Chapter 336 - 243: Hereford County

"I hear the great Emperor has run into a bit of trouble in Hungary?"

"Yes. After all, the Emperor invaded Hungary eight years ago, and five years ago, Hungary invaded Bohemia in retaliation."

"Sounds like a real mess."

"It is. But most people fear the sea far more than the land. Besides, it makes no sense to ignore a Catholic nation. Most of the Imperial Nobility have probably never even seen the ocean in their entire lives."

"One can only hope that God’s will can resolve the conflict between them." Edgar shrugged. "But don’t worry, we’ll be perfectly fine. My Hungarian cousin and I have exchanged a few letters. He’s been quite warm toward me and even complained about the news of the Emperor passing through Hungary."

Eric and Edgar chatted about a few other things before Eric finally said he had no objection to Edgar joining the Customs Union, provided he could persuade the Sains of Somerset.

Before Edgar left, he informed Eric that Robert had sent him to give notice: travel to London next month for the Crown Prince’s baptism.

It is worth mentioning that after Robert’s child was born last year, he had invited Eric to offer his opinion on the Crown Prince’s name. Robert had proposed using a Saxon name, like that of his great-grand-uncle, Edward the Confessor. Naming him Edward might give the impression of a legitimate line of succession.

Just as Conqueror William had always insisted, his cousin Edward the Confessor had grasped his hand on his deathbed and promised him the Crown of England, not the usurper, King Harold of England. Besides, his child did indeed have the blood of the Wessex family.

But Eric opposed this idea, telling Robert it was best to stick with a Norman name. On this point, Eric was in agreement with Uncle Odo. Although Odo still held a deep-seated animosity toward Eric, he wasn’t foolish enough to oppose him just for the sake of it.

Eric warned Robert that while respect for the English was still important, his lasting power in England depended on the Normans, not the English. He absolutely could not afford to let the Normans feel alienated from their King. The crown of the Duke of Normandy must take precedence over the Crown of England.

In the end, the Crown Prince was named William, taking the name of the king’s late father, the great Conqueror.

This also caused trouble for Eric. In recent years, to emphasize his identity as the King of England, Robert had summoned a group of Saxon Sains to join his retinue and court. He did this to display his tolerance and benevolence, hoping to convince all Saxons that his rule was completely different from his father’s.

Eric’s actions greatly disappointed these newly favored Saxon Sains. They had always believed that Eric, the Earl of Gloucester, was the Norman who respected them the most. But now, it seemed Eric had betrayed them, and so they grew to resent him.

...

Not long after Edgar left, Emma returned to Bristol Castle in Gloucestershire.

She had returned to Hereford a few days prior.

Regarding Emma, he had personally spoken with the Earl of Hereford three years ago.

The Earl of Hereford was displeased with Eric’s conduct, but because he owed Eric a favor, he was still willing to compromise.

However, he had only one condition: if Eric and Emma had no heirs, the land Eric gifted to Emma must be ensured to pass to her younger brother, Richard, in succession.

Eric agreed to the Earl of Hereford’s request.

It was raining outside.

Emma dismounted her horse with ease, refusing any help from attendants as usual. Splattered mud stained the legs of her riding habit, and she wore a hood because of the rain.

Eric pushed back her hood with his hand, helped her remove the golden pin fastening her veil, and took the veil off.

The veil was very light, made of precious silk from Calabria. Emma didn’t usually care for such fancy things, but she was particularly fond of this veil.

Emma eagerly pulled off her hood. Her braided hair shimmered like golden wheat in late summer, and she carried the faint scent of frankincense mixed with sweat and salt.

"Perhaps you should rest now." Eric removed her cloak, took the towel a maidservant handed him, and passed it to Emma.

"England is always so damp. It rains every day. If you stay cooped up in the castle all the time, you’ll start to grow mold," Emma said, wiping her face with the towel.

"Aren’t these special circumstances?" Eric said, gesturing toward Emma’s stomach.

These past few days, Emma had often felt nauseous in the morning, accompanied by vomiting.

"Maybe I just ate something that went bad. I’d hate to get your hopes up only for you to be disappointed," Emma said, covering her stomach, her face slightly flushed.

"I’ll take it as a bit of spice, then. How has your father been lately? You don’t look very happy."

"I’d like to say he’s in good health, but I can tell he’s not well," Emma sighed.

"What about my potion?"

"He says your potion only makes him feel better for a day, or half a day. He suspects it’s some kind of hallucinogenic mushroom and that drinking too much would be bad for him, so he doesn’t drink it often. Only when the pain is especially bad."

"It’s true, that stuff only provides relief. But if he keeps drinking it, it could extend his time a bit."

Then, Eric took Emma’s hand to lead her inside.

"Aren’t you going to ask about anything else?" Emma asked, tapping her cheek with a pointed look, making it clear she was upset and needed comforting.

"Did that brother of yours make you angry again? His name is Richard, I remember, right?"

"That’s his given name. You should call him Roger of Hereford now. My father has already knighted him."

"I thought he was only fourteen this year."

"Yes, he’s fourteen, and he’ll be fifteen after this year. It’s not unheard of for a Knight’s Squire to receive his knighthood at this age."

"But for my brother, it’s absurd. That’s why I went back this time. I tried to persuade my father, because my brother has never had any proper training as a knight."

"After my first few younger brothers died in childhood, his birth was a joyous miracle for my father. Father even thought it was his pilgrimage in his younger years that finally earned him God’s mercy."

"He doted on him endlessly, terrified he might die young, so he kept him sheltered in his own castle. I’m sure you know, around the age of seven, the sons of nobility are usually sent to the house of a trusted knight with a strong reputation on the battlefield to become a page."

"Around the age of thirteen, they become squires, continuing to learn martial arts, etiquette, and the Knightly Spirit. After several years of training and practical experience, they are deemed ready to receive their knighthood, usually before the age of twenty-one."

"While some have been knighted at fourteen, that is not at all my brother’s situation."

"My brother has never undergone any of this rigorous training. The most he’s done is have my father’s knights occasionally urge him to practice his swordsmanship in front of the castle."

"My father summoned all his vassals and performed the knighting ceremony for him in their presence."

"Hahaha, yes, yes, I know. The one who truly deserves to be knighted is you, my lady," Eric laughed, pinching her cheek, not taking it seriously at all.

"This has nothing to do with that. Eric, listen to me seriously." Emma looked displeased and batted his hand away. "He’s become very unruly. If you plan on dealing with the Hereford County in the future, you’d better not treat this as a joke."

"What did you see?"

"In front of all of Hereford County’s vassals, he called me by my name directly. He said that as the lord, he was going to arrange a marriage for me. So I slapped him twice, hard, dragged him into a chest, and locked him in for a day."

"What did your father say?"

"He said nothing. He hopes you will help Roger when he inherits the Hereford County, and give him guidance."