p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"For context, this is set a year after Mia finishes her studies in America and has officially moved to Genovia. She is about to be 22, however she was not forced to marry, and has not assumed the throne yet. Clarisse and Joseph are flirty friends, however no confessions of love for one another have been made./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"I hope you enjoy it!/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"-/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"Chapter 1/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Say it again." She challenged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"He sighed. "Clarisse, you know all this already. This is a reckless idea."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""You doubt your queen?" Her annoyance was clear as day on her face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Of course not! I just think—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Good night Joseph." She got up from her desk and brushed passed him on her way out the door. He sighed as he plopped down into the chair in front of her desk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""You know," a young, chipper voice began from behind him causing him to jump to his feet, only to find it was Mia standing in the doorway, "I really don't think you will win grandma's heart if you keep arguing with her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Please princess, not now. Believe it or not, I take my work seriously."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I know you do Joe, so does grandma. But what good will arguing do? It will only isolate her, and Joe, as you're the only one she trusts absolutely, it may not be the best decision." She was right, Joe knew she was right. Clarisse was very sensitive under that ice-cold exterior. In a flash he sung his leather coat off the back of the chair and across his shoulders in one perfect swoop. He was then off with a start towards the rose garden, she always went there when the two of them had an argument./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"It didn't take long for him to spot her, and he was slowly approaching her as not to scare her. "Colour me impressed, usually it takes you about 10 minutes to come after me." She said to him without turning to face him. Instead, she seemed rather intent on one rosebush that appeared to be a late bloomer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Clarisse, I really am—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"She interrupted him. "Do you know the problem with this particular rosebush, Joseph?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Do tell." He encouraged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"She leaned in towards it. "The problem is neither that it is late, or that everyone else is simply early. The problem here is the pear tree just up there. This particular breed of roses require as much sunlight as possible, however the pear tree blocks the bush from most of the sunlight." It was then that she turned to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""So what is there to do with the tree?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I wonder, if this tree may be better fit elsewhere in the garden?" Her voice cracked, and he sure as hell didn't miss it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Is this what you wish?" It took everything in him to remain calm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I fear it is what must be done." At those words, his heart broke. Not only was he being told to leave by his queen, but by the love of his life too./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"He coughed down his emotions, he had to act strong for her, even at a time like this. "Very well, Your Majesty, I will see to it that the tree will be gone by morning." With that he turned on his heels and started to walk away. He felt completely empty inside, and hearing her sobs behind her didn't help. All he wanted to do was go to her, hug her, tell her he would solve all her problems, take all her hurt, but now he knew it was too late. Joseph slid inside the door, and towards his suite to pack his things, however Mia was hot on his tails and stopped him in the grand foyer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Is everything okay Joe?" She saw the look in his eyes, something terribly wrong happened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""A resolution has been found." He replied monotone, not looking at her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""But why don't you seem pleased about it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness, but I really have to go. Should you have any further inquiries, I'm sure your grandmother would have answers for you." With that, he moved passed her, and continued on his way to his, now former, suite./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"I hope you enjoy it!/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"-/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"Chapter 1/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Say it again." She challenged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"He sighed. "Clarisse, you know all this already. This is a reckless idea."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""You doubt your queen?" Her annoyance was clear as day on her face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Of course not! I just think—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Good night Joseph." She got up from her desk and brushed passed him on her way out the door. He sighed as he plopped down into the chair in front of her desk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""You know," a young, chipper voice began from behind him causing him to jump to his feet, only to find it was Mia standing in the doorway, "I really don't think you will win grandma's heart if you keep arguing with her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Please princess, not now. Believe it or not, I take my work seriously."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I know you do Joe, so does grandma. But what good will arguing do? It will only isolate her, and Joe, as you're the only one she trusts absolutely, it may not be the best decision." She was right, Joe knew she was right. Clarisse was very sensitive under that ice-cold exterior. In a flash he sung his leather coat off the back of the chair and across his shoulders in one perfect swoop. He was then off with a start towards the rose garden, she always went there when the two of them had an argument./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"It didn't take long for him to spot her, and he was slowly approaching her as not to scare her. "Colour me impressed, usually it takes you about 10 minutes to come after me." She said to him without turning to face him. Instead, she seemed rather intent on one rosebush that appeared to be a late bloomer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Clarisse, I really am—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"She interrupted him. "Do you know the problem with this particular rosebush, Joseph?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Do tell." He encouraged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"She leaned in towards it. "The problem is neither that it is late, or that everyone else is simply early. The problem here is the pear tree just up there. This particular breed of roses require as much sunlight as possible, however the pear tree blocks the bush from most of the sunlight." It was then that she turned to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""So what is there to do with the tree?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I wonder, if this tree may be better fit elsewhere in the garden?" Her voice cracked, and he sure as hell didn't miss it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Is this what you wish?" It took everything in him to remain calm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I fear it is what must be done." At those words, his heart broke. Not only was he being told to leave by his queen, but by the love of his life too./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"He coughed down his emotions, he had to act strong for her, even at a time like this. "Very well, Your Majesty, I will see to it that the tree will be gone by morning." With that he turned on his heels and started to walk away. He felt completely empty inside, and hearing her sobs behind her didn't help. All he wanted to do was go to her, hug her, tell her he would solve all her problems, take all her hurt, but now he knew it was too late. Joseph slid inside the door, and towards his suite to pack his things, however Mia was hot on his tails and stopped him in the grand foyer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Is everything okay Joe?" She saw the look in his eyes, something terribly wrong happened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""A resolution has been found." He replied monotone, not looking at her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""But why don't you seem pleased about it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness, but I really have to go. Should you have any further inquiries, I'm sure your grandmother would have answers for you." With that, he moved passed her, and continued on his way to his, now former, suite./p