A/N: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers- the romance is coming, it is!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
The abdication caused shock waves throughout the country, with most of parliament (all of whom were cronies of Rupert's and, as Charlotte had discovered through limited interactions with some of them, viewed women, Her Majesty, in particular, as less intelligent then men) shouting down the Prime Minister in sessions of parliament in regards to the abdication, giving interviews to the press and generally showing their disapproval in more subtle ways- but they did stoke the fires of the press, who spent weeks reliving and re-publishing the events of the abdication.
They even went so far as to try and locate the Prince himself, although they didn't succeed- and the King had reluctantly released a statement requesting privacy for 'His Royal Highness' at this time in his life" although Charlotte knew that it was only released when Pierre's younger brother had beseeched his father to protect his son.
"He's no son of mine!" the King retorted as he strode through Charlotte's office, heading back to his own after discussing the situation with Her Majesty- (although Charlotte could hear shouting through the closed doors and she forced herself to focus on the letters she was perusing for Her Majesty)- the new Crown Prince hot on his heels.
"Come on, Father, he is still your son, no matter what and he deserves to be protected by the palace."
"HA!" The King spun around on his heel to glare at his younger son while Charlotte tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible. "He should have thought of that BEFORE he decided to betray his family and his country!"
"Father, please," the younger prince beseeched, starting to look irritated. "You HAVE to do this, not only for the sake of Pierre but for the sake of the throne- if people were to see that you didn't support your son…."
"Which I don't."
"That's your private opinion, but for the people and for the sake of the crown, you need to publicly support him… and the members of parliament aren't helping the situation, they're all just fussy old men who don't know what they're talking about."
"Watch it, boy," the King stepped closer to his tall son and pointed a finger into his face (and Charlotte was interested to discover that the younger man was taller than his father, and much better looking, not that she was looking at either of them in that way). "Those men are my friends and they help me run the country- and one day, you will have to work with them too… don't you DARE criticise them!"
"I wasn't criticising them or you, I was just stating the truth," Prince Phillipe was still as calm as ever while his father was starting to turn red in the face. "So, will you do it? For Mother? For me… and for your country?"
There was a long silence as the older man glared at his son- the younger man's face pleasantly neutral- before he let out a sigh.
"Fine. It's done… but don't expect me to do anything more for Pierre… he's gone and that's it!" before the older man stalked out of the room and Prince Phillipe turned to Charlotte with a pleasant smile.
"I'm very sorry for that little outburst, Father is still obviously a little upset at the turn of events."
"It's fine, Your Highness, I didn't hear anything."
"Sure you didn't," Phillipe said teasingly and Charlotte allowed herself a small smile.
"Alright, I may have heard a few words but I can promise you that it won't go past this office."
"Thank you, Charlotte," he suddenly looked sober and Charlotte suddenly felt sorry for him- everyone had been focused on Pierre and what he had done to the country, but no one had seriously considered what the effects would have been on the younger brother, the brother who hadn't expected to be Crown Prince but was suddenly the future King of Genovia. He had already given up his daughter and his wife, and now he was the Crown Prince… she had to wonder what was going through his head, what he was thinking, how he was feeling.
"Is… is there anything I can do for you, Your Highness?"
"No, but thank you for the kind offer, Charlotte. You truly have been a great influence in the palace since you arrived!"
"I'm just happy to be here to do my job," she finished simply.
"Well, you are and you're doing it very well…" the prince trailed off as he glanced at his watch. "Well, I had better go, I'm due in a session of parliament very soon and I don't think my father will appreciate me keeping him waiting… See you later, Charlotte," he gave her another smile and a wave before leaving the office.
000
It took at least 2 months before the country finally accepted that Prince Pierre had abdicated and left the country to pursue theology studies (and NOT, as one newspaper story had been, to get married) and that Prince Phillipe was now the Crown Prince, and Charlotte was a little relieved to have some slow news days so that she could catch up on the constant paperwork that travelled from the Queen's desk to her own (or from the King's desk to the Queens to her own)- she still loved her job, she respected and liked her Queen and most of the palace staff, particularly Joseph and Scott, but she was hoping for a little normalcy, at least for a little while.
