“Let’s summon those heretics immediately and interrogate them.”
“Ah, hold on a moment.”
Henry II restrained the archbishop, who seemed ready to storm out, and tried to paint a picture that would work in his favor.
Getting rid of people like William Marshal and Alberic was easier than flipping a coin. That was no problem at all. However, Edward Marshal was the son of William, who had shown him unwavering loyalty. There were rumors about him mingling with Richard, but wasn’t that just a one-time meeting? No matter how loudly the church demanded punishment, casting aside the son of a loyal subject was something Henry II couldn’t accept.
“Is it safe to assume that the formation of a crusade to reclaim the Holy Land is inevitable?”
“Of course. His Holiness the Pope will soon issue a decree calling for the Third Crusade. Especially now, as the Pope has successfully negotiated with Frederick I of the Holy Roman Empire in the past. If the Holy Roman Empire, England, and France all participate, what problem could those Islamic forces pose?”
“Indeed. Then why not use this opportunity as a stepping stone for the crusade?”
“Use this situation as an opportunity?”
For the bishop, judging the heretics was a priority, but Henry II couldn’t care less about that. What mattered was stabilizing his reign and neutralizing Richard. Everything else was secondary.
“Have you spoken with the King of France?”
“I understand that the Archbishop of Tyre is heading there. By now, he should be in discussions with King Philip II.”
“Then we should ask them to send a representative to hear our side. If we punish the heretics in a gathering with everyone present and then advocate for the Third Crusade, wouldn’t that make our case stronger?”
“Oh! That’s an excellent idea. His Holiness the Pope will surely express his deep gratitude for Your Majesty’s piety.”
They claimed to wage holy wars for God, yet how God viewed these wars was of little concern. Although Henry wasn’t entirely pleased with the recent actions of the church and the Pope, it was wise to pretend to comply for now.
‘Let’s use this as an excuse to send Richard off on the crusade. I can deal with the rest later.’
With England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire participating, the success of this crusade seemed likely. But even if they succeeded, capturing Jerusalem wouldn’t happen overnight. It would take years, and in that time, he could eliminate Richard’s influence at home. He could also secure Aquitaine, Richard’s stronghold, for his youngest son, John, killing two birds with one stone. If he could marry off Philip II’s sister, Adele, to John, Richard would have no support left. If Richard died in Jerusalem, all the better; if not, there would be plenty of excuses to keep him tied up.
‘The only thing left is how to push Richard into the crusade… Sorry for Marshal, but I’ll have to use his son.’
Henry II instructed the bishop to keep today’s events and future plans strictly confidential. He claimed it was to prevent them from catching wind and fleeing, but his true intentions were different. He wanted to keep Richard and Edward Marshal in contact longer to set a trap for the son. He didn’t care if people called him a heartless father wishing for his son’s downfall. After all, Richard was a notorious parricide who had raised a sword against his own father.
I didn’t know what secret discussions the bishop and Henry II had, but news of the bishop’s arrival quickly reached my ears. Alberic, too, seemed anxious and asked me nervously.
“Did you hear? A bishop from the Vatican has arrived…”
“Of course, I heard.”
“Is it going to be okay? They probably know we fled just before the Battle of Hattin… But why haven’t they summoned us yet?”
“Who knows.”
“If they don’t summon us, won’t all your plans be for nothing?”
Surely, he wasn’t so naive as to not know. He was just pretending. And if you think about why he’s pretending, you can roughly guess what’s going on in his head. But explaining all this to Alberic was too much trouble.
“Whatever they do, it won’t change our plans, so don’t worry.”
“Hmm… So I just need to trust you.”
“Yes. Go and get some rest. I’m off to see Prince Richard.”
“Prince Richard again?”
“He’s the future king. It’s wise to build a good relationship in advance. Politics and religion are inseparable, after all.”
The principle of separating church and state was still centuries away. As distasteful as it was, I had to play by the rules of this era. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; when in the Middle Ages, follow medieval laws.
I patted Alberic on the shoulder and subtly hinted at what he should do.
“Sir Alberic, why don’t you have a chat with Count Dammartin?”
“A chat? About what?”
“King Philip II is a practical man. If Count Dammartin wants to return, I’m sure he’ll welcome him with open arms. After all, I know Count Dammartin only sided with King Henry II because of his father’s wishes.”
“Are you suggesting I encourage Dammartin to betray?”
“No, just let him know that if things don’t go well, he can always return to the French king. And that we, too, wish to maintain good relations with France.”
Philip II was, in some ways, even more troublesome and cunning than Richard. A fierce beast can be subdued with chains, but a clever one that can unshackle itself is never truly contained. I had no desire to make an enemy of someone like Philip II at this stage.
