Once again, I apologize for taking so long to post a new chapter but the promise remains that the next one will be in a few days.

Thank you so, so much to all of you who continue to read and to follow this story. If you can give me another minute, please leave a review. It's always so good to hear your opinion!

Kisses

Maria

"I'll surrender myself before Mabrey thinks about invading the palace." Said Joseph.

"You certainly do not." Clarisse said pacing the floor. "Let's take a look at this whole situation and think about how we can handle this problem. Delivering yourself would be assuming a guilt that you do not have."

"Your Majesty ..."

"No, Joseph, I do not want to talk about it anymore."

Sebastian approached them.

"Joseph, I agree with Her Majesty, Mabrey wants blood, he's going to create a huge circus, judge you in the public square, forge evidence, testimonials, I do not know what else ..."

Now, it was Mia turn to pacing the living room. A soft knock on the door made everyone look.

"You may come in!" Clarisse said.

"Am I interrupting?" Sofia asked as she entered.

"No, not at all. Please join us. Where is your husband?" Clarisse asked, indicating Sofia a place to sit.

"He's in our room on the phone with his son, but he'll be joining us shortly."

"This situation is all my fault. It is time to face Mabrey and the consequences. I can't allow Mabrey to keep the palace surrounded and continue to denigrate your image, Your Majesty." Clarisse shook her head.

"If you leave the Palace, Mabrey will crucify you, Joe." Mia said as she sat down on the couch next to him. Charlotte knocked on the door and came in with a smile.

"Your Majesty, this time is good news ..." And turned on the television. The news host didn't hide her smile as she read the news.

"And England joins USA, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Greece in this way. Cutting off all trade relations with Genovia will continue until Queen Clarisse returns to the throne. Demonstrations of support for Her Majesty Queen Clarisse extend throughout the country and abroad. We are waiting anytime to have a live call from our embassy in San Francisco where thousands of people show their outrage at King Mabrey. We recall that the Royal Palace in Genovia, is surrounded by forces loyal to the current King, but these same forces are being "surrounded" by an authentic sea of subjects loyal to the Renaldi lineage."

Clarisse smiled and looked at Joseph. Amelia leaned her head on Joseph's shoulder as she watched the interaction between her grandmother and him. Sofia got up and hugged Clarisse. "I'm sure Arthur Mabrey was not expecting this!" Sebastian and Charlotte burst into laughter.

"To be honest, neither am I. But I'm also apprehensive, I'm afraid that Mabrey's troops can turn against the people on the street ..." Clarisse said, squeezing Sofia's hands slightly.

"The international community refuses to accept Mabrey as a legitimate King, Your Majesty. They want YOU!"

"Thank you Sebastian, always loyal, my good friend!"

"I owe you everything, Your Majesty, but most of all, you are the mother of my great friend Philippe ..." And Sebastian lowered his eyes and for a few seconds, a deep silence reined in the room in which everyone revived images of the young prince. And then, another knock on the door, announcing the entrance of King Juan Carlos.

"Well, well, well ... By your expressions I see that you already know the news!" Juan Carlos said and approached Clarisse, took her hand and kissed it. Joseph frowned. Juan Carlos was a seducer and was well known the long list of conquests of the old Spanish sovereign. Clarisse smiled.

"I know, my good friend. I must say that I am surprised by so much evidence of esteem and support." Sofia sat down next to Joseph and Amelia while Clarisse, Sebastian and Juan Carlos continued the conversation, excitedly. Sofia and Joseph watched in silence as the other three spoke. She looked discreetly at Joseph and understood the discomfort ... She too would like to be far away.

"This seclusion will be brief, Clarisse. Soon Mabrey will have to abdicate, and everything will return to normal, and now I think lunch would be very much appreciated, my dear! " Juan Carlos grabbed Clarisse's arm and slipped it over his.

"It's a wonderful idea, yes. Charlotte, we'll have lunch in ten minutes."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Charlotte bowed and left, not without looking at Joseph. After all, King Juan Carlos was taking many liberties...

At lunch and forgetting the protocol, Clarisse was flanked by Juan Carlos and Sebastian while they debated the best strategy to face Mabrey. Silvia and Michael had lunch in the room, more to preserve Silvia from the stress of the news that continued to be broadcast on television. The presence of the Kings of Spain made Harry uncomfortable ... What if someone suspected that Agnes had a lover? No, he could not allow it. Then he sat down next to her, as if they were a couple in love ... Agnes was furious, and Paul apologized, said he was feeling very ill, and retired to his room. Amelia, Helena, and George did their best to cheer Joseph up, thinking that his bad temper was because he thought Mabrey was acting that way because of him. It was only when Helena saw Juan Carlos grab Clarisse's hand that it hit her… He was jealous!

