"Joseph." Joseph froze as he heard the king's voice from behind him. Joseph was still mad, and he felt completely justified in his anger.
"Your Highness." Joseph turned on his heels and bowed.
"My office."
"Yes Sire." Joseph followed the king and stayed at least three paces behind him the entire time.
"Take a seat." Rupert gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk once the office door was closed. Joseph swiftly took a seat and followed Rupert with his eyes as Rupert made his way around to his chair and sat down.
"What can I help you with Sire?" Joseph tried to sound casual.
"She's in labour."
"Are you going to the hospital? Do I need to arrange security for—"
"No." Rupert cut Joseph off. "I would like Clarisse to go, but I know she won't."
"The queen?" Joseph was stunned. "Why?"
"Well, it would show that she's willing to get passed this. It would also be kind of her to stay with the child and the mother, you know, for support."
"So you want me to…" Joseph trailed off.
"Yes, I want you to ask her. She'll listen to you."
"But Sire, to be fair, I can suggest something and she still can say no. She hardly ever takes my advice unless her security is in jeopardy."
Rupert laughed a little. "Stubborn to the bitter end. Please Joseph? I could easily order you to, but I'm asking you, as a friend."
That stung him. 'What kind of friend would have someone constantly tailing their friend? Then again, what kind of friend would fall in love with his friend's wife?' Joseph thought. Joseph took a deep breath, then finally said, "Okay. I'll go and ask her." Joseph stood up and walked to the door.
"Joseph?" Joseph turned around to look at the king. "Thank you." With that Joseph nodded and left.
As Joseph walked into Clarisse's office, she was once again, standing in front of the window, her hands clasped together behind her back. "Not now." She said without even turning around.
"It's me." Joseph said, and she turned around in shock.
"Oh, Joseph, I'm sorry."
"You needn't be. You're going through a lot." She nodded at his words. "Sit with me? There's something I want to talk to you about." He sat on the sofa and was joined by Clarisse so close to him that their sides were pressed together. He then diverged, after a deep breath, into what he'd just spoken with the king about.
"He what?!" She nearly yelled as she rose to her feet.
"Clarisse…" Joseph said calmly.
"No. Not happening. Out of the question." She breathed as she began pacing the room. "How could he ask that of me? How dare he tell you to ask me!"
"He didn't tell me to, he asked me to. He said that you'd listen to me, which is why he wanted me to ask. To which I told him that you hardly ever listen to me unless it has to do with your safety." She looked over at him and a grin graced her lips, and he couldn't help but smile at her in return.
"Well, you're not wrong there." She cooed as she sat beside him again.
"So, what do you think?" Joseph questioned as his smiled faded and he watched her's fade as well.
She let out a long sigh. "Very well. But I'm leaving shortly after the child is born." She replied sternly.
"I'll gather up a security team…"
"No."
"No?"
"All I need is you." She smiled.
"Very well." He took her hand and placed a soft kiss to her knuckles. "She we head out then?"
"If we must."
They were at the hospital less than an hour later, and after the nurses got over their shock of her being there, they pointed Clarisse and Joseph in the direction of the delivery room. They stood outside and looked through the window, the woman was beautiful. 'It;s easy to see why Rupert had been with her. She seemed frazzled, but not in a lot of pain, so it must be in between contractions.' Clarisse thought.
"Are you okay? Are you ready?" Joseph asked her, bringing her back from her thoughts.
"No, but I must."
Joseph nodded. "I'll be right out here if you need me." Clarisse took a deep breath and walked into the room. Joseph watched from the window, the woman seemed shocked that Clarisse was there at all, which was understandable. After a few moments the woman was screaming in pain, and Clarisse hurried over and took her hand. 'She's stronger than she looks.' Joseph mused as he watched Clarisse, he couldn't begin to imagine what being here was like for her, watching this woman, knowing that the child is her husband's.
After a couple hours, a doctor and a few nurses rushed in and Joseph turned away from the window, that was something he was sure he didn't want to see. Many minutes later the door opened and Clarisse grabbed Joseph's arm and pulled him into the room before he could say anything. "She's beautiful." Clarisse sigh as she watched the baby in her mother's arms.
"Would you like to hold her?" The baby's mother looked up at Clarisse and smiled.
"What? No, I couldn't." Clairsse stammered.
"I insist." Before Clarisse could say another word, the baby was put in her arms, Joseph watched in awe as Clarisse held the child.
"Have you named her?" Clarisse finally asked as she kept looking at the baby.
"I was thinking Rose."
"Roses are so pure and innocent, just like this little one." Clarisse smiled, it was her first genuine smile since this entire situation began.
"It suits her." Joseph finally spoke, and Clarisse smiled up at him.
"I couldn't agree more." The mother replied.
"Joseph?"
"Your Majesty?" Joseph stepped closer to her.
"Would you like to hold her?"
"No, I'm not good with kids, I—" He was cut off by Clarisse placing Rose in his arms. "She's so small and precious."
As Joseph gently started to rock Rose to sleep, Rose's mother turned to Clarisse and whispered, "He'll make a great father one day."
"That he will." Clarisse smiled at Joseph with the baby, but her smile slowly fell.
—
Joseph and Clarisse didn't return back to the palace until around two or three in the morning. Upon arrival, they found Rupert pacing the front foyer. "How'd it go? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" Joseph made a mental note of how the king never asked Clarisse if she herself was okay.
"She's fine, the baby's fine. It's a girl."
"A girl." Rupert repeated.
"Rose, she's incredibly sweet, but it's been a long day, so if you'll excuse me…" She started to walk away with Joseph on her tail.
"Joseph, a word." Rupert called after them.
Clarisse stopped as did Joseph. "See me after?" She whispered. Joseph nodded as she continued on her way.
"Your Highness?" Joseph bowed to Rupert.
"Thank you Joseph."
"Anything for the crown, Sire."
"I didn't ask you because I'm the king, Joseph."
"I recognize that, however, if I may be honest…" Joseph paused and continued after Rupert nodded. "I didn't want to ask her, and had I not view it as you, the king, asking, I wouldn't have."
"Can I ask why?"
"She's hurt, Sire. This situation may be hard for you, but I promise you, it's worse for the queen. How would you feel if the situation were reverse?"
Rupert paused and thought carefully, when he finally decided on, "I hadn't considered it."
After a few moments, Joseph asked, "Sire, is there anything else I can do?"
Rupert cleared his throat and came back from his daydream. "No, I'm sorry. You may go."
"Good night Your Highness." Joseph bowed then walked to Clarisse's suite, he barely knocked once when the door opened and Clarisse pulled him inside. "Are you okay?" He asked as he took her face in-between his hands.
"I'm…" She sighed. "I don't know. How am I supposed to feel? How would you feel?"
"If it were me, I'd be upset, I'd probably lock myself in my room for some time, because I deserve to be upset."
"Joseph…" She breathed as a tear slithered down her cheek. Joseph gently stroked his thumb across her cheek to wipe away the stray tear.
"It's okay to cry Clarisse." And that did it for her. She was raised to hold her tongue, to hide her emotions, and here Joseph was, giving her permission to let he feelings show. She just started crying and couldn't stop. So Joseph pulled her into a hug and let her soak his shirt in her tears.
"This is only going to get worse, Joseph." Her worry shown through her voice as her voice cracked.
"My job is to protect you Clarisse, and I intend to do just that. You will never have to go through this alone."
"I don't know where I'd be without you."