A.N: Hello again readers! I am so sorry for the slight delay in updating but once again my health decided to change all my plans. It really does have the tendency to rule my life! But no matter, as I am getting all that sorted out…

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and look forward to all your wonderful reviews!

Chapter 24:

Princess Mia was now approaching the end of her College degree, so was spending her last break before finals at the Genovian palace. Queen Clarisse was ecstatic to have her Granddaughter spending time in Genovia again, as she hadn't had much time there in the past.

The Genovian citizens were showing constant support for their awkward princess, and often expressing encouragement to the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family. Everything was going smoothly and Queen Clarisse was clearly thriving in all activities she set herself too. It was a very productive time for the country of Genovia.

Behind the scenes, life was great. Joseph and Clarisse's relationship was blossoming and even though they never had much time to spend alone, they still managed it. Clarisse would often specify that only Joseph would be needed to drive her somewhere, or guard her at a meeting, or escort her on one of her many walks around the palace grounds; they always took every opportunity. All they wanted was to be in the others' presence or to discuss matters that were concerning either one of them.

All in all, their lifestyle was working.

So it was on this day that Joseph could be found heading out to the glass house after his presence was requested there by Her Majesty, Queen Clarisse.

Earlier on that day…

"Tell me again, Joseph, why I put up with these men that fluff around doing nothing except come up with self-pleasing and self-benefiting ideas?" Clarisse asked clutching her head between her hands in frustration.

"The members of parliament," Joseph emphasized, walking up to her desk to stand before her, "need to be pleased in order for them to agree to the plans that you place before them."

"But they are so ridiculous!" Clarisse pointed out in exasperation, looking up at Joseph from her desk.

"Yes they are," Joseph agreed simply, chuckling at her frustration.

"But you must keep them happy; for now."

"For now?" Clarisse asked, a delicate eyebrow rising in question.

"Once you have successfully handed the throne to Mia and both Parliament and the country have accepted her, then, and only then can changes be made," Joseph advised. He was only telling her what she already knew but they both knew she often needed reminding; well…at least reassurance.

"I do believe that by that stage they will be rioting for Mia to take the throne immediately, as this Queen will have gone mad," Clarisse grumbled most un-Queen like.

Joseph laughed as he straightened and came around the desk to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. He began to massage them as he placed a kiss atop her head.

"No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness," Joseph quoted, feeling Clarisse flinch as he hit a particularly tense muscle at the base of her neck.

"You and your Aristotle, Joseph," Clarisse chuckled, shaking her head.

"So are you saying that I am not a genius? Or that I am simply mad?" Clarisse then asked, turning in her swivel chair to face Joseph, releasing her from his hands at the same time.

Joseph leant back slightly against the shelf behind him, rubbing his chin in dramatic thought.

"You're simply mad," he stated after some time, receiving a swat on the arm.

"And what exactly is it that makes me 'mad'?" Clarisse demanded, folding her arms with a look of annoyance.

"You're mad because you love me," Joseph replied sweetly, running his index finger down her nose.

"Yes, I think you have a point there," Clarisse joked back, catching his hand before it fell back to his side.

She turned his hand over and traced the lines of his palm with her thumb.

"But I really do love you Joseph," Clarisse murmured, still looking intently at his palm.

"As I love you, mi amor," Joseph replied, smiling down at her.

Clarisse opened her mouth to speak but was suddenly interrupted as Mia burst into the office and bounced up to the desk.

Joseph pulled his hand back just as suddenly with a yelp of pain. Clarisse looked up, more startled at Joseph's reaction than the fact Mia had just shown complete disrespect to her Grandmothers upbringing of manners.

"Ouch! Thank you Your Majesty, that splinter has been irritating me all day!" Joseph exclaimed, rubbing his hand in apparent pain.

Clarisse was confused for only a fraction of a second before it clicked. She smiled sweetly, holding up her hand, palm facing inwards.

"What else are these nails for?" she joked, recovering from the shock of being caught in such a potentially intimate position with the Head of her security.

"You get a splinter and ask the Queen to remove it, Joe?" Mia asked giving him a strange look.

"What if you had to take a bullet for her? Would you ask her to remove that also?"

"Mia!" Clarisse scolded, shocked at her Granddaughters behaviour.

"Sorry Grandma, it's been a long morning," Mia apologized, flopping into the chair before Clarisse's desk.

"Well then, let us head down to lunch and get back to all the paperwork later," Clarisse declared, standing up from her chair with as much dignity that she could pull together.

