Chapter 2

Youngest Prince of the Pea Flour House - Chapter 2 (2/205)

King Henry II was betrayed by his wife Eleanor and three sons in an event known as the Great Revolt.

His eldest son, Henry, launched a splendid rebellion against his father.

His second and third sons joined the rebellion.

The Count of Flanders also got involved, turning the family feud into a civil war.

However, with the power of Henry II and seven nobles, the rebellion failed.

The story goes that the instigator, his mother, was exiled to a nunnery.

What a warm family story.

Of course, as a young child, I did not participate in this Great Revolt because I was too young.

Anyway, after subduing his sons, my father offered to return the lands he had taken from them.

But I refused.

I didn't want to be disliked by my brothers.

Anyway, time passed, and my father, who was still a minor, poured me a beer.

"Son, this is a special beer I prepared for you."

"Thank you, Father."

You might think it's strange to give beer to a child, but unlike 21st-century beer, 12th-century beer was just a beverage.

It was a thick, sweet beer that was thrown into the Thames.

Of course, compared to 21st-century lager, it was a bland beer, but my taste had changed to that of the Middle Ages.

As my father, who had alternated between beer and wine, was still tipsy, he said:

"It was almost a disaster. If I had killed Sir Thomas..."

"It is your mercy, Father."

Today, Thomas Becket, who had raised his voice with my father, Henry II, over religious and political issues, was my teacher, a pitiful man who had saved my life.

But just before my past birthday, I put my father in a dilemma.

More precisely, at the moment when my father, as a ruler, was conflicted about the political burden that would arise from killing Thomas Becket, I provided the 'justification.'

While reminiscing about the past,

a servant came in and ruined the mood.

"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the Eastern Roman Empire."

"What do those people want?"

After reading the letter, my father was angry.

"Damn those Greeks."

"Please calm down, Your Majesty. After all, it's the Eastern Roman Empire under Manuel I."

"Ha, they don't deserve the Roman name. The Holy Roman Empire is the real deal."

My father seemed very angry about the letter.

'They call themselves the Roman Empire, but that's none of our business.'

Of course, unlike the old Roman Empire, which treated the barbarian Germanic tribes like animals,

the Holy Roman Empire, founded by the Germanic tribes, was a threat in this era.

The problem was that while the Emperor of Rome, Manuel I, was trying to grasp the reality to some extent,

the so-called 'great nobles' of the Eastern Roman Empire, who called themselves the Roman Empire, still treated us as barbarians.

However, the current Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Manuel I, wanted to ease this diplomatic tension.

To that end, he planned to marry the youngest princess of France to the crown prince.

So, I had been engaged to her for a few years.

"Father, I want to be engaged to the French princess again."

"Is it that again?"

Unlike marriage, engagement in medieval Europe could be broken at any time.

Moreover, engagement in childhood was essential.

Actually, I'm not very interested in the French princess.

In my past life, I liked France, but it was more about the Valois and Bourbon dynasties than the Capetian dynasty.

The current Capetian dynasty of France is our rival, trying to regain the territories we took from them and avenge their humiliation!

Of course, it's also a way to make a name for myself.

"Father, for my birthday, I want a person as a gift."

"A person?"

I said to my father, who looked curious about what I, the youngest, would do next.

"Give me Pierre, no, Peter, as my squire."

"Not Geoffrey (the illegitimate son of Henry II) but Peter?"

"Yes, Peter."

But Peter, born in 1167, is only one year older than me.

He is the son of my father, Henry II, and the beautiful Rogermand Clifford.

In other words, my father had an affair with a lover after I was born and had an illegitimate child.

"Son, there are more capable and better children."

I know that well.

There were surprisingly many unknown illegitimate children of Henry II,

and I wanted to take one of the promising ones.

"Father, to me, people are more important than vast lands."

"Alright, I'll make Peter your squire."

That's how I gained a talent.

Of course, it was a talent I promoted when I had nothing.

**

Now I am 13 years old by English standards.

After my birthday, I am starting to be treated as an adult.

But being treated as an adult, as in the future, is not a good thing.

I am no longer at the age where I can just attend Mass (Catholic worship) and play.

I am now at the age where I must struggle with fate.

Why would a mere 13-year-old have to struggle with fate?

Of course, there will be descendants who won't understand my solemn lament.

Don't forget, a medieval teenager is already an adult.

It's like Uncle Ben's saying, "With great power comes great responsibility," coming to life.

And can you say that in front of the monster standing before me?

"Can you even call yourself a man if that's all you can do?"

"I did hit you once, Brother."

"Just once, and not even a vital spot. The injury you gave me is just a scratch that would heal with a little ointment!

John, if this were a battlefield and not a training ground, you would have lost your head."

