177 Creative Capitalism

Five years had passed since the wedding. Five years of prosperity and peace. Not once in those five years did Will miss training his magic or swordsmanship.

After the wedding, Elizabeth temporarily moved into Will's room. Shortly thereafter, Will and Elizabeth announced the birth of their first child, Camille vont Ballard. Camille was born with beautiful, silver hair and vibrant green eyes.

Two years later, Will and Elizabeth's second child, Edward, was born. Like his elder sister, Edward had silver hair and green eyes. The two children brought their parents much joy and happiness.

For five years, Will's home was filled with laughter and his purse was filled with gold. The trade route, banks, airships, casinos, racetrack, general stores, theatres; and Gadreel's tax revenue, utility payments, and rental property brought Will millions in gold.

His secret mountain vault overflowed with gold. Passive income was absolutely the way to go! Mei, Vanessa, Miles, and Kurosawa had done an excellent job managing. Still, Will looked forward to his weekly meeting with his staff on the first day of the week.

However, Will's five years of predictability and stability ended, when Elizabeth walked into his morning staff meeting and requested a meeting.

Will agreed, finding her request intriguing.

On the day of the meeting, Micheal introduced Elizabeth like would any other guest. Will recognized Elizabeth's seriousness the moment she walked in the door.

When they met, Elizabeth didn't hold back her feelings. She told Will her plans of making Gadreel the arts, music, and cultural center of Fermion.

Many of her Humanists compatriots moved to Gadreel, where Will begrudgingly sustained Elizabeth's patronage. Now, she was asking Will to socialize art.

To artists and musicians in residence, they expected Elizabeth, as chief philanthropist, to represent their constituency to the City Lord. And Elizabeth sought to deliver on their expectations.

As a well-educated daughter of a duke, Elizabeth convincingly articulated her point.

Regardless of her argument, Will routinely denied all attempts to socialize the humanities. With her eloquent argument failing, Elizabeth changed her request to broadening Gaia's Purse mission.

"Viscount vont Ballard, I want to extend Gaia's Purse influence through the county. I would like you to approve the expense for such an endeavor," Elizabeth said in a businesslike manner.

"Denied. I only need Gaia's Purse to operate in the capital," Will said coldly.

Elizabeth was surprised Will twice denied her requests so bluntly. At being denied a second time, Elizabeth became upset.

"May I ask why not?" Elizabeth said frustrated by Will's frankness.

"I need Gaia's Purse to support the Yorkshire commoners to our fraction to help counter noble aggression against us," Will said.

For Will, Gaia's Purse was a medieval lobbying firm. If he brought the Yorkshire commoners on his side, no matter what disgruntled nobles said about him, there was also a counter-narrative present.

This was the same reason majoring lobbying firms were concentrated in countries' capital and not spread all over.

In Fermion, Will's fraction consisted of young entrepreneurial nobles, the royal family, and commoners. There was no shortage of noble fractions that rallied against Will's financial empire.

"That's why you created Gaia's Purse!" Elizabeth said frustratedly after learning the truth.

"What's the matter? You get to help people, and I don't look like such a bad guy, what's wrong with that?" Will asked.

"I thought you did that because you loved me and wanted to help people?" Elizabeth said angrily.

"I did! But why can't it be both? Both our interests are served." Will said trying to placate Elizabeth.

"Poor girl, she had no clue what she was getting herself into," said a maid eavesdropping on the other side of the door. Except for Michael and Ms. Park, most of the staff was trying to listen in on the conversation.

When they heard Lady Elizabeth scheduled a business with Master Will, the household staff immediately went to listen.

"What's going on here?" asked a stern Ms. Park.

Hearing Ms. Park's question, the staff scattered like leaves on an autumn afternoon. Which made Ms. Park's lips curl into a smile.

Seeing everyone run away, Ms. Park and Sasha began to listen in. As Elizabeth's direct subordinates, they felt it was only right. They thought it was their duty.

"Because you deceived me," Elizabeth said her businesslike behavior gone.

"I made Gaia's Purse because I cared for you. It was my love for you, that I saw an opportunity for our goals to align.

Understand Elizabeth, business is rational. I was happy to find a way to support you and achieve my goal," Will said stressing the words care and support.

"Then you are saying, my request does not align with your business needs, am I correct?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. Let's find an agreement that is mutually beneficial for us both," Will said.

"Fine, how do we find such an agreement?" Elizabeth said, her frustration slowly receding.

"Just a moment. Kurosawa, it's time. Please come and join us," Will instructed through the spatial gate.

"It's a pleasure to see you, Lady Elizabeth," Kurosawa bowed.

"Kurosawa, you may proceed," Will said.

"My lady, as you are aware, as Gadreel grew so did the City Administration office. There are now seven different departments in city government: Agriculture, Finances, Animal Husbandry, Land and Resources, Civil Affairs, Housing and Development, and Audit.

The City Lord is proposing we add an eighth: Culture and Education," Kurosawa finished.

