THE GLORIOUS ONE

The praise there was was completely enormous that it was quite unbelievable at first.

The News spread about the land and all the neighbouring places and villages heard it all.

Valerian was seated in the living room and sipping a cup of coffee when Gerald brought in the early morning Gazette.

"THE DAILY FORUM." As it was called was the state Newspaper and the front page was Valerian's alone.

He took it in his arms and read the heading.

"OUR QUEEN, THE GLORIOUS ONE." He said.

"His Royal Majesty is the talk of the country." Gerald said.

"This was two days ago." Valerian said as he looked up at his servant.

"You would be pleased to read what there was that was written about you." Gerald said.

"Me?" Valerian asked curiously.

"Yes." Gerald said as Valerian turned the sheet straight to the page with the article.

"I never thought that the fame would be a little bit too much but at least it is good to see that peace is prevailing in the monarchy once again." Valerian said.

"It is a pity though that very many generals from across the continent might rise up for a challenge." Gerald said.

"Against the Scoln crown, that is impossible." Valerian said.

"Believe me when I say this your Majesty, I have seen it before, the undefeated seek competition.

Who knows that as the people worship you, even foes are bound to rise." Gerald said.

"I have a hard time believing tyat because come to consider it I was only playing my role." Valerian insisted.

"Sure you were your Majesty but I can assure you that it shall not stop at one war alone." Gerald said.

"So what do you propose I should do?" Valerian asked.

"It is not in my league to tell the Queen what can and can not be done." Gerald said.

"I consider it to be just a suggestion, it isn't somethingto make a big issue of." Valerian replied.

"Then I suggest that your Majesty has a say in the Military issues from now on or even better assume a position in the military." Gerald said.

"You expect me to join the military?" Valerian asked.

"It was just a suggestion your Majesty." Gerald said.

"After all you do not really have much to do and the King does most of the governing." Gerald added.

"I still don't think that it is acceptable, there has never been a Queen in Scoln history that has participated in war.

Joining the military, it all does not make that much sense at the moment." Valerian said.

"But that doesn't mean that you can not work in the military." Gerald said.

"What do you mean?" Valerian asked.

"You are not like the Queens who have come before you, you are you." Gerald replied.

"But Al can be stubborn most of the time, he will not be willing to let me go to war." Valerian said.

"At least you can try to convince him." Gerald said.

"Hmmm." Valerian muttered.

"I shall see." He added.

"After what you did with the Darian armies, I am sure history shall remember you." Gerald replied.

*******************

"OUR QUEEN, THE GLORIOUS ONE." Queen Marietta read.

"How pathetic." Prince Alfred said.

"It hasn't even been to months after my son's ascension." The Queen mother said.

"It looks like your son-in-law put on quite the performance that is least expected from a monarch." Prince Alfred said.

"And I wonder what Alexander was thinking, he could have sent in reinforcements." Queen Marietta said.

"And your son-in-law picked the most appropriate time to act.

The Glorious one, he is literally worshipped as a god as we speak." Prince Alfred said.

"Just what I feared." Queen Marietta said.

"Bearing the Crown of Fire and walking with it around the entire town.

Slaying those barbaric Darians and it leaves no doubt that the people believe his completion of the sacred ritual is the primary reason for their victory.

After all, a series of unfortnate events happened especially for the invaders." Prince Alfred said.

"And if Valerian continues like this then all the people shall have reason to love him even more than their own king." Queen Marietta said.

"It is a little bit absurd that instead of the King shining for sending his consort, he is the one in his shadow now." Prince Alfred said.

"And this transparency of theirs is a very great disadvantage to the both of us right now." Queen Marietta said.

"And what now should we do now because your son-in-law has proven competitive enough it won't be easy to supress him if he had his way?" Prince Alfred asked.

"I do not know, after Alexander decreed that his consort be given the right to intervene in political matters there were ministers that lost his favour.

Now that the war has been won and waved off easily, the people are in Valerian and their new King's favour." The Queen mother said.

