Chapter 18:
1998
It had been a few months since King Rupert's death, and the palace was getting into the new routine without their King. Prince Phillippe was preparing to be King now that his father had passed, and was only a month away from receiving the crown.
Phillippe had recovered from his fathers' death quite quickly, and had taken on all the duties that his mother, Queen Clarisse, did not have to deal with. Pierre had come home for a month to help with King Rupert's funeral, and to be there for his mother, Queen Clarisse, whilst Phillippe was busy preparing to follow all procedures necessary to take the throne.
What the country of Genovia didn't realize was that their Queen didn't need either of her sons during this time, as she had Joseph by her side at all times. Joseph had requested that he be assigned to Queen Clarisse at all times (except, of course, when they needed to sleep), and naturally his request was granted. The Queen was now Joseph's sole responsibility and he was in control of all her security. An arrangement that the Queen appeared to be pleased with, even though she did not verbally express it.
Everything was slowly grinding back into place, and life for the Royal family was getting back into a regular rhythm.
OoOoOoOo
"Joseph, could you please ask Olivia to bring me some tea?" Clarisse asked from her desk, not even raising her head from her papers.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Joseph replied, remembering the formal title in front of the Queen's new assistant, Charlotte.
Going through in to the next room, Joseph found Olivia and forwarded on Her Majesties request. He went back into Clarisse's office once Olivia had trotted off to do as asked.
Clarisse looked up from her papers as Joseph re-entered and accepted the nod from him that he had done as asked. She then put her head back down and continued reading, signing, and shuffling her papers, just as she had been doing for the past five hours.
"Charlotte, take these down to be mailed out, please, then find out when lunch is ready. I want to be able to eat with Phillippe today as I have hardly seen him this past week," Clarisse commanded, holding out the documents to her young assistant.
"Yes, ma'am," Charlotte replied, rushing over and taking the documents before scuttling out the door.
Joseph laughed softly once Charlotte had left the room, and approached Clarisse's desk. Clarisse looked up at him smiling, and dropping her pen for the first time in hours. Her hands were obviously feeling the strain as she massaged them thoroughly.
"Charlotte really is very efficient isn't she?" Joseph asked, smiling as he stood before her desk, hands clasped behind his back.
"I'm very glad to have brought her on board, she has definitely made a huge difference in my work load," Clarisse said casually.
"But you are still working yourself too hard, Clarisse. You have been at this for five hours straight without even a minute's break," Joseph said seriously, his concern showing in his features.
"Well, I am about to break for lunch," she replied defiantly, folding her arms.
"Not soon enough in my opinion," Joseph retorted, placing his palms on her desk, leaning down towards her, and frowning.
Clarisse's mouth twitched, then Joseph's, and then they both smiled suddenly and chuckled together.
"You were quite convincing for a moment there, Joseph," Clarisse said, still laughing softly.
"That's because I was being serious," he said, shaking his head at her stubborn behaviour and attitude.
"Oh, Joseph, don't be ridiculous! I can take care of myself!" Clarisse laughed, whilst shuffling her papers around again, putting them in specific piles.
"Clarisse, how many times – " Joseph began but was interrupted by a knock at the door.
He straightened up and stepped back from her desk, ignoring her shake of the head and amused gaze she sent in his direction.
"Come in," Clarisse called out happily.
"Lunch is being served now, ma'am, and Phillippe is waiting for you in the family dining room," Charlotte said, her voice warm but professional.
"Excellent!" Clarisse answered, standing up from her desk and straightening her clothes.
"Joseph, I think it is about time you had your own lunch break. I shall see you in an hour back here in my office," she commanded, her eyes twinkling in his direction.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Joseph replied overly smoothly and with a dramatic bow.
Clarisse just laughed and waved her hand at him as if to dismiss his ridiculous behaviour. Charlotte watched the two interacting with a stunned expression.
"Please excuse Joseph, Charlotte. He has been standing at attention too long," Clarisse chuckled; shaking her head before leaving her office with Charlotte on her heals.