There were also two non-governmental organizations Kurosawa did not mention, namely the Trade Commission and churches. The Trade Commission oversaw tourism and commerce. The Church of Aether and Gaia were responsible for the health and spiritual welfare of the city.

"I want to manage your Department of Culture and Education," Elizabeth said matter of factly.

"Denied. I cannot allow my wife to also be my employee. How could Kurosawa effectively supervise the Lady of Gadreel?" Will asked.

"Dear husband are you like this with all business associates or only your wife? I grow tired of hearing you deny me. Tell me plainly, what is to be the agreement?" Elizabeth said very upset with Will's denials.

"Yes, I'm like this to everyone. No, it was not my joy to deny you. Business is about finding ways to cooperate, much like a marriage," Will said.

Those words pierced Elizabeth, but she was too angry to show Will her wound.

"According to my account, the arts and music in Gadreel brought in 1.7 million gold in revenue and employs 480 workers. That 1.7 million represents 2.2 percent of Gadreel's total revenue for this year so far," Will said encouragingly.

"And your point is?" Elizabeth asked.

"Art is profitable! Tourists come for our entertainment, but also enjoy the art gallery, orchestra, and plays at the theatre. Gadreel culture is thriving," Will said.

"William, you've yet to tell me where I fit into the equation!" Elizabeth said dropping the honorifics.

"I want you to serve as chairwoman of a new private philanthropy organization: Endowment for the Arts (EFA)," Will said excitedly.

"What shall that organization do?" Elizabeth said.

"That organization shall become the largest contributor to the arts in Gadreel, and possibly the nation," Will said piquing Elizabeth's interest.

"Is that not what I asked for earlier?" Elizabeth said sarcastically.

"Yes, and no. You'll need to start local. As you build up your base, you may extend your boundaries of influence," Will said.

"Fine, I'm interested. Tell me more," Elizabeth said happily at the prospect of helping her Humanist friends.

"The organization's role is to fundraise money for artists and then disburse that money to artists. However, the artist cannot create something offensive, anti-royalist, or immoral," Will said.

"You want me to oversee a pot of money to give to artists as I see fit?" Elizabeth asked.

"As the organization sees fit," Will said.

"Why didn't you just say that, from the beginning!" Elizabeth shouted frustratedly.

"Well, I wanted to hear your proposal first. The Endowment for the Arts shall require you to host parties to fundraise. Our family shall donate 10,000 gold and the city shall donate another 10,000 gold annually," Will said.

"We'll donate 100,000 gold!" Elizabeth said obstinately.

"75,000," Will said reflexively. Truly, he was amazed at Elizabeth's negotiating tactic. To raise the number so high, left little room to negotiate down.

"William!" Elizabeth said starring into his eyes. She desperately wanted to win this small battle over Will. Her glare became unrelenting.

"Fine, 100,000 gold annually," Will said acquiescing after seeing the intensity in her eyes.

The next day, the Endowment for the Arts was announced as the largest national funder of arts and music.

Elizabeth began recruiting noblewomen to serve on the Endowment for the Arts. Ironically, the wives of the Bourgeoisie Industrials were the first to sign on. Next to sign on were the wives of the Trade Commissioners. Last were wives of various nobles.

Elizabeth knew well the reason why these women joined, access. Access equaled prominence, the closer these wives maneuvered to her and the better their chances of advancement.

Thankfully, Helen joined the organization as well. With Jason managing the barony, she and James retired to Gadreel.

For the inaugural meeting, the women met in the Trade Commission conference room.

Elizabeth began the meeting by introducing the philanthropic organization's mission: to help develop a larger for-profit arts sector in our Gadreel. She quoted Will.

Yet most of the women gravitated to the idea of commissioning statues and paintings that suited their wants and needs. Art equaled culture and status. Art was refined and beautiful. In essence, art symbolized the very nature of nobility.

Most of the women imagined the esteem of hosting a soiree where a famous poet, portraitist, or sculptor showed off their work. The women could picture the envy they'd received.

Unknown to Elizabeth and Helen, they gave these women the opportunity to compete for prestige. Everyone was aware art was the realm of the wealthy and the well-connected.

In the past, only Kings and Queens, and high nobility had these opportunities. Now that this organization was endowing artists, the price of becoming a patron was subsidized. How could lower nobility miss this opportunity?

In short, these women now had the opportunity to bond with local artists. They could patron artists without having to spend exorbitant fees.

On the other hand, when the artist and Humanist heard of the organization, they hail Elizabeth as a heroine. A sense of pride and admiration swept through the art community.

The artists praised Elizabeth as someone serious about artistic merit and enshrining cultural values. Elizabeth's taste in art became the trend. She became a cultural trendsetter.

Tacitly, everyone knew with Elizabeth at the helm of this organization Gadreel would become a place of beauty.

And they were right, Elizabeth quickly expanded the art galleries, studio, and museum. But her best idea was the spring art festival held.

Not long after the announcement of Elizabeth's first meeting, Will was surprised to learn Elizabeth had raised over 300,000 gold.