Bab 77: Chapter 77: Troubles Brought by the Knights
Half a month later, Lancaster Castle saw a new group of unfamiliar faces. Knights had journeyed from Brittany to England, much like their ancestors who had fought alongside the Normans in this land.
The vigor of these newly arrived knights was immediately felt by John. "How come these knights are harassing the citizens again? These fellows truly have no regard for authority," John muttered as he listened to Rochest's report, feeling increasingly annoyed.
Certainly, these knights were formidable in battle, but now they brought more trouble than aid. As more Brittany knights gathered in Lancaster, their collective misbehavior escalated—from extorting the citizens to outright robbery, they seemed to revel in lawlessness.
It was clear that the knightly spirit was nothing like what it was idealized to be. Rochest too found himself at a loss. "Your Highness, these matters are quite normal... I mean, the citizens should be able to endure it for now."
There was little that could be done. Thinking about these knights causing havoc in his domain while he could do little about it, John felt an inexplicable rage. If he were to become king one day, commanding such an odd assortment of nobles within England, he feared the disorder it would bring.
"This is my land, Rochest," John said through clenched teeth. "We need to find a way to get rid of them quickly."
John's words, though harsh, were perhaps the most appropriate course of action—send these knights to the battlefield, where they wouldn't trouble the local residents anymore.
Guillaume stepped forward cautiously. "Your Highness, won't these Brittany men be displeased by such actions?"
His concern only fueled John's anger. "Let them be displeased then! They came here to fight, didn't they?"
Before John could finish his thought, Alain, representing the Brittany knights, arrived.
"Noble Prince, Duke Geoffrey of Brittany extends his respects to you," Alain greeted John with a bow. "I am Baron Alain de La Plaine. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
"Alain... Alain..." John seemed to savor the name for a moment before suddenly speaking up. "Alain, do you think your knights are rested enough? We desperately need your help. The rebels are highly active in the Rochdale area, and we must swiftly quell them to prevent the spread of conflict elsewhere."
The courtiers surrounding John exchanged bewildered glances. They hadn't expected John to make such a direct request. If Alain had been smarter, he would have outright refused or found an excuse. Unfortunately, Alain wasn't that astute. "Assisting you is our duty, Your Highness. Our knights are always prepared to depart," he replied earnestly.
Guillaume shook his head slightly, as if empathizing with the Brittany knights who were now in an unfortunate situation with such a leader.
These knights had barely finished their journey and hadn't rested yet, now they were being sent to the battlefield. If Alain had thought more, he might have tried to delay and secure some rest time for the knights. His straightforwardness surprised everyone present.
Yet John felt no guilt whatsoever; in fact, he felt he had come out on top. "Very well. My forces have a small camp near Rochdale. You can take your duke's army there to station. They should be able to move right in, saving a lot of trouble."
John's overly accommodating attitude even moved Alain a bit. Prince John was indeed very thoughtful, having prepared their forward camp for them. Alain quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you so much, Your Highness. You have truly helped us resolve a lot of trouble. Thank you."
With that, Alain left the room promptly, leaving everyone in the room feeling unusually smooth and successful about the matter. Even Rochest, as straightforward as he was, could only twitch his mouth in disbelief.
Could there really be someone so clueless?
There was a moment when the generals present began to doubt whether Alain's brain was functioning properly. If this guy was the same on the battlefield, he'd definitely be the worst kind of teammate.
"My Lord, this guy doesn't seem too bright," Guillaume whispered to John.
John shrugged without saying anything. Then, he waved his hand back, signaling everyone to leave. The generals who followed John exchanged glances and had no choice but to comply, leaving the room.
After they had all gone, John leaned back in his chair, showing a tired expression. He closed his eyes and began to enjoy a moment of leisure.
Elena entered the room quietly, trying to minimize the sound of opening the door, but John noticed her anyway. She came up behind John and silently began to massage his shoulders. The two remained silent until Elena broke the silence.
"My Lord, you seem a bit down lately," Elena glanced at John's face, afraid she might say something wrong.
John nodded gently. "Indeed, there have been too many worries lately."
He opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "Many things have exceeded my expectations, so handling them has been chaotic and exhausting."
Elena's massage technique was undeniably good, easing some of John's fatigue.
"That's how life goes, My Lord," Elena said in her gentle voice.
John didn't respond to her viewpoint. He had no time now for philosophical discussions on life. All he wanted was to lead his life like his father did, immersed in his career, shuttling back and forth in the vast empire.
Henry II once had a department for his enjoyment, specifically managed by his favorite, Baudric, but John rarely summoned Baudric these days.
John couldn't believe it was entirely voluntary.
"Who would willingly give up their life if not to sustain their career?" John remarked as he stood up from his chair, motioning for Elena to walk with him through the room.
Elena lowered her head, aware that John was likely about to vent his frustrations again about the noisy Breton knights outside.
As the door opened, Elena's heart skipped a beat, but her body seemed resigned to accepting her fate. She was lifted slightly defiantly by John, adding a touch of amusement.
"How's the rehearsal going with the theater troupe lately?" John inquired.
"It's going alright... um..."
Status Power Mingguan
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