Chapter21: The Qualities of a King
"Damn this Middle Ages."
After spending yet another few weeks just traveling, In-ho finally arrived in London, where Edward III was waiting.
"I swear, I’m never getting on a boat again. Damn it..."
In-ho leaned against the carriage, covered his eyes with his fingers, and tilted his head back.
When the letter had arrived, Philip VI had tried to prevent In-ho from leaving.
'How dare they summon my subject! Such insolence!'
He had tried to block In-ho with such bluster, but for In-ho, Edward III’s proposal wasn't all that bad.
In any case, In-ho had to meet Edward III to put a leash on him in the form of the Crusades Preparation Fund, and he knew that was the path to peace.
Meeting Edward III was inevitable.
If so, accepting this invitation was by no means a losing deal.
It was just that the timing of the meeting had been moved up a bit earlier than expected.
London, visible through the gaps in his fingers, was hazy and blurred.
"So this is London..."
The scenery of London was different from Paris.
There were no grand structures to be found, and the roads were mostly dirt.
However, the city planning was quite meticulous.
Buildings were sparsely filled in around the roads, yet they displayed a strangely balanced layout.
It felt like a planned city that prioritized practicality and efficiency.
The acrid smell of coal, the murky air, and the faint scent of rain seemed to prove that this was indeed London.
The heavy atmosphere emanating from London had a different flavor than that of Paris.
"Though I prefer Paris, as it feels more like a typical city."
In-ho chuckled and stretched.
Regardless of what London looked like, it wasn't a city he would be staying in for long, and what did the shape of London matter anyway?
"Anyway, Edward III..."
Edward III.
The protagonist of the Hundred Years' War and the father of the Black Prince.
Neither in In-ho’s own memories nor in the memories of Clement VI were there any detailed recollections of Edward III.
Only that he and Philip VI were cousins, that according to the lineage he could have been the more legitimate ruler of France, and that he had reclaimed power through a coup d'état.
"At the very least, he’s not an easy opponent."
Ultimately, once negotiations began, he had to create a win-win result while ensuring that France took the larger share.
The problem was whether England would accept this.
Philip VI was merely an average king of the Middle Ages, but was Edward III the same?
In-ho couldn't guarantee it.
However, he could be certain that a king who had staged a coup to seize power would not be a pushover.
A young, charismatic, and sharp-witted king.
That was the image In-ho currently held of Edward III.
"Well... the air in London isn't too bad."
Watching the scenery of London from inside the carriage, In-ho headed toward Westminster Palace, where Edward III was waiting.
Westminster Palace felt quite different from the palace in Paris where Philip VI resided.
Perhaps it could be said that the heaviness and practicality of London were more pronounced here.
Solidly interlocked stone walls, high watchtowers prepared for war and invasion, a deeply dug moat, and even a firmly closed iron gate.
The Scottish court had also prioritized practicality, so perhaps this was a unique characteristic of island nations.
"Stop right there!"
A guard blocked In-ho’s path.
Standing before the iron gate, In-ho looked down at the guard and said,
"I am a diplomat of France and the special envoy of Philip VI, Pierre Roger."
Upon hearing those words, the guard trembled and his eyes widened.
"The... The Saint of Rouen!"
'Just how far has this rumor spread? Haa...'
In-ho sighed softly and said to the guard,
"I have come to meet Edward III. Please guide me."
"Ah...! Understood! We have already heard that you would be arriving. Then, this way..."
The guard began to lead In-ho.
In-ho, pretending to be solemn, hid his admiration as he looked at the corridors of Westminster Palace.
'My word... It’s plain to see they are preparing for war.'
Attendants were moving armor throughout the palace, and knights were walking about with swords at their hips.
On the parade ground visible outside the window, soldiers were thrusting spears into the air.
In the corner of the parade ground, the longbowmen England boasted of were shooting arrows, and pages were busy picking them up.
'If it were before I went to Scotland, there might have been no chance of winning.'
In-ho could discern one more thing from this sight.
It had been only a year since Edward III staged his coup.
At a time when he should have been overwhelmed just by cleaning up the aftermath, Edward III had perfectly prepared for war.
From the sight of the soldiers and knights uniting in perfect order to prepare for war, he could see that Edward III’s grip on power was greater than he had thought.
And that Edward III was just as serious about the war.
The guard who had guided In-ho stopped in front of a door and said,
"This is the place."
"Thank you."
In-ho replied lightly and watched the door open.
*Creak.*
Edward III was sitting in the center of the office.
A suffocating silence and the sound of a quill scratching briefly.
In-ho recalled someone saying that a person’s worth could be known by a single glance.
Eyes as sharp as a lion’s.
A thick beard and tightly pursed lips.
And a cold, fierce aura emanating from his entire body.
This was a king.
A being who could be nothing other than a king.
"..."
Edward III did not look up at all, even at the sound of the door opening.
'Is it really possible to be this different from Philip VI? It truly makes one’s heart feel small.'
With a *thud*, the quill stopped.
"So you are Pierre Roger."
A deep voice that resonated in the chest.
Eyes looking at prey turned toward In-ho.
