Chapter 10: A Princess's Curiosity
Meanwhile in Pyrus, at the entrance to the Palace.
"Hello Princess. Hello Lilly. Glad to see you again."
"Hi Charlotte." Mia and Lilly said in unison.
"Grandma is in her office?" Mia asked as she walked past Charlotte to enter the palace.
"Hmm... Actually, the queen is gone for a few days. She'll be back Sunday afternoon."
"Ah, too bad, I was looking forward to seeing her again. Where is she?"
"Oh hmmm... in Rocabruna. Come on girls, you must be hungry. The cooks will prepare a snack for you." Charlotte suddenly changed the subject.
The three women headed towards the kitchens.
"Is Joe around?" Mia asked as they walked.
"Do you prefer ice cream or fruit? Or maybe both?" » Charlotte replied to avoid the conversation.
Mia followed Charlotte, eyeing her suspiciously.
Later, Mia and Lilly were in the guest suite.
"Lilly, I feel like someone is hiding something from me."
"Like what?"
"I don't really know, but it has something to do with my Grandmother. And with Joe too I think."
"What do you want us to hide from you about them?"
"My Grandmother went to do something in Rocabruna, and Joseph is probably with her. After all, she can't have left without protection."
"She probably went on some royal outing of some kind." Lilly suggested.
"If that was all it was, Charlotte wouldn't have seemed so nervous." Mia added.
"Maybe she went on vacation?" Lilly suggested.
"Yeah maybe, but then why did Charlotte seem so nervous. I know what we're going to do Lilly. We're going to interview as many people as possible. And I know exactly who we're going to start with."
A few moments later, Mia and Lilly were in the palace laundry room.
"What are we doing here Mia?"
"The maids are always up to date on everything that's going on in the palace. In fact, they're always up to date on everything. You see that one, who's ironing the laundry? She's Prescilla, one of my Grandmother's maids."
"Ah I see." Lilly nodded.
The two young women were walking towards the maid.
"Hi Prescilla." Mia began.
"Hello Princess." Prescilla replied with a curtsy.
"So, what's up?" Mia continued.
"Hmmm… Nothing really special Your Highness, I'm ironing shirts."
"Yes. Hmmm... It's really too bad my Grandmother went to Rocabruna, I wanted to surprise her. It's really crazy that I've never been to Rocabruna. They say it's beautiful."
"Yes it is. I'm actually a native of Rocabruna. The rocky capes by the water are really beautiful."
"Ah I see why it's called Rocabruna." Lilly added before realizing that she was practically ignored.
"My Grandmother told me she would take me there. If I had known, I would have warned her of my visit, that way she would have taken me with her."
"I don't want to disappoint you Your Highness, but I rather believe that the Queen wanted to spend some time alone with Joe."
"Ah yes that's for sure, but what was my mind on? » Mia said, trying to pretend she wasn't surprised.
"The Queen does that sometimes. She says she needs some time to herself, to relax, you know, away from all that." The maid explained, pointing to the fancy dresses drying on one of the racks, then continued. "Everyone understands her, you know. She hasn't had it easy since King Rupert (may he rest in peace) died. The members of parliament make her life difficult sometimes. She's always exhausted after parliamentary meetings."
"I didn't think it was that hard for her." Mia said, clearly sad for her Grandmother.
"She's strong, you know. She can put them in their place when she needs to. But we've all noticed a difference in her mood and energy since she's been taking the occasional vacation here and there."
"With Joe." Mia added.
"Yes. At first, the Queen didn't want anyone with her in her new vacation home, she wanted to be alone, but obviously Joe wasn't going to let that happen. So he made a compromise with her: Only one member of security would accompany her. Obviously he's the most competent to handle security on his own. Guards accompany them, while they go and secure the place, but then they come back to the palace. That's the deal."
"Oh yeah, that's right, she bought herself a house in Rocabruna." Mia lied.
"Yes, precisely for these escapades. She bought it two years ago with her parents' inheritance, to make sure that parliament wouldn't make her miserable with the purchase of the property. Since then, she goes there a few times a year."
"Yes of course, with Joe."
"Yes. Everyone knows that something is going on between those two. They are subtle, but it is still obvious that something is going on."
"Oh yeah, my Grandma goes on escapades with her lover, she's so cool." Mia enthused.
"Do you think she and Joe are lovers?" Prescilla asked.
"Don't you?" Mia asked.
"I honestly don't know. It wouldn't surprise me, but at the same time, I know how careful the Queen is. She doesn't dare make any false steps, so as not to give ammunition to those who want to take the crown away from her, under the pretext that she is not a Renaldi by blood. She does it especially for you Princess. So would the Queen take the plunge? I don't know. But it is true that she would have the opportunity with her escapades on her private property. But Joe and they are not lovers Your Highness, they are in love."
"Yeah. Poor Grandma."
"You knew that didn't you?" Prescilla worried a little.
"Yes of course, don't worry Prescilla. And this property, it must be so peaceful. She must feel good there."
"Yes, that's for sure. It's a beautiful private estate tucked away and at the top of the cape. Such a beautiful property. It's located at the back of the cape, so you can see Pyrus in the distance. You can even see the first mountain range of Castellaro. It's absolutely magnificent."
