Hello everyone, just a quick message to say thank you all so much for your support and positive feedback on this story, I really appreciate it. Also, I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to post this update, but here it is for you all now. If there's anyone still about ;) enjoy!
Everything Was Perfect - Part 3.
Sitting at the table in the library later that day, the King, Queen, Joseph and Iven all sat anxiously watching Pierre take his place at the podium in front of all the reporters that had gathered for the release of the Royal statement. This would be his first appearance where he would be addressing the public, and to say he was nervous was an understatement. But he wanted to do this, if not for himself, but for his parents too. To show them that he could do it, even though he didn't want to become the country's next ruler.
"He's nervous," the King said as he looked across the table at his wife still sitting opposite him, "I never should have allowed him to do this. I should have gone out to do it myself."
"I knew that he shouldn't have, but he insisted on doing it," Clarisse said as she looked across the table at her husband, "and you supported him, saying it'll give him some practice."
"I know, I know," Rupert said and they both turned their attention back to the television.
Putting the papers down on the podium in front of him, Pierre cleared his throat and scanned the room of reporters, who were all there for the same reason. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have come here today to read to you my parents statement over the recent affair allegations concerning my mother on their behalf." He said and looked down at the statement for what felt like a lifetime before looking back up at the crowd. "But I'm not going to read theirs."
"What's he doing?" Clarisse exclaimed in shock and looked back across the table at her husband.
"I'm going to give you my own statement," Pierre announced as he turned over his parents statement on the podium.
"I don't know," Rupert said in complete shock and shook his head. "This wasn't part of the agreement, he was only meant to go out there and read our statement. That was all."
"He's going to tell the truth, isn't he?" Clarisse exclaimed in fear as she rested her elbows on the table in front of her and held her head in her hands. "He's going to tell them that it was me on that balcony."
"We don't know that," Joseph said softly while leaning closer to her and started rubbing his hand up and down her back as the King and their lawyer looked at one another.
"Clarisse," Rupert said as he reached his arm across the table, placing his hand on the side of her arm and watched as she slowly lifted her head to look at him. "Let's see what he says first and if he does tell them, then we will get through it. Together." He said and averted his gaze to Joseph, as he looked at him. "Right?"
"Right," Joseph nodded in agreement and they both looked back to Clarisse before they all looked to the television as Pierre began to speak once again.
"My parents just last month celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary, sure they have had their ups and downs, and their arguments during those years. But they've also had their sad, and happy times too. What married couple, no matter how long married, hasn't? It's all part of being married. Well for a normal married couple at least. My parents have had to live their married life in the watchful eye of you, the people of their country. The world. Because they are not just a normal married couple living in the town, or in any town. They are the King and Queen of Genovia. They are your King and Queen. And they have worked damn hard to get here, to this point. Everyday being watched, some days being applauded and cheered, other days being judged for one thing or another, scrutinised if they do one thing out of line. And today, sadly, is one of those days."
Taking a momentary pause as everyone, including his parents watched on, Pierre looked down at the paper his parents statement is written on and stared at it. Wondering if he should have read it out instead. Wondering if he should lie, like they planned to. Or, if he should be completely honest with them and tell them that it was his mother out on that balcony with Joseph. He didn't want to be the next King, so he could do the latter and quite easily walk away. But he realised in that moment, standing up there and being faced with all these reporters was what his parents had to face themselves whenever accusations like this arose, and that no matter what his mother has done. No matter how much it disgusts him. She is still human. She is still his mother. She is still their Queen. And what a fine Queen she has been standing beside his father during all they have been through over the years, and ruling Genovia together.
Clearing his throat, he looked back up at the crowd and continued.
"My parents over the years have faced numerous affair rumours, as you know, often from people after their fifteen minutes of fame, or selling their 'fake' stories for money, and they got through it each and everytime, and I know that they will again. That woman photographed with my mother's bodyguard, Mr Elizondo, is not my mother. My mother hasn't left the palace all weekend. However, Mr Elizondo has, as the photos released this morning show. He is, after all, entitled to have time off, time away from the palace. And what he does during that time is entirely up to him. It's none of our business. But just because they are more than employer employee, actually being best friends. Just because she visited him in the hospital when he had his accident back in September, as Raphael pointed out in his interview. And just because she went to the hospital that day without her wedding ring on, with her best friend being in hospital, her head was all over the place, which meant she had simply forgot to put it back on after getting ready that morning, I mean come on it's easily done. I'm sure most of us have done it. But because of all that, you all just assume that was my mother out on the balcony with him."