"My apologies. I would have liked to invite you to the drawing room, but I have too much work to handle right now."
Having said that, Edward III lowered his head again and began his work.
In the silence that followed, In-ho smiled.
'Is this a battle of nerves with me? Did you really invite me here to ask for a memorial mass for your mother?'
Of course, In-ho wasn't so easily pushed around by Edward III’s pace.
'Fine, I’ll wait as long as you like. I can see through your tactics clearly enough.'
Edward III was quite a clever man.
There was only one chair in the room—the one Edward III was sitting on—so there was nowhere to sit and wait.
If he sat on the floor, his dignity would be damaged.
If he kept standing, it would look as if a subject were waiting for a response.
In-ho waited for Edward III to finish his work with a smile on his face.
After all, who was In-ho? As a living Blessed one (to be), he was by no means inferior to Edward III in terms of authority.
If Edward III was merely a secular king, wasn't In-ho himself a servant of the Lord who governed all things in the world?
Religious authority was, quite literally, sacrosanct.
"Our Father, who art in heaven."
In-ho made the Sign of the Cross and began to pray.
Seeing In-ho praying, Edward III’s pen stopped.
"..."
"Hallowed be thy name..."
In-ho ignored Edward III and continued his prayer.
This was the masterstroke to break Edward III’s attempt to seize the initiative.
If Edward III had tried to frame him as a subject waiting for a king, In-ho had overturned the board itself, turning the situation into one where a priest’s prayer was being awaited by a believer.
"You are praying in front of me right now?"
When Edward III growled, In-ho smiled brightly and replied,
"It is a priest’s duty to pray so that the lamb does not lose its way. Since Your Majesty seemed so busy, I was just having a conversation with God for a moment."
And finally, Edward III burst into laughter.
"Hahaha. You’re not easy to deal with. Truly, you are the Saint of Rouen. A very pious man indeed."
"I am merely a humble priest following the Lord’s will. Though I have been granted the undeserved title of a living Blessed one."
At In-ho’s pointed remark, Edward III was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Are you not afraid of me? I am the King of England, a parricide who struck down the Regent and neglected his mother’s death. In your eyes, am I not of the devil’s kin?"
'Neglected his mother’s death?'
In-ho was momentarily taken aback by the information he hadn't expected, but he did not lose his smile.
"The Lord forgives those who repent."
Edward III’s eyebrows twitched.
"That is the covenant and love between the Lord and humanity, for which the Lord sacrificed His life. I merely believe in that covenant."
"I don't know whether to admire your pious faith or be disgusted by your arrogance."
Edward III no longer laughed.
"What if I refuse to repent?"
Repentance was an important concept in the Catholic Church.
For the Lord’s teaching was to forgive not seven times, but seventy-seven times if one asked for forgiveness.
Yet, this born king was refusing repentance without a moment’s hesitation, his eyes hardened.
It wasn't just a remark to test In-ho.
It was a declaration of his conviction, an attitude that he had not a shred of regret for his actions.
"Then I shall wait."
In-ho replied with a smile.
"The greatest love does not bind the other person. Nor does it rush them. It simply watches over them from the side. It just waits so that they may escape their suffering on their own. This is the same as the Lord’s love. I merely follow that."
Reciting phrases he had seen in Erich Fromm’s *The Art of Loving*, In-ho looked at Edward III.
Edward III looked at In-ho, completely at a loss for words.
"Do I look like I’m suffering? I’m asking if I look that incomplete to you."
"If you do not feel suffering..."
In-ho dropped his smile and said,
"You wouldn't call yourself a parricide."
Edward III said nothing.
"I am just waiting. If you have sins of your own, make your confession. The Lord will forgive you. Before that, forgive yourself. Does the Lord’s Prayer not say, 'as we forgive those who trespass against us'?"
"Then..."
Edward III said in a trembling voice.
"I will wait. I will wait for eternity. I will not repent until the very last moment. Never. That was the oath I swore when I killed the Regent."
"Then do as you wish."
At In-ho’s simple dismissal, Edward III spoke as if feeling hollow.
"When I heard what you did in Scotland, I thought you were a fox cub..."
In-ho swallowed hard.
He could not even wipe the sweat trickling down his forehead.
'How did he know what I trained them to do in Scotland? Was there a spy in Scotland? Is there a traitor among the lords?'
"Seeing you speak like this, it seems the title 'Saint of Rouen' was not earned for nothing. I have become even more curious about your true nature. I cannot tell at all whether you are a fox... or a noble saint."
Edward III chuckled and rose from his seat.
"Let us end today's business here. Before we enjoy the banquet, shall we take a walk? I still have some things to say to you."
"Are you intending to repent?"
"No."
Edward III gazed out the window for a moment with an expression of love and hate.
With a bitter smile, he opened his mouth.
"In truth, I did not kill my mother."
"..."
"But I intend to kill her."
Edward III clenched his fist tightly.
"My mother is currently confined in Windsor Castle. I am the one who confined her. Everyone believes I stood by and allowed her death, but that is not the truth. I... have not killed my mother yet."
"..."
"Will you help me kill her?"
Edward III waited for In-ho’s answer with a look of madness in his eyes.
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