Joseph laughed aloud to himself before also exiting her office and heading down to the kitchens to get him something to eat.
Perhaps he would also go for a brisk walk around the gardens to loosen up his tense muscles. He hated being cramped up in that office all day; it was just far too boring and uncomfortable. Perhaps he should request to be seated next time…but then again, he could just imagine Clarisse remarking on his age being the reason he needed to sit whilst on duty.
She was extremely witty when the occasion called for it; and with Joseph, the occasion always called for it!
OoOoOoOo
"There has been an accident…"
The words were replaying over and over in his head. There has been an accident. It appears Prince Phillippe's car has slid of the road due to the ice and has rolled down a bank several hundred metres…
Joseph tried to reorder his mind as he woke up the palace staff at 1am and informed them of what had happened. They were all in a state of shock but were prepared to be on full alert for any procedures that would need to be carried through.
He then demanded that a security team be put together and ready to depart as soon as possible. He would meet them at the scene, right after he wakes the Queen and informs her that her son has been in an accident.
It was definitely the hardest part, especially considering Joseph had no idea what state any of the passengers were in.
And why was Joseph now in charge? Because Carlo, their Head of Security, was also in the car that had just crashed, along with a driver and another security member. But it was the Prince that was most worried about; the Prince that was about to take the throne of Genovia.
Joseph beckoned to Charlotte to follow him before running towards Clarisse's suite to wake her.
He walked into her quiet, dimly lit suite and acknowledged the maids that had already set to work in preparing something for her to drink when she came out, and also with warming up the room. He passed them quickly with Charlotte on his heels, his sight set on the door opposite him.
Knocking gently before opening the door, Joseph swept softly into Clarisse's private chamber, not wanting to startle her. He walked up to the side of the bed, ignoring Charlotte's offer to wake her, and called to her.
"Clarisse?" Joseph called gently, kneeling down so he was level with her sleeping form.
"Clarisse you need to wake up," Joseph called as she began to stir.
"Joseph?" Clarisse asked blurrily, opening her eyes slightly and lifting a hand to rub her eyes gently.
"Joseph, what are you doing in here?" Clarisse asked, her voice and sight clearing as worry started to take over her features.
"Clarisse, you need to get up and come into your lounge as I must speak with you immediately," Joseph said in a hurried voice, stressing the urgency.
"Of course, I'll be there in a minute," Clarisse answered as she sat up.
Joseph left the room with Charlotte as Olivia entered to give any help that may be needed.
Clarisse exited her room only seconds later wrapped in her soft pink gown, and feet encased in warm slippers.
"What has happened, Joseph?" she asked in a concerned voice, her arms wrapped around her to fight off the chill.
"I'm afraid there has been an accident, Your Majesty," Joseph informed gravely, watching Clarisse very carefully for her reaction.
"It's Phillippe isn't it?" she asked bluntly, her face growing pale.
"Yes, ma'am. His car appears to have slid on the ice and rolled down the hill some metres," Joseph replied carefully, getting to the point.
Clarisse looked him dead in the eye, the fear evident in her features.
"What is his condition?" she asked, not breaking the eye contact.
"I can not say, but I am going to the scene myself in a matter of moments, Your Majesty," Joseph replied, his eyes asking her if that was what she wanted.
"For heavens sake, Joseph! Now is not the time for formal titles!" Clarisse snapped, clearly upset and distressed at the way the situation was unfolding.
Joseph gave up on propriety as he was suddenly standing before her with an expression equaling her own.
"I'm sorry, Clarisse, but I am just as lost as you are right now," Joseph spoke softly, not caring any longer if any of the others in the room overheard.
"Just go and make sure my baby is safe," Clarisse demanded, her voice cracking slightly, but her expression still reasonably calm. Joseph admired her strength in that moment, and how she managed to stay so collected before the others.
Joseph reached out and took her hand between both of his. He squeezed it gently whilst looking into her eyes.
"I will not rest until I have done all I can for him," He said passionately.
Clarisse lifted her other hand and squeezed his arm, the tears now evident in her eyes.
