A swan must make countless ripples to maintain its elegance."

"Haha, not a goose?"

My father laughed heartily.

"That's a funny saying. I have to go to work now."

I silently watched my father's bent back as he walked away into the sunset and said, "Father, could you increase my allowance a bit?"

That's what a legitimate youngest prince of England should say.

**

News came from France. The young Princess Agnes and Crown Prince Alexios were getting married. Now, I had to retire from being a suitor. Ah, I lost a job.

"What should we do, Prince John?"

I, the party involved, felt nothing, but it seemed different in the English court. People looked at me with pity, and especially, my father said with a sad face, "I'm sorry, I couldn't stop their marriage."

"It's fine."

I really didn't care. Seeing my indifferent expression, my father patted my shoulder and said, "John, there are many beautiful women in the world. Forget that girl now."

But those beautiful women are my father's lovers, which is the problem. My father, looking awkward, comforted me and left. The scene of Henry II, who has the most women, comforting the failed lover, Prince John, was quite a sight.

"Prince John, sob."

"Be strong, sob."

I unintentionally turned Westminster Palace into a sea of tears. As time passed and I entered my bedroom with a dejected look, Peter looked at me intently and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

'That old man has a lot of ambition. He sold his daughter to Greece.'

King Louis VII of France became the father-in-law of the next Eastern Roman Emperor because the Eastern Roman Empire, which had declined, was regaining its legitimacy, the glorious tradition of the "Roman Empire." Of course, I found the French, who were acting superior, ridiculous. Without a central figure like Manuel I, the Eastern Roman Empire would fall again. Of course, Louis VII and Philip wouldn't care how the Eastern Roman Empire fared as long as England was weakened.

Princess Agnes, or rather, the future Empress Agnes of the Eastern Roman Empire, would not have an easy time. Of course, if she acted normally, she would gain people's trust.

For over a week, I reduced my intake of meat, milk, and even beer. I approached Peter with a gaunt face and said, "Peter, my childhood is over."

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"Forget Agnes. I need to start building my foundation now."

"Your Highness, I've been waiting for you to say that."

Even as the youngest prince, lacking a political base is like asking for death. Having already died once, I didn't want to be a victim of power.

"I was betrayed in love, but I will never become a clergyman."

"That's only natural."

Life as the youngest in the Middle Ages is tough. If the youngest becomes a clergyman, he can just say, "I'll do some business for my brothers at the Vatican," and play a supporting role. But being a clergyman is not my path. No matter how much my teacher Thomas tempts me, I will never read the boring scriptures or live an ascetic life.

So, what can I build my foundation on? A good idea came to me, and I immediately told my advisor Peter, "I want a powerful in-law family to help me."

At that moment, Peter, with a sharp gaze, said, "I have already prepared a list of suitable families for you."

"You are my Simon Peter (Peter). Let's have a glass of milk and think about it."

Peter was incredibly competent. I sipped my milk slowly and reviewed the information on potential brides.

"How about this lady in London?"

"Your Highness, an excellent choice. This family is a Norman noble family with close ties to Queen Eleanor, and it is a family that other princes can accept."

"Great, then I need a mother's help. I miss you today, Mother!"

"Indeed, our Prince John, you are very filial."

"Yeah, that's right."

After a thorough review by Peter and me, the family that would become my in-laws was decided.

**

After a serious discussion with Peter, I observed her and her brother, who were sightseeing in London. I immediately ran to my loving father and said, "Father, I want to go to Salisbury Castle."

I didn't explain the reason, but my father guessed.

"Are you going to see that damn woman?"

That's where my mother is.

"It's not for that. Actually, I'm going to see Mother because of marriage."

I then explained my plan to my father.

"You're crazy."

"Huh?"

My father, who was cursing me, laughed heartily like the protagonist of a twist movie and said, "No, I've never seen such a cute crazy son."

I wasn't sure if it was a compliment or an insult, but he said, "I'll help you arrange a meeting with her."

My father smiled, allowing the emotional reunion.

**

The guard at the place of exile said cautiously, "Your Highness, the visit is permitted."

"Thank you."

Although unrecognizably thin, she was still a beautiful woman. To anyone, she looked like a beautiful woman in her 30s, but in reality, she was over 50. A century's beauty, indeed, ages well.

This is my birth mother, Queen Eleanor. She looked at me bitterly and said, "Did that bastard send you?"

Wow, my mother. She calls Henry II 'that bastard.'

"I'm very sorry for not visiting for so long."

Actually, I have nothing to be sorry for. The problem started with Henry II's endless womanizing. I'm just the youngest son she gave birth to last. But people are not rational.

I am the only child Henry II shows affection to, and that might make me uncomfortable.

"John, come closer."

"Yes, Mother."

"Poor my son, what do you want from me?"

A direct question. But I have no sense of subtlety.

"I want to get married."

"Marriage?"

My mother's delicate eyebrows furrowed at my unexpected words.

"Is it to forget Agnes?"

At that moment, my mother's cold gaze, which had been looking at the ridiculous youngest son, softened into a look of sympathy for a heartbroken youngest son.

'Here comes the player.'

At that moment, my eyes welled up.

"Mother..."

"Come here, John."

"Mother, is too painful love not really love?"

"I know... I know... Many men who pined for me felt the same way. But I foolishly believed in your father's love and ended up regretting it."

My mother, recalling the past, shed hot tears. These were not the tears of Eleanor, the English politician, but of Eleanor, who had loved Henry II.

"But... I have to forget it all."

"I also want to forget like you and find a new love."

"New love?"

"I want to propose to a lady from a family related to you."

I spoke with a serious expression about my plan. The heartbroken youngest son, who had really met a lady by chance, had a complex story, but in short, John was trying to start anew.

"Ha... You want to marry that family's daughter?"

"Mother, she is the woman who has captured my broken heart."

"Ha. Henry, that old man, I understand why he sent you. You are also a man of the Anjou (Plantagenet) family. How can you be so greedy like your brothers?"

My mother, who was evading the topic, said, "I'll write a letter of introduction for you. They won't refuse me, even if they might refuse that old man, Henry."

My mother finally agreed to help me. I hugged her and said, "Mother, thank you so much."

My mother also hugged me and said, "If you're grateful, tell that old man, no, the King of England, to ease my exile."

"Yes, I'll definitely tell Father."

"Thank you, my youngest son."

'Am I crazy? Asking to release a rebellion leader.'

I said that, but it was a request I couldn't fulfill. If I released my mother, who was skilled at inciting rebellions, a rebellion would break out before I could build my foundation.

Returning to London, I forgot about my exiled mother and thought about the lady I had met by chance.

**

I looked at the woman in front of me.

'From here, I will change history.'

Unlike the original King John, who married Isabella, the Countess of Gloucester, and had his lineage tangled, leading to a ban on cohabitation by the Pope, I wanted to buy influence instead of a fief.

So, I came today to formally propose.

"I didn't expect Prince John to choose our family."

My future brother-in-law looked happy, but the woman behind him looked displeased.

"Wait a minute!"

I barely suppressed a laugh at her voice. The family I proposed to was the most Viking-like among the Norman (Western Europeanized Vikings) nobles of England. Naturally, the lady of that family said, "Ha, marry a man who sings ballads like Prince John? Brother, are you crazy?"

As expected, she spoke harshly to me, but I understood. She was incredibly beautiful.

Mary de Clare (2)