The week passed by all too quickly. The press were persistent to have Clarisse comment about Rupert's mistress and the baby, but Clarisse refused. Clarisse was far too concerned about the man who was always one step behind her, the one who she wished she could openly choose. but having him in secret was good enough for her, and she hoped it was for him too. Without her royal status, she probably would've divorced Rupert a long time ago and marry the elegantly on-point man inches away from her.

The day of her anniversary to Rupert finally came, and she already hated it, even though she hadn't even seen him yet. As she walked into her office, it was flooded with roses of all different colours. Her eyes dancing around the room to the colours. Though the flowers had consumed her, the lack of Joseph's presence hadn't gone unnoticed by her. She heard the door close behind her, so she turned to see Rupert standing there, a bright smile on his face. "Good morning darling, happy anniversary." He walked over to her, took her hands and gave her a small peck on the lips as she smiled dutifully at him.

"Happy anniversary." She replied sweetly though the words tasted sour on her lips.

"I wish we had more time to spend together today," He began trying to act like he was the perfect husband, "but unfortunately, we don't have much. I had hoped though that you would join me for dinner? My suite, eight o'clock?"

"Of course." She smiled but not at Rupert, she smiled at her head of security as he walked in through the door.

"Forgive me Your Majesty, Your Highness," he bowed to them in turn, "I don't wish to intrude." He turned and started walking back through the door.

"Joseph, it's quite alright, I was leaving anyways." Rupert called after him, and gave him a smile as he reentered the room. "Eight o'clock." He smiled at Clarisse, kissed her cheek, then left closing the door after himself.

"Good morning Joseph." Her smile grew bigger as he walked towards her. He took her hand and kissed the back of it, before this simple action was more out of duty, but now— now it meant something far more.

"You know, for a queen, you're terrible with secrets." Joseph stated half jokingly.

"I beg to differ." She stated as she took her seat behind her desk and pondered for a moment. "How do you mean?" She finally asked.

"Well, you weren't smiling at all to the king when he was talking to you, then your face lit up when you looked over at me. Anyone could have picked up on it."

"I'm sorry Joseph." She looked down at her desk. "I was just so happy to see you. Seeing you is one of the best parts of my day." She looked back up at him as he took a few steps to stand right in front of her desk.

"I feel much the same, but we must be careful."

"Okay Joseph, you're right." She gave in with a sigh.

"Would it cheer you up if I told you a secret?" He asked, leaning over her desk a little. She nodded and leaned in a little closer as he whispered in her ear, "I love you, Clarisse."

"I love you too Joseph." As they pulled back, Joseph first noticed her radiant smile had once again returned. He then walked over to the desk in the corner of the room that she had, had brought into the room for him.

"Thank you Joseph." She looked up at him.

"For what?" He asked as he sat down in his chair and looked across the room at her.

"The roses. I know they were your idea. Rupert would have most likely gotten me a lily."

"A lily? Really? But you hate lilies!" He protested.

"I know, but he doesn't. So thank you Joseph. Even though they're technically from Rupert, thank you Joseph. They're beautiful. You even found my favourite colours of roses." She admired the roses on her desk in front of her, they were yellow long-stem with red tips. She always said they were her favourite because they easily drew her into a trance of pure perfection.

"Of course I know what you like." He finally decided on saying.

Hours later, Clarisse had kindly declined on spending the night in Rupert's suite, and made it back to hers as fast as she could after having dinner with him. She loved Rupert because he was the father to her sons, and she respected him as a friend, but she didn't want to spend the night with a man she didn't love. She entered her suite to see a vase on her coffee table with eight of her favourite roses in it, and a small envelope leaning against the vase. She smiled and picked up the envelope and withdrew a small card from it. it read,

"Dearest Clarisse,

I had thought of getting you a rose

for every second I've loved you, but

there weren't enough roses. So I got

you one for every day you've known

of my love.

x"