Chapter 91: Yorkshire
After two nights on the road, Yorkshire came into view on the fourth day.
"Stop the carriage!" Will called.
The carriage came to a halt on a hill overlooking the capital. The capital sat below next to a monstrous river. The capital was an enormous wall city. The sunlight bouncing off Yorkshire's white walls looked majestic. Will could tell at even from a distance, the Yorkshire's walls at least 10 meters tall.
From Will's southern perspective he could just make out the castle's tall spires in the distance. Yorkshire looked similar to Rijilir, except Yorkshire was built with five concentric, as opposed to Rijilir's three. The two outrings were completely cut off from the lake.
By Will's estimates, Yorkshire was twice the size of Guidon. To compare Guidon to Yorkshire, was similar to comparing a single grape to a grapefruit. Even at dawn, Will could hear the hustle and bustle that came with a metropolis. Immediately, Will's heart ached. Yorkshire reminded him of medieval New York City, London, Tokyo, or Hong Kong.
To the north, Yorkshire was a massive mountain, with an impressive waterfall cascading down towards the city. Farmland surrounded Yorkshire on the east, south, and west. The carriage traveled through the farmland, Will say golden carts of wheat being loaded. Cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and different leafy greens were loaded into other carts. Soldiers and farmers worked in unison to cut, pick, and load the crops.
Will, Rebecca, and Elizabeth road into Yorkshire. The closer the carriage came to Yorkshire's gates, the more insignificant Will felt. The first thing Will noticed was the portcullis were made of mithril and the outer doors were made of gold. It certainly gave the impression of a wealthy capital.
As Will approached the gates, loud trumpets erupted. An attachment of city guards waited for Will. Earlier Will had sent a missive to Mei, letting her know they were delayed a day by bandits. Will carriage bypassed guard stand and the carts and carriages waiting to be inspected to enter the city. In Fermion, there was a separate entrance for nobles to expediently enter a city.
The coachman pulled the horses to a stop, in front of the city gates. A blonde, blue-eyed man in silver armor approached the carriage on his horse. Will, Rebecca, and Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage.
"Hail, William vont Ballard! I am Sir. Wallace guard captain of his Majesty King Remus Albus Fermion IX" said.
"Greetings Sir. Wallace," I am William vont Ballard a most auspicious acquaintance to you," Will said bowing. Although the guard captain did not announce himself as a noble, Will still bowed because the guard captain greeted him using the king's name. In the capital, a lapse of etiquette could lead to ridicule.
"Greetings, venerable Elizabeth vont Whitby and Disciple Rebceeca vont Ballard. Duke vont Whitby is waiting for you at your residence Sir. vont Ballard, please follow us. We'll escort you to your residence," the Sir. Wallace said.
Will nodded his head, and the trio stepped inside the carriage. The carriage was surrounded by ten guards, three in front and behind and two on both sides.
"Excuse me, Dear sister and Elizabeth could you both please do me a favor. I read, when a person will be bestowed a peerage, they may offer gifts to the citizens and fellow nobles. To celebrate my peerage, I want to celebrate with the populous," Will said opening the safe underneath the carriage floor. In the safe were thousands of copper coins.
There were two reasons Will wanted to throw money out the carriage window to the citizens. First, he had always wanted to do something like that. Second, he knew it would improve his public relations. Will knew the importance of public relations and created a two-step plan to do just that. Step one is to improve his public relations, increase his name recognition. In Guidon, almost everyone knew his name. But in the capital, he was a nameless noble. Step two, create a favorable image in the minds of citizens. Sharing his wealth was the easiest way to accomplish his two-step plan.
This also solved another problem, Will had growing piles of copper coins he never used. Will only carried gold coins in his purse. This provided him a good opportunity to rid himself of copper coins. Buying favor, by getting rid of unwanted currency was a fortuitous opportunity.
Elizabeth and Rebecca's eyes widen at the number of copper coins in the safe. The entire ride neither knew such an amount of money was right below their feet. Then both realized, what if the bandits had found out. What if they decided to check the carriage, what would have happened to them? Rebecca and Elizabeth looked at each other and shuttered. They immediately agreed to help WIll.
