Ignominious Nobles

The next morning, Will and Elder Thaddeus return to Yorkshire riding on the back of Archimedes and Nisha. Both Archimedes and Elderly Thaddeus looked frailer.

"Master, tell me truthfully are you ill? You look frailer and frailer every day?" Will asked.

"Huh," Elder Thaddeus sighed.

"I'm dying Will. The Goddess Nyx passed judgment on me for my past crimes. I've told, most of my life, I was a tyrant. I terrorized and killed discriminately. I've lived for hundreds of years, long enough to remember before the dwarf king was born. But, all men are mortal.

I search for eternal life but failed. It was in my pursuit of enteral life, I found you.

You helped me change my life. When we first met, even now, you showed me a different life.

I tried to change the world through fire and death, but that only brought fear and intimidation. Whereas you join the world through markets and trade relations. Where I caused destruction, you build bridges of friendship.

I was happy to see such development, in my lifetime. I believe you'll make this a better world. Let's stop at my family's farm. I need to rest, the goddess robbed me of mana. For the second time in my life, I see the world as non-magical commoners. Will continue to improve this world for the better," Elder Thaddeus said.

"Yes, master!" Will replied as they rode toward the northern district.

'To think, we both met goddesses. The heavenly realm seems active,' Will thought.

When they arrived on the northern fringe a few days later, Elder Thaddeus was cold a feverish. In the end, Will carried his master to his earldom. The household staff was shocked and mortified to see this monster return.

Still, news traveled quickly, that Grandmaster Thaddeus was sick and close to death.

"Not yet! You promised me more time," Elder Thaddeus said in his sleep.

Will remained at his bedside until his fever decreased. The cold northern winters whipped cold frosty wind in Ming Manor. Will paid to clean the fireplaces and better insulate the manor.

After the renovations, the heat returned to the manor. Will ordered the house staff to clean and dust. Hot meals were served to Elder Thaddeus and doctors frequented the estate.

Eventually, Elder Thaddeus' fever subsided and color returned to his skin.

The Winter Solstice was in a fortnight. Will wanted to get to Yorkshire early to plan his third auction. He wanted to clear the board games and cafe from his portfolio.

Will wanted to solely on more profitable endeavors. By selling the board game and cafe patents, he could further Fermion's liberalism.

However, before Will could put his plan in motion, the butler announced a group of nobles came to see him.

The house staff has grown fond of Will. Will was the closest thing to a celebrity in Fermion. To serve Will, was to serve the best of society. No doubt, the house staff expected guests to return after being vacant for so long.

"See them in," Will said.

Will closed his master's bedroom door and left to greet the guest.

"Greetings," Will said to a group of eight men around his age, 16 years old.

"Greeting Baron vont Ballard! My name is Silas vont Exeter and these are my colleagues. We went to the Royal Academy with Kurosawa. All eight of us are second, third, or fourth sons. We admire you, a third son, who was able to surmount obstacles and succeed," Silas fawned.

"I must admit you came at a time of inconvenience, but I'm always happy to meet friends of Kurosawa," Will said warmly.

"In truth, we did not always treat Kurosawa the best. We went down to Gadreel to visit, make amends to Kurosawa, and meet with you. Your butler, Michael, told us you left to travel. Recently, we learned you were here, arrived to pay our respects to the genius of our age," Silas said obsequiously handing Will a letter.

The letter had Kurosawa's seal, which was his fiefdom's single tower on a shield.

"My lord, these men and I graduated the same year from the Royal Academy. These men are sycophants, they belonged to a fan club of yours and now act as your disciples in public.

These men are not wise, performing the lowest in my year. However, they do belong to a highly influential group of non-inheriting high-noble children with no prospects. Sincerely, your humble servant Kurosawa," Will finished reading the letter.

Will knew Kurosawa's handwriting well, this letter in its cadence and penmanship was authentic.

"How many are in your group?" Will asked.

"I represent a group of almost a hundred you men," Silas said.

"How did such a group develop?" Will was stunned that a group like this existed.

"Our group began to oppose the law of primogenitor. We were growing in size every day, but your success made us realize there was a less political pathway coward.

Our group began studying your invention and investments. Although we cannot use mana, we followed your achievements like they were ours. Eventually, you became our group's idol," Silas said.

"Interesting," Will said.

"We call ourselves the bourgeoisie, after the bourse, or area, where we hold our meetings. Our group represents the growing tension between the bourgeoisie and aristocrats.

We met with the king two years ago, he completely ignored us. Wealth! That is the only thing sought because wealth begets power. And we want the power to change society!" Silva's said passionately.

'History repeats itself,' Will thought. On Earth, and similar to now, the bourgeois mostly consisted of self-employed businessmen.

Without realizing it, Will had become the catalyst of the bourgeois movement. These young professionals sought to play a greater economic role in society.

They idolized Will and wanted to follow in his stop steps. Unlike their aristocratic fathers, who were feudal landlords, which they could never become. These men wanted a chance to become a new economic ruling class, like Will.

These men didn't want to get rich by charging their peasants rent, no, they wanted to be captains of industry. What they wanted to learn from Will was the chance to learn business administrators and financial capital.

For these men business administration and financial caption would increase their wealth, which would increase their political power. However, being bourgeoise was not just about wealth and power, but also about a lifestyle. Being bourgeoise meant having a different lifestyle than their parents or grandparents. To this younger generation being bourgeoise meant independence and freedom.

