Episode 89

Heinrich VI couldn’t hide his shock when he was suddenly confronted with a severed head.

Even though the body had been preserved to prevent decay, the unsettling aura of a corpse was undeniable.

Unlike Heinrich VI, who was visibly shaken, Richard appeared relatively composed. He fixed a displeased gaze on Philip II.

“What exactly is the meaning of this?”

“I did ask for your understanding, as it might be a bit gruesome.”

“Understanding? What possible reason could you have for showing us something so distasteful?”

“I wanted to clear up any misunderstandings that I was trying to shift blame onto a subordinate because things weren’t going my way. This is the proof.”

How could a severed head possibly prove Philip II’s innocence?

I approached the desk with Cardinal Lothaire.

“Whose head is this, exactly…?”

“It belongs to my old friend and the mastermind behind this incident, Count Renaud I of Boulogne.”

“Count of Boulogne? Him?”

Everyone was left speechless by Philip II’s revelation.

The room fell into a stunned silence.

Even I hadn’t anticipated this turn of events, and all eyes were on Philip II, waiting for him to speak.

Whether he was aware of the tension or not, Philip II simply gazed down at his old friend’s head with sorrowful eyes.

Finally, Cardinal Lothaire, unable to contain his curiosity, spoke up cautiously.

“Your Majesty, I think we need a bit more explanation. Why did Count Boulogne receive such a severe punishment, and how does this prove your innocence?”

“Ah, it seems I’ve skipped over too much. Let me explain step by step. First, as I mentioned, Count Boulogne was responsible for orchestrating all of this, and I ordered his execution.”

“But how is it that such a significant event, like the beheading of a count, went unnoticed by us?”

“If word had spread, those like Viscount Limoges, who conspired with Count Boulogne, might have fled. Unlike Count Boulogne, I couldn’t send troops to capture Viscount Limoges, so I ensured the utmost secrecy.”

Executing a count without the news reaching neighboring countries is no small feat. It suggests a level of control over the nobility that is quite impressive.

This was a clear indication of how strong Philip II’s royal authority had become.

Sensing the conversation taking a strange turn, Richard interjected.

“That’s one thing, but isn’t this just a case of cutting off the tail to save the body, Your Majesty?”

“May I ask you something, Your Majesty Richard? You accused me of trying to pin the blame on an innocent subordinate when cornered. But as you can see, I executed my old friend before Viscount Limoges’s crimes were even exposed. How could this be a mere stopgap measure?”

“Then why bring this up now?”

“As I said, I hadn’t thoroughly investigated Viscount Limoges. I was grateful to hear Your Majesty Richard expose his misdeeds.”

Philip II’s explanation was logically sound.

Moreover, Boulogne is a crucial port city for France, providing access to England. Executing a noble who governs such a vital area is an extreme measure for the French kingdom.

How could one continue to accuse Philip II of merely cutting off the tail when he had already punished the main instigator?

However, what puzzled me was how Philip II managed to respond in this way.

Richard, too, seemed taken aback, his voice trembling slightly.

“So, Your Majesty Philip II, you intended to reveal the truth of this matter from the start?”

“Of course. That’s why I brought Count Boulogne’s head. Fortunately, Your Majesty Richard had solid evidence, so the conflict between our nations won’t escalate further.”

“Still, this incident nearly led to war between our kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Not to mention the costs of the investigation and gathering troops. Are you saying we should just accept that a single count was at fault?”

Heinrich VI nodded in agreement, supporting the indignant Richard.

“And it’s hard to believe a mere count impersonated the king. The letter Viscount Limoges had bore the French royal seal, which hasn’t been explained.”

“Indeed. The correspondence between Viscount Limoges and Count Boulogne clearly shows the French royal seal. That’s why Viscount Limoges believed it was the king’s will. How do you explain that?”

The royal seal. And the letter.

Suddenly, I recalled the letter Philip II had sent me.

It felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together.

Was it not just to test me but also part of a scheme to create an alibi for himself?

As I marveled at this realization, Philip II nodded and responded in a calm voice, more like stating facts than defending himself.

“Thanks to that, I was able to catch Count Boulogne. To explain, I must first discuss my relationship with him.”

Philip II looked down at the count’s closed eyes.

The usually composed king’s eyes glistened with moisture.

