"Joseph?" It's been about six months since Joseph has been Clarisse's personal bodyguard. Over time she got him to stop his constant apologizing, and stop saying 'Your Majesty,' so often.
"Yes?" He stepped forward.
"I'm going for a walk in the garden, care to join me?"
"My pleasure." He held the door open for her and followed her out.
"So tell me," She began as she stopped to admire some roses. "What do you do for fun around here?"
"I do my job." It was then that she looked back at him.
"I'm serious Joseph. I'm certain you get bored of just following me around."
"Never." He smiled, and for some reason, she believed him.
"On your nights off, you don't do anything fun?"
"I usually just stay in my suite until someone calls me for help." He told her.
She looked at him skeptically. "When's the last time you had a real night off? When the staff didn't seek you out."
He thought about it for a moment. "The day before I became head of security." He admitted.
"What of your birthday then? Are you at least going to enjoy it?"
He was stunned, he hadn't known that she knew his birthday was coming up. "I expect it to be just as any other night off, waiting for someone on staff to call me."
"Even if I ordered you to take your night off, outside of the palace, and enjoy yourself?"
He smiled. "I'm fairly sure you can't have fun just because you're told to."
"I suppose so." Her smile fell a little. "However, I do wish you would try to have fun."
"Oh, but I have fun everyday. Guarding the queen is never dull." He smirked.
"Oh? I'm that much trouble, am I?" She smiled.
"Much more." He joked back.
Right as she was about to respond, Rupert came down the steps of the palace, and over to her and Joseph. "Ah, Joseph, just the man I was looking for." Rupert said.
"Your Highness." Joseph bowed.
"There's an event at the prime minister's house a week from Thursday, and I want you and your team to figure out security measures and I'd like you and three others there as well."
"Rupert, I've given Joseph that evening off,that's his birthday after all."
"It's quite alright," Joseph began, "it is an honour to serve the crown." Joseph bowed to Rupert.
"I'd like to see the security plans no later than Friday." Joseph nodded then Rupert walked off.
Joseph turned back to look at Clarisse and saw the look on her face. "What's the matter?" It was then that she turned back to look at Joseph.
"That shouldn't have just happened. I'll go talk to Rupert." As she started to walk away, Joseph grabbed her hand to stop her.
"It's perfectly alright. Honestly. There are other birthdays." He smiled.
"There are." She agreed. "But you do so much around here, you need an actually night off. A fun night out."
"I love my job. I enjoy waking up and doing it everyday. I don't need a fun night out because I can have more fun doing my job than on a night off."
"But Joseph I—"
He cut her off. "It's fine. Truly."
She sighed. "Fine. I just worry about you." She confessed.
"There's no need to worry." He then brought her hand, that he was still holding, up to her lips and kissed it. "I promise."