Charlotte walked slowly into the office: Clarisse was standing in front of the window, her eyes absent, filled with pain. The young secretary's heart sank as she saw the despair of the woman she had learned to admire, respect and love as if she were her mother.

" Your Majesty …?" Clarisse shivered at Charlotte's voice.

" I'm sorry , your Majesty . I didn't mean to scare you."

Clarisse turned and smiled.

"I'm the one who should apologize, Charlotte. I was completely distracted and didn't hear you come in."

" That's ok, Ma'am . Your mother has just arrived at the Palace and…" Charlotte didn't know how to continue. The Queen's relationship with her mother was definitely not the best. Pamela was a cold, cruel woman who had no particular affection for Clarisse. She used her position as mother of the Queen to move in the high circle of European royalty, but in private she was calculating, cold, arrogant. All the Palace staff hated her and even more so when she didn't even deign to be present at her grandson's funeral a week ago. When Clarisse became engaged to Rupert , Pamela made her husband's life hell, insisting that he should meet with King George and convince him that the ideal woman to marry the crown prince would be Frederica, Clarisse's younger sister. Initially James, Clarisse's father, accepted his wife's idea but King George vehemently rejected the proposal. It would either be Clarisse or none of them. Pamela never forgave Clarisse this betrayal. Charlotte immediately noticed the change in Clarisse mode.

" Your Majesty , I can tell that you are busy or that you did not feel well and retired to your suite…"

"Don't worry, dear . I'll receive her here."

Suddenly, Pamela's high-pitched voice came through the door.

"Get out of my way, you pretentious pit bull ."

" I'm sorry Ma'am but I can only let you in with the Queen's permission."

"Oh your…"

Fearing an escalation in the argument, Clarisse told Charlotte to let her in.

"Is this how you treat your family? What a fantastic example you gave."

"Good afternoon mother. I'm sorry but the guards have strict orders not to let anyone in without my consent. They are just carrying on the orders imposed on them."

Pamela sat down on the sofa and stared at the photographs laid out on the table. One of the photographs immediately caught her attention. Joseph, Pierre and Philippe. Pamela stretched out on the sofa and grabbed the photograph.

"Isn't this your bodyguard?"

"His name is Joseph and he is my Head of security ."

"And do you have a picture of him, hugging your children, next to pictures of your husband?"

"I don't like that insinuation." Clarisse was losing her temper. "He is my best friend and the boys adore him unconditionally. "Boys… Clarisse's heart broke just a little bit more. Yes, although no longer among them, Clarisse was sure that Philippe still adored Joseph. Oh Philippe… How can a mother lose a child and go on living?

Pamela wrinkled her nose and threw the photograph carelessly onto the table, causing it to fall to the floor. Clarisse took a deep breath, walked over to the table and picked up the photograph, placing it next to the others.

"You give these people too much confidence… Send someone to bring us some tea. We have to talk."

Without answering her but curious about the reason for the conversation, Clarisse walked around the desk and pressed the intercom button.

"Charlotte, please be a dear and ask for some tea."

" Of course , Your Majesty ."

Pamela waited for Clarisse to sit on a couch across from her.

"This is exactly what I want to talk to you about."

"About this? What do you mean? About tea?" Clarisse asked perplexed.

"No, what nonsense. I want to talk to you about the future of my wonderful country. You are weak, Clarisse. You don't have the maintenance of a Queen. Let's start with your employees. You talk to them as if they were your equals. You even have a picture of your bodyguard, for heavens sake. You would make a good governess but never a good Queen."

Clarisse was perplexed. How did her own mother manage to say so much nonsense in such a short time?

"Mother…"

"Let me continue. I should have had this conversation with you right after Rupert 's death , but as you rushed to announce that Philippe was going to take the throne, I postponed it. But now is the ideal moment."

"The ideal moment? My son died two weeks ago, I'm sorry if I don't understand what this ideal moment has."

"It's because you didn't even know how to give your children a strict education. A priest? Instead of King, Pierre decided to be a priest. Typical , coming from a son of yours…"

"I will not discuss my son's decision with you. Not today or ever. Say what you have to say. I have a lot of work that requires my attention."

"Arrogant and petulant. You really are like your father." Pamela got up and walked to the fireplace, her back to Clarisse. Without turning around, she continued.

