Rupert walked into his office and was surprised to see his son there.
"I was hoping I could have a moment of your time?" Pierre began nervously.
"Of course. Sit." Rupert said as he sat.
Pierre sat and cleared his throat nervously.
"What is it?" Rupert asked to the point.
"Well, I wanted to talk to you about something important...to me." Pierre managed to choke out. Suddenly this didn't seem like a good idea anymore.
"Alright." Rupert said now getting impatient and it was obvious to his nervous son.
"Father. I been going to the church a lot and I have learned so much there. I would like to continue my studies...there." He said finally hoping that his father would just agree and not ask any questions.
"Study there?" Rupert asked confused. Suddenly his eyes grew wide when he realized what Pierre was actually saying.
"Father, I am not meant to be King. Phillipe is a much better match and he wants to be King." He pleaded.
"You are the Crown Prince!" Rupert yelled irate.
"What is going on?" Clarisse asked when she walked in after hearing Rupert's raised voice.
"He's abdicating!" Rupert yelled.
Clarisse looked at Pierre who stood with his head down. Her heart went out to her son.
"Rupert let's just take a minute and give him a chance to explain." She said trying to calm her husband.
"Explain! He just told me he wants to become a priest and feels Phillipe should be Crown Prince!" Rupert exclaimed.
Clarisse looked at her son again who was now looking at her sadly.
"We can't force him Rupert. We agreed when they were born that we would let them decide." She reminded him.
"Are you taking his side?" Rupert asked angrily.
"There are no sides. He is our son." She replied calmly as she approached her angry husband.
"Pierre give us a moment please." Clarisse said as she touched his shoulder softly.
Pierre nodded his head in agreement and walked out.
"He doesn't want to be King. Our son is the Crown Prince and he is turning his back on this family to become a priest. How can you condone this?" Rupert asked angrily.
Clarisse sighed, took his hand and said, "he is our son before anything else and our son needs our support." She tried to reason.
Rupert angrily pulled his hand away and yelled, "if he is abdicating then he will be handing over our country to the Van Trokens! Is that what you want?" He asked his heart breaking at the thought.
"Of course not Rupert but I don't want our son to be forced into something he doesn't want either!" She said adamant. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself. She couldn't loose control. Rupert would only fight harder if she did.
"Forced like you were, you mean?" He asked resentfully as he thought of Clarisse laughing in her suite with Joseph. Joseph who was always there.
Clarisse shook her head. "Forced like we both were Rupert. Or did you forget that you didn't want this marriage or to be King when you were his age?" She asked him pointedly.
Rupert sighed in frustration. "I came to terms with my destiny a long time ago Clarisse."
"Is that what you want for our son? You want him to just come to terms with it?" She asked gently. She didn't want to argue with him. She just wanted him to see reason and to remember the promise that they made each other.
"Things have changed since then Clarisse." Rupert said in a firm tone.
"Please don't force Pierre into marrying and becoming King. If he feels this strongly about becoming a Priest then he has given this a lot of thought. You now him. He is not the kind of person to make such a decision so easily." She reminded him.
Rupert sat feeling defeated. He knew she was right. Pierre had always been so serious, a thinker and never impulsive. All the traits he thought a good King needed.
Clarisse touched his shoulder lightly.
He looked at her. "It breaks my heart that he has chosen to leave our family."
"Leave our family?" She asked confused.
" Have I been such a horrible father and King? Is that why my son is turning his back on me?" He asked with tears in his eyes.
"He's not leaving our family or you." She tried to reason.
"How could he choose this?" He asked truly hurt and disappointed.
"All he is doing is making a decision for his own future. We will always be his family. Always." She said as she stared into his eyes wanting, begging him to see this her way.
"No Clarisse. He is turning his back on me, on this family and our country." He said upset.
"Rupert." She whispered as the fear of what was going to happen began to take control over her.
" I am King and I can't condone that. I'm sorry." His tone of voice letting her now his decision was made and it was final.
"Don't do this. Please." She begged as tears sprang to her eyes.
"If this is what he chooses then once the announcement is made to the public and parliament he must leave Genovia and not come back until I'm dead and gone." He said in a calmness that made her realize that this was really happening. Rupert wasn't just venting. She wasn't going to be able to change his mind.
"Please don't do this. He's our son." She cried as he walked out leaving his wife in tears.
Joseph searched for Clarisse but couldn't find her anywhere. He was on edge by the time he ran into Pierre who was sitting outside alone.
"Pierre. Have you seen your mother?" Joseph asked.
Pierre looked at Joseph with red eyes.
Joseph sat beside him. "What is it? Did something happen?"
"I told Father I wanted to become a priest. He was angry and mother tried to reason with him. She sent me out of the room but I listened at the door. Father is going to send me away." He began to cry.
"Send you away, where?" Joseph asked his heart aching for Clarisse and Pierre.
"I don't know the seminary I guess. Mother was crying." He shared as his tears fell.
Joseph hugged Pierre and let him cry. The whole time his mind and heart thought of Clarisse.
