Founder’s Day Festival

After last night's assassination attempt, Will teleported his household to Gadreel.

The household staff were both scared and amazed at Will's powers. After all dual elemental mages are rare.

Ms. Park herself refused to walk through the spacial door. Will threaten to demote her before she agreed to walk through.

The old woman closed her eyes and prayed to Aether as she space travel. She was in Gadreel by the end of her second word.

Most of the maid followed Ms. Park's example of closing their eyes and walking through.

Micheal who didn't want to lose face walked through the door like he was taking a morning stroll. Only to walk back through again to escort Ms. Park.

Soon, all the staff was hard at work getting his mansion is Gadreel in ordered.

Will noticed most of the furniture were covered by white cloths. The maids folded cloths, dusted the furniture, light candles, and lit the fireplaces.

While the mansion in Gadreel was getting in order, Ms. Park left a small contingent of maid to shut down the mansion in Yorkshire.

After the household staff was hard at work, Will returned to Yorkshire to help a shaken Elizabeth get to Guidon.

Elizabeth was still visibly upset about Will assassination's attempt. To know an assassin was a few doors down from where you were sleeping would cause anyone anxiety.

Elizabeth perfect life came crashing down. She was used to plots against her family. But her fiancée, was almost killed! The man she loved. It was to much.

Elizabeth held onto Will as he teleported her, and Sasha, to Vanessa office. Elizabeth hands trembled, and her eyes were still red from all the crying.

"How are you so calm?" Elizabeth looked at Will who seemed unfazed.

"I'm not worried about the past, I'm focused on the future. I'm thinking how I can protect you and our family in the future!" Will said coldly.

"Oh William, I'm not sure I can live like this," Elizabeth said nervously.

"I understand. I won't pressure you. When you've made you decision let me know!" Will said.

"You're not mad at me?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, I understand. Last night was traumatic for you and me. It made me realize a lot of things I took for granted.

I decided after Eleanor's wedding that I would become stronger. I lost sight of that goal. Last, night reminded me of that.

Last night, the only thing I could think about was spending my life with you. Seeing our children grow, Gadreel, and my business grow.

To have some one invade my home, was unforgivable. I shall never let that happen again. Never again!" Will said vehemently as he walked Elizabeth to the Mage Academy.

"Thank you for sharing your feelings. I thought, it was just me feeling sad and angry.

I share your desire to grow old together and watch our children grow old. But, all I can think about right is our children's lives being at risk.

I don't want my children to loose their father to assassination. I don't think my heart could take such a thing. William, you mean everything to me, I can't lose you!" Elizabeth tear ducts opened as a flood of tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"Elizabeth I'll tell you a secret. This year, I plan to breakthrough and become a master! When that happens, I'll strengthen the array around our Gadreel mansion," Will said.

"What about the array around your Yorkshire mansion?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.

"That array was cast by Elder Thaddeus. When he became ill, the array disappeared. That's why the assassin were able to get in so easily.

That was my fault. I never considered how Elder Thaddeus' health could affect my security.

He was my mentor and my protector. With him ill, most of the protection he afford me had disappeared. That's why I need to grow stronger on my own. The only one who can protect me, you, our family is me!" Will said stopping outside the Mage Academy front gates.

"Then I trust you! I'll gladly put my life in your hands. I hope you can protect me and our family in the future," Elizabeth said.

"Thank you! I don't take your trust and love lightly. I'll pursue strength until I reach Grandmaster or what's beyond Grandmaster," Will said assertively.

"In five months we'll be married. I'm looking forward to calling you my husband," Elizabeth blushed, kissed Will on his cheek, and ran into the Mage Academy. Sasha bowed and ran after her.

***

Will returned to Vanessa's office and then teleported to Gadreel.

Waiting for him in study was Kurosawa.

"Kurosawa why are you waiting for me?" Will asked surprised to see Kurosawa sitting patiently in a chair.

"My lord, Gadreel's founding anniversary is next month. I need to know your plans?" Kurosawa asked.

Will did not have plans, in truth he'd forgotten the one year anniversary was a month away.

Hollidays can have both a positive and negative impact on the economy.

Holidays provided a positive impact on commerce and leisure. A day of from work, usually meant families spent more time together.

That would most likely give small shops an extra boost in profit. And the company most likely to gain would be his Silver Phoenix properties.

But it's a double-edged sword: businesses that stay open and see increased traffic stand to benefit substantially, yet others that shut would lose a full day of productivity and still have to pay their staff.

Will had to weigh consumer spending against productivity. Moreover, Will knew a Founder's Day Celebration would cost the city money.

'Tsk, holidays were a drain on the economy!,' Will thought.

Yet, Will knew lost productivity could be made up for elsewhere. There are also sentimental factors that cannot be measured. Holiday's increase morale, increase patriotism, deepen social identities.

"I don't have any plans for Founder's Day. What do you suggest," Will though.

"I'm surprised to hear that?" Kurosawa said momentarily stunned.

"At the Royal Academy, my professor uplifted the virtues of recognizing a fief's founder and founding day. My lord, I suggest we celebrate Founder's Day and subside the cost of food and beer," Kurosawa recommended.

"That's an excellent proposal. But I also want you give a few coins to bards, artists and poets to create songs, art, and poems uplifting Gadreel. Say it was Elizabeth's idea," Will said flippantly.

"Yes, my liege," Kurosawa responded before leaving.

Fermion already had to many holidays. There were holidays for kingdom's independence, the king's birthday, holidays for different gods and goddess, and the latest holiday was for his airship.

However the most famous holidays were for the harvest and New Years.

There were also holidays for the spring and autumn equinoxes, and summer and winter solstices.

While most people followed the sun calendar, there were pockets of people who followed the moon's lunar orbit.