“We were close friends from childhood. But circumstances drove us apart. Count Boulogne, being closer to England’s sphere of influence, gradually leaned that way. Your Majesty Richard, you must be aware of this.”

“Yes, I am.”

“So, I made great efforts to win him back. I invited him to the palace, allowing him free access to my personal quarters, hoping he’d remember our past friendship. But it seems to have backfired.”

Philip II clicked his tongue softly.

“The count deluded himself into thinking that if England and the Holy Roman Empire clashed, England’s power would weaken, and his territory, under England’s influence, would gain more power. So he deceived me and used my seal to create this mess.”

“To believe that, we’d need evidence… Ah!”

Richard, recalling my letter, bit his lip.

Philip II, pretending to ponder, turned to me and asked.

“Come to think of it, I sent a letter to our Prophet Marshal here. I remember using a newly made seal instead of the old one.”

All eyes turned to me.

Was this his plan all along?

If so, Philip II had been preparing for this possibility from the start.

‘So, he calculated that he might be discovered from the beginning?’

I finally understood Philip II’s strategy.

His ultimate goal wasn’t just to pit England against the Holy Roman Empire.

Initially, it might have been, but after my return, he must have adjusted his plans.

After all, people saw me as a conduit to the divine.

I nodded, genuinely impressed by Philip II’s cunning and strategy.

“Yes, Your Majesty’s letter to me bore a seal. Whether it was newly made, I can’t say…”

“It can be easily verified. All official documents I’ve handled used the new seal.”

Richard swallowed hard, looking bewildered by the turn of events.

I understood. I had felt the same moments ago.

This was because both sides had different perspectives.

Richard and I believed Philip II’s ultimate aim was to incite war between England and the Holy Roman Empire.

And it likely was.

But Philip II had a Plan B ready to pivot if things went awry.

As the king explained, Count Boulogne was a significant headache for Philip II.

Strategically, the count governed a crucial northern port city. If he sided with Richard, France’s power would be significantly diminished.

Despite their childhood friendship, Count Boulogne didn’t particularly like Philip II.

In the original history, during the Battle of Bouvines against the Holy Roman Empire, Count Boulogne sided with the empire rather than his king.

It was impossible for King Philip II not to have noticed that the Count was harboring thoughts of betrayal.

So, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to pin all the blame on a troublesome noble and seize his lands for himself?

Trapping the Count of Boulogne would have been easier for Philip II than sipping cold soup.

Of course, the cunning French king seemed well aware that simply covering up the incident would lead to rumors.

He offered a slight bow to Richard and Henry VI, speaking words of apology.

“Even if it was the actions of a subordinate, I cannot absolve myself of responsibility for failing to oversee them properly. I will calculate the damages and compensate England and the Holy Roman Empire for some of their losses.”

”…Is that really true?”

“Yes. My conscience won’t allow me to let this slide. And I hear you’re preparing for the Sicilian expedition. We’ll assist in any way we can.”

“Well… if you’re willing to go that far, I couldn’t ask for more. It seems I may have misunderstood King Philip II. Ha ha ha! It’s good to see we can communicate so well.”

Having quickly won over Henry VI, Philip II turned to Richard with similar assurances.

In any case, the financial loss could be offset by confiscating all the assets of the Count of Boulogne.

In essence, Philip II managed to eliminate a potentially problematic noble without any real loss and gained a strategic northern stronghold.

Richard still seemed somewhat skeptical, but he had no choice.

“Very well. I’ll trust that France had no ill intentions this time.”

“Not just this time; I hope we remain good friends in the future as well.”

Philip II flashed a friendly smile and turned to Cardinal Lothaire.

“Shall we conclude matters here? Please convey this to His Holiness the Pope. Or is there more to discuss?”

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Then we can adjourn here.”

With a decisive thud, Philip II closed the lid of the chest containing the Count of Boulogne’s head.

Though it seemed like old misunderstandings had been resolved and everyone was content, the true victor was evident from the expressions of those involved.

Philip II, the first French king to earn the title of “the Great,” rose from his seat and cast a glance in my direction.

I, too, had many questions for him this time.

There were still a few unresolved issues that puzzled me.

I asked Cardinal Lothaire to handle the final details and quietly followed Philip II.