Clarisse sat in her suite alone, the tears just wouldn't stop so she gave into them and hid in her suite. She didn't want everyone to see her this way. She most certainly didn't want Pierre to now what his father was going to do. How could he do this to our son, she thought as she cried harder?
A knock on her door made her wipe her eyes but she didn't get up or summon whoever it was to come in. She just laid on her couch. When she felt a hand on her shoulder she looked over expecting to see Joseph but to her surprise it was Pierre.
"Pierre." She whispered as she sat up and wiped her face.
He sat beside her and hugged her.
"Who told you?" She asked as her heart beat increased when she noticed the look on his face.
"I over heard him...you." He admitted.
She began to cry again as did he.
"I'm so sorry. I wish I could stop this but your father is King and I have no power to stop him." She sobbed.
"It's okay mother. It's not your fault." He soothed.
Clarisse held onto her son tightly both of them crying.
Joseph watched from the door. He felt his anger rise and he clenched his fists. If Rupert wasn't King he would have gone to see him and beaten the hell out of him until he changed his mind and apologized to them both for making them suffer this way. But he was King. And if Joseph did what he so desperately wanted to do at this moment he would surely be imprisoned or worse. Who would help them then, he asked himself?
The next day...
Clarisse didn't want to get out out of bed. Tomorrow was her birthday party and she didn't want it. She didn't want to have to pretend that she was happy when she wasn't.
"Ma'am, do you want me to run your a bath?" Her ladies maid asked thinking that Clarisse was catching a cold or something and that was why she was still in bed.
"No. Please leave me." Clarisse said her voice low and defeated.
Her ladies maid apologized and left her rooms.
Joseph was standing outside when she exited the room looking sadly.
"Is her majesty up and dressed?" Joseph asked professionally.
"No. She won't get up." She admitted since it was Joseph.
"I will talk to her." he reassured her.
"Maybe some tea would help." She said as she rushed off wanting to help her majesty as best she could.
I wish, Joseph muttered as he knocked and then entered. He walked over to her bedroom and knocked on the door.
"I want to be alone!" Clarisse yelled, her voice harsh.
"It's me." He said simply.
A moment later the door flung open and Clarisse threw herself into his arms as she cried.
Clarisse and Joseph laid in her bed cuddling. He had locked the door to be sure no one entered so that they would have some privacy. Joseph soothed her back softly with his hand as he kissed her head repeatedly.
"I love you." He whispered wanting her to now how he felt.
Clarisse cried for a long time in the arms of the man she loved. After almost two hours she just laid still.
"Pierre will always be your son and as long as he is happy and safe we will figure out the rest. I promise you." He whispered.
She hugged him tightly. "I wish we were away from here. I just want to take my sons and leave this palace and never return." She said full of grief and sadness.
"I now my love." He whispered.
"He doesn't love us anyway. Phillipe was right. I should have left a long time ago." She said as a lone tear slid down her cheek.
Joseph just held her tighter.
"If you were their father you would have never chosen this over them, us, never." She said as she thought of the life she was never allowed to have. In this moment, she wished she had never married Rupert.
"No. Never." He confirmed.
Clarisse kissed Joseph full of love and passion.
He gave into her kiss. "I'm here for you always." He promised.
"Take us away from here." She begged him.
Joseph looked into her eyes as he pulled back to look into her eyes.
"Please, take us away from here. Me and the boys." She begged.
"Clarisse...are you sure?" He knew she was hurting but what she was saying could get him killed? He woud gladly risk it and even die for her if it meant keeping them safe and giving them a chance at happiness.
She started to cry and he knew she was thinking what he was thinking.
"Hey. Don't cry please." He soothed as he held her tight.
"I hate this life. I don't want this anymore. I want...I want you. A life with you." She cried.
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He tried to reassure her. He could only hope that someday they would share a life.
"Make love to me Joseph. Please...I need you." She whispered as she kissed him.
"I'm here my love, I'm here." He kissed her softly.
Clarisse began to pull at his shirt, her hands coming in contact with his skin.
Joseph wanted this more then he wanted his next breath but he couldn't. He couldn't let this first time be like this. He grabbed her hands and stilled them as they looked into each other's eyes.
"Clarisse, my love...we can't do this...not like this." He whispered as he kissed her forehead lightly.
Before Joseph could say anything else Clarisse pushed him away.
"Leave my rooms." She demanded in a cold tone of voice as she stood up angrily.
"Clarisse..." Joseph begged. He felt terrible for hurting her.
She rose her hand to silence him. The tears slid down her cheek breaking his heart more.
"Okay." Joseph said in a sad voice as he walked past her and out of her bedroom.
Clarisse waited until she heard the door to her rooms close before she broke down and began to cry harder then ever. She felt completely heart broken and alone.
Rupert worked all day trying to keep his mind occupied. He was hoping that Pierre would change his mind and remain the next in line to become King. He knew Clarisse hated him right now which is why he kept his distance from her last night and skipped dinner altogether. He knew she hadn't come out of her room all day. He sighed as he sat back and rubbed his aching head.
