We would like to take a moment and thank each and every one of you who have been loyally reviewing this story; we truly appreciate your kind words and constructive guidance. Enjoy chapter four!

Chapter Four

Clarisse woke up with a horrid headache. Foggy-headed, she slowly began to put together the events of the night before. Refusing to let her emotions overcome her once again, she got out of bed and prepared herself for the day. She feigned a bright smile for the benefit of her subjects.

Wanting to clear her head before her inevitably stressful day, she walked down to the garden and wandered about for a while.

---

Clarisse was sitting in the garden fingering through some paper work. Thinking if she were outside, embraced by the sweet fragrance of the incredible smelling flowers, her senses would ease. As she put the final paper in order she leaned back on the bench, removed her glasses, and closed her eyes tilting her head to rest her temple against her fist.

A day had past since Claire's confession and Clarisse couldn't get Joseph out of her mind. She was deeply hurt and no matter how hard she may try, she just couldn't bring herself to confront him. Even when she would pass him in the hallway, she found her pace quickening and heart racing. He had broken her heart and she feared what she may say to him.

After pondering her situation with Joseph, Clarisse decided it would be best to return to her office before she could no longer keep her emotions in check or keep Charlotte waiting too long.

Greeting the two security guards, Clarisse approached the backdoor of the palace. Claire pulled the heavy door open quickly as Clarisse turned the knob, causing Clarisse to trip forward, dropping her newly organized papers.

Security guards sprang forward to catch Clarisse, none aware of what was happening. They relaxed as Clarisse caught her balance and only her papers ended up hitting the ground.

Claire covered her mouth in shame and began apologizing profusely for her mistake, bending down to help Clarisse pick up her papers.

"Oh Your Highness, I am so sorry! I should have been paying attention." Claire threw out as she and Clarisse squatted, quickly gathering the dropped materials.

"Oh no, no, no Claire. It was just an accident- my fault as much as yours!" Clarisse said cheerfully. As they rose to their feet Clarisse continued, "Oh and Claire dear, if it isn't too much trouble will you please ask Charlotte to meet me in my office as soon as she can. Mia wanted to meet with us to make sure things are just right for her wedding tomorrow."

-----

The Princess's proclamation that women were perfectly fit to rule without a husband had the wedding guests buzzing. Andrew and Mia had agreed to hold the reception even without a wedding. Not to mention, everything had already been paid for anyhow. It seemed a shame to let all the beautiful decorations and exquisite food go to waste.

"Whew!" Mia plopped down in an empty chair next to her grandmother. "My feet are killing me!"

Clarisse gave a small laugh. "I think we'll be able to get rid of some of these guests in a few minutes."

"I hope so." Mia suddenly grew serious. "Grandma, I just want to say thank you. This wedding-well, almost wedding-has been so incredible."

"Well, only the best for you, my dear..." She trailed off, a sickly sight across the room catching her attention. Claire was mercilessly flirting with Joseph and Clarisse was a bit confused at his apparent discomfort. She turned back to Mia before Joseph stood up and made his way to the pair.

"Would you like to dance, Your Majesty?" He asked with a deep bow.

"No thank you, Joseph." Clarisse said pointblank, again returning her attention to Mia. "Mia darling, if you'll forgive me I think I am going to retire for the evening. I'm feeling quite tired from all the excitement."

As Clarisse placed a kiss to Mia's cheek, Mia confusedly looked at Joe, "Oh, okay, Grandma. I'll be up in a bit to say goodnight."

"See you then, darling."

"Joseph." She acknowledged as she passed him, the distance shining through her eyes.

Joseph stood in shock as he turned to watch his Queen exit the ballroom. Mia's voice brought him back, "What was that about?"

"I wish I knew." He said, not removing his stare from the door.

-----

Clarisse sat at her desk, her pen moving briskly in her hand, applying her near-perfect signature to the many papers stacked upon her desk.

"Your Majesty? May I request an audience with you?" Clarisse's head shot up, not expecting to see Joseph standing before her.

"Go ahead." She said crisply, returning her attention to her task at hand.

"Have I done something?" Joseph inquired blatantly.

She glanced up before speaking, not able to hold eye contact with him and keep her emotions in tact at the same time.

"And what makes you think you've done something wrong?"

"Oh I don't know, perhaps the fact that you haven't spoken to me once- aside from declining my invitation to dance last night- in about four days."

Clarisse irritably removed her glasses from the bridge of her nose. Dropping them to hang upon her chest, she spoke cholerically, "Well perhaps it has something to do with the fact that-"

"Your Majesty, Princess Mia requested to see you when you get a moment this afternoon. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone was in here with you."

