REFORMS

There were papers being pinned almost everywhere throughout the kingdom.

"The King's order." The people murmurmed amongst themselves as the majority fought to get to the papers and see what was written on them.

" THE KING'S DECREE

With immediate effect, following the Queen's response to the Darian invasion and his registered victory, His Royal Majesty the King has decreed that from now onwards, he shall assume the position of chief of the Armed forces of Scoln second only to the King Himself.

All duties pertaining to the army, responsibiltities as well as the soldiers are henceforth now in his care.

This is the New Royal order and the King's word is Law."

The Notice read and in the right bottom corner was the King's seal.

At once, the murmurs amongst the people evolved into loud talks and also gossip.

It was not long before the News spread about the capital and then the country like a wild fire.

Royal messengers from the capital carried copies of the King's new order to the other parts of the country.

From towns and cities to the farmlands and the villages great and small.

Most of the people took it into good faith but alarmingly, some did not.

The Generals who had worked in the military for most of their lives felt offended by this decision.

Most people were aware that The Queen had earned a say in the politics which had never happened before.

At that time, he was again chief and Commander of the armed forces which like the former had never happened.

It had taken only one war to catapult the Queen to a higher rank than most of them.

Most had not shaken off the fact that their Queen was married to their King to maintain peace with Endra so it looked like a foreigner commanded their troops.

It became difficult for the commanders to trust that the position of the country was secure if their commander was a foreigner.

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

"This is unbelievable." The Queen mother said when she received the News.

"It is the factual truth that we can not deny." Prince Alfred said as he reclined in the sofa that was opposite that of Queen Marietta.

"What am I supposed to fo if things are turning out like this.

First Sovereign master of the household, next a say in the country's politics and now Chief of the armed forces, what should I expect next.

King assistant to the Royal Majesty." Queen Marietta said.

"Becoming furious is not going to solve any problem." Prince Alfred said.

"I need to assume my Royal duties once again, I must talk to my own son." Queen Marietta said.

"He gave the order that you properly retire from your duties to mourn your dead husband." Prince Alfred said.

"It is not like mourning him shall return him to life, you can not imagine close to ten years of experience and after he has become king, he has worked hard to have it all taken from me.

I can no longer enjoy the previleges that I wanted without putting some force to it.

I can also not make it look like I am rebellious to the King and it is very difficult for us to deal with my son-in-law if I am far away from him.

Only when we are close enough can we predict his each and every move and react accordingly now the distance between us is making it impossible." Queen Marietta said.

"And how do you suppose the rest of the country shall take it?" Prince Alfred asked.

"I don't know but we are still at an advantage though." Queen Marietta replied.

"Come to think of it the Queen does not completely have the support of the Generals given that they seem to see that he is a foreigner." Prince Alfred asked.

"They have literally been given a pubpic dress down indirectly for having been bestied by an amateur warrior who had not seen a battlefield." The Queen mother said.

"At least they have competition so each shall be fighting to show that they are good at their job." Prince Alfred said.

"Then what is it that we should do?" Queen Marietta asked.

"We still have a chance, it looks like the Queen wants to wield so much power." Prince Alfred said.

"So how is that going to be helpful to the both of us?" Queen Marietta asked.

"We just need to carry out the right scheme." Prince Alfred replied.

"And how do you plan on doing it?" Queen Marietta asked.

"Let us give it to him." Prince Alfred replied.

"How is giving the Queen too much power going to be of help to us when that is something that the both of us resent?" Queen Marietta asked.

"Haven't you heard that too much of anything is dangerous?" Prince said.

"How shall that be of help to us?" Queen Marietta asked.

"Well, if we could perhaps get the Queen to wield so much power then eventually, his governance shall not be effective.

The more he gets to stand out amongst the people the more popular he shall become." Prince Alfred said.

"So?" Queen Marietta asked.

"We shall use his popularity to our advantage, it is possible that if the King sees the popularity of his consort, he shall certainly become jealous.

In the long run if it is a foreigner that is in the position of running the duties of the people, he won't be in the position to understand the significance of some customs.

His need for excessive reforms will make the people look at him both as a usurper and also someone that is disrespectful of their culture.

Eventually, with pressure from the King and also the parliament with the people, he shall be forced to step down from his position." Prince Alfred replied.

"I see your point but how exactly do we get the need to give the Queen more power?" Queen Marietta asked.

"It is very simple, he needs ti feel that he is so dependent on his consort for his own survival.

If there are too many reforms in the political, social and economic spheres, these shall eventually lead to the out break of a civil war." Prince Alfred replied.

"Alright then." Queen Marietta said and devilishly smiled.

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

"The people are surprisingly impressed that you get to be the new Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces." Gerald said to Valerian.

"Quite a straregic move your Majesty." Helren said.

"Al was not willing to let me serve in the army as a fighter so I needed to ask him for a more convincing position." Valerian replied.

"But the Generals shall be offended or they might already be." Gerald said.

"It isn't his Majesty's fault that non of them were willing to take up the mantle and fight when duty called." Helren said.

"They might as well learn to adjust to it, the Generals have never been the real power behind the Scoln after all." Valerian said.

"But how many of them are willing to work with you?" Gerald asked.

"Not very many, you might as well have very many competing with you your Majesty." Helren said.

"I need to keep the people loving me, that is all that matters for now and also inventing other military techniques as well.

If we can keep on getting more and more victory, I guarantee that eventually, they shall start to support the King's idea as well." Valerian said.

"That is possible." Gerald said.

"But there is a possibility that they might become jealous." Gerald added.

"They won't come close to harming me as long as I am protected by the King's decree." Valerian said.

"You are so confident in him your Majesty." Helren said.

"He is the real refuge that I have to survive in this country and along with working hand in hand with the people my position will be strengthened in this country." Valerian said.

"May I ask a question your Majesty?" Gerald said.

"Yes you may." Valerian allowed.

"Why not leave everything to the others and do the job of the Queens like the ones who have come on before you?" Gerald asked.

"I am not any of the Queens that came before me." Valerian replied.

"He was just wondering your Majesty." Helren defended.

"I know but to be frank with you, I simply want to protect the King." Valerian replied.

"From whom your Majesty?" Helren asked.

"From anyone, politics is a very dirty game and I can not entrust the safety of my husband and his throne in the hands of anyone.

Be it the ministers or the family members, I am working on making the Crown something the people love and not just fearing.

That way, I am certain that I am eliminating all possible threats to my husbands dynasty." Valerian replied.

"I suppose you really care that much about his Majesty." Helren said.

"I do not want him knowing or he shall be insistant that he does not need my help, I need to protect him my way as well as his people." Valerian replied.

"But if his Majesty can not have an heir immediately then his throne is in danger." Helren said.

"What do you mean?" Valerian asked.

"You can do all that but the King needs an heir to keep his name and continue his bloodline and his dynasty.

I was proposing that you have one as fast as possible because before a child is born, anything can happen." Helren said.

"I hadn't put that into consideration." Valerian said.

"Then I propose that you better, because what better happiness to give both the people, the King and the court than giving the Crown an heir." Helren said.