However, Pierre's abdication heralded the start of a dark period in the life of the royal family, starting with another scandal involving Rupert and another woman, although this time, it was more half-hearted and less publicised as the King was beginning to suffer some serious health problems, starting with a mild heart attack the spring after Pierre's abdication and leading to several, more serious ones and leading to a diagnosis of cancer two months after that. Because of his ill health, the King had had to cancel many of his meetings and duties or transferring responsibilities to the Queen and Prince Phillipe who, despite the whispers from some of the doubters that didn't think he was suited to being Crown Prince, let along King, stepped up to the role splendidly.
Of course, with the King's illness, Charlotte's workload was doubled as Her Majesty dealt with all the necessary paperwork (hers as well as her husbands) and there was many a night when she found herself seated in Her Majesty's study, writing up notes and assisting Her Majesty with her paperwork.
It was during this time that she really got to know Her Majesty and while she had suspected that she was a kind and warm person, although rather shy and formal, she discovered that she had a wonderful sense of humour as well- and was very interested in getting to know Charlotte even better.
"Have you enjoyed working here, Charlotte?" she suddenly asked one evening as they toiled over a trade negotiation that Her Majesty was due to present to parliament the following evening. They had paused to have a break and Her Majesty had invited Charlotte to have a cup of tea with her, something Charlotte had never done before but she found that while she felt a little awkward in the Queen's presence, Her Majesty quickly put her at ease.
"Yes, ma'am, I have really enjoyed working here. It's always so interesting and there's always something to do," Charlotte responded, well aware that her answer sounded awkward and almost idiotic.
"Charlotte," Her Majesty said gently, giving her a warm smile. "You can relax… it's not an examination, I was just interested in whether you were enjoying being here. I'm aware that there have been… tensions… over the years, which probably would have made for a stressful working environment but…"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I've always enjoyed working here."
"Are the staff pleasant to you?"
"Yes, they're all fairly pleasant."
"Except His Majesty's staff?" Her Majesty teased gently and Charlotte gave a start before shaking her head. "You can deny it all you wish, Charlotte, but I have other sources who tell me what goes on outside these doors and I understand that they have been rude and unpleasant to you."
"I can handle it," Charlotte said with a defiant look and Her Majesty chuckled.
"I have no doubt that you will." She paused for a moment and then turned serious. "I'm sure you're aware of His Majesty's ill health…."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Well... while he is undergoing treatment, Prince Phillipe and I will be handling all of his duties and responsibilities… which means that there will be a heavier workload for you…"
"That's fine, Your Majesty, I'm more than happy to step up and help whenever I can."
"I know you can, Charlotte, you have proved that over and over again and I must say, again, that I appreciate your loyalty and dedication to me and the throne."
"It is my pleasure, Your Majesty."
There was a pause as the two women shared an understanding look, knowing that they could trust and respect each other… and that they liked each other, before Her Majesty broke the look by looking away.
"Well, this work isn't going to get done… we'll be here till midnight if we don't get started."
00000
The King's health deteriorated rapidly over the ensuing months, with his public appearances ceasing completely once it became clear that he could not handle any more public appearances, and Her Majesty and Prince Phillipe completely took over his duties and responsibilities and, as Her Majesty had predicted, Charlotte's workload had increased double-fold.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Joseph asked one day and Charlotte laughed ruefully.
"Trust me, I can handle it… what about you? You're out and about more often now with Her Majesty."
"I'm used to it, having done it for quite a few years…not so much as when His Majesty was well and doing much of it, but still… I don't mind it… I just hope that Her Majesty will be able to cope…" he looked slightly concerned at the health of his Queen, and the concern on his face touched Charlotte- he really did care about his boss, not that she didn't care about her too, but it was different with him….
The King was mainly in his suite but Charlotte often spotted him walking slowly down the stairs, his Queen at his side, to go to the library or even to sit in his study and read, and she was always impressed to see that, despite the pain he had caused his wife over the years, that Her Majesty obviously still cared about him and that she had been wrong about their marriage...
Yes, it hadn't been the love match that most young women dreamed of, it had been difficult in many ways and Rupert was a difficult man to live with, but there was still some affection there, they were still friends and the parents of two sons and they had rule the country together… despite his faults, Rupert had believed in his wife (although he had never said so to her) enough to have her crowned Queen, not Queen Consort.
