Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Beginning
The evening of the independence ball, June 19, 2001
Joseph stood there, surrounded by all the other guests at the Genovese Independence Day ball, given at the Sans Francisco consulate. He was there, watching the Queen dance with the Prime Minister, as was tradition. In this type of event, the Queen's first dance was reserved for her husband. In the event that the Queen's husband cannot perform this act, it is the Prime Minister who is the first to make the Queen dance.
Joseph found himself, at this precise moment, extremely envious of Prime Minister Sébastien Mottaz. Sébastien was married and faithfully in love with his wife Sheila, but it stikk he who had the immense honor of making Clarisse dance. His beautiful Clarisse. Joseph was madly and totally in love with the Queen of Genovia. He hadn't planned it, he hadn't expected it either, he had even tried to cure himself of it, but he had nothing to do, he was in love with this woman. Not only was she the Queen, but she had always been, at least since he had known her, the King's wife. Not only was she married, but she was married to the King. To the King by blood and more. He had never let anything appear about his love for Clarisse. He was kind and gentlemanly to her, but never crossed the line of what was acceptable. He was nothing more than her Chief of Security, bodyguard and friend. Of course, 3 years earlier she had discovered this letter and he had confessed his love to her, but they had never spoken about it again. But not a day went by without Joseph remembering the sweet kiss they had shared that day. Despite all this, Clarisse was not accessible, but since the death of King Rupert, Joseph had a little renewed hope. He obviously let her grieve, but he intended to do something to let her know that his feelings toward her hadn't changed. Unfortunately, he had to be a little more patient, because she faced yet another loss. Prince Phillip. His youngest son. Barely a year after the death of her husband, Clarisse also lost one of her children.
Barely two months after Phillipe's death, Clarisse invited Joseph to her office to tell him about their upcoming trip to San Francisco.
Joseph watched Clarisse waltz with the Prime Minister. He was then lost in his thoughts. This trip to America was one of the most beautiful of his life. His love life was just starting to make sense.
Monday May 28, 2001
"So we will leave next Monday, the 4th. For a period of three weeks. We will stay at our Consulate. As for security, we will plan everything at tomorrow's security meeting. » Clarisse explained to her head of security sitting in front of her.
"Okay, but three weeks, does that mean you won't be there on June 20, for Independence Day? » asked Joseph.
"I know, the people may be disappointed, but it's for a good cause. I must preserve the crown in the Renaldi clan, it is my duty. And in San Francisco is the youngest descendant of Renaldi blood. And we will organize a big ball the day before, at the consulate. » Confided Clarisse.
Clarisse saw Joseph's surprised expression, so she continued.
"About 17 years ago, Phillipe came to see us to tell us that he had gotten married in secret. Rupert and I were surprised, but we respected his choices, and anyway, it was already done, we couldn't go back. Then he told us that Helen, his new wife, was pregnant. A few weeks later, Peter made the decision to abdicate the throne, so Phillip had a choice to make. He chose his duty to his people. He and Helene divorced. Then little Amelia was born. Phillipe still took his responsibilities towards her. He sent money to Helen regularly and cards and gifts to Amelia. I promised Phillipe not to come into contact with her or Helene. Phillipe wanted to wait until she was old enough to understand our, well, situation. » Clarisse told an extremely attentive Joseph.
Clarisse rose from her chair and walked to the window a few steps behind her, and continued.
"I never met my granddaughter. She will be 16 in a few days. She is all I have left of Phillipe. I want to get to know her, to introduce her to Genovia. And who knows, maybe she would make a great queen when she gets old enough. » Concluded Clarisse, tears visible in her ocean blue eyes.
Joseph got up and approached her. He wanted to comfort her. But he still kept a suitable distance.
"Your Majesty, I am sure that everything will be fine. »
"She might hate me." In her eyes, I never wanted to know her. In her eyes, I never cared about her. But that's not true. I think of her often. Especially since Phillipe's death. And not because she could save the Renaldi reign, but because she is my granddaughter, the daughter of my late son. She not only has Renaldi's royal blood running through her veins, mine runs through her veins too. »
"How could she hate you, your Majesty, it's impossible to hate you. » Joseph smiled at him.
