Chapter 17:

1996

Joseph stood as Clarisse swept into the dining room where Phillippe was waiting for his parents to join him for the mid-day meal. He had been waiting for 15 minutes and there had been no sign of them.

But upon Clarisse's appearance, Joseph almost wished he could wait a bit longer, as the look on her face clearly did not bode good news.

She was short of breath and had concern written all over her features.

"What is the matter, Mother?" Phillippe asked, also sensing something wrong and slowly rising from his chair.

"It's your Father," she said slowly.

"He is not at all well, and is unable to rise from bed today. I have called for the physician."

Phillippe frowned deeply before excusing himself and striding from the room.

Joseph stood to the side, unsure of what he should do as Clarisse stood there frozen to the spot and staring at where Rupert usually sits.

After some minutes, Joseph began to feel concerned for his Queen so approached her carefully.

"Clarisse?" he asked quietly, not wanting to startle her.

She turned to him slowly, blinking rapidly. Joseph couldn't see any tears evident in her eyes, but rather that her mind was miles away when he called to her.

"I think he's dying Joseph," Clarisse murmured before Joseph could say anything.

"How can you be sure?" Joseph asked, struck by how accepting Clarisse appeared to be in the matter.

"I'm not. It's just…a feeling I have. I know that what ever the physician has to say is not going to be good," Clarisse replied, still deep in thought.

"Well let us not presume things until we know for sure," Joseph stressed, placing his hand on her arm.

"We?" Clarisse asked, her eyes showing her fear as they bored into his.

"Yes, we, Clarisse. I will help as much as I can and I am always here if you need me," Joseph spoke earnestly.

Clarisse reached up and cupped his cheek, smiling with watery eyes.

"You are a true friend, dear Joseph," she spoke with equal earnest, before dropping her hand and walking back towards Rupert's suite, Joseph following closely.

OoOoOoOo

"King Rupert has clearly suffered a heart attack during his sleep. That is what has left him feeling extremely weak and very unwell," the physician explained to Queen Clarisse and Prince Phillippe.

"Is he going to be alright?" Phillippe asked his face ashen.

"It is difficult to say. He could improve if he continues to get plenty of rest, but it may take some time," the physician said apologetically.

"But there isn't much hope is there?" Clarisse asked bluntly, seeming to be the one in most control.

Joseph shared a shocked look with now Head of Security, Carlo. Queen Clarisse seemed to be handling this situation in a very strange way.

"Mother!" Phillippe scolded, shock written on his features also.

"I'm just clarifying the facts, and being honest," she replied sharply.

"I am afraid that there is only a very small chance that His Majesty will improve…I'm sorry," the physician said quietly, bowing his head in apparent sorrow for the Royal Family.

They all fell silent at this revelation, and quietly looked over at the closed door to His Majesties room.

OoOoOoOo

1997

"Joe, King Rupert is asking to see you," Joseph heard Carlo say into his ear piece.

"He wants to speak to me?" Joseph asked in disbelief, lifting his lapel to talk back.

"Yes, and you better be quick in getting here because he wants to talk to Prince Phillippe once he's spoken with you," Carlo ordered.

Running through the corridors, Joseph entered His Majesties suite to see Queen Clarisse and Prince Phillippe sitting in the lounge with grave faces. Clarisse looked up when Joseph entered and gave him a sad smile.

He returned the gesture before entering King Rupert's private chamber.

The light was extremely dim in the room, but Joseph could make out His Majesties form in the large bed, and Carlo standing just off to the side, waiting for instructions from King Rupert.

"Leave us," the King said in a very weak voice, waving his hand to Carlo.

Carlo looked slightly surprised by this but left anyway, leaving a very surprised Joseph alone with His Majesty.

"Come here where I can see you, Joseph," King Rupert commanded, so Joseph moved up to the foot of his bed.

King Rupert was sitting up slumped against his pillows on the large bed. His features were grey and sickly, and there appeared to be no light or life in his eyes. He reminded Joseph very strongly of someone who was holding onto their last bit of life. King Rupert was obviously very close to the end of his life, therefore making clear why he had summoned his family to him.