"I don't think you have the conditions to continue to reign. You don't have the strength that is needed. And without heirs, you are left with only loneliness. It will show up in time, if it hasn't yet…" Pamela turned slightly and looked at the photograph again. Clarisse followed her gaze. "a guy who will jump into your bed and you will hand over the reins of Genovia to some guy."

Clarisse jumped to her feet.

"I beg your pardon ?"

"I think you should abdicate in favor of your sister. Yes, she was trained a lifetime to be Queen, not you. She has the poise, beauty, strength and the maintenance of a Queen. If you really care about Genovia 's future , as you preach, you must abdicate. Give Genovia the Queen this country deserves!"

Clarisse was shocked. Stunned by the cruelty of her mother's words. Oh yes, she knew what to answer her, but propriety and respect prevented her from responding to such pettiness. Clarisse had no doubts about her mother's feelings for her. She never had. Since Frederica's birth, Clarisse hadn't known what a mother's affection was. A friendly word, a shoulder to cry on. Pamela always made a point of showing her preference for Frederica. It was no secret to anyone but this was too much.

"Sorry to disappoint you again, Mother, but Genovia has an heir to the throne."

" Hahaha , the Law does not allow Pierre to claim his right to the throne again. Stop being stupid, Clarisse. This hatred of yours, your envy of your sister, is getting you nowhere!"

"Hate or envy my sister? Don't be silly, mother."

"I don't allow you to talk to me like that, do you hear me?" Pamela screamed.

"And I don't allow you to talk to me like that either. And yes, Genovia has an heir to the throne. I have a granddaughter!"

"A granddaughter?"

Clarisse was on her feet, the Queen at her full strength.

"So don't worry, you can continue to enjoy your beloved social life. The difference is that you will be the great-grandmother of the future Queen. Philippe has a daughter. Amelia. And she will be the future of this magnificent nation."

Pamela was livid. She wouldn't be able to manipulate Clarisse's granddaughter. No, Frederica has to be the new Queen. Not a girl she didn't even know existed.

"Stop being ridiculous, Clarisse. Genovia needs a Queen, not a princess nobody knows exists. Stop being selfish and think about the best for the people."

"And the best will certainly be my granddaughter, never my sister! I would never abdicate in favor of my sister! Never!"

"She is not your sister!" screamed Pamela angrily, completely out of control.

" What ? Did you betray my father?"

"You're the bastard! Your mother abandoned you! I wasn't going to keep two brats. He had to choose one. Unfortunately, he chose you."

Clarisse sat on the couch, unable to process everything she'd just heard. Two? Does she have another sister? And her real mother abandoned them? No. This was just another way Pamela had found to hurt her, to humiliate her.

"Do you not believe me? Do you want to take a DNA test? It will be a pleasure for me to end this circus. If it weren't for your father's weakness, you too would have gone to the orphanage but he was like you… incapable of having an iron fist. And I tell you even more. I had to keep quiet all these years because of him. If I didn't, he would divorce me. But I took revenge as best I could. I've had more lovers than I can count, I've passed almost all of his fortune into my daughter's name, I've deceived him in every possible way. And honestly, I'm not even sure that Frederica is really his daughter. And I hope he's burning in hell for making me put up with you for so many years."

As if Philippe's death wasn't enough, this woman's cruelty has opened an even deeper hole in her chest. She had to sit down. Her head was spinning so hard it almost made her lose her balance. Clarisse sat down on the couch and picked up the phone.

"Charlotte, ask Joseph to come to my office, please."

" Ohhh , she went to call her boyfriend. Does he have the nerve to hit a sweet old lady? I am almost 80 years old… Do you think I should be afraid?"

Clarisse didn't even bother to answer. Seconds later, Joseph knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in."

"You called me, Your Majesty ?"

"So formal! But hey, you have good taste. If I were younger, he would be very welcome in to my bed."

Joseph was taken by surprise and for a moment didn't know how to react. Clarisse spoke immediately, sparing them both further embarrassment.

"Joseph, please escort this lady out and make sure she does not re-enter the Palace."

" Of couse , your Majesty . Madam , please accompany me."

Soooooo?

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Xoxo

Maria