"Don't apologize Charlotte, we were just finished." Clarisse said before placing her glasses back on with one hand, picking up her pen with the other. Not even glancing up to Joseph, she returned to her work.

Joseph looked at her disbelievingly before turning hastily to exit the office.

---

Clarisse was sitting at her desk with Olivia just beside her waiting for her Queen to finish organizing a pile of papers needing to be stuffed and mailed.

Olivia began to lift the teapot readying to poor Clarisse a cup of hot tea when Claire, who was standing in front of Clarisse's desk, interrupted, "Oh no, Olivia, let me get that for you. You already have plenty to do." She smiled kindly to Olivia, who in return smiled appreciatively, before pouring her Queen a steaming cup of tea.

"Here you go Your Grandeur,"

Clarisse looked at Claire's smiling and innocent yet contriving face, hesitantly reaching for the offered beverage.

"A lovely cup of tea just how you-"

While Olivia walked over by Charlotte, Claire held the saucer and scalding cup out to Clarisse. As Clarisse reached for the cup and saucer, Claire smirked andspilled the hot liquid onto Clarisse's lap, Claire quickly recovered her veneer, "Oh! Your Highness! Oh I'm terribly sorry, Your Highness!"

Clarisse jumped out of her seat angrily, "How dare you!"

Charlotte and Olivia spun around to look at the spectacle that was occurring behind them, and it all happened so quickly.

"Your Highness, it was an accident." Claire backed away to stand next to Olivia while Charlotte rushed to her Queen's side grabbing a pile of napkins that were resting on the sparkling silver tea tray to help Clarisse wipe off the burning liquid.

"Are you alright Your Majesty?" Charlotte inquired hurriedly.

"No, I most certainly am not alright! This... this intern of yours poured this torridcup of tea onto my lap on purpose!

"I-I most certainly did not!" Claire innocently and convincingly stated. "Your Majesty, I assure you it was an accident!"

Olivia and Charlotte stood with their mouths ajar, in all of their years working at the Queen's side no one has ever even attempted to cross her. It just never seemed necessary. Their Queen was always so kind and compassionate; neither of the two ever recalled seeing their Queen so...infuriated.

"This is the last straw, Claire. I am your Queen and I have been nothing but patient and kind to you and you keep pulling these...these deceits!"

Charlotte spoke up, "Your Highness, it was an accident. I mean no disrespect but I will take Claire with me to mail these contracts, while we are away please remain with Olivia and calm down."

Charlotte had never ventured into the territory of giving her Queen a command before, but if she didn't say something now she knew things could grow far worse.

"Very well, Charlotte." Clarisse took her assistant's advice wisely and gracefully.

Claire held back her tears before she turned to exit with Charlotte, Charlotte noticed her tears and put her arm around Claire comfortingly. As soon as they were out the door Clarisse put her hand to her forehead in an act of distress and after a moment of silence she looked to Olivia who was standing perfectly upright awaiting an outburst,

"Oh Olivia, what am I to do?" Clarisse asked rhetorically as she plopped gracefully into her chair.

"Madame, how are you certain it wasn't in fact an accident?" She asked softly.

"It's just been happening too frequently to be coincidental. I feel awful for berating her like that, but...just the looks she gives me before any of these 'accidents' happen." She looked to Olivia and gave up, "Never mind. Thank you Olivia, you may go."

"Yes Your Majesty." And Olivia bowed out.

Clarisse sat a few moments resting her forehead on her clasped hands, completely lost in thought. Oh perhaps I am too hard on the poor dear. She is having an awfully difficult time; she is confused and frightened about her relationship with... Could I be jealous? Is THAT why I'm so hard on her? Because he's chosen her...?

---

As Clarisse descended into the kitchen for a cup of tea to try to calm her nerves she stopped abruptly, not expecting to find anyone else sitting there at the table at this hour. She quietly gasped, causing the other figure to turn around. The person turned around just as surprised to see Clarisse,

"Couldn't sleep?" Joseph asked kindly.

Clarisse stood there silently and shook her head before turning to leave.

"Clarisse, wait!" Joseph quickly made it to Clarisse just in time to carefully grab her arm before she got too far.

Clarisse incredulously looked into his eyes, the hurt evident in her own. She barely found her voice before speaking, "How dare you talk to me...how dare you touch me." She backed away slowly.

Confusion spread itself across Joseph's face and he gave her a panicked and questioning look.

"Goodbye, Joseph."

"Goodbye?"

"Goodbye." She confirmed before vigorously entering the dark hallway to return to her haven.

Joseph found himself immobile, hurt and confused, like a deer caught in headlights.

Joseph pounded his fist on the doorframe in indignation. "Damnit, Clarisse, damnit!!"

To be continued...

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