Episode 21

The moment the assassination attempt on me occurred, Richard sprang into action like a predator that had just spotted its prey.

There was no room in his vocabulary for a passive response like waiting to see how the king would react before making a move. Instead, he immediately rallied the armies of the nobles who supported him and marched forward. A small faction loyal to the king tried to block his path, and the battle began.

And exactly half a day later.

I stood overlooking the battlefield, wiping the blood from my spear. It was a one-sided fight, hardly worthy of being called a battle, but the scene before me was far from beautiful.

Reflecting on it, this was the first time I had witnessed a war with my own eyes, having fled before the Battle of Hattin even began. Fighting one-on-one was vastly different from the scale and brutality of a clash between armies.

If I wanted to rise in this era, I would have to become accustomed to such sights.

Just as I was steeling my resolve, Richard, who had been gleefully cutting down the enemy moments before, approached me.

I composed my expression and looked at Richard with an unaffected gaze.

“A great victory. Congratulations.”

“It was inevitable. Anyone siding with the king in this situation is nothing but a fool.”

“You did make it clear, Your Highness, that only your closest kin would be accepted even if they switched sides now.”

“Indeed. I suspect the king used my words to pressure the nobles.”

Richard added with a sly smile, “Which is exactly what I wanted.”

The unity of medieval nobles was as fragile as grains of sand. They would band together if there was even a slight chance of harm, but otherwise, they would watch from the sidelines. Many would even lead the charge to suppress other nobles and reap the rewards.

This time was no different.

Richard had defined only those who remained loyal to the king as enemies, so those already on his side welcomed his purge.

The result was the one-sided battle we had just witnessed.

“The capital is within reach. At this rate, you could be on the throne by the end of the day.”

“The outcome was decided the moment we declared war.”

When we last visited the capital, Richard could have easily deposed the king and taken the throne. But instead, he declared war and led his loyal nobles’ armies to seize the capital, crafting a more compelling narrative.

This wasn’t rebellion; it was a rightful judgment against Henry II for defying divine will.

It might seem inefficient, but such justification and romance were crucial elements of medieval order.

People often associate such formalities with Confucianism in the East, but compared to medieval Europe, they were mere novices.

For the sake of legitimacy, they would even import a king from abroad, and people accepted it as natural.

From a modern perspective, it might seem inefficient, but here, it was the most effective method.

Crucially, I held a position of power within the religious hierarchy, so I had no reason to oppose such procedures.

“Still, things have unfolded more smoothly than I expected. It might be awkward to say this to you, but the assassination attempt seems to have had a significant impact.”

“Henry II insists he’s innocent, but…”

“Who would believe him?”

Richard, seemingly pleased with himself, flicked the blood from his sword and continued to praise his own strategy.

“It was a brilliant move, even if I say so myself. After all, who else but the king would have a motive to assassinate you?”

“Well… that’s true.”

“An Islamic assassin? It’s perfectly plausible to say he hired one from the south of the Iberian Peninsula and smuggled them into the palace.”

“That’s what most people seem to think.”

In the late 12th century, Europe wasn’t solely a Christian domain. A third of the Iberian Peninsula was under the Almohad Caliphate’s control, making it entirely possible to hire a Muslim assassin.

Of course, whether they would agree was another matter, but the universal truth is that money can accomplish anything.

Richard claimed that Henry II had used a heathen’s hand to assassinate a prophet delivering unfavorable news.

Using an Islamic assassin was a disguise to hide the king’s involvement.

Naturally, this was an unimaginable atrocity and blasphemy in the Christian world.

The king vehemently denied it, but too many had witnessed the event, and the fact that it happened in the palace was too significant.

Richard argued that the palace’s security had been compromised because he had gathered the guards, but no one believed him.

Henry II, now the most notorious criminal in the Christian world, could expect no help except from a few nobles.

The path to the palace had been cleared with a single battle, thanks to this backdrop.

Meanwhile, my mind was a bit tangled.

Richard seemed to genuinely believe Henry II was behind it, but I had my doubts.

I wasn’t entirely certain, but something felt off.

Henry II might have been an accomplice, but there were a few things that didn’t add up if he was the mastermind.

Still, I didn’t stop Richard’s machinations.

In fact, I subtly encouraged him without him realizing it.

The reason was simple.

The more the situation unfolded this way, the more it benefited me.

Of course, to our dear Richard, who loves flattery, I had to attribute it all to his perfect strategy.

“Thanks to Your Highness’s brilliant tactics, the king is completely isolated. His power was insignificant, but the key was blocking France’s intervention. Philip II of France would have found any excuse to get involved.”

“Philip II… It’s hard to gauge what he’s thinking. But he’s a good man. Didn’t he support me before anyone else?”

