STEADY PROGRESS

After a couple of days, all members that were responsible for organising the coronation were meeting at GALVERN HALL.

Many of the men from across the country, Dukes along with some priests had gathered outside the Hall early in the morning.

After the Devout Scolns were fully aware that every one else was present, they started to walk into the building while murmuring and talking amongst themselves.

The men then walked into the conference room and on the table there was a very small model of the capital.

The men sat at the table and were surprised when there was a chair up front that was empty and designated.

"It must be his Majesty's." They resorted and they returned right back to talking.

After a while, they could hear a couple of heels announcing the arrival of someone else.

The noise grew louder and louder relatively as the person continued that the men stopped.

"Who is that?" They began asking themselves and the doors of the room were flung open.

The guards at the door and the men in waiting beside it bowed their heads as someone unexpected stepped into the sight of the committee forcing all the men present to stand.

The members looked completely confused at the sight but paid their respect nevertheless.

"Your Majesty." They said in unison.

"Yes." Valerian confidently replied as though it was quite obvious.

Valerian moved forward and approached the table as he walked past all the staring members to the seat that was in front of them all.

Valerian stopped after he stood in front of the chair facing the committee.

"I come in the name of the King and I shall organise this forthcoming coronation." Valerian announced and sat down.

The men followed but hesitantly as there was one dress in the room amongst trousers and it happened to be their Queen.

"There must be a misunderstanding." One of the Dukes said.

"There isn't any." Valerian replied.

"Alright then." The men replied.

"But why did you ask?" Valerian asked.

"It's nothing." The Duke replied.

"Has there never been a Queen to organize a coronation for his husband?" Valerian asked.

"Not really." An Earl replied.

"Then I shall be the very first one." Valerian confidenlty said.

"It is just that this isn't the Queen's job." Another Duke replied.

"Then whose is it?" Valerian asked.

They all kept quiet.

"The King himself has asked me and I sm merely fulfilling his wish so I would appreciate some attention and cooperation." Valerian replied with a killer smile.

"Sure thing your Majesty." The Duke said.

"Then it is good that we are finally talking, to begin with, we are going to make a few adjustments to the coronation." Valerian said.

"Sure thing." One Duke said ceasingly.

The rest of the members looked at one another in awe before returning their attention to Valerian.

"To begin with, some common people shall be allowed into the Cathedral for the coronation." Valerian said.

A murmur erupted amongst the members and there was some disorder that followed.

One of the Dukes stood up and looked at the Queen.

"Your Majesty, that has never happened." The Duke said.

"I am aware of that and I know very well what I am doing, a common audience, even if a bit of it shall not hurt." Valerian replied.

"Byt this ceremony..." The Duke was still saying when Valerian interfered.

"Has remained unchanged for about a thousand years, I am also fully aware of that but if there is a need for change we should embrace it." Valerian replied.

"Too much change could probably alter the image and protocal of the entire ceremony." The Duke said.

"I understand that is why in this coronation, we need to add some flesh to the Crown.

Let us give the world a coronation that is unique, a coronation that reflects steady progress.

We preserve the monarchy and tradition but let this coronation be a symbol for our embrace of change.

For heaven's sake we have a New Sovereign who is far unlike the Kings before him so I desire we give him a coronation that fits his name.

A coronation that symbolizes the forwardness and steadfastness of the Scoln empire, modernity and transition which your New King represents." Valerian said.

"This is supposed to be a sacred ritual." The Duke said.

"Then you would please excuse me if I tell you the presence of the people does not rob it of its sacredness." Valerian replied.

"Your Majesty....." The Duke was still saying but was halted.

"I shall not dwell for long on the matter, after all, the King already approved it." Valerian said.

"Alright your Majesty." The Duke said and sat down.

"Thank you." Valerian replied before turning to look back at the other members of the committee.

"Second of all, I need the routes in the Cathedrals changed." Valerian said.

"Is there a specific reason why or a problem you have with the current one your Royal Majesty?" Another Duke asked.

"The central Aisle shall only be designated for the King's procession and the other aisles shall be used by the guests at the coronation." Valerian replied.

The committee members looked at themselves and it was a term they could agree with.

"What about the Queen Mother?" Valerian asked.

"What about her?" An Earl asked.

"What part does the Queen mother play in the coronation?" Valerian asked.

"She is the head of the peeresses." The Earl replied.

"Relieve her from the duty." Valerian declared.

"Why?" The Earl asked.

"She is a head and not an assistant, she must be the first of all people to pay homeage to the King and Queen.

The Nation acknowledges her and learns from her as well so she is the moral figure of the whole ceremony.

It keeps her in the limelight for the world to see and doesn't fully push her to the back of the ceremony." Valerian replied.

"If his Majesty say's so." The Earl said.

"That is very good of you and I believed that we could all come to understand one another's interests." Valerian replied.

The meeting continued and immediately afterwards, the members of the organising committee walked out of the hall.

All were furious and enraged as they left the Queen behind.

"Who does he think he is starting to change what he can not comprehend himself." A Duke said.

"I am as surprised that the King handled over the reins of this event to a foreigner who knows practically nothing about the value of this ceremony." Another replied.

"I agree with you, he seems to be so obsessed with change.

For all the years that this monarchy has stood never at any time has it needed the say of the people." Another said.

"I must say that our Imperial Royal couple is a little bit too liberal." An Earl said.

"What do we do now, take orders from our Queen?" A Duke said.

"And an Endran one at that." They heard a familiar voice from behind.

They all turned and looked at Valerian who walked up to them.

"If you feel a little bit too uncomfortable working with me, you can feel free to tell me.

I can then tell the King that may be there needs to be a change in the committee or we can pretend to agree with one another until the coronation is over." Valerian said.

The Duke stepped forward to the Queen.

"I am literally a grand uncle to his Majesty the King." The Duke said.

"And I am his consort and on top of that your Queen." Valerian replied.

"What then your Majesty, you shall have me dismissed?" The Duke said.

"No, but I shall have you know that you shall be working with me for as long as it takes until the coronation is in place." Valerian replied with a smile.

He turned and looked at the rest of the members who stood by.

"Listen, I do not mind if you like me or not, but I am married to your King so it makes me your Queen.

He himself instituted me into power and had me put in charge of this whole event so I openly give you a chance.

You may withdraw if you do not want to walk with me otherwise I am more than capable of singlehandedly instituting a new committee and organising the coronation myself." Valerian said.

"Forgive us your Majesty." The men said as they bowed their heads down all except for the Duke who happened to be Alexander's grand uncle.

"I shall earn the respect that I deserve right now and I am not holding you captive or anything.

This is a project and something that you can freely walked out of and if it us Scoln traditions we are talking of here,

I just wish to let you know I have invested a lot of my time getting to know them which is why I am giving the crown what you can nlt give it." Valerian whispered.

"And what is that?" The Duke asked.

"Humanity, a jewel, something the people have to love and not something they are obliged to fear." Valerian replied.

He pulled away from the Duke and started off in to leave the Hall.

Hardly had he known, amongst the seeds of love that he'd sowed amongst the people, his popularity served efficient enough for some seeds of hate, envy and jealousy to blossom.