Chapter 12: Junior - Senior
....
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The next morning, it was official - the contract between Regal and Everleaf Press was signed.
Editing and proofing took center stage as the entire editorial team at Everleaf Press dove headfirst into the manuscript.
Every editor in the room knew the stakes, and they were ready for what they thought would be an exhausting, detail-heavy week.
From their first glimpse of Regal's work, they would know the stakes were high. The story was intricately set in the UK, weaving together its landscapes, culture, and history. Every detail, down to the colloquialisms and historical references, would need to hold up under scrutiny.
To streamline the process, one of the editors tentatively proposed relocating the story's setting to the USA, arguing that the team's familiarity with the region could save countless hours of research and avoid cultural missteps.
Regal, however, declined the suggestion with polite but firm resolve.
The UK, as he explained, was 'chosen' deliberately, it provided the most neutral ground for the story.
With the suggestion off the table, the team steeled themselves for what they assumed would be an avalanche of revisions.
But when they began combing through the manuscript, something unexpected happened.
Instead of an overwhelming mess, Regal's manuscript was... perfect.