Now that Henry II was marked as a public enemy of the Christian world, Philip II couldn’t hinder Richard, no matter what he tried.

Any half-baked scheme would lead to accusations of being in league with Henry II.

Perhaps aware of this, Philip II issued a grand statement supporting Richard, lending his strength to our side.

Truly, he was a monarch with unparalleled abilities in Europe.

His judgment was impeccable, and his decisiveness swift.

But while others might not know, I was aware.

Even as he pretended to support Richard, he was undoubtedly plotting how to undermine the Angevin Empire.

In administration, politics, and strategy, he lacked nothing.

Philip II, one of the greatest monarchs in French history, was a master of all trades.

But his true fearsome quality wasn’t his versatility.

What allowed him to surpass his rival Richard was his ability to captivate others.

He was so adept at concealing his emotions that even the nobles who would later lose their lands to him and become royal vassals…

Even Richard, his lifelong adversary…

Even King John, who lost his territories without realizing it…

All held deep affection for Philip II until they were betrayed.

I knew his true nature, so I wouldn’t be deceived, but in contemporary Europe, no monarch could match Philip II in a battle of wits.

Feigning ignorance, I offered Richard some advice.

“Philip II may be a good man, but he’s still the king of France. You must always remember that France’s interests are his top priority.”

“Yes, you’re right. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Since we wouldn’t be facing him directly anytime soon, this much advice should suffice.

As we conversed and moved forward, the palace where Henry II was holed up came into view.

In the original history, Henry II gathered all his strength for one last stand and fled to Chinon after his defeat, but now he didn’t even have that luxury.

It made me wonder why he held out for so long, but I could understand his mindset.

Seeing that Richard’s ascension was inevitable, he might have wanted to create the image of being forcibly deposed by his son.

Henry II’s aim was to paint Richard as a parricide who usurped the throne, drunk on power.

But even this was overshadowed by the accusations of hiring an assassin, which was a tragedy in itself.

In any case, there was no one left in the Angevin Empire to challenge Richard, except for me.

Unlike before, Richard entered the palace with all the knights who had followed him.

As Richard and I entered the chamber with the throne, we were greeted by Geoffrey, Henry II’s illegitimate son and Richard’s half-brother.

Richard asked in a solemn voice.

“Why won’t His Majesty come out? It’s time to put an end to this endless squabble. Tell him to come out.”

“I’m sorry, but His Majesty cannot come out.”

“Ha… Does His Majesty still not grasp the situation? Geoffrey, go and tell him that I’m here to formally declare war. The Pope, the King of France, and the vast majority of the Empire’s nobility support me. If I wanted, I could dethrone him right here and now and ascend as the new king.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t convey that message either.”

What kind of stubbornness is this?

Just as I was considering whether I should intervene before Richard lost his temper, Geoffrey spoke in a trembling voice.

“His Majesty… has just returned to God’s side.”

”…I see.”

His health was already poor due to chronic ulcers, and with the betrayal of his beloved youngest son and accusations of assassination, it’s no wonder his body couldn’t endure. It’s remarkable he held on this long.

Richard, his expression unreadable, nodded slightly and moved towards the room to see his father’s body.

“Did His Majesty leave any last words before he passed?”

“He left a decree appointing me as the Archbishop of York. If you would permit it, brother…”

“It was a vacant position anyway, so go ahead. Marshal, there shouldn’t be any issues, right?”

“I have no authority to comment on church appointments. But if you’re asking for my opinion, I think it’s a suitable choice.”

It was a final gift from a father moved by the loyalty of his illegitimate son who stayed by his side until the end. Stripping it away would do no good for his image.

Richard entered the room and approached the bed where Henry II lay with his eyes closed. Looking down at his departed father with a gaze that seemed both sorrowful and detached, he let out a soft sigh.

“It could have stopped before it came to this… I hope you find peace there. Marshal, despite his blasphemies, he was the King of England and the ruler of the Angevin Empire. Can you offer a prayer?”

“Of course.”

While Geoffrey, now the new Archbishop of York, and I busied ourselves with the preparations, Richard stood by Henry II’s side for a long time.

I couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking. The historical records are so varied that it’s impossible to make an accurate guess. But no matter how strained their relationship was, no son could feel nothing at the death of his father.

A thin stream of blood trickled down from Henry II’s nose. Some say it’s proof that he died cursing his son, but the truth is known to no one.

Richard wiped the blood from his father’s face with his handkerchief and gently covered his face with a cloth. The world Henry II once saw was closed by the hands of the son who would succeed him.

An era had ended.

What began now was the new era of Richard the Lionheart, Richard I.

And my era as well.