"I can not and will not continue to hide here. Mabrey has to be unmasked as soon as possible. I do not want to risk putting Amelia's life at risk, for she will always be the heir to the throne and Mabrey will not consent to this. " Juan Carlos looked at her in silence ... It's never a good idea to face a madman ...

"Your Majesty, isn't better to think of an alternative solution? Mabrey wants to drag you into a scandal." Said Sebastian a little compromise.

"A scandal? What scandal, for Heaven's sake?" Now Clarisse was getting really upset. Why did Sebastian, always a staunch defender of the Renaldi house, resign himself to finding 'a problem for every solution'? Sebastian looked at her and then at Joseph and Clarisse followed his gaze ... Joseph! The scandal was about Joseph! Clarisse lowered her eyes ... Of course, Mabrey would use advantage of all the information Ruth had given to him. Even on an island and under a few feet of dirt, this woman could make her life a living hell. Joseph never took his eyes from Clarisse. He studied the words, the looks and the nervousness with which she put her hands on her lap. He felt ashamed! He, a commoner, a mere employee of Her Majesty's, Clarisse Renaldi, was at the root of an unprecedented diplomatic incident in Old Europe, endangering the Crown of Genovia and, above all, exposing the most beautiful, intelligent, caring, sensitive woman in the world to ridicule. Clarisse felt Joseph's gaze on her. How she wanted to feel his arms around her, to hear him whisper in her ear, comforting words, assuring her that everything was going to be all right ... To avoid a tightening of tension in the room, Clarisse decided to change the subject!

"Helena ..." And Joseph's heart almost stopped. He was waiting for her to told Sebastian that their relationship did not concern anyone, and that it would not be Mabrey's threat that would prevent her from giving her feelings, her happiness, for the first time in her life. "I can never thank you enough for keeping Amelia safe." Said Clarisse with a genuine smile.

"Well, Clarisse, we'll do anything for you and obviously for Mia too. And it was funny, Mia passed by our granddaughter!" And George, Helena, and Mia burst into laughter. Clarisse smiled. The happiness of seeing Amelia well and in the company of such good friends almost made her weep. Harry thought he was silent for too long.

"Princess, for nearly two months we've been trapped on that damned island, we've talked so much about you that we were also considering adopting it for our granddaughter, is not Agnes dear?" Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders and Agnes tried to show her best smile, considering that at that moment, she might seriously have the idea of become widowed.

But this little exchange of words was enough to ease the tension a bit, and minutes later, they were all in the living room drinking coffee. Joseph stood at a safe distance from Clarisse but never out of sight. From time to time they exchanged glances and smiles.

"You'll excuse me, but I'm going to retire. I'm going to put a new patch on my shoulder and get some rest. I think we're going to need all our strengths soon. Very soon. "A chorus of 'Rest, See you soon, and Get Better Soon' echoed in the room. Joseph approached Clarisse, took her hand as they had done a thousand times and kissed her lightly. When he got up, Whispered to just her, "As soon as I wake up, can I see you in your suite, Your Majesty?" Clarisse smiled but all her senses shouted that something was not right and she cupped his cheek with her hand. "Of course, Joseph! Now get some rest, please. I desperately need my Head of Security!" He bowed again and Clarisse realize, immediately what's wrong: Sebastian words! Does Joseph think that she's ... That she's ashamed of him? Of course if the press know that the Queen ... I mean, Queen no, at this moment she was just Clarisse, the widow of King Rupert but, even so, if the press knows about her and Joseph, it will be a scandal!

And could she deal with a scandal? What about Parliament's opinion? What about her subjects? Could she jeopardize everything? Could she handle everything? No ... There's something she can not handle ... The pain she saw in Joseph's eyes! And when he opened the door to leave the living room:

"Joseph?" He stopped and looked back.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" Oh Clarisse ... He just wanted to get out of there, into his room, fill his whiskey glass and sit in the dark. Her next words opened his chest and beat inside so hard that he was almost certain that his heart failed to beat two or three times...

"I'm going with you, dear. As we are among friends, I can rest in your arms, that are where I sleep better!" Clarisse started walking toward Joseph, hoping to leave the living room quickly and thus avoid the embarrassment of the silence she was expecting but instead, the room vibrated as if Genovia had won the world cup of soccer!

"Way to go, Grandma! And you, Joey ..." Laugh Mia, and threw herself into Clarisse's arms. In seconds, that strange group of friends was immersed in real happiness, all laughed and congratulated Joseph and Clarisse, taking the opportunity to assure them that this would be a secret that everyone would gladly keep and at that moment, Joseph knew that no matter what happened, he would always be the happiest man in the world!