Phillipe and Pierre went for a ride on the horses. They stopped at the lake, their guards close but giving them some privacy. As they sat, Pierre admitted to Phillipe what had transpired.
"Where will you go?" Phillipe asked concerned for his big brother.
"I don't know. The seminary I suppose." He shrugged.
"What about mother?" Phillipe asked upset.
"She's very upset with father." Pierre admitted.
"As she should be. As am I. What he is doing is wrong! He's no father!" Phillipe fumed.
"Yet he is ours." Pierre said calmly but sadly.
Phillipe calmed down and hugged his brother.
"Don't go. Please." Phillipe begged as a tear slid down his cheek.
"I don't want to. This is my home. But if I have to go promise me that you will take care of mother while I'm away. You must be strong Phillipe. Mother needs you." Pierre said as he looked at his younger brother.
"I will. Always. I promise." He reassured him.
"And when I go to university Joseph will look after her for us. He always has." Phillipe reassured him.
"Yes he has. He is a great man." Pierre said as he wished that Joseph had been his father.
Phillipe sat thinking the same thing.
Late evening...
Clarisse was walking around her rose garden alone as she needed time to think and to muster up the courage to apologize to Joseph. She had poured out her feelings and her deepest desires then she asked him to make love to her and he had...refused. She closed her eyes in shame as she remembered what transpired between them. She had been embarrassed and humiliated. She had felt unwanted and her already hurt feelings were more hurt by his rejection. She had thrown him out. She opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. She could see his face, the hurt look on his face. She looked down and kept walking. The guilt making her feel worse.
Joseph watched Clarisse walk around the garden alone. What is she thinking? Is she still upset with me? He hoped not. He hoped she would realize that he wasn't rejecting her. He just wanted their first time to be special. He didn't want her to regret it. And he really thought that she would if he had given in and loved her like she asked. Like he had desperately wanted.
Clarisse continued to walk hoping Joseph would join her but he didn't come. She sighed and started to walk back to the palace scolding herself. Why would he come after you treated him like a servant and threw him out of your rooms because he wouldn't sleep with you? She gasped at the way that sounded in her head. Oh god, she whispered as she stopped walking.
Clarisse, Joseph was at her side in a second when he saw her step falter and the devastated look on her face.
"I'm sorry." She apologized as she looked into his eyes.
He smiled at her in a reassuring way. "Me too."
They began to walk together back to the palace.
Rupert was watching them from the balcony unbeknown to them. They weren't doing anything but he sensed it. She had confided in Joseph and told him of their... problem with Pierre. Yes a problem. A problem he intended to fix. Pierre was going to be the Crown Prince whether he liked it or not.
The next day...
The palace was on full staff and very busy. Everyone was preparing for the party. Clarisse was in her suite waiting for Paolo to do her hair. She wore a robe and waited patiently as she sipped her tea. She had not spoken to Rupert since the incident with Pierre. She knew she would see him tonight and would have to smile and pretend. He would hold her hand, dance with her and quite possibly kiss her and wish her a happy birthday. The thought angered her. She didn't want him anywhere near her never mind touching or kissing her. She really hated the life of being royal. If only, she thought as her mind wandered to Joseph.
Joseph spent the day making sure security was tight and ready for the party. He had also spent some time planning for Clarisse birthday surprise. Now more then ever she needed to be treated like a woman who was special and loved. He planned to make this an evening one she would never forget.
Rupert kept his distance from Clarisse all day knowing she was still very angry and disappointed in him. He couldn't bear to see her disapproving look. The anger he could deal with but the hurt, the tears, tore his soul apart. He really hoped she wouldn't bring up Pierre tonight. He glanced at her gift and wondered when he would be able to give it to her.
Evening...
Clarisse was in her suite dressed and looking like the Queen that she was. Her hair was styled to perfection as was her make up. She stood up and looked at herself in the full length mirror. The dress complimented her figure. She waited a few moments hoping Joseph would escort her. When he appeared dressed in his tuxedo she let out a shaky breath. He was handsome and sexy. She wished they could spend her birthday alone.
Joseph smiled at his Queen as he walked to her and bowed. She smiled lovingly at him as he rose taking her hand in his and kissing it. She touched his cheek tenderly.
"Ready your majesty?" He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"As ready as I can be." She confessed.
"Don't worry the night will go well and quickly. Soon I will take you to your surprise." He promised.
Clarisse smiled happily. "I'm looking forward to it." She said filled with excitement.
Joseph followed her down to the ballroom. She looked amazingly beautiful. His heart was beating wildly in his chest.
Once they arrived by the doors Clarisse turned back and smiled at him.
"Your majesty." Charlotte interrupted. "The King is on his way." She announced.
"Thank you Charlotte." Clarisse said as she stood waiting.
A few moments later, Rupert appeared and extended his arm out to her without a word.
Clarisse wrapped her arm around his and they entered.
"Presenting the King and Queen of Genovia." The footman announced.
Everyone gasped, smiled, bowed and curtsied as they walked along.
Arthur Mabrey watched them with resentful eyes.