Setback

"Please explain why you sold your board game patents to the Merchant Guild? And what did you auction, and why not operate these businesses yourself?

The complaints I receive about you are enough to fill my treasury," said King Remus Albus Fermion IX.

Earlier this morning Will had been summoned to appear before the king in his study.

"Your majesty, I sold the board game patents to spend more time concentrating on selling bicycles and managing my properties. I sold those patents to those young men because they asked for help (and overpaid). How could I not help, a young nobleman who wants to own a business," Will said coyly.

"Yes, how could you not?" repeated the king.

"Although, I'm certain these shops shall only serve to encourage more peasants to move to your city to find work.

Frankly, many lords are unhappy with you stealing their labor, the king said.

"Your majesty, how can I be at fault for something, I have no power over? I cannot control the migration of people?" Will said.

"The lords are asking you send their laborers back!" the king said.

"I'll be happy to make an announcement, but I doubt it would stop more commoners from coming," Will said.

"The southern region has been the hardest hit. Many lords tell me, they don't have enough peasants to plant crops this spring!" said the king rubbing his temples.

"Why not send the commoners in Yorkshire to their fiefs?" Will asked.

"You don't think we tried that! We did just that, and do you know what happened?… the peasants escaped to Gadreel," said the king.

"Why don't the lords, increase their wages?" Will asked.

"The lords, have not paid them to coin in the past. Usually, the lord takes their harvest as payment. Since they didn't pay their peasants in the past, they refuse to now," said the king frowning.

"I see the dilemma," said Will grasping the philosophical differences.

Will believe that people should be paid for their labor, most land-owning noble lords believed peasants should work for scraps.

"Very well, I'll keep thinking of a solution," the king said dictating his decree to a steward.

Just then, Crown Prince Roland Godwin arrived.

"Father you summoned me?" the regent asked.

"How was court this morning?" the king asked.

"Troublesome. These nobles are truly tiring father. Have you figured out a solution?" the prince asked.

"Tsk, I'm still thinking," the king replied.

"A few nobles went to the slave guild, but Will has reserved most their entire stock. Thankfully his contract with the Slave Guild ends next month," the prince said.

"Oh? Baron would you consider ending your contract with the slave guild early, you already own 11,000 slaves?" the king asked.

"That is fine, your majesty" Will said.

"Steward, inform the Slave Guild Baron vont Ballard wants to cancel his contract. Moreover, he shall pay for the slaves of the other nobles by my order!" the king.

"Your majesty, why must I pay for the slaves of others?" Will asked annoyed.

"Because you're loyal to the crown. Also, you're the person that caused this mess.

Do you know how many fiefdoms, my grandfather, father, and I have granted? 27!

Do you many times this problem has occurred? 0. That is why you are paying, to help Roland get out of this problem.

Furthermore, as a future member of this family. You are responsible to help your 'cousin' with the kingdom's governance.

By forcing you to pay for slaves, Roland shall look strong in the eyes of the nobles. The nobility shall recognize his power and authority.

In addition, the nobles shall feel more comfortable presenting their grievances in court," the king rebuffed Will.

In other words, the king was using Will to legitimize the rule of his son. Although Will was being used as a whipping post, he hoped this would engender a future favor.

"I understand your majesty. If this is for Roland, I'm happy to support him in any way possible," said Will diplomatically.

Roland wasn't stupid, he knew why the miser had agreed so quickly.

"Thank you cousin, I shall repay you in the future," Crown Prince Roland said.

Will bowed in gratitude.

For Will, paying a few hundred gold to earn a favor from the future king was worth the trade.

"Then all is settled. Let's now discuss your trade agreement with the Dwarven king," said King Remus Albus Fermion IX.

"First, tell me for what purpose you asked the dwarves to purchase sulfur and bat guano?

You could purchase guano from the northern district.

Second, while, you may decide what happens in your fiefdom, explain to me why you negotiated for railroads from the Albania border to Guidon?

Third, why did you request a pipeline leading from the Dwarvish kingdom here?

What do you plan to accomplish?" The king asked suspiciously.

"Your majesty, I sold my board game business to fund a new venture," Will said.

"New venture?" the king and prince said simultaneously.

"Yes. Previously my goal was to focus on entertainment and transportation. However, after visiting the Dan Kolduhr and seeing their technology, I've decided to scale back my entertainment business and start an energy company," Will said.