"Finally," Mia sighed, dragging herself up from her chair and slouching towards the door.

"Joseph, I think I will head out to the glass house after lunch, so I will meet you there," Clarisse added as she left the office with an exhausted Mia at her side.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Joseph bowed swiftly, before following them out the door.

As he turned down the corridor in the opposite direction to that of Clarisse and Mia, he heard an enquiring voice.

"What on earth do you need Joseph in the glass house for?" Mia asked her Grandmother.

"We need to discuss your security for your graduation," Clarisse replied smoothly as if it were quite obvious.

Joseph snorted to himself as he continued walking. That woman really was a treasure!

Back to present time…

So here he was walking out to the glass house to what he hoped was some more time to have Clarisse to himself. Even if Charlotte was there, he would at least be able to see her, as that was the next best thing!

If only it were so…

Joseph walked up to the glass house and looked around when he noticed how quiet it was. There appeared to be absolutely no one around, not even a gardener.

'Strange…' he thought as he pulled the door open and walked in.

It was clearly the wrong move as he was soon covered from head to toe in what seemed to be a clear, sticky substance.

"What the-?" Joseph exclaimed, holding out his arms and peering at the substance now dripping from him in big gooey drops.

It was the final ingredient that made it clear just who had set this up.

As the air cleared around him, Joseph set his jaw and turned on his heel to march right back out of the glass house.

"She's in for it now!" Joseph muttered as he marched into the palace in search of the prankster.

OoOoOoOo

The day was going well for the Queens assistant, Charlotte, as had the past year. Having the Princess around was clearly beneficial to all. Charlotte was currently sitting in Her Majesties office, filling out various paperwork that the Queen didn't have to read herself. It was a job she found tedious at times, but gladly fulfilled when she saw that it gave the Royal family some time to spend together. In her opinion, the Queen needed to put herself first more often.

So it was during this time when Charlotte was quietly working and Her Majesty and Highness were talking animatedly at Her Majesties desk, that Joseph moodily entered the office.

"What happened to you, Joe?" the Princess laughed, almost falling off her chair at the sight of the Head of Security.

"Did you pick a fight with the baker or something?" Princess Mia continued, standing up and approaching Joseph warily.

"No Your Highness, I did not," Joseph said smoothly as he bowed to both Royals in turn, before facing Her Majesty with a deadly serious face.

"However, I am sure that Her Majesty can explain it all clearly for us," Joseph said, holding the Queen's gaze.

Charlotte could have sworn that she saw Her Majesties mouth twitch with humor but when she spoke, her expression was as serious as Josephs.

"I do not know what you are talking about, Joseph," Queen Clarisse replied, folding her arms and leaning back in her chair as if to get a better look at him.

"Oh I think you do, ma'am, and if Carlo were here, he would be telling you that you should know better," Joseph accused, reflecting her posture and expression but still standing.

"Are you threatening me, Joseph?" Her Majesty asked, an eyebrow rising as her expression changed to a glare.

"That depends on how you look at it, Your Majesty," Joseph replied, just as coolly.

The two glared at each other in silence for what seemed like hours until Her Majesty broke the gaze, covering her mouth as she coughed slightly. Charlotte was confused as a look of triumph crossed Josephs face, but didn't have time to contemplate it as Joseph spoke again.

"Please excuse me, Your Majesty, Highness, as I must go and clean myself up before continuing in my duties," Joseph said smoothly, bowing again.

"Please do, Joseph, you look a fright," Her Majesty added, placing her glasses back on and looking over their rims at him.

Joseph just smiled tightly before spinning on his heel and leaving the room.

Charlotte picked up her pen to begin writing again when a sound burst through the serious room and startled her beyond belief; the Queen was laughing hysterically!

"You do know something, Grandma!" the Princess practically yelled, swooping down on Queen Clarisse with suspicion.

Charlotte laughed along with the two women as Queen Clarisse explained the prank she had set up herself to both Charlotte and Princess Mia. Apparently she had been planning it for days but had only found her chance that morning. But listening to Her Majesty as she bubbled along, her expression glowing, Charlotte began to think. She thought back to when she had walked in on Her Majesty dancing with Joseph, and compared her expression to now. Both moments had appeared to be so simple, but looking deeper, Charlotte began to notice just how close the two were and how different they acted around each other.

Perhaps there was more going on between the two that met the eye…

A.N: So what do you think? Is it worthy of a review?