A.N: Hello again dear readers! Thank you to those who reviewed my last chapter! And especially to those who said that they loved the way I was portraying King Rupert. Isn't he a dear? I hope you think so…
Thank you also to all readers who are following this story but aren't reviewing. I still feel special that you're reading this! But don't be afraid to send a wee review my way! You'll be rewarded! I answer all my reviews (well I do try!) as soon as I can.
But enough blabbering, along with the story…
Chapter 14:
"How do you explain this mess, Phillippe?" A frustrated King Rupert asked his youngest son.
"By saying, again, that I didn't do anything wrong, Father," eighteen year old Phillippe explained, sitting on the couch in his fathers office.
"I just asked a young woman in my class out to celebrate the end of exams. What is the harm in that?"
"The harm is that the entire country of Genovia believes that you are now courting this girl! And even a little more!" King Rupert explained exasperatedly, thrusting his hand towards the picture of Phillippe dancing at a party with a beautiful young woman.
"And what is wrong with that?" Phillippe asked in defiance, his voice rising.
"You will begin courting the woman I choose for you, at the appropriate time," King Rupert threatened, pointing his finger at his difficult son.
"Another tradition," Phillippe rolled his eyes, and threw up his hands.
"Yes, another tradition that I find vitally important. One that shows our respect to our duty," King Rupert explained calmly.
"I can act the part when needed, Father, so do not stress yourself over something so small," Phillippe sulked.
"Phillippe, we are what we repeatedly do. 'Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit'," King Rupert stressed.
"And habits can only come from constant use and practice."
"Aristotle," Phillippe pointed out.
"How about this one then, Father? 'Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered'."
Queen Clarisse sighed loudly at this, and stood to look outside at the early evening sun, putting her back to both her husband and son.
"Joe there's someone out front asking for you," Joseph heard someone say into his ear piece.
Joseph frowned, but lifted his lapel to answer back.
"Tell them I'm working and that if they want to speak to me they can wait until I'm off duty," He commanded.
"Tried that already, sir, but she insists on speaking with you. She said she's an old friend of yours," the voice answered back.
"Ok, I'm on my way. Send Carlos up to take my place," Joseph commanded, frustrated to be interrupted in such a tense moment for the Royal family.
Joseph looked up and nodded towards Melas, knowing he had heard the whole thing, before turning to Queen Clarisse and bowing slightly. She nodded in response with an expression showing her curiosity. Joseph just smiled before walking out the door.
"His Highness is being lectured by His Majesty," Joseph said quickly as he passed Carlos in the hallway.
The look that Carlos gave him was enough to explain that he understood.
Walking into the front security room, Joseph looked around for the person who so desperately needed to speak with him.
"She's out in the side garden reception, sir," a young security member called out from behind a desk.
"Thank you," Joseph muttered before walking out through the palace to the quiet, visitor reception that the staff were allowed to use.
Walking to the middle of the covered porch, Joseph cleared his throat whilst standing a short distance behind the woman at the banister.
"Kia Ora, Joseph," a warm voice said before the woman turned to face him.
"Marama!" Joseph exclaimed before walking forward and pressing his nose to his old friend.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Joseph asked, the joy of seeing her evident in his expression.
"I was touring the country, as a sort of holiday I suppose, and remembered that this was where I last heard you were working. So I thought I would call in and see if I could gain an audience with you," Marama explained, making it sound such a natural thing to do.
"I'm surprised you made it into the palace, let alone convince the security team that it was imperative that you see me, especially here at the palace!" Joseph laughed, shaking his head at his friends' familiar rash behaviour.
"I'm just awesome!" Marama exclaimed, shrugging her shoulders.
"So how are you dear Joseph? Doing well?" Marama asked, leaning back on the banister and surveying her friend openly.
"Yes, quite well, thank you. And yourself?" Joseph asked happily.
"I see the manners are still top notch," Marama muttered, before continuing.
"Yes, I am also quite well. I have been living in New Zealand for many years, since graduating actually. But I grew tired of my job so decided a break was needed. I've been touring some parts of Europe for the past three months now, and am yet to meet the one who 'sweeps me off my feet'!" Marama bubbled.
"You will, I am sure. Just don't be too intimidating and I'm sure plenty will come your way," Joseph laughed, teasing her.
Marama laughed before growing unusually quiet, and looking at Joseph with much sadness.
"It has been a long time since Solana passed away, hasn't it?" she asked, her face grave.
"Yes, it has," Joseph replied simply, momentarily somber.
"And…have you found anyone else, Joseph? If you don't mind me asking…"
Joseph looked off to the side of the porch and noticed Queen Clarisse walking towards them slowly. She almost looked to Joseph as if she was listening into their conversation, but hiding the fact by looking purposeful in her steps.
Joseph brushed the thought aside as he turned back to Marama.
"No. And I don't expect to," Joseph replied comfortably, smiling to show that he was unconcerned about this.
"Joseph?" he heard Queen Clarisse call, just before she stepped through the door.
Carlos appeared to be nowhere in sight. No doubt he was still with King Rupert and Prince Phillippe.
Marama looked over at Her Majesty before giving Joseph what he thought was a knowing wink. Obviously Marama didn't realize that this was Queen Clarisse.
Joseph bowed his head slightly towards Her Majesty as she stopped before them, and then turned back to Marama.
"Marama, I would like to introduce you to Her Majesty, Queen Clarisse."
"Your Majesty," Marama said sweetly, giving a small curtsey with a stunned expression.