“I’ll try to put it in the best possible light. As you said, if Prince Richard ascends the throne, relations with France might improve, and Count Dammartin could play a key role in that.”
“Yes, yes, I trust you, Sir Alberic.”
In truth, even if Richard became king, relations with France wouldn’t improve. It might seem that way initially, but Philip II wasn’t someone to be underestimated. If a brief alliance meant lasting peace, England and France wouldn’t have fought for a hundred years. The Hundred Years’ War was still over a century away, but its seeds were being sown even now.
“As much as Sir Alberic is working hard, you’ll be rewarded in due time.”
“I’ve decided to cooperate with you to the best of my ability, so don’t worry.”
“Yes, yes. I’m off now. Let’s both do our best.”
In the future, even those pompous bishops strutting around now would bow their heads and clasp their hands before me. I might even line them up and slap them one by one, and they wouldn’t dare complain. But for now, I had to endure. I didn’t know whose idea this delay was, but whoever proposed it, the other must have agreed, so it didn’t matter who was the mastermind and who was the accomplice.
In any case, I headed to where Richard was waiting to discuss our strategy. For now, I was the only one who knew this was exactly what they wanted.
Henry II, hiding his true intentions, publicly declared that the crisis facing Christianity should be resolved through the Pope’s mediation. Richard, seeing the king take a step back, refrained from provoking him further.
“If you acknowledge that I am the rightful heir to Aquitaine and clearly state that I am your successor, we have no reason to fight.”
Richard’s demands had been consistent from the start. Henry II had always avoided giving a clear answer, but this time was different.
“To thoroughly resolve the root of this dispute, we need the presence of witnesses from the Papacy and a third country. Therefore, I invite distinguished archbishops and Count Raymond V of Toulouse, representing Philip II, to join us as witnesses.”
In other words, simply fighting wouldn’t lead to any progress, so they should invite notable figures to mediate properly. With the king actively seeking to resolve the conflict, the prince had no choice but to participate in the negotiations. Richard, too, had made his preparations.
“Marshal, it might be a burden, but I’d appreciate it if you could clearly show your support for me during this meeting.”
“My father will be furious.”
“Indeed. I understand. That’s why I promise to reward you accordingly. I expect the issue of the next crusade will be discussed at this meeting. His Majesty will likely try to use this issue to obscure the succession matter.”
As expected of someone praised for hiding sharp intellect behind a muscular exterior, his reasoning was quite plausible.
Henry II is likely planning to use the Crusades as a distraction, intending to rally the brave knights who fought valiantly and use them as his pawns. But without any solid information, this seems to be the best course of action for now.
This isn’t something Richard can be blamed for.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been thinking it’s about time I made my allegiances clear.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Since I’ve decided to side with Your Majesty, it wouldn’t be right to keep it a secret. I’ll make it clear this time. But you must bring the document I gave you last time.”
“The one with the seals?”
Richard looked curiously at the wax-sealed parchment on the table.
“Yes. It’s as important as my life.”
“Now you’ve really piqued my curiosity about what’s inside.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
I headed to the meeting place with Richard, who couldn’t hide his curiosity.
The room was filled with attendants, fitting for a gathering that included the King of England, archbishops of the church, and the representative of the King of France.
“It seems there are some unexpected guests. Do you know them?”
Richard pointed to those seated across from Henry II.
“Yes, I recognize those faces.”
I couldn’t help but smile and nod.
There was Heraclius of Auvergne, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Balian of Ibelin, the renowned commander who had fought to defend Jerusalem against Saladin’s forces, staring intently in our direction.
I greeted them warmly, my voice full of genuine delight.
“Your Grace! It’s wonderful to see you in good health. How have you been?”
Those expecting a heartfelt reunion among former Crusaders were taken aback by the Patriarch’s sharp retort.
“How have I been? Do you dare speak to me with such insolence?”
“I was merely offering a greeting, no need to be so prickly.”
My nonchalant response left others puzzled.
From the outside, it seemed as if the Patriarch was scolding me for no reason.
Sensing the odd atmosphere, the Patriarch ground his teeth and pointed accusingly.
“A traitor who fled with the infidels at your heels! How dare you show your face here? Aren’t you ashamed before God? Sir Ibelin! You saw them flee, didn’t you?”
The Patriarch’s fierce words cast a shadow over Balian’s face.
Well, the old man certainly knows how to throw a punch.
Still smiling brightly, I spread my arms wide toward the two of them.
Some people grow stronger the more they’re criticized.
It might sound crazy, but such people do exist. And one of them is standing right here.