As his health deteriorated, the Queen and Crown Prince's public appearances were curtailed and they each visited the King several times a day, although his friends often kept more company with him than the Queen herself but she did go and see him several times a day.
It was a cool March evening and Charlotte was still working at her desk, when Joseph hurried into the room with an urgent expression on his face
"Charlotte?" he stood in front of her desk and she looked up curiously- Her Majesty had retired earlier, being tired, and she was just about to finish up and go home, but she was curious to see Joseph.
"Joe? What's wrong?"
"His Majesty has just passed away…Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were with him," Joseph said gravely.
"Oh… I'm so sorry," were the first words out of Charlotte's mouth, although it wasn't much of a surprise, it had been inevitable.
"I need you to contact the Prime Minister and the Attaché Corps with the news- Sebastian will want to come here- and could you begin preparing the necessary press statements so that they can be sent to the papers as soon as possible… Sebastian will peruse them and I will confirm them."
"How… how are they both?"
"Upset but resigned- they knew this was coming."
"Funeral arrangements….?"
"There is a plan for His Majesty, he prepared for this years ago, and I'm sure that Sebastian knows where it is in his study… but we'll think about that tomorrow… I'm afraid you may not get much sleep tonight, Charlotte," he sounded regretful but Charlotte was quick to shake her head.
"That doesn't matter, I'll be here as long as I'm needed…."
"Good… I need to organise the security team, there's going to be a lot going on in the next few days…and I'll be back upstairs after that, if you need me…." Joseph was distracted but Charlotte couldn't blame him- the King was dead, the Queen was now ruling (or at least until the Prince was ready to ascend the throne) and there was a massive funeral to be planned- but Charlotte had the sense that his mind was not on what he had to do as the Head of Security, but rather, on the new widow, grieving upstairs.
0
As Charlotte expected, she didn't get a lot of sleep for the next few days, but considering the magnitude of what she had to do- assist in preparing and planning the funeral, contacting heads of states and diplomats who would want to attend the funeral, planning the wake as well as dealing with the press- she wasn't surprised and she found that she was able to everything as she expected.
She was surprised to discover Her Majesty at her desk the following morning (she had slipped home to shower and change), clad in black and looking tired and sombre.
"Your Majesty…. Good morning," she was about to ask what she was doing there, but realised that it was an inappropriate question.
"Good morning, Charlotte," the Queen responded quietly, looking up from her desk- it was clear but she was staring blankly at the surface as if expected to see work waiting there for her.
"If I may say so, Your Majesty… I'm deeply sorry over the passing of His Majesty," Charlotte said solemnly and the Queen gave her a small smile.
"Thank you, my dear, it's greatly appreciated. I believe that you have everything under control?"
"Yes, ma'am- Prime Minister Motaz has returned to his home for breakfast but he will be here, along with the senior members of parliament to make…. Arrangements."
'I see… well, Rupert had his own plans in place, but I'm not quite sure where they are…."
"Prime Minister Motaz found them last night, we will be having a meeting later in the day… is there anything you need for me to do for you at the moment?"
"Honestly, Charlotte? No. I can't think of anything at the moment…"
"Clarisse!" came a voice from behind her and she turned to see Joseph hurrying into the room, stopping slightly when he saw Charlotte standing there but then continuing his walk. "I thought you were still upstairs….what are you doing down here?"
"I just wanted to see if there was anything to be done…" Her Majesty looked at her desk again, suddenly looking a little lost and suddenly Joseph was at her side, helping her up.
"I think you should go back upstairs and have breakfast… and I'll keep you informed of anything that goes on…. Charlotte will be my informant, wont' you?" he looked at her meaningfully and she nodded, still a little dumbfounded that Joseph had called the Queen by her first name, but as they had been working together, and closely, for a long time, it was to be expected.
"Alright," Her Majesty said with a heavy sigh, standing up and moving slowly around the desk, his hand still on the small of her back. "Thank you, Charlotte…" she added almost dazedly before walking slowly towards the door, Joseph at her side. He turned in the doorway to nod at Charlotte and she nodded back- his secret was safe with her… he cared about Her Majesty more than as a bodyguard…
He really, really cared about her…