"Thank you Joseph. » Clarisse smiled at him.
Tuesday June 5, 2001
Joseph was standing guard a few steps up from the location of the charming little table where Clarisse and Amelia were seated. They had tea and talked. Clarisse was teaching her who her father was, and therefore who Amelia was herself. Joseph could not help but notice to what extent the young girl had features of physical resemblance to her father, Phillipe, but also to her grandmother, Clarisse.
Mia ran past Joseph to leave. Clarisse asked her to come back, but the young girl fled without looking back. Joseph could see in his Queen's eyes that she was confused but above all disappointed that Amelia had fled. He tried to reassure her, explaining that Amelia needed time to assimilate this new information. Clarisse then asked Joseph to watch over Amelia. He couldn't believe it. It wasn't in his job description to play Baby Sitter. But Clarisse had a good point, Amelia had to be protected at all costs. Joseph was hesitant, he did not want to spend the rest of the stay watching a child, he wanted to protect his Queen, to be close to her, all the time. Damn he was the head of security after all. Clarisse ends up convincing him, without much effort. She explained to Joseph that Amelia was her granddaughter, her precious jewel and that the person she trusted the most was him. So her best security asset had to be to protect her jewelry before herself. Joseph could refuse him nothing. He could see in her eyes that she sincerely needed him. He accepted, even though he didn't want to.
Wednesday June 6, 2001
Joseph was on his way to pick Mia up from school, as usual. This time, however, he had stopped at a high-end shoe store just before. At Clarisse's request, he had gone to buy more elegant shoes, worthy of a princess. He even agreed to show Mia how to dance the Genovian dance. Finally, after he managed to show her the base, Clarisse, proud, allowed Mia to return home.
The Queen began to gather her things from the small round table. Joseph looked at her. She was so beautiful. He wanted to make a move towards her. But he had to remain evasive all the same, because perhaps she wasn't yet ready to open up to her feelings.
So he had an idea.
"Thank you Joseph. » Said Clarisse, taking off her reading glasses.
He approached her slowly. He stood behind her, reaching out to turn the radio back on and turn the music back on. He remained motionless for a few seconds. She looked at the radio then looked him in the eyes. It gave him the courage he needed to continue.
"You wore black, too long. » Joseph said with a loving look, before taking her hand and leading her to the center of the room for a Genovian dance.
Clarisse smiled at him and followed him.
They danced together as if they had always danced together, all their lives, and yet, it was the first time. Their first dance. He had never been this close. A few times, after the death of Rupert or Phillipe, he had taken her in his arms to console her, but it was only comfort for a person, a grieving friend, nothing more. Now it was different. She wasn't in mourning, she was smiling. She hadn't pushed her away. They looked into each other's eyes and both enjoyed the moment. They wanted it to last for hours. But after just a few minutes, the music stopped. They held each other for a few moments just looking at each other, then Clarisse thanked him for the dance before taking her things from the small table and leaving. Joseph heard him pass Charlotte in the hallway. He stood there, alone in the middle of the room, stunned. He had stars in his eyes. He finally pulled himself together and then left the room, smiling.
Thursday June 7, 2001
The next morning, Joseph was having coffee in the security room, like every morning, in Genovia or elsewhere, while waiting for the Queen to be ready to start the day. He looked at the time, the clock read 8am. He took the last sip of coffee, then headed towards the Queen's suite. As he entered the room, he saw her sitting at her desk near the window. He was delighted to see her wearing color again. She wore blue.
"Hello Majesty. » he began.
"Hello to you. » She replied.
She looked at him, silent and smiling.
"You seem to me to have slept well, Majesty. » He told her simply.
"I found this letter in my things after Amelia's dance class yesterday. » She said, lifting the paper in her hand.
"Oh, I thought I forgot it in Eleanor Roosevelt's book. » He replied, smiling.
"Oh Joseph. » She replied, also smiling.
Clarisse understood exactly the message that Joseph's voluntary forgetting meant. For his part, Joseph knew that Clarisse had understood his gesture. He could see it in her piercing blue eyes. They stood still for a few more moments, staring into each other's blue depths, until Charlotte entered the room to warn the Queen that Lord Baltimore was on the line.