Isabella

"How do you know about her?"

Mia took a deep breath. Her decision to be brave with her grandmother would hopefully be in her favor.

"I took a walk today and her grave drew my attention. It took me a little while but I soon realized that her entire last name wasn't what it should be. Then it occurred to me that Joe's last name is Calvera."

Clarisse kept her eyes on the paper, possible escapes coming to her mind. Mia would never listen to her excuses though. She was too much like herself in that respect.

"I suppose I've been found out, haven't I dear?" Clarisse said. The younger could detect a sad tone in her voice.

Mia could only manage a nod.

"Well then, you're about to learn some things about your grandmother you never knew."

"Isabella was my third child. She was my hope of having a little girl amidst all of the men and boys in the palace. In a way, she was my last hope. I never wanted a large family but I knew I wanted a family of my own. When Pierre was born, I was ecstatic and very young. I was just a year younger than you. He became the center of my world; he still is whenever he comes to visit. He grew up to be a great man and a great teacher too quickly for my liking.

"Phillipe was next four years later. His birth was easier, perhaps because he was second. He was another absolute joy. He was more energetic, kept me up at night sometimes. After I had him, a part of me never wanted to have children again. I didn't want to put myself through that torture again. But apart of me wanted that chance to maybe have the little girl I always wanted. I love my boys, don't get me wrong, but I suppose it's just something about being a woman and wanting a girl to be able to turn her into the lady my mother made me.

"When I found out I was pregnant again, I was so joyous. Back then, we had different ways of telling if it was a boy or girl. High was a boy and low was a girl. Sometimes it proved to be wrong but it certainly applied for me.

"Four months into it, I noticed I felt different. I was still very sickly, I felt horrible the entire time. I was coming out of a parliament meeting when it happened. Rupert, your grandfather, was on a trip at the time. Joseph was the one by my side through the entire ordeal."

At that comment, Mia wanted to voice her thoughts but she was afraid that if she did her grandma would stop with her story and that was not something she wanted. Clarisse continued on.

"I had a hard time getting over her death. My body was weak as was my heart. It was her death that caused trouble with my eyesight. Very few people in present day Genovia know about the miscarriage, despite the press being there at her funeral. Only members of parliament and other workers in the palace know what happened. It's one of those well guarded secrets."

"Is your child's last name of Calvera a well guarded secret too?" Mia interrupted, her tone accusing.

Clarisse met her granddaughter's stare. She knew Mia would come back to that but she was still hoping the young woman would drop the subject. She wasn't ready to tell someone else the truth. It had been a secret for so long and she wanted it to stay that way.

"I can trust you to keep it to yourself? I won't hear the maid's gossiping about it behind my back because you're angry with me?" Clarisse wondered. She trusted her granddaughter but she knew that when people were angry, they could let all sorts of secrets slip.

"What makes you think…?"

"I know when people are angry with me, Mia. I've been queen for a long time. I see it more than you think," Clarisse explained. "I can tell you're angry with me right now but why I have yet to see."

"I'm not angry, I'm just confused and curious and you can trust me to keep it a secret," Mia affirmed.

Clarisse hesitated. She was about to reveal very confidential information to her granddaughter of all people. She didn't want it tarnished in her own mind once Mia heard it. To Clarisse, it was still a beautiful thing.

"Joseph and I had a relationship many years ago. Some would call it an affair; I call it a beautiful relationship. I loved him very much, I still do. And with that relationship came Isabella. Joseph was her father. I can't tell you exactly how I know that but I know she was. Besides the math doesn't add up any other way," Clarisse confessed.

"So you had a relationship with Joe while you were with grandpa," Mia recapped.

Clarisse nodded. "Yes, I did. I'm not telling you that it's right to do, but sometimes when you're in love, that love gets the better of you."

Mia still looked confused.

"Let me start by explaining the relationship your grandfather and I shared," Clarisse continued. "He came to me and proposed to me when I was nineteen. I had other dreams other than to marry a prince but looking back I suppose I was drawn to him. I said yes and I moved into the palace a week later to start learning how to be of the royal status."

"You went through princess lessons," Mia smiled.

"Yes, I did. Your great-grandmother is the one that taught me everything I know about being a proper queen. She's a wonderful woman; I can't wait for you to meet her.

"I may not have loved grandfather, Mia, but I still cared for him deeply. He helped me accomplish many good things. His wonderful memory will always be remembered by me."

"But grandma, that doesn't really describe anything," Mia pointed out.

"All right. What would you like to know?"

"Well, I never met him so I guess anything."

Clarisse smiled but understood.

"I'll start at the beginning," she began. "He had dark blue eyes, dark brown hair-almost black. He had a square chin, determined. Broad shoulders; always had excellent posture. He never left this room without a medal on his jacket. He was always very regal and very manly. He used to be a hunter but I've banned it from Genovia. He hated that but he respected why I did it. He was a sportsman, interested in archery and so many other things I could never keep up with. I always listened when he told me about them though.

"He was a generous man. He donated to many charities across the country and across Europe. I still do that but in his name. He was a fair man but he could be extremely strict. He could be stubborn as well. It had an effect on everyone but me. I wouldn't let him get the better of me. I guess you could say we balanced each other out," she concluded. There was a soft smile on her face that eased Mia's mind.

It made her change her mind about asking questions but she wanted to know and her grandmother was willingly answering.

"He sounds like a great man."

"He was," Clarisse answered fondly.

"Tell me about Joe."