"Your majesty, you're running a bit late." The queen opened her eyes and sat up in bed. Her room was full as usual. Priscilla, Olivia, Joseph and Charlotte, A moment's privacy would be worth more to her than all the crown jewels.

"A queen is never late, everyone else is simply early." Clarisse purred, stretching her arms up in the air as Joseph chuckled softly, shooing away the rest of the staff. Charlotte ushered out the ladies maids.

"Try explaining that to the Prime Minister, my darling," he kissed her cheek and offered his hand. She took it and slid out of bed, smiling and touching his face. Joseph closed his eyes briefly at her touch.

Everyone in the country seemed to know, and keep quiet about, Joseph's feelings for the queen. He was simply in love with her. Every move she made changed his perspective on the world; the very sight of her could turn his day around.

Clarisse tried her hardest to suppress her own feelings. Instead, she adopted an air of friendship with her head of security, trusting him with her life, and occasionally with her emotions.

Their friendship had been nothing but platonic, which is how Clarisse tried to keep everything. Forging a relationship with her granddaughter had been difficult. Most of the queen's choices were based on duty, and emotions clouded her head.

Joseph had waited patiently through everything, collecting all their moments in the back of his mind. It was hard to look at her without a rush of heat to his skin. Every day he dared to touch her as many times as he could.

"Maybe you and I should just stay here and have a cup of tea" she suggested. His eyes lit up.

"As much as I would like that, your majesty…" He started.

"Yes. You're right. I have duties" Clarisse smiled, "leave me be. I have to get dressed." Joseph nodded and walked out of the room.

While Joseph felt incredibly lucky to spend so much time with the woman he loved, everything ached from overuse. He knew he could not protect the queen as he once had. It broke his heart to think of parting with her for any amount of time, but he had to have her best interests in mind.

Every time he sat at his desk, he opened the drawer to find his drafted retirement letter. It was selfish to keep working for Clarisse. He tried to focus on training Shades to do the best job he could. Yet Clarisse always requested that he be within arm's reach. He couldn't say no.

"Charlotte, make sure that Joseph is available for the party this evening"

"Yes, your majesty" Charlotte scribbled away on her notepad as the queen walked around the gardens, watering her flowers.

"And the guest list has been finalized?"

"Of course, your majesty" Charlotte smiled, "everything is set for Princess Mia's birthday."

"You're right, Charlotte, I'm worried for nothing. You're excellent at what you do."

Charlotte perked up. "Thank you, your majesty. I appreciate that so very much."

"You are very welcome. Please take your lunch. I think I'll have tea in my room and perhaps a short nap." Clarisse smiled at her assistant and put down her watering can.

"I'll ring Olivia, your majesty"

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary." Charlotte nodded and walked away.

Clarisse set off to find Joseph. All she could think about was the way his lips felt against her cheek so early this morning. The way that taking his hand felt so natural. The pit in her stomach as she watched him walk away.

Joseph held his resignation in his hand as he did every day. Page one was his formal resignation letter. Page two was much more personal.

My dearest Clarisse,

I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am that I must go. I hope you understand that it has nothing and everything to do with my feelings for you. I do not want to leave, but I am no longer able to provide my services…

He wouldn't be able to give her the letter until every letter, syllable and word was perfect. It was not just a letter to announce his retirement, after all. It was also a letter to profess his love to a woman he had loved for more than 40 years.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. With the light from the hallway, he could see the outline of his queen, smiling in her summery pink pantsuit.

"Your majesty, the word on the street was that you were going to take a nap…" Joseph stood and scrambled to shove the drafted love letter into the drawer. It closed with the corner of the paper still exposed.

"I was hoping you had a moment, actually" Clarisse stepped into the shadow of the office. She took in the empty cans on the desk, the piles of security briefs needing to be filed, and the corner of the paper sticking out of the drawer. Joseph saw her eyes meet the letter, and stepped in front of the drawer.

"I always have time for you, Clarisse."

"Then would you join me, for my nap?"

"Your majesty?" Joseph stepped back and raised his eyebrows. Clarisse chuckled and held out her hand. Joseph shivered as his fingers met his queen's. She led him out of his office, dropped his hand, and headed toward her room.

The guards at the double doors to her suite bowed and opened the room for the queen and her head of security. Clarisse slipped off her shoes at the door, and eyed Joseph until he did the same. She moved toward the bed and sat down on the edge. Joseph stayed a few feet behind her, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room.

"Joseph?" Clarisse whispered, "would you like come here and sit with me?" Joseph felt a lump in his throat, and walked to the bed. He sat next to her and stared off into space.

Clarisse giggled. Joseph heard the sound of her laughter fill his ears and he smiled. He turned to her and grabbed her hand. "Which side would you like?" She asked. He let go of her hand and looked at the bed, motioning for her to take whichever she wanted, and she crawled up to the headboard. She leaned against it as Joseph joined her on the other side.

Clarisse had leaned against his shoulder many times, but never in a bed. He felt his breath catch at every inhale as the weight of her body pressed into his chest. He struggled while trying to place his hands somewhere non-threatening.

It had been a long time since someone had held her. She could hear his heart beat thumping against her ear. She fought off her smile as he placed his hands around her. She'd never felt so safe as in Joseph's arms.

Within a few moments, her breath evened out. She was asleep.

An hour later, when she woke from her nap, she felt Joseph running his hand gently over her hair. His fingertips smoothed over her forehead.

"Hello" she whispered. Joseph snapped his hand back.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep"

"Oh Joseph, you didn't need to stay with me while I slept"

"You were so peaceful, I couldn't disturb you. And I wanted to stay." Clarisse smiled and sat up slowly.

"Well. Back to my duties, I suppose" she said. Joseph looked in her eyes, and he felt the normal tension magnified while his arms were still loosely draped around his queen. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her.

Clarisse tried to push her emotions to the back of her mind, but it was getting harder and harder to suppress what she felt. After more than 50 years of dedication to her country, fondness for her husband, and censorship of her feelings, Clarisse wanted to kiss Joseph. She was ready to kiss him.

He imagined what it would be like to touch her freely, to place a hand on her back and draw her closer to him. He imagined her body beneath his... Suddenly Joseph clambered out of the bed. "Your majesty. I must get back"

"Yes." Clarisse forced a smile, wishing she had the nerve to press her lips to his.

"Goodbye, Clarisse" Joseph kiss her hand and bowed slightly.

"I'll see you later, for the party?"

"Of course."

As the party wound to a close, Clarisse looked around for Joseph. As she stood off to the side she felt a hand slide into hers, and a whisper in her ear.

"I have one small regret from earlier, Clarisse"

"Do you?"

"I wish, more than anything, that I would have asked your permission to kiss you" Clarisse could feel her palms getting warm.