Moreover, both knew Will was not the type of man to ask for favors. Will had only asked Rebecca for one favor before and that was to teach him how to read (A/N: This does not include all the times Will asked Rebecca to do him the favor of leaving him alone).
As the carriage entered Yorkshire, people formed a column to view the noble carriage being escorted by the city guards. Even though Elizabeth grew up in Yorkshire and was used to riding through Guidon, this time felt different. Rebecca and Elizabeth waved to the crowds and began throwing out copper coins to the masses. Instantly, a riotous frenzy occurred. Citizens fought to pick up copper coins flying out the window.
"Who is that? A suitor for the princess?" a person asked.
"No, that's William vont Ballard, the Lord of Games, the king is bestowing him the peerage of a baronet," another shouted.
"Baronet vont Ballard," others chanted.
"Long live Barnoet vont Ballard," even more shouted.
"Praise you Baronet vont Ballard," others praised.
Will waved out the window, accepting the praise, shouts, and chants. Will also through coins as he waved. As the masses gathered around Will's carriage trying to catch coins, guards on horseback struggled to make headway.
As the carriage slowly moved through the city, Will realized he had yet to see the river. Will had read that a river cut through Yorkshire dividing it in half. It wasn't until they passed the third gate, Will saw the river, that he realized the river divided the nobles from commoners The comments were cut off from the river.
The city of Yorkshire was composed of four concentric semi-circles. The outside wall encircled the city. Inside the city, there were commoner and commerce districts separate by a wall. The next wall separated the commerce from the noble district. And the last wall separated the nobles from the castle.
Mei did an apt job describing the large impenetrable castle walls. There was only one road that led from the castle to the southern gates. As they rode, Will noticed the streets looked liked mazes. If an attacking army, were able to scale or break through the outer walls, they would have a difficult time navigating the city.
The carriage pulled to a stop outside the noble district. By that time, the safe full of copper coins had been emptied. Outside the noble gates, Will saw his properties and immediately realized Mei understated how stately the business looked. The casino alone took up a block by itself. The casino in Yorkshire made his casino in Guidon look dwarish. The casino was massive, adorned with gold and marbe floors. Outside the casino, Will saw the staff bow or curtsey deeply. The bank sat next to the casino, and the cafe, and theatre were located across the street. Will was impressed, that Mei was able to secure good locations.
Unlike the common Tudor houses and businesses, his brick-and-stone casino and theatre certainly stood out. Only the cafe, was had the same Tudor architecture style.
After all, the three most important things in business were location, location, and location. His buildings buffered the noble district. This meant the nobility had to pass his building every time they left the noble district. Moreover, the location meant they also didn't have to travel far. The only building Will did not see was his general store.
"Paper's please" asked the guards standing outside the noble district.
Will, Rebecca, and Elizabeth hand over their identification papers. Will could count on one hand, the number of people to asked for his identification paper, since he moved to Guidon.
"Thank your Sir. vont Ballard. We have registered, your crest sir. You won't have to stop again. Sorry to trouble you sir," the guard said.
The guards opened the noble district gates, and Will eye's marvel at the images. The first thing, Will saw was the bridge over a peaceful river. As the carriage moved forward, Will saw a riverfront filled with sturdy trees and quiet grass. Nobles picnicked outside with decorative tents filled with desserts and hors d'oeuvres. Looking over the riverfront were large impressive stone mansions, with small manicured front lawns.
"In case you aren't familiar, in Yorkshire the closer your residence is to the river or castle, the more prominent the family. My families' house is the first house on the corner outside the castle gate," Elizabeth said.
As the carriage rolled through the noble district, Will saw the castles out his window. The castle was built inside a riverbed on a hill. From inside the carriage, Will noticed how the castle looked to be floating on the river. Inside the castle walls, Will saw four round towers and a massive edifice with twin spires reaching to the heavens.
After half an hour, the escort stopped in front of an overly large mansion near the western wall of the city, far from the castle and riverfront. The isolated gaudy mansion was tucked away from far other noble mansions, the back of the noble district like it was castaway. Unlike the other mansions that had small manicured lawns and prominent mansions, Will's front year was a grove.
