Prologue

September 3, 1998

Joseph was walking through the corridors of the palace, towards the Queen's office, who had summoned him earlier during the day. As he entered the room, he saw her sitting at her desk, her reading glasses on her nose.

"Hello Majesty, have you summoned me for an audience? » he began.

"Yes, come in Joseph. Please sit down. »

At that moment, Joseph had no idea what was going to happen.

"Please Antony, could you turn off the office cameras, this is a confidential hearing. » Asked Clarisse to the guard who was at the entrance to the room.

Antony went out, closed the door behind him, and a few moments later, a click was heard, signaling that the cameras were finally off.

"So, um, Joseph, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're the last one to read this book, the collection of Eleanor Roosevelt's writings. » She said, pointing to the book next to her on the desk.

"Yes indeed, I put it back in its place at the library last week. » He explained.

"I picked it up just now, I wanted to reread it. Have you forgotten anything inside the book? » Asked Clarisse, taking off her glasses.

"Um, I don't know. » Joseph replied, not understanding where she was going with this.

"I found that at the center of the book. » She explains, taking out a paper folded in half from the book.

Joseph closed his eyes and lowered his head. He knew full well what this paper included.

Content of the letter:

My dear Clarisse,

Since my arrival at the palace, I have discovered a wonderful team. We can almost even consider ourselves family. Then I was promoted to head of security, which gave me the enormous privilege of also being your personal bodyguard. I got to know you. Then I found love. I know for a fact that this is wrong. You are a married woman. Not only that, but you are married to the King, but I can't help it, it's stronger than me. If you knew how much it hurts me every time I see you with him, hand in hand or exchanging a kiss.

I sometimes hope that perhaps one day you will hold mine. I know it's completely crazy and improbable, but I can't help but imagine that maybe one day you might feel the same way about me. I may not be king, I may not have any titles, but I could offer you love, pure and true because that is precisely what I feel for you. I am in love with the Queen of Genovia. I know it's wrong.

Know that I would never try anything, I would not do this to you. I love you too much to put you in an uncomfortable position.

I know that I am risking a lot by writing this letter, I am not even sure if I would ever give it to you, because you could dismiss me or avoid me, and I much prefer to love you in secret, but to be around you every day, rather than loving you out in the open, but never seeing you again.

Your devoted Joseph.

So, if I understand correctly, you have romantic feelings towards me. »

There was a moment of silence, then Joseph raised his head to look into her eyes. His two powerful sapphires that made him so vulnerable. Then he decided to go for it. Either way, he didn't have much of a choice anymore. He could have made up a story, but he couldn't lie to him, not to her.

"Yes, for so long. I've always been attracted to you. The first time I saw you, when I arrived 6 years ago, I found you so beautiful, which was normal I must say. I was a security assistant at the time. When René retired 2 years later, the King and you promoted me to head of royal security, therefore bodyguard to the King and Queen. I followed you more often than the King; he had already had his own bodyguard for several years, who had become a friend over time. »

Clarisse nodded, attentive to what Joseph was saying.

"So I started seeing you on a regular basis. The more I was around you, the more I got to know you and the more my feelings developed. At first, I thought I was crazy. You were my boss, the Queen, married to the King. I did everything to try to forget my feelings towards you. I picked up women in bars on my nights off, I tried to fall in love with other women, but to no avail. A woman already owned my heart, without knowing it. The most inaccessible woman in the country. I ended up resigning myself, putting my feelings aside and simply letting life take its course. I told myself that one day I would meet a woman with whom I would fall in love and with whom I could be happy. It's been 4 years now, and I'm still in love with the same woman. YOU. At the risk of you banishing me from the Kingdom, that's it. Clarisse, you not only rule Genovia, you also rule my heart. »

" Haha ha , ban you? I could never do such a thing. I really like having you near me. I care too much about you to walk away voluntarily. » Clarisse explained.

Joseph was still looking into its blue depths. He really felt like he detected a slightly too sincere attachment to a boss-employee or friendly relationship, but he didn't dare think too much. He was afraid of making a mistake.

"So I keep my job?" » he asked.

" Absolutely. As we are in confidence, I will dive too. What I am about to tell you, I will only express it once, so pay close attention. » She said, with her Queen's air.

Joseph was attentive, more attentive than an intellectual in class.

"You know, we have developed a wonderful friendship over the years. I place blind trust in you. You are one of the people I trust the most. I really enjoy the conversations we both have, in the gardens or over a cup of tea, sometimes late into the night. You understand me like no one has ever understood me. It would be a lie to you to tell you that I haven't developed feelings towards you. »

Joseph's eyes lit up. Clarisse rose from her chair and walked over to the tea set on the coffee table in the suite's living room. She then sat down on the sofa. He went to sit in the free seat next to her. She then served him a cup.

"But don't get me wrong, it can't go any further than this conversation. I couldn't say how or why, but I have an attraction to you. It's stronger than me. These are feelings that I have difficulty understanding. As you know, I was promised to Rupert when I was 16. We love each other very much you know, but not like lovers you see. It's a happy marriage, but a marriage of convenience. So I don't have a lot of experience with these kinds of feelings. »

"I understand perfectly Majesty. Know that it does me a lot of good to know all this. »

"Your letter is absolutely magnificent. She touched me a lot you know. » She said, handing him the letter.

"Glad you liked it." » He said, taking the paper.

"From now on, keep her safe. » She said, taking a sip from her cup.

"I'll be more careful, I promise." »

"You know, this letter allowed me to understand many things. »

" Like what? » he asked curious and interested.

"Among other things, your gentle looks that you constantly give me. »

"I thought I was more subtle. » Laughed Joseph.

"Don't worry, you are. It's the letter that betrayed you. » Making them both laugh.

"I so need to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming." » Said Joseph.

"Thank you for this conversation Joseph. Thank you for your honesty with me. »

"I can't do otherwise. I could never lie to you, not to you. You deserve so much better. »

She smiled at him and got up from the couch. He did the same, knowing that she had a meeting in a few minutes with the French Prime Minister.

"Joseph, please know that what I am about to do will not happen again. »

He looked at her, question visible on his face. She only approached him. He looked into her eyes, knowing exactly what was coming next. He wrapped his arms around her. She did the same thing. Then their lips came into contact. They shared a sweet kiss for several seconds before gently moving away.

"Now I'm really going to have to pinch myself. » Said Joseph with a serious look, making Clarisse laugh.

"Oh, I have to hurry, the French Prime Minister is about to arrive. » She said, looking at her watch.

"After you, Your Majesty. » He said, guiding her towards the door.