Joseph smiled inwardly at the shock Marama must be feeling upon the realization that she had unknowingly thought this was one of the women who chased after Joseph.
"Delighted to meet you, Marama," Queen Clarisse said graciously, giving the other woman a warm smile.
"Marama, I'm afraid duty calls. So I will have to say goodbye for now," Joseph explained, searching his pockets for something.
Pulling out a pen and scrap of paper, he scribbled down a phone number before handing it to his old friend.
"Call me tonight on that number, at about 10pm, and we can speak then," Joseph instructed.
"Excellent. Ka kite ano," Marama smiled before giving Her Majesty a quick curtsey and walking out into the garden and heading towards her parked car.
Once she was out of sight, Joseph turned towards Queen Clarisse, awaiting the inevitable questions.
"Marama is from New Zealand then?" Her Majesty asked once they were walking back into the palace and towards her office.
"Yes, we met at University when we were studying in Spain. She is a wonderful woman, and even tutored me in Maori herself to help bring my marks up," Joseph explained happily, his smile growing at the memories.
"I see," Her Majesty said cheerfully, also smiling.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty, for excusing myself from my duty to speak to her. We haven't spoken in many years. Not since Solana…well, not since before I left Spain," Joseph apologized, not delving into his painful past again with his Queen.
"That is fine, Joseph, no need to worry. But tell me, who is this Solana? I couldn't help hearing Marama mention her also," Her Majesty asked boldly, showing genuine interest.
"Solana and I married when I was twenty five, but she passed away a couple of years later," Joseph explained, his expression veiled.
"Oh, I am sorry, Joseph. I didn't realize you were previously married," Queen Clarisse said, her face showing nothing but sympathy and compassion.
They entered Her Majesties office, and Joseph stopped in front of her desk as she moved around it to sit down. Once seated, she looked up at Joseph with an inevitable question written on her face that Joseph had sensed coming.
"How did she die?" Queen Clarisse asked simply, but carefully.
Joseph had braced himself for the question, but having to explain it to his monarch was just too much for him.
"I'm sorry Your Majesty, but you must excuse me," Joseph said quickly with a large lump forming in his throat.
He turned and strode from the room before even waiting for an answer from Queen Clarisse.
He strode down the corridor with a hard expression until he arrived at his own suite. Pushing through the door, Joseph took off his coat, threw it over the back of a chair, before turning on some fast paced Classical music.
Sitting down on his couch, Joseph sighed loudly at the rude and disrespectful behaviour he had just displayed to Her Majesty.
He just couldn't stand there and discuss the most painful memory he had with his monarch as if he were discussing the weather. It just didn't sit well with him, and it brought emotions that he thought were long dead. Emotions that he thought had been dealt with.
Apparently, they hadn't been dealt with properly after all.
Sitting back and closing his eyes, Joseph listened to some Spanish music that came on, blocking out all else he felt.
He hadn't been sitting there for long, before he heard a knock at the door. Feeling much better, and much more at peace, Joseph stood up to answer the door. He turned the music off and straightened his clothes as he approached the door.
Opening it, Joseph found himself face to face with Queen Clarisse.
"May I have a word?" she asked quietly.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Joseph replied, holding the door open and bowing gently upon her entrance.
"I wanted to apologise for being so careless with my words in our discussion just now," Her Majesty apologized, standing before Joseph with her hands clasped. Her expression showed genuine regret.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but it is I who must apologise. I am sorry for my rude, disrespectful manner in which I approached the matter. I am usually much more collected about it," Joseph explained, feeling much more comfortable in speaking about it.
"No need to apologise, Joseph, as it is clearly a tender topic," Her Majesty said warmly, smiling as she waved her hand before her as if to brush away any offence.
"Yes," Joseph replied, staring at a photo from across the room.
He walked to the mantle and picked up a silver frame before walking back to Her Majesty and holding out the photo.
"Solana and I tried to have children for about a year before she finally fell pregnant," Joseph explained as Her Majesty took the photo from him and looked intently at it.
"We were so excited to be finally having a family of our own. But a month before her due date, the hospital called me at work to tell me that she was having complications," here Queen Clarisse looked up with concern, and a hint of dread.
"She gave birth to our son, Luca. But he was stillborn, and in the process Solana had been badly damaged internally.
"She passed away only an hour after I arrived at the hospital. All without warning," Joseph explained sadly, taking the photo back and stroking the picture with his finger.
"I am so sorry," he heard Queen Clarisse breathe, before looking up and meeting her teary gaze.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Joseph said just as quietly.
They stood in silence for a few moments, before Joseph took a deep breath and placed the picture back on the mantle. He sighed quietly before turning back to Her Majesty.
"You may have the rest of this evening off, Joseph. So I will leave you now to rest before your friend Marama calls," Queen Clarisse smiled, her tears fading from her eyes.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Joseph smiled, bowing his head in respect.
"No, thank you, Joseph," she replied, her eyes shining again.
Opening the door, Queen Clarisse quietly slipped from the room, leaving Joseph in silence to contemplate this new found understanding between himself and his monarch.
Joseph just sighed again, before turning his music back on and sitting on the couch once more. A smile lit his face as he reflected on the conversation he had just had with Queen Clarisse, and also on the one he was about to have with Marama.
Today really was turning out to be quite eventful.
A.N: So what do you think? Good? Or way too boring? Or was I not expressive enough in their emotions? Please let me know!