"Joseph, I hope you don't mind me speaking so plainly, but it is clear you have come to be very dear to my family," Rupert began, holding up his hand so Joseph could not object.

"Phillippe seems to know a lot about you, and also seems to trust your word and advice what ever the occasion. He sees you as a true friend and guide in all walks of his life.

"Then there is Clarisse. My dear wife has often expressed her high regard of you in both your wisdom and your compassion. She clearly sees you as a close friend, and trusts you as much as any family member. Therefore, I ask that you stick close to my family within the next few weeks as they will be very difficult for them. Clarisse is not as strong as she would like all those around her to believe. She will need you now more than ever," King Rupert spoke passionately, even lifting himself up off his pillows slightly.

"You must promise me that you will always be there for her, even when she refuses all help from others around her," King Rupert demanded, holding his hand in a fist by his side.

"I promise, Your Majesty," Joseph replied, blown away by such an intimate request. He had no idea he was held to such high regard in the Royal family.

"Good. Now send in Phillippe; I don't think I have much longer," King Rupert gasped as he relaxed back in his bed of pillows.

Joseph nodded, bowed low before sweeping out of the room into the lounge where the others were waiting.

He came in to see that Clarisse and Phillippe were the only ones left in the room, with Carlo no where to be seen. Clarisse and Phillippe both stood expectantly as he stopped before them.

"King Rupert wishes to see you now, Phillippe," Joseph stated.

Phillippe took a deep breath before moving to walk around Joseph, but before he walked past him, Joseph placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"It will be all right, Phillippe," he said earnestly, before releasing him and allowing him to go to his Father for the last time.

Joseph watched Phillippe close the door into his fathers' chamber before he turned on his heel and headed towards the door; he needed to find Carlo and help him prepare for the inevitable.

"Joseph?" a soft, broken voice called from behind him.

Joseph's heart broke when he turned to find Clarisse standing there, trembling with a tear falling graciously down her cheek. Her features were extremely pale and Joseph could feel the sorrow coming off her in waves.

She lifted her hand to him, her eyes begging him to go to her.

"Please don't leave me," she asked so quietly Joseph almost missed it.

Joseph smiled sadly before turning completely around and walking back over to her. He reached out and gently took hold of the hand she offered before raising it to his lips and kissing it gently.

"As you wish," he replied softly, helping her sit back down on the couch. He sat down beside her, keeping hold of her soft, cold hand.

They sat in silence for some minutes, just waiting for the inevitable. They waited for the moment to come that they were both dreading. They waited for the moment that would be so defining for the Renaldi family, and a turning point for the Crown and entire country of Genovia.

Then it came. There was a sudden anguished cry from the King's chamber and Joseph just knew in his heart that King Rupert had passed. He had moved on ahead of them all, leaving his family behind to carry on without him.

Clarisse gasped upon hearing the sound of her sons cry, and tears began to pour from her eyes. She squeezed Josephs hand tightly as she pressed her other hand to her mouth. Her trembling began to be more defined until she ended up shaking uncontrollably.

Joseph tried to comfort her the best he could by patting her hand, and rubbing small circles on her palm with his thumb. He then gave up all propriety as he remembered King Rupert's words and wrapped his arm around her back, easing her into his embrace. He held onto her, rocking her back and forth, and whispering soothing sounds into her ear as she mourned the loss of her husband.

She clung to him then, the first of many times that were to come for this Royal Family and for a wife of a great King and a Mother to a Compassionate Prince. She clung to him, trusting him completely to pull her through.

And he would.

Joseph would always be there for Clarisse, and not because it was King Rupert's last request of Joseph, but because Joseph knew in his heart that Clarisse needed him. It is something that Isabel Romero would want her son to do; so Joseph would do it.

Joseph Luca Romero would not be separated from his Queen from this day forth.

A.N: So what do you think dear readers? Care to send me a review?