After traveling through a grove of unkept trees along a paved gravel road, the carriage pulled to a stop on a semicircle driveway. When the footman opened the door and Will stepped out he was greeted by two-column of his household staff. On his porch were his mother, father, and the duke and duchess. Mei stayed curtsied at the bottom of the steps.
Before acknowledging his Mei or his household staff, Will helped Elizabeth and Rebecca from the carriage. Elder Thaddeus and Archimedes were the last out of the carriage.
"Will your house is beautiful!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Brother, I am speechless," Rebecca said.
"Mei, didn't I ask for a small house?" Will asked.
"Greetings, Boss Will, I followed your instructions. I purchased a small mansion tucked away in a grove, and then remodeled it with the available funds. I hope this house meets with your approval, " Mei said.
"Certainly," was all Will could say. Mei misinterpreted his instructions, but at least the mansion was hidden. He wouldn't have to worry about what the other nobles would say about a baronet having a mansion as large as an Earl.
"Greetings Duke and Duchess vont Whitby," Will bowed.
"Greetings to you as well. I look forward to your peerage ceremony tomorrow evening. To celebrate your peerage, I am holding a ball in your honor at my house," The duke said.
"Thank you your graces, you due me an honor!" Will said.
"I wish we could stay longer, but we must return home," the duchess said.
In Fermion, after a person received a peerage there was a ball to celebrate. Throwing your own ball to celebrate your peerage was considered low-brow or tasteless. Thus, the rank of a person having the ball in your honor held great significance. Having the only duke in Fermion, holding a Peerage Ball, was a great honor for Will. This ball would serve as his entry into Fermion's nobility. Will would have to give the vont Whitby's a suitable thank you gift.
After, Elizabeth and her family left. James and Helen vont Ballard hugged their children.
"Son, your butler Micheal is most exceptional," Helen vont Ballard said.
"Thank you, madam. I am most humbled. Master, my name is Micheal and I am at your beck and call," he said.
Micheal was a tall 1.9 meters man, with black hair and dark brown eyes. He was dressed in a black servant suit that was well pressed, with shiny black shoes.
"Mei, I want to inspect my properties this afternoon, be here at 15th bell. Bring over the account ledgers before then for me to review. Now, Micheal, please give me a tour of the house," Will said following Micheal inside.
Mei curtsied before leaving with Elder Thaddeus and the guards.
Micheal showed Will the main foyer with adjacent doors that lead to separate Gentlemen's and Ladies' Mourning rooms. Will explored the Gentleman's room and saw the room had a long neat desk, with a comfortable chair and was stashed with liquor, cigars, and a fireplace.
The foyer lead to a Grand Hall, that James told Will was fit for an Earl. Behind the Grand Hall was a Conservatory sandwiched between two drawing rooms. Standing in the Grand Hall, with his back to the door, Micheal explained to the left of the Grand Hall was the Gallery and to the left of the Gallery was the Ballroom. To the right of the foyer, was a Library and Game room, to the right of the Library and Game Room was the Terrance.
The second floor had ten bedrooms. Above the foyer was the Master bedroom, the Gentleman's bathroom was above the Gentlemen's Morning room, the Ladies' bathroom was above the Ladies Morning room. Will's parents and Rebecca stayed in the guest rooms over the drawing rooms. There were three rooms above the Gallery and Library and Gameroom. There was a banister over looking the ballroom, and there was a large balcony overlooking the Terrance. There was also a nursery across from the master bedroom. It took Micheal an hour to show Will the entire mansion. On the lower floor, below ground was the Servant Quarter. Micheal recommended that Will inspect the servant's room after breakfast tomorrow.
"Son, your mother and I are impressed with your house," James vont Ballard said, with a hint of jealously and pride.
James was too poor to afford a house in the capital. In the past, when he came to the capital he stayed in an inn. Seeing his youngest child's house, put him to shame. He never suspected Will would accomplish so much in 14 years, then he could in his lifetime.
"Will this house is so large, won't you get lonely sleeping by yourself in that large master bedroom?" Rebecca asked trying to look like a cute Lolli.
"No!" Will said.
"Master, Mei sent a courier with the account ledgers you requested and Duke vont Whitby sent you two letters of invitations. I took the liberty of placing them in your study," Michael said with a bow.
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