"Clarisse?" Rupert began as he walked into her office. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all." She lied, but put on a smile anyways as she stood from her desk and walked over to him.

"You've met Joseph, correct?"

"I have." She smiled at the head of security who was one step behind Rupert.

"Splendid! I've asked him to personally look out for you. Before you say anything, I know we've talked about it, and I know you're not happy with the idea, I just need to make sure you are safe. He's the best of them all, and there's no one else I'd rather trust you with." Rupert smiled at Joseph.

Joseph smiled and bowed slightly. "Thank you Sire, but I hardly think so. There are others much better than I."

"And modest too." Rupert added, then looked back at Clarisse. "I would feel much better about your outings if he were with you."

"Fine." Clarisse gave in. "But one wrong step and I'm doing things my way." Rupert had forgotten how terrifying she could be when she was stubborn.

"Well, it appears to be all arranged. I'll leave you two." He smiled and hurried out of there, afraid of her wrath.

"Your Majesty, may I speak freely?" Joseph bowed.

"Please do." She turned to him.

"As head of security, it is my job to protect the crown, as I have done for His Highness for the past ten years, as I'm sure you're aware." He paused and she nodded, as if asking him to continue. "His Highness wasn't overly thrilled about the idea himself, back when he became king. But I feel overtime the idea of having someone personally protecting him, grew on him, as I hope it does with you. You won't even notice I'm there the majority of the time." He concluded.

"Do your duties of protecting me include while I'm here in the palace?"

"For the most part, yes. However, when I am not ensuring your safety in the palace I am keeping an eye on security cameras, or inspecting suspicious things mentioned to me by my team, or other such things."

"If you are always busy then, as you appear to be, how do you manage time to play games with my boys?" She smiled softly. A few days before, she had come back to the palace after a meeting with the prime minister to see Joseph teaching Pierre and Philippe some games.

He smiled and chuckled softly. "There is always time to find for the young princes."

"Thank you for that, Joseph."

"Of course Your Majesty." He bowed, took her hand, and kissed it. She was shocked, but she didn't let is show. No one did that. Ever. But she was okay with it, more than okay with it, and as he released her hand and stood back up straight, she only wished he'd take her hand again. "What is on the agenda today?" He asked as she returned back behind her desk.

She looked at the organized planner her assistant kept on Clarisse's desk for her. 'I have a meeting with the prime minister in a little over two hours, but otherwise, I'm in the office all day."

"Your Majesty, if at any point, while in the palace, you'd prefer not to have me over your shoulder, please just tell me, and I will oblige."

"Thank you Joseph."

It's now well into the evening, and Joseph was actually rather surprised that not only was Clarisse not protesting to having someone looking after her, but she hadn't asked him to leave. "Joseph?" Joseph realized that he thought too much ahead, and now he was being asked to leave.

"Your Majesty." He stepped forward and bowed.

She closed the books and folders in front of her and looked up at him. "I'm done my work for the day, would you escort me back to my suite?" She asked.

Shocked by her question he quickly regained his composure as to not letting his confusion show. "Of course Your Majesty." He replied. He stepped over to the door and held it open to her, of which was another thing she wasn't used to. The footmen had always opened the doors for her, or she had herself. No one else, especially not Rupert. She smiled a 'thank you,' and stepped through the door. He was one step behind her the entire way, neither of them spoke, but there were no words to say. As they stood outside her door, she finally spoke.

"Thank you Joseph."

"My pleasure, Your Majesty." He bowed. "I do apologize for today, I will ensure that I know your schedule from here-on-out."

"There is no apology necessary."

"But there is," he protested, "it is my job to protect you and how can I do that if I don't know your daily schedule? I will do better tomorrow, Your Majesty."

She tried not to laugh, even though it all seemed rather funny to her. She simply nodded then bid him a good night, to which she followed by turning and walking into her suite.