"Then go, now," she demanded, pulling both her hands away from him.
Joseph bowed his head before running from the room, down the corridor and out to his car waiting at the front of the palace.
He jumped in, and sped off towards the crash site with his heart in his throat.
"Dear God, let him be all right," he muttered to himself as he sped along as fast as he could in the conditions.
He has to be all right.
OoOoOoOo
There was debris everywhere he turned. It seemed as if half the limo had come off in its roll down the bank. Joseph looked over to the left as he got out of his car and noticed two bodies being covered up. Who they were, he did not know.
He ran over to the closest security member, and also the one in charge of the scene. A man they called Shades, apparently.
"Where's the Prince?" Joseph demanded, having to yell over all the noise at the scene.
"He's still in the car!" Shades yelled back, pointing over to what appeared to be the back half of the limo.
"And the others?" Joseph asked quickly as they headed over to where the Prince was being extracted from.
"The driver and security guard didn't make it," Shades replied sadly, pointing over to the two covered bodies at the top of the bank.
"What about Carlo?" Joseph asked, dreading the answer.
"He's down here with the Prince. I'm afraid he's still unconscious," Shades replied carefully, knowing how close Joseph was to Carlo.
They reached the torn apart limo, and started making their way through the rubble to where the rescue team was working. Joseph made it around the other side, bringing himself close to where Carlo was stirring.
"He's waking up!" a rescue member yelled back at him, recognizing that he was now in command.
Joseph rushed forward and looked into the wreck to where Carlo and Phillippe were tangled in their seats, side by side.
Prince Phillippe was already awake and looked over at Joseph with a dazed expression when he noticed him. He closed his eyes from a stabbing pain at the slight movement the rescue team was making, and groaned aloud.
Joseph was distracted when a bloody hand reached up and grabbed his shirt, pulling him roughly down. He came face to face with a now awake Carlo.
"Joe…" Carlo rasped as he pushed off the help the rescuers were trying to make.
"Joe it's too late…I – I," he coughed, blood spitting out and splattering on Josephs white shirt.
"Don't try to speak, Carlo, there are men here to help you now," Joseph choked out, in shock from all that was occurring so suddenly.
"Tell them to help the Prince, damn it! It's too late for me!" Carlo practically yelled, blood and spittle flying.
"Carlo how can you say that? You have woken up, you are talking –" Joseph began but Carlo cut him off.
"I have woken because you are here," Carlo said softly, his features relaxing as the look of pain faded.
"I have hung on so I can say goodbye, Joseph."
"No, Carlo, now is not your time!" Joseph spoke earnestly, above the noise of people yelling all around him, and ignoring the rescue member trying to push him aside.
"Everything has its time, Joseph. You should know that; your mother told you herself. It just so happens that my time is up. I have done what I needed to do in this life. I have accomplished all that I could," Carlo spoke softly, a smile playing on his lips.
"I want you to know that you are a great man, Joseph, and the best friend any man could hope for," Carlo said, pulling Joseph closer as his voice grew even softer.
"I can now go and meet your son, and wait with Solana for you to meet us again when your time is up," Joseph's eyes filled with tears at Carlo's words and he let them fall silently down his cheeks.
"I'm sure Diego, Luca and I can get up to plenty of mischief before you join us," Carlo whispered as his hand dropped from Joseph and hung limply at his side.
"Yes, I'm sure you will Carlo," Joseph choked out, wiping the blood from running into his best friends eyes.
The rescuers still hadn't managed to extract the Prince as Joseph looked over upon hearing Phillippe's pained cry. Phillippe looked up at him and reached out as if to beckon Joseph to his side. Joseph knew he had to go to him, so looked back to Carlo to tell him, but found his friend motionless and staring vacantly at the overcast night sky.
Joseph reached down, gently closed Carlo's eyes, before leaning down and pressing his forehead to his friends.
"Go in peace, Carlo. Be at rest and take care of my family; Mother will be pleased to see you," Joseph whispered, his tears dried as he accepted the painful truth.