"What is energy?" Crown Prince Roland asked.

"Energy can heat people's home in the winter, turn on light at night, cook indoors without magic, and keep food cold in summer," Will said.

"It sounds like magic?" Prince Roland asked.

"I assure you it's not, it's science and engineering," Will said.

"That explains, why the Dwarves are charging so much for this volcanic energy," the king said.

"How do you plan to control this energy?" Roland asked.

"I asked the Dwarves to build a pipeline to Elder Thaddeus earldom. From there, I'll be able to provide energy to the entire Northern District and Yorkshire," Will said.

"Do you not plan to do the same to your territory and Guidon?" the king asked.

"Not to Guidon. But I do plan to use energy in my territory," Will answered truthfully.

The king sat back in his chair and thought. After more than five minutes, the king looked at Will sadly and spoke to him in a fragile voice.

"I cannot allow you to own a pipe into the Northern District. As you are familiar, the Northern District houses the vont Whitby ancestral land, and it's also our domain of power.

The energy pipeline must be owned and operated by our family.

To allow another family that much power over our ancestral domain and capital might weaken our power base. Thus, I cannot allow this happened.

However, as a member of our family, I can offer you and your descendants a seat on the company's board. Although you can't own the company, you can earn profit."

This was a huge blow to Will's plans. He negotiated with King Druker Flameworn for his own purposes. Now the king would only give his blessing to nationalize the energy industry.

Will hated when country's nationalization private industries. What was the point of letting the government profit from his hard work.

Will laid back in his chair, this was certainly a setback. He even sold his board games, in anticipation of owning the energy right to Northern Districts and Yorkshire.

Not only had the king questioned his purchase of bat guano, but he outright claimed his energy companies as his own.

"I'm sorry your majesty, I'd rather scrap the project then sell it to the kingdom," Will replied.

The king saw how dejected Will looked and it pained his heart. But he could not allow another family any control over the Northern District.

If the northern lords shifted their allegiance, it could create a ripple effect across the kingdom.

Even now Will's reputation was enough to cause the king a headache. Thankfully, Will never cared for politics.

Every king knew the largest faction, was the commoners and peasants. With just a word, if Will wanted, he could unite the commoners and peasants to overthrow the nobles.

The king knew the best decision he made was to encourage him to marry his niece. At the same time, the king knew he had had a balanced approach to handling William.

Yet today, the king had penalized Will and rejected his energy company.

"I'll approve your purchase of sulfur from the Dwarves, but you must purchase guano from the Northern District. I'll also allow you to build your railway," the king announced.

"Thank you majesty. Are you opposed to me providing energy to Gadreel?" Will asked.

"None. I'll also approve the Dwarves purchase of kingdom property in Friendship Valley. I shall send a modified contract to King Druker Flameworn," King Remus Albus Fermion IX said.

"Thank you, your majesty," Will said standing up from the chair and bowing.

"Will, I look forward to seeing your railroad in person one day," Crown Prince Roland said, as Will exited the king's study.

"Listen, Roland, someday soon you'll not just be king, but the vont Whitby main family head.

You have a duty to protect not just this king, but our family lineage and power.

You cannot allow outsiders to threaten our control over the Northern District. It's that control, that's allowed our family to hold onto the throne!

Earl vont Claybaugh in the east, and Earl vont Alms' in the center both seek to topple our family from the throne. Now, the new Earl vont Hanover's grip on the west is threatened.

Now, a greater power grows in the south. After I die, you must maintain the balance," King Remus Albus Fermion IX said.

"Yes, father!" Prince Roland promised.

…

Will returned to his Yorkshire estate. Upon his entrance, the household staff thought Will was unhappy.

In truth, Will was in deep thought. Although he lost his ability to sell energy in Yorkshire, he could still sell it in Gadreel.

Moreover, now that his plans for gun powder had been approved, he thought about how best to implement his plans.

Based on the treaty with Albania, Will knew building guns or cannons could lead to war. Instead, he could only make fireworks. If all went well, he'd have fireworks for his inaugural Founders Day Holiday.

These two developments could still boost his territory's total gross domestic product.

"Michael after New Year, I want the household staff to return to Gadreel," Will said.

"Very well, sir!" Michael said.

After speaking to Michael, Will sent a letter to Mei and let her know his business plans had changed.