"Since when have the commons and ordinary citizens been in the position to decide and ridicule the actions of the Crown?" Prince Alfred asked.

"Since the beginning of my son's reign, I told you already that their transparency of the Crown is growing more dominant than any other force.

If the people love them, even though the army turns on them, the people shall abide with them." Queen Marietta said.

"Then we need to take your son-in-law out of the picture." Prince Alfred said.

"It is not that easy." Queen Marietta said.

"We won't be the ones to do it." Prince Alfred said.

"Who will then?" Queen Marietta asked.

"The people." Prince Alfred replied.

"And how exactly can we effect that, how can we convince the people to get rid of there Queen?" Queen Marietta asked.

"We need to get the people to develop a dislike for their Queen." Prince Alfred replied.

"It is going to take more than words to make that work." Queen Marietta said.

The people are schizophrenic, they are so quick to change their mind and on the other hand, the Queen is not that versatile.

If he does not want sonething done, then he doesn't and the people should be in the position to see him as a usurper.

Someone who is against the will of the gods and some one who is not in the position to honour their customs.

And if that is achieved, a plea shall be passed by the ministers and other royals under the patronage of the Queen mother asking her son-in-law to step down from his position." Prince Alfred replied.

"Then how do we achieve that?" Queen Marietta said.

"Just watch and let me make this work." Prince Alfred replied.

"Alright then, do it your way and I shall also try my very own." Queen Marietta said.

********************

"I want to join the military." Valerian said as he stood in front of his husband.

"There are plenty of things to joke about and joining the military is not one of them." Alexander replied.

"This is a very serious matter." Valerian said.

"And why in the world would I jeopardize your life by sending you into the forces?" Alexander asked.

"Because I am asking nicely." Valerian replied.

"It is not going to work." Alexander said.

"What is not going to work, me joining the armed forces or you allowing me?" Valerian asked.

"Both." Alexander replied as he turned to his work.

"If only you could notice, I can do it very well." Valerian said.

"I am not going to semd the person that I love to go and fight on a battlefield." Alexander said.

"This is not for me but for the Monarchy." Valerian said.

"And the monarchy would aporeciate it if their Queen stayed alive and wouldn't end up shot dead or worse guillotined." Alexander replied.

"It is the least I can do as Queen." Valerian said.

"And protecting you is the least I can do as Sovereign." Alexander said.

"You are making things a little bit complicated, try to understand." Valerian said as he sat down opposite from his husband.

"Trying to lure me into letting you join the armed forces is not going to work." Alexander said.

"I am aware of that but at least be considerate of your people." Valerian said.

"We are at peace and there is no need of declaring war on other countries and kingdoms." Alexander said.

"But that does not mean that other Kingdoms shall not declare war on us." Valerian said.

"Either way, I have very many strong generals willing to fight and thanks to the conpetition you put up they are even more determined." Alexander said.

"But the military still needs my help." Valerian said.

"And why exactly should I let you join the armed forces first of all?" Alexander asked.

"Because the people would appreciate it, you said it that you do not want the people to see the crown as something they fear because they are obliged.

When the people see the crown, their Queen fighting along with them, they are motivated to keep fighting.

They are renewed when tired and rejuvenated when fallen, the people will always support the crown they love, something that other monarchies might not have in common." Valerian replied.

"You are too honey lipped but that won't get to me." Alexander said.

"I can still serve in the armed forces without having to fight after all my techniques have proven to be helpful to the military in our last encounter." Valerian said.

"Really?" Alexander asked.

"You fear me going to the battle field...." Valerian said.

"I fear losing you." Alexander interrupted.

"Then I do not have to necessarily fight." Valerian replied.

"So you are telling me that if I let you joined the armed forces as an official you shall not have to go to war?" Alexander asked.

"Unnecessarily." Valerian replied.

"I am not sure." Alexander said.

"Then at least believe me and give me a chance, test me." Valerian said.

"Alright." Alexander replied.

"What position could be most comfortable for you?" Alexander asked.

"I want to be the Chief of all armed forces in the country second to only his Majesty the King." Valerian replied.