บท 3: Chapter Three: Inheritance Issues
"I'd like to ask, how will my father's inheritance be distributed?" Meubel's tone was very serious, her gaze unusually firm, showing no hint of feminine softness.
John didn't have much to say about this question. "You should ask His Majesty the King, not me."
After saying this, John was ready to push past Meubel, but she grabbed his arm, the soft touch making John suddenly freeze.
"I know you're the King's most favored son, you must be able to speak with His Majesty," Meubel said, her eyes now showing a hint of pleading, and her body unconsciously leaning towards John, clearly trying to use her charms.
At this moment, John finally looked at the woman in front of him.
If John remembered correctly, her husband had just died last year, leaving her a widow. Her sister was married to the Earl of Bedford and had no say in matters here. And her sister Isabella was only 12 years old, not yet of age.
Therefore, Meubel was probably the most influential person in the entire Earl of Gloucester's domain right now.
But her power wouldn't last long because once the old Earl died, King Henry II would surely intervene in the inheritance issues here. The three women would have no ability to confront him directly.
"Is this why you deliberately approached me?" John pulled his arm away from Meubel's embrace, a wary look appearing on his face. "I don't want to interfere with my father's decisions, so don't ask too much."
King Henry II was always an autocratic monarch. If John said too much, he might find himself in a situation where he was forced to act the part of the obedient son.
John didn't want to get into such trouble, but Meubel obviously didn't understand.
"No, no, John, Your Highness, you must have a way, please," Meubel's eyes were full of pleading, her attitude shifting from resistance to humility.
John was a bit irritated and said directly to her, "Can you manage the estate? Do you know that there have been bandits appearing on the other side of Cliffe Hill, and you've done nothing about it!"
This remark stunned Meubel. She was indeed unaware of this.
"Good, because I encountered bandits from Cliffe Hill on my journey. If I were to tell the King about this, do you think it's because of my poor choice of route, or because of your poor governance?"
The almost naked threat silenced Meubel, leaving her unable to say a word.
The implications were clear, both directly and indirectly. John didn't want to meddle in Gloucester's inheritance issues, but there was also evidence of the Earl of Gloucester's mismanagement.
In this situation, Meubel couldn't speak up at all. She sat there like a soul being sucked away, feeling both pained and helpless.
Looking at Meubel's desperate expression, John crossed his arms over his chest. In this era, women were naturally the weaker ones. And this woman before him was not at all intelligent.
"With your current abilities, giving you any land would be of no use," John's expression was grim, bluntly expressing his dissatisfaction with Meubel.
"Please, Your Highness," Meubel continued to plead, "if I don't have land, I will truly suffer a miserable fate."
Up until now, Meubel seemed to still not grasp the situation. She kept repeating this plea without addressing the most important point. Giving her land would mean less land for John to acquire.
However, John then thought about how he could possibly use her.
"Meubel, oh Meubel," John suddenly sighed, "there's really no other way. While you may lack the ability to govern a domain, it would be too cruel for you to have no land at all."
Seeing John seemingly change his mind, a glimmer of hope ignited in Meubel's eyes.
John continued, "Your father was after all a prominent minister of the kingdom, and as his daughter, you shouldn't face a tragic fate. So, I will consider pleading your case before His Majesty the King. Of course, this isn't without conditions."
For Meubel, John was the only one who could help her gain some influence, so she naturally seized this lifeline.
"What conditions, Your Highness?" Meubel was almost ready to beg on her knees.
Looking at the flickering fire outside the door, the torches burning brightly cast some light into the dim room, but the hallway outside remained dark and obscure.
John lowered his head again and looked at Meubel, "Take me to review the account books of your castle."
This request was something that the Earl of Gloucester would never agree to if he were still alive. With access to those account books, John could have a thorough understanding of his lands.
But Meubel didn't understand.
She didn't even know what was written in those account books; she only knew that this was her only chance. In such an information mismatch, John completed a perfect deception. Mebur led John through the narrow and cramped corridors of the castle, passing through one wooden door after another, until they reached the castle's basement library. The old man in charge of the library opened his mouth when he saw Mebur but said nothing. Everyone knew that the old Earl was dying, and no one would oppose the new heir. The old man took out a key and opened the door to the library. The heavy door creaked open, emitting a musty smell that made John feel a bit uncomfortable. But curiosity and the desire for power drove John to step inside.
"The accounts..."
The small room wasn't particularly good for exploration; as soon as John entered, he saw the most important account book, thick and filled with Latin text. As a prince, John had no trouble reading Latin, so he picked up the account book and began to read. At the forefront were the deeds. The Earl of Gloucester was considered one of the wealthiest landowners in the Kingdom of England, so the number of his estates and lands was astonishing. Without surprise, these properties would eventually be inherited by his third daughter, Isabella. And Isabella would marry John, who would then manage these lands.
This brings us to the traditions of the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, women were considered similar to children. That is to say, they needed an adult male to oversee them, whether it be a husband, father, or brother. And their property would also be disposed of by their guardian. According to this tradition, the properties Isabella received would actually belong to John.
In addition, the Earl of Gloucester's accounts also recorded other assets. In the castle's warehouse alone, the Earl had hidden about one hundred pounds of silver, several sets of armor, weapons, a significant amount of valuables. In other places, there were many scattered silver reserves hidden away, information even King Henry II was unaware of.
The remaining items held little attraction for John. Those wines and fabrics were definitely not his focus. Having obtained this information in advance, John felt a thrill. The Earl of Gloucester was truly a prominent figure in the kingdom, and it was no wonder King Henry II coveted such wealth and sought to appropriate it through marriage alliances.
After examining the account book, John turned his attention to some scattered documents. He placed the account book on the dusty table and approached the documents. They were contracts, likely related to the transfer of properties. Curiously, he picked one up and saw the signature.
"William, Earl of Gloucester."
"Westbury Manor, this is also your family's property," John muttered to himself as he continued flipping through until he came across a contract regarding the sale of land near Clifftop Hill. The contract was relatively recent, signed about two months ago. Although this piece of land was not directly under the Earl's jurisdiction, his consent was still required for its sale.
However, at that time, the old Earl was probably too ill to review these documents. John glanced briefly at the woman beside him, thinking that perhaps this foolish woman had sealed the contract on behalf of the old Earl.
The other party acquiring the land was a man named Edmund, an Englishman. Apart from his name, John knew almost nothing about him, but at least it was better than knowing nothing at all. If it weren't for the encounter with the Welsh, John would have considered this a mundane land transaction.
However, the presence of bandits in Clifftop Hill forced John to take this news seriously. He tucked away the contract into his pocket. The remaining contracts mostly involved older property transfers, hardly relevant to the present.
"Seen what needs to be seen, time to leave," John said, patting his pocket as if afraid the contract might fall out.
Mebur followed behind John as they left the library, not sparing a glance back. The old man in charge of the library had no words to offer and promptly closed the door behind them once they had left.
Back in the room, John waved Mebur away with a dismissive gesture, locking the door behind her as she left, her expression a mix of fear and discomfort. He then lit a candle and took out the contract.
Lying back on the bed, John pondered what the contract might signify. With the limited information available, John could only speculate that a man named "Edmund" had purchased the land and used it as a base to gather a large group of bandits.
But why would he do such a thing?
John couldn't understand.
Lost in these repeated thoughts, John eventually drifted off into a troubled sleep.
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