This was another reason, Will was hesitant to celebrate Gadreel's founding day. He wasn't sure if people want to celebrate another holiday.

City Lords had to power to dictate holidays, except the kingdom's independence and king's birthday.

Guidon's official holidays in chronologically order were Founder's Day, King's Birthday, Kingdom's Independence, Harvest Holiday, and New Year's.

As far as Will was concerned, five holidays were more than enough.

Anymore might harm small businesses in particular, and risk thousands of workers' jobs. For small and medium business holidays were another day of no income. He'd need to talk to Crown Prince Roland about reducing the number of holidays.

That said, Will was excited to analyze the impact of Founder's Day on Gadreel's economy.

Will was curious to learn whether the benefits outweighed the costs.

If Founder's Day could boost growth by increasing consumption, efficiency, morale, productive because workers better rested and relaxed.

Gadreel's Founder's Day and New Years were almost the same time difference as New Years and Valentine's Day.

A month later Founder's Day too place at the horse track. The wintry weather was a cool 6 to 8 degrees celsius day.

Even though the weather was mild, Kurosawa paid a pyromancer to cast a warm dome over the horse track.

As Will walked around, he realized Founder's Day reminded him of the county fairs he attend as kid. Will could smell sizzling funnel cakes and grilled sausages, and music from the bandstand.

Instead of the orchestra, he heard country fiddling music. Will had never heard the music commoners enjoyed. The music has a faster pace and rhythm. Will saw groups of people dancing in the paddock.

The horse track was gated. There was one entrance and exit. On normal horse racing meets customers would buy a ticket, pass the paddock and enter the stands.

While the two-day celebration was free, the ticket booth still handed out tickets for a raffle. Raffle winners could earn money donated by Gaia's Purse.

Will enjoyed the folksy charms of the county fairs atmosphere. It made him nostalgic for when he was a small child growing up in the suburbs.

Kurosawa gave Will a tour of event, he saw area where farmers' competed to show their products, whether that was livestock, baked goods, or canned goods.

However, it was just farmers who competed. There were competitions for candle making, leather work, carpentry, sheep shearing, and cow and goat milking.

There was even an art and music competition. Kurosawa bragged, that Gadreel held a great many artists and singers.

Elizabeth's passion for the arts was evident across the country, but especially so in Gadreel.

However, the greatest attraction was the archery, sword, melee, and jousting competition. These competitions brought in knights from across the country. Even Jason participated.

To increase competition, Kurosawa asked Will if he could use a substantial of Gadreel's budget to allocate a pot of prize money.

After Kurosawa asked for 5,000, Will immediately. The total expense for the two-day Founder's Day Festival, as it was officially labeled, was less than 10,000. Half of the expenses went to prize money.

The contest, with the highest prizes, were jousting--1,000 gold and gold lance trophy, Sword fighting--750 gold and a gold sword trophy, Melee--500 gold and gold gauntlet trophy, Archery--500 gold and gold arrow trophy, rodeo winner 250-- silvers and pie eating contest winner 20-silvers. The rest went to best in show winners, second, and third place winners.

Farmers with the best cow, chicken, sheep, pig, goat, and etc. won 10 silvers.

Best knit clothing, bake good, arts, and crafts also won 10 silvers.

Finally, best corn, wheat, rice, barley, homemade wine, and beer also won 10- silvers.

Each of the categories were judge separately for adults and youths.

As Kurosawa gave him a tour, Will saw the enthusiasm was palpable. Children, adults, and elder all walked around with large smiles plastered on their faces.

Will saw farmers, merchants, nobles, commoners clustered together in the horse track laughing and smiling. He saw the desire to win gleaming in their eyes.

What Will enjoyed most, was listening to the child boast about their chicken or rabbit and why it should win best in show.

"Kurosawa, you've out done yourself," Will congratulated him.

"My lord, it's only due to you, and my staff that this Founder's Day Festival was a success," he said humbly.

"Based on your annual performance, you shall receive an annual bonus of 5,000 and a 5% raise for you, and city's administrative personnel," Will ordered.

"Thank you my lord, but that is not necessary," Kurosawa said.

"Nonsense, I value results and good judgement. Your performance this year has been exemplary," Will said.

"Thank you my lord, I am humbled by your generosity," Kurosawa bowed.

"Now what is my task?" Will asked.

"My lord, I ask you close the two-day with some remarks.

"Very well, I'll prepare a speech. Oh, Kurosawa how much revenue has this festival generated?" Will asked.

"There's been a 200% increase in revenue. All the hotels are booked. Since there is no vacantly at inns, some guests had to rent rooms in people's houses.

Thankfully, we had a big barley harvest and your choice to import Dwarven spirits have kept us from running out of beer and spirits. I'm sure Miles shall tell you same, my lord," Kurosawa said.

"I had no idea, this fair would generate this much revenue?" Will said stunned at Kurosawa's news.

"Yes, this now the largest event. Even larger than your Home Debut. Since, your Home Debut there's been a 500% in inns opening. I believe that explains why this ranks higher than your party, my lord," Kurosawa said.

"Wonderful! When's our city next biggest celebration?" Will asked.

"Your wedding my liege. It's the reason why all the inns decided to open. Everyone in the city is bracing for the surge in guest your wedding shall surely bring.

Most merchants and innkeepers were not expecting this festival to garner this much revenue. It caught them, and me by surprise," Kurosawa said.

"My wedding?" Will said taken back.

"Yes, noble families are expect you'll do something amazing, like at your Home Debut Party. Many have already reserved a room at your casino," Kurosawa said.

At the end of the second day, the wildly popular Founder's Day Festival came to an end.

The even was so success many looked forward to next year, determined to take best in show.

Secretively, so did Will.