The bourgeoise admired Will's ability to not be constrained by his parents or interior design choices. Will's manor had imported Albanian, Imperial, Beastmen, and Dwarven products. Especially after Will's Home Debut, the price of imported goods began to rise astronomically.

"Invite your group, and similar noblemen under twenty to the auction house after New Year. I shall offer you an opportunity to wealth, as well as offer my consultation," Will said.

After the group of bourgeoise men, Will returned to Elder Thaddeus' bedside only to find him sitting up, eating in bed.

"Thank you for taking care of me disciple. The Archimedes told me, you stayed by my bedside the entire time," Elder Thaddeus smiled.

"I'm glad to see you better, master!" Will said.

"You should go, leave me here. The doctor says I must remain on bed rest. But, before you go, I want to offer you a chance to learn a spell from me. You can either learn space magic or magma magic. From me, your choice," Elder Thaddeus smiled weakly.

"Master, I want to learn your space magic," Will said tears filling in his eyes wells.

"Very well, swallow this pearl. This Goddess Nyx gave me it to imbue with my magic," Elder Thaddeus' hands trembled to hand the translucent pearl to Will.

Will obediently swallowed the pill, and immediately he felt his mana whirlpool tremble. This was the second time in his life, he experienced such a sensation.

As his whirlpool became a tempest, he felt his mind unlock. He understood space magic and teleportation as if was the easiest thing to understand.

The pill also expanded his mind on the nexus between earth and space. In-depth knowledge of mass, matter, and gravity filled his mind.

Every place he'd ever been, stood behind a door he could walk through. Traveling between Yorkshire and Gadreel went from a month to a microsecond.

"Master this is a wonderful gift," Will cried.

"You are my precious disciple, how could I not leave you something? Now leave Doric said you had a gift to present Roland," Elder Thaddeus motioned him out of the room.

"But master…" Will said.

"I'm Thaddeus Ming, the Demon King, you think I'll die a weakling death in a bed? I decided how I lived and I'll decide how I die, the gods are damned!" Elder Thaddeus said, spiting his disdain for gods on the floor.

Will knew then, that although Elder Thaddeus lacked a mana pool, he was still filled with fire.

Will hugged Archimedes and Elder Thaddeus and then departed for his manor.

When Will and Nisha walked from Elder Thaddeus' bedroom straight into his study in Yorkshire.

Will stepped out of the study and called for Michael. Moments later Elizabeth and Micheal both arrived stunned.

"William, when did you get here?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.

"My lord, if I had known you were here, I'd have to staff greeted you at the door!" Michael said in his usual ridged self.

"Micheal please have my luggage cleaned and returned to the duffle bag. Elizabeth, why are you here?" Will asked.

"After fall break, I came to stay the night. I didn't upset you did I? I wrote Michael," Elizabeth said nervously.

"No, it's a happy surprise to see you! Isn't it Nisha?" Will asked.

Nisha jumped up into Elizabeth's open arms. During the jump, Nisha shrunk from jungle cat to house cat. Nisha purred in Elizabeth's arms as Elizabeth petted Nisha.

"Fancy a ride? I need to visit the capital," Will asked on the stairwell as he moved to his bedroom to wash and change.

"That would be lovely, but only if we can bring Nisha,?" Elizabeth said happily.

"Very well! Michael have the cook prepare a sumptuous meal first!" Will said in a good mood.

That mood lasted until he met Crown Prince Roland Godwin vont Whitby, the Regent.

"Blasted all, you two too! Are you both a part of those ignominious nobles? Those bloated bourgeoisie!

Every day, every damn day it's a new law they oppose. They idolize you but see me as a generational turncoat. Oh, I detest those ignominious nobles!" Prince Roland shouted.

"I can ensure your majesty, neither I or Elizabeth agrees with philosophy," Will said.

"I agree with parts of their philosophy. They want greater freedom and independence for non-first-born children. They admire you, William, how could I detest such a group?" Elizabeth said.

This caught both the prince and Will off guard.

"Cousin, do you accuse me too?" Prince Roland asked. He and Elizabeth were always close as children.

"No, but surely you understand as the second son, the flaws in primogeniture?" Elizabeth asked.

"Prince Roland took action, and secured his position through whits," Will said supportively.

"Yes, but he was helped more by his mana pool, and his brother's lack of one. Is it not common for magical sons, regardless of their birth order to inherit? But, what about nonmagic families? Should not second and third sons get some inheritance?" Elizabeth asked.

"…"

"..."

"I'll consider your point cousin. What do you want Will?" an exasperated Prince Roland asked.

"Sire, I present you [Blood Throne], a Dwarf sold I crafted from Dwarven metal, ebony, and silver. Only, those of royal blood may wield this sword. This sword is rune crafted to never chip or dull. To activate the spell rub your blood on the sword.

Sire, the sword is my gift to you. I also have a trade agreement between his Majesty Druker Flameworn and myself.

Crown Prince Roland decided to use the bloodline functionality of his sword as he had sliced his finger with its edge.

The process was rather eye-opening, in that it released a blindingly bright flash when it registered its first bloodline.

"Sire!" The stewards screamed in horror.

The guards rushed into the room, halberds pointed at Will and Elizabeth.

"Put your weapons down! Will, you do me a great honor by gifting me this sword? I shall examine your trade agreement between Dhan Kolduhr and Gadreel, but you must do me a favor," Prince Roland swung Blood Throne. He could feel the connection to the weapon.

"Yes, sir. How many I assist you with?" Will bowed.

"Deal with those ignominious noblemen, help them see reason?" Prince Roland said mock sparing with Blood Throne.

"It shall be done!" Will said.