A giant monster, like the Lu Bu of the Three Kingdoms or the Xiang Yu of the Chu-Han Contention, scolded me.

Oh Lord.

My second brother, Richard, is just crazy.

He is known as the king with the heart of a lion in the future.

But after seeing him in person, I think that's not all.

That man has the body of a lion, not just the heart.

In the Middle Ages, with such a good body, he must have cut down Muslims and Frenchmen left and right.

Honestly, just facing him makes me scared and my heart tremble.

I began to think that the original King John, who was considered incompetent, needed to be re-evaluated.

How could he even think of betraying such a brother?

Original King John! What path have you walked?

But I must become a hero who defeats the monster and saves the world for a limited time.

If I don't show my resolve, my brother will keep hitting me with his sword, even if it's just a wooden one!

I held my sword and said as bravely as I could:

"Brother, we're far from it!"

But I decided not to submit to the giant warrior.

I aimed for my brother Richard's head.

- Bang!

But the story of a human defeating a monster only exists in fantasy novels.

Today, I got another bump on my head.

"Ha ha ha."

A laugh like a lion's roar.

I thought my brother had gone mad again,

but fortunately, he didn't go blind and beat me to death.

"Good, that's the attitude you need!"

"Huh?"

What kind of attitude is he talking about?

"Your body is not well-trained, and you lack resolve, but you've grown a lot, John."

"Brother, thank you for taking the time to train me."

"But I have some bad news for you."

"Tell me."

Bad news. But I had a feeling it might be good news for me, so I almost smiled but held back.

"My duties have increased, and I will be staying in my territory for a while."

I already know that my eldest brother, Young King Henry (co-ruler with my father), and my third brother, Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, are in a power struggle.

"What a shame."

"I'm also disappointed. Always stay on your guard; I might come back at any time."

With those scary words, my second brother left.

"Phew... Is he gone?"

"Yes, he's gone."

With a sigh of relief, I responded to my dedicated squire and adjutant, Peter.

The duel with Brother Richard was really tough.

It wasn't a beautiful and dignified duel of modern Europe.

We were barbaric medieval people engaging in a brutal medieval-style duel.

Thinking about it made me hungry.

But Peter, who was very perceptive, knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Hehe, Prince John, I brought you some food."

"Thanks, Peter."

At least I had one joy in life: eating delicious food to my heart's content.

Thinking about my past life, where I died in a Third World War without proper food,

the medieval food, with its heavy use of spices to mask the smell, was a happiness in itself.

I enjoyed a piece of meat with its savory juices,

some fresh vegetables,

and quenched my thirst with the common beverage, beer.

"Mmm, that was delicious."

After finishing my meal, I looked at the medieval English sky

and stroked my nonexistent beard.

Of course, the fact that the French princess, to whom I had sent a letter, had rejected me again was not important.

Feeling alive and enjoying the happy life of a medieval prince was the future I wanted.

"Peter, I feel good."

I gave him a few gold coins as pocket money for my half-brother.

"Prince, I love you!"

Anyway, after finishing my meal, I needed to digest it.

The sweet songs of birds could be heard near Westminster Palace.

"Chirp chirp!"

The bird's song was the accompaniment.

Rustle.

The performance was about to begin.

-Tune, ding ding.

"I was going to leave before the sun set~"

Playing the lute and singing a song is my joy in life.

Of course, I struggled to learn the lute, which is similar to a guitar but completely different.

Currently, medieval ballads called Minnesang are popular in Europe, and ballads happen to be my specialty.

Tenor, baritone, and bass. I am the Orpheus of England.

There were many fans who loved me around Westminster Palace.

"Ah, it's Prince John."

"He's so handsome."

"He... looked at me again."

Cute and lovely maids.

More accurately, the daughters of powerful noble families cheered for me.

Indeed, the world is a place of appearance.

Surprisingly, I, Prince John, am a handsome man.

Of course, my brothers are all handsome.

There are no records in history that the original King John and Richard I were handsome.

But it would be more strange for a handsome man not to come from the union of my mother, Eleanor, the most beautiful lady in France,

and my father, who was so handsome that he could seduce her.

'Anyway, the British are the best at distorting history.'

After finishing my proud performance,

I was about to return to my room to prepare a great new song when

a very anxious maid came in.

"Prince John, something terrible has happened."

My dedicated maid, with a worried look, came to me.

"What? What's wrong?"

I asked, trying to hide my anxiety.

"His Majesty the King has announced that he will bequeath the Aquitaine to Prince John."

"What?"

I couldn't say anything harsh in front of the cute maid, but I screamed in my heart.

'Damn father!'

Henry II had pressed the panic button.

As I stood there in a daze, Peter asked me,

"What is Aquitaine like?"

"It's nothing."

Then, crossing my fists, I said again,

"It's really nothing!"

World Star John