Chapter 6

"Clarisse?... Where are you?" ...they heard the King's voice from quite close, so as a flash Clarisse pushed Joseph into her room, and closed the door without any noise. "Clarisse?... Are you here?" He was knocking on her door now, "Clarisse?...We have to talk... Oh, damn it." He hissed and they heard his moving steps...

"I think he's gone." she whispered.

"Sure?"

"Yes. I always answer him, when I'm here... He just wanted to apologize anyway."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's a habit of him, if everything would be fine with that."

"I see. But, has he ever... you know, hit you?"

"No. He just likes to smash things and hit the wall or actually anything he can reach."

"But today before I came in..."

"He was close to that yes, but fortunately you were there." she smiled gratefully and let him to drew her to his embrace. He could not say a word, just held her tight, feeling her smile into his neck.

"Would you..." She asked and pulled away a little, "Would you like to take a look around in my little hiding place?"

"Of course," he smiled. "Actually I've imagined this place as a..."

"A dark closet where I'm sitting in the corner and chewing my hair?" she chuckled.

"Yeah, exactly... but this is so light and peaceful. All the white curtains, the white sofa and the whole room is so bright and relaxing. The first word what comes to my mind is happiness."

"Yes, me too." she smiled and grabbed his hand, guiding him around. "When I have a bad day, I come here to calm down and relax a bit, but mostly to do what I really want." and with that she opened a big sketchbook on her desk with full of her drawings.

"Oh my God...," said Joseph as he saw what was inside. "I've never ever seen a picture like this before. So vivid and colorful."

"Yes, I love colors. I think I somehow... restore order with my imagination if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I think so. And I'm sure until you are in your own world, reality cannot destroy you."

"Exactly...," she whispered as he was standing behind her, pulling her to his embrace.

"Clarisse, you are a real talent. You should do this all day long."

"Thanks, but actually this is my real profession, I'm an illustrator originally. I graduated from The Art Institute before we got married with Rupert. But after our wedding I had to organize his parties, his career and I had absolutely no time for myself. So after we moved into The Palace I started drawing again, in secret."

"But why in secret? You should have a great career, you have every tool for publicity."

"Yes, but I do not want to use my position to be known. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do." nodded Joseph. "So... it seems you are not hiding here about depression."

"Oh, no. I just draw something to relax me and I can't leave it there until it's not finished. That's all."

"I see. Would you... would you limn me too?" he asked with a smile,

"I do not really limn humans, but..." she turned some pages. "But this bird is you..."

"Really?" he was amazed.

"Uh-huh."

"Everything is so colorful around him, while the other parts of the picture is black and white."

"Yes, that's the point." She looked up at him. "He brings back the colors."

"I think this is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard." He kissed her lovingly. "Thank you... and I hope you start believing in what I said you on that party."

"Yes, I think it doesn't seem so impossible anymore..."

To be continued...