"Well, we have to go. Goodbye Prescilla." Mia concluded, taking Lilly's arm and leaving the room.
A few moments later, Mia and Lilly were in front of Charlotte's office.
"Charlotte, tell me everything you know about Grandma and Joe." Mia began.
"Princess, I don't see what you're getting at at all."
"We know, Charlotte. My Grandma in her Rocabruna estate, one-on-one with Joe. They're in love, that's clear." Mia continued.
"Listen Princess, I don't know anything."
"Charlotte please." Mia pleaded.
"I don't know much, you know. I know it all started between them in San Francisco 3 years ago. At the Independence Ball mostly."
"They just danced together right?"
"Joseph escorted her to her suite that night. They seemed pretty close. A few days before I saw them dancing together and they seemed pretty close too."
"You mean Joe and Grandma were having some fun on the night of the ball and I didn't notice anything?" Mia enthused.
"No, of course not. Joseph came out a few minutes later. Just for tea, nothing more. But I wanted to go see if Her Majesty needed help with her dress, and I saw them kissing. Nothing more." Charlotte lied.
"And then?" Mia almost shouted.
"Nothing, I slipped away. It was none of my business."
"They love each other, don't they?" Mia asked.
"Yes." Was Charlotte's only response.
"Thank you, Charlotte." Mia concluded before smiling warmly at Charlotte and leaving the room with Lilly.
Charlotte was relieved that the Princess didn't ask her more questions. She must have lied to her. Charlotte knew slightly more than she had told Mia.
Meanwhile in Rocabruna.
Later, after having consumed their love, Clarisse and Joseph were together in the bath of the masters room. Joseph was leaning against the high edge of the bath and Clarisse was in his arms, her back against his chest. They were simply stuck in a hot bubble bath.
"You know that I love you, don't you?" Clarisse said softly, her eyes closed, enjoying this moment of relaxation.
"You know that I love you even more, don't you?" Joseph replied, making Clarisse laugh.
"This may seem crazy what I'm going to say, but I often look forward to Mia taking the throne. Yes of course as Grandmother and Dowager Queen, but also, I would regain a certain freedom."
"Dowager? What exactly does it consist of?" Joseph asked.
"It can be different from one kingdom to another. In general, Queen Dowager is the title held by the widow of the reigning king, when one of their children, or in this case, grandchildren, takes the throne. The roles and responsibilities that I would have as Queen Dowager will be established with Mia when the time comes. In other words, whether I like it or not, I will remain Queen in a way, but in a different way, more as a support, an advisor to Mia I would say. "
"You will still be able to have the luxury of setting your limits. Ultimately, it is the dream title. "
"Yes, indeed. I dream about it at night. " Clarisse laughed.
Joseph laughed then kissed Clarisse's neck three or four times with soft butterfly kisses.
Meanwhile. In Pyrus, in the palace garage.
"But where are we going Mia?" Lilly asked.
"To Rocabruna." Mia replied.
"Oh Mia I don't think that's a good idea."
"You saw her like I did, Charlotte lied to us." Mia said.
"How do you know?" Lilly asked.
"Charlotte is a terrible liar. And how does she know that Joe only stayed a few minutes in my Grandmother's suite, if she slipped away after seeing them kiss?" Mia said slyly.
"Good point." Lilly smiled.
"Something is going on between Joe and my Grandmother and I want to know everything."
"Yes, I suspect so, but we don't know where your Grandmother's property is."
"We'll find it easily. Prescilla gave us a description precise enough for us to find it. »
"Charlotte said the Queen was going to be back on Sunday, we can go tomorrow. It's going to be dark Mia."
"Don't worry Lilly, I know how to drive in the dark. And Rocabruna is only a little less than thirty minutes from here. And the darkness is going to be our ally, that's why we dressed in black." Mia said as she got into the driver's seat of her light blue Mustang.
Lilly nodded and got in as well.
In the evening, after enjoying a good meal that they had cooked together, Clarisse and Joseph were relaxing in the living room on the ground floor. Meanwhile, after driving to Rocabruna, Lilly and Mia found the way to the cape fairly quickly. When they reached the end of the path, they noticed a private entrance, surrounded by trees, which climbed slightly up to the top and the end of the cape. Mia walked up to a small stone parking lot. She parked the car there. Lilly was looking out the window.
"Hey Mia, what are you going to do now?"
"We're going to sneak in."
"Did you see that the lot was surrounded by a big stone wall?" Lilly asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, of course. We're going to make the wall. The wall isn't that high."
"There must be a lot of cameras, you know that?"
"Yeah, sure, Joe is considerate and careful."
"How are we going to do it?"
"We're going to get around the security system."
"We could just ring the gate. That seems less risky to me."
"No, I want to know what's going on between my Grandma and Joe."
"You could just ask your Grandma." »
"She won't tell me. She wants to keep the crown in the Renaldi household at all costs. You heard the maid. She won't risk telling anyone. Not even me."
"Are you telling me you want to spy on the Queen?" Lilly asked, a little worried.