"Well that went better than I expected it would," Iven said as he began gathering up his notes and papers, and putting them back in his briefcase after Pierre had finished reading out his statement.
"Yes it did," Rupert agreed as he shut off the television.
"I'm actually very surprised he said what he said," Clarisse said and turned her head to look at Joseph still sitting beside her as she slumped back in her chair, her hands remaining on the table in front of her.
"Me too," Joseph nodded as he gave her the smallest smile.
Noticing this, Iven looked down at his briefcase a moment. "May I be so bold as to make a suggestion your Majesty, your Highness," Iven said while looking from one to the other.
"What is it," the King said as their lawyer cleared his throat before continuing.
"Well, now that the statement has been released, may I suggest that maybe it would be best if Joseph should go away for awhile, until the dust settles at least," Iven said and averted his gaze to Joseph before briefly looking down at his briefcase on the desk in front of him.
"What?" Clarisse exclaimed as she sat back up and shook her head. "He's not going anywhere."
"Your Majesty, they are going to be watching you all like hawks for any slip ups now." Iven said as he looked back up at her. "You escaped this time, but you might not be so lucky next time."
"He's right," Rupert said and nodded while looking back at Clarisse. "Maybe he should go away for a while."
"But surely him going away now will only cause suspicion?" Clarisse exclaimed as she looked from her husband to their lawyer.
"Not necessarily, no," Iven said as he closed his briefcase and rose to his feet, "him going away now would be seen to the public as a breach of his privacy. He went away for the weekend, was photographed with this woman and was accused of having an affair with the Queen," he said while looking across the table at the Queen and her bodyguard. "And doing the honourable thing, he left as not to cause anymore harm to the crown. Or his own reputation."
"I see," Clarisse said sadly as she looked down at her hands resting on the table. Thinking over everything Iven had just said.
"It makes sense," Joseph said as Clarisse slowly turned her head to look at him beside her, "and would probably be best for you all if I did go away awhile."
"I know, but," Clarisse said sadly and shook her head while looking back down at her hands on the table.
"It'll be fine," Joseph said as he placed his hand on her back, "we can call and write."
"I am going straight to hell," Pierre exclaimed as he entered the library and watched as everyone turned to look at him. "What's wrong?" He asked while coming to a stop at the head of the table.
"Nothing, it doesn't matter," Clarisse said and looked at Iven while standing to her feet and pressing a hand to her stomach as everyone looked at her. "If you think it's best then so be it."
"What's happened?" Pierre asked as he watched his mother walk slowly over to the library window.
"I'm going to go away for a while," Joseph said and looked up at the Prince.
"Oh," Pierre said as he looked at his mother's bodyguard. "Why?"
"Why? What do you mean why?" Clarisse asked as she turned to look over at her son while folding her arms. "I thought you would be happy to know that he's leaving? That is after all what you hoped for all this time, isn't it? For him to leave. To stay away from me."
"Clarisse! After what he's just done for us, that was a bit harsh," Rupert said as he stood to his feet and watched as she put one hand up onto her forehead.
"It's okay father," Pierre said while looking at him, then back at his mother. "She has every right to be angry with me, because it's true. That is what I have hoped for." Taking a deep breath, he walked over and stood in front of his mother. Looking into her eyes. "But not like this. Not now."
"What do you mean, not now?" Clarisse asked, keeping her gaze locked with his.
"Well, I know it took me a hell of a long time, but seeing you taking those risks to have fun. A chance at a normal relationship, made me realise just how happy he makes you," Pierre said as Clarisse gasped in surprise.
"Oh Pierre," Clarisse exclaimed as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, embracing him in a hug. "Thank you, and thank you for your statement too."
"It's alright," Pierre said and wrapped his arms around her as Joseph stood studying them together. A knot of dread forming in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something wasn't right.
"I wonder actually if you could all leave me and Rupert, there's something that I need to talk to him about," Clarisse asked as she pulled back from her son a moment later and looked over at Rupert, Joseph and Iven all stood by the table and watched as they all nodded.
"Of course, I have to get going anyway," Iven said as he picked up his briefcase from the table, "my bill will be in the post."
"Of course, Iven," Rupert smirked as Pierre walked out and Joseph walked over to Clarisse still standing by the window, "it always is."
"Of course," Iven chuckled and bowed his head to them both before walking out.
Turning to his wife and Joseph standing together by the window, Rupert watched as Clarisse put her hand up onto his jaw and reached up to kiss him before he too walked out, leaving them alone in the library. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Rupert asked as he moved to sit on the armrest of one of the armchairs.