The week passed rather slowly, and after what felt like years, it was finally Joseph's birthday. Joseph walked into Clarisse's office early that day (as he normally did to familiarize himself with her daily schedule), to find a little box on her desk with a card addressed to him. He opened the card, and it read:

"Dear Joseph,

This is just a small token of my appreciation for you.

Happy birthday.

-Clarisse."

Joseph then opened the box to find a set of gold cufflinks with his initials on them. They were the sweetest gift he's ever received. Since being at the palace, Joseph has mainly forgotten that he has a birthday because he always has something to do. Nor has anyone taken the time to even remember his birthday. But this, from his queen, was so much more than he could ever hope for. He would never tell her that she is the reason he loved his job so much. Since they'd met, shortly before her marriage to Rupert, Joseph couldn't help but allow his heart a fantasy that could never, and would never happen. Had she not been the future queen and not been betrothed to one of his oldest friends, he might have told her, but how could he now? He knew he could never tell her how he felt, but he also knew that he could never look at another woman the way he looked at her.

"Happy birthday Joseph." Clarisse smiled as she walked into her office.

"Thank you, and thank you for the cufflinks. They're perfect." He smiled up at her as she walked over towards the desk where he stood.

"Wow, you're thirty. You're so old Joseph." She teased.

"I might be, but in a matter of eight months you will be old too." He fired back.

"But at least I still have my youth." She retorted.

"Wisdom however…" Joseph began and winked as she faked a shocked expression.

"Am I interrupting?" Rupert asked. Neither Clarisse or Joseph had realized he was there.

"No, no." Clarisse answered. "You needed something?" She asked, she already missed her banter with Joseph.

"Yes, I actually needed Joseph to discuss this evening at the prime minister's house. Unless you're currently busy."

"Your Majesty," Joseph turned back to Clarisse, "would you mind?"

"Not at all." She smiled. "But do come back after, there are things I need to discuss with you."

"Of course." He smiled at her before walking out with Rupert. A little over an hour later, Joseph walked back into Clarisse's office. "I apologize that it took so long."

"You don't need to apologize. You can't be too careful with security."

He nodded his agreement, then said, "You had things you wanted to discuss with me?"

"Indeed. It's come to my attention that you're up until the early hours of the morning finishing work that you didn't have time for in the day. Is that true?"

"It is." He admitted.

"I've asked to have a desk brought in here for you, that way you can do both your paperwork and look out for me at the same time. I figured it might be easier for you." She smiled at him.

"Thank you." He couldn't help but smile when he saw hers.

"Maybe this way you can actually go to sleep at a decent hour." She laughed softly.

His smile grew bigger as she laughed, how he loved her laugh. "Thank you, Your Majesty." He bowed.

She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "What did we talk about?"

He reached out, took her hand and kissed it. "Better?"

"Much." Her eyes softened and her smile returned once more.

The day passed in a blur, and all too soon Joseph was escorting Clarisse back to her suite after the small get-together at the prime minister's house. "Care to join me for a drink Joseph?" She asked as they approached her suite door.

"Thank you, but I shouldn't. You are the queen after all, and I'm simply your employee. It wouldn't be right."

"Rules were meant to be broken, Joseph." She walked into her suite and left the door open for him. He hesitated, then swallowed down that part of him that said it was a bad idea and stepped into her suite as he closed the door after himself. "Wine? Whisky? Brandy?" She asked.

"Surprise me." He replied. As she poured the drinks, he stepped out onto her balcony (of which the doors were already open.)

"I come out here often." She began as she stepped out onto the balcony with two drinks in her hands. "To think, or just to stare out at this beautiful country. In the mornings, I have the perfect view of the sunrise from here." She smiled as she handed him a glass, and he smiled his thanks as he returned to looking out across the land.

"A beautiful view of your gardens too, Your Majesty." Joseph added.

"Clarisse." She corrected as Joseph turned to look at her as she set her glass down on the table, so he did too. "At times like this, I'd like it if you would use my name." Her eyes glistened as the moon light hit them at just the right angle.

"Clarisse." He corrected himself. He knew their eye contact was being held for much too long, but he couldn't seem to pull his eyes away from her.

"Joseph, if I asked you to do something, would you?" She asked as she took one step forward.

"Anything."

"Kiss me." Her voice didn't waver as her eyes stayed locked with his.

"Please don't ask that of me." He insisted.

"Why?"

"You are the queen Clarisse, a married one at that, and…" He trailed off.

"And?" She urged him to continue.

"And I would comply."

"Kiss me." She repeated. Joseph didn't hesitate. He closed the already small gap between the two of them and pressed a soft, but sweet kiss to her lips. When they finally pulled apart, they stood there, staring into each other's eyes, wordlessly. They were so close that not even a single sheet of paper could fit between them.

Just then he realized that this was all actually happening, so he took a step back as he tried to make sense of it all. "Clarisse, Your Majesty, I'm sorry, I…" He stopped talking as he felt her soft hand gently alongside his face as she stroked her thumb across his cheek.

"No apology is necessary Joseph. Besides, I asked you to kiss me, not the other way around." She smiled softly.

"But whatever could be or is happening here can't." He said as his heart ached a little. "You're both the queen and a married woman."

She sighed as she let her hand fall. She walked over towards the railing of the balcony and leaned against it. "I don't love him, Joseph."

"Come again?" He asked, stunned.

She turned her head towards him. "Rupert. I don't love him, I never have. I was promised to be his wife since my early teenage years, but I never grew to love him." She looked back out towards the extensive grounds of the palace. "I think I know how you feel about me Joseph, and I want you to know that I feel the say about you." She then completely turned towards Joseph. "I don't want to give you false hope, but I want, I need, you to know how I feel." She finished as he just looked at her for a few short moments. "Please, say something." She begged, but there were no words to say. Instead, Joseph took the two steps it took to stand right in front of her and captured her lips in a kiss of his own need.