"Yes. Come on, it'll be fun." Mia pleaded.
"Okay, but if we get caught, I'll say it was your idea."
"We won't get caught, Lilly."
"You know Joe, he's infallible." Lilly argued.
"I have a good plan. Besides, I know the types of security Joe uses. He showed me everything during my first stay at the palace."
Mia took her laptop out of her bag.
"What are you doing?" Lilly asked.
"I'm going to double the security system. Actually, I'm going to go into the system, and I'm going to make sure that the last hour is projected on the screens inside. Grandma and Joe won't notice."
"Wow Mia, you're scaring me." Lilly laughed.
"Shades showed me how to do that." Mia replied.
Mia began the procedure she had learned.
"Oh darn! There's a password. Obviously. And I get three tries before I'm locked out. And I guess if it locks out, Joe will be alerted. Okay, an 8-digit code."
"A date." Lilly suggested.
"Yeah, sure, it's a date. But what date is important to Joe?"
"His mother's birthdate?" Lilly suggested.
"No, that's too easy."
"Your Grandma's birthdate?" »
"No, Joe is too smart to protect the system with a simple birth date."
"Try Joe's hire date. Technically, that's the day he met your Grandma."
"Good idea, Lilly. Hmm… I know it's 1992. Oh yeah, May 7, 1992. So 05/07/1992."
The computer displayed an error code.
"No, that's not it." Lilly said disappointed.
"I think I know." Mia enthused.
"What, say it!" Lilly enthused.
"Remember what Charlotte said. The Independence Day Ball in San Francisco."
"Yeah, so what?"
"Think about it Lilly. My Grandma and Joe kissed that night. And I think that's the date of their first kiss. So 06-19-2001."
Access was granted on the computer.
"Yes, it works! There you go, here you go. Come on." Mia said.
The two girls climbed the low wall and went to the back of the property. They stopped a few times to admire the landscaping everywhere they could look. They approached the large back porch and heard voices. They could make out Clarisse and Joseph's voices.
"Would you like a cup of tea my love?" Joseph asked.
"Yes, that would be nice sweetlove. "
"Which one would you like?"
"Lavender and mint, please."
"I'll bring it in a minute."
Mia and Lilly approached the stairs slowly and noticed the open patio door. The sheer white curtains were closed and fluttering gently in the breeze.
"Since when did my grandmother and Joe call each other by lovers nicknames?" Mia asked in a whisper, smiling broadly.
Lilly waved her off, and the two girls walked quietly up the stairs. They crouched down by the window. They had a view of what was happening in the room.
Meanwhile, inside the house, in the living room, Clarisse was reading a letter she had received that morning at the palace from the Queen of Spain, who had become a friend over time. Joseph entered the room with a tray of tea, he stopped in the doorway and looked at her, simply. Clarisse, sitting on one of the two armchairs in the room, looked up, noticed him and smiled at him. Joseph entered the room and placed the tray on the coffee table.
"I received a lovely letter from Sophia, the Queen of Spain. She and her family have just returned from a trip to Canada, look." Clarisse said, taking off her reading glasses and handing her a photo.
"Oh, they visited the Rockies." He said, looking at the photograph, then handing it back to Clarisse.
"Queen Sophia is absolutely gorgeous. I have long envied her perfect complexion." Clarisse added as she put the letter and photo back in the envelope.
"Personally, I find the Genovian Queen much prettier." Joseph affirmed before kissing the junction of Clarisse's neck and shoulder blade with a soft butterfly kiss.
"Oh Joseph." Clarisse smiled at him, clearly in love with this man.
"I love you." Joseph replied as he offered her a cup of tea.
Clarisse smiled at him again and cupped his cheek. Joseph took a seat on the couch across from her and motioned for her to come closer to him, which she did after placing the letter on the side table. She settled into his arms, her head resting on his chest.
"Joseph?"
"Hmmm…" Joseph mumbled as he rubbed her arm up and down in affection.
"I am lucky to have you." »
"The luckiest of the two is me."
"Even if it's not an easy situation? I mean, we're not free to love each other like any normal couple."
"Did you say couple? Do you consider us a real couple?" Joseph asked laughing.
"Officially no, but almost. And you know that I can't promise you anything, about time or any future, but I can tell you that I love you. I can tell you that I don't want any other man, ever. You're the only person I've ever been in love with in my life."
"I know Clarisse, don't worry. But I can promise you something. I've told you that often. When the time comes, I'll make you my wife. In the meantime, yes I find it difficult to have you to myself only a few days a year, but that won't stop me from being patient. »
"Like I said, I'm lucky to have you." She smiled at him.
"I don't deserve anything, Clarisse. I love you. For so long, you know that. I hoped so much, even though you were married. And then there was that trip to San Francisco for the Princess. And there was our first night, the night of the ball. That trip was the best of my life." He told her, kissing her temple.
"A wonderful night." She smiled.
"Um, yes, like all the ones that followed thanks to this house." He told her sensually.
The two kissed for a few moments, before the kisses became more and more eager. Joseph quietly pulled Clarisse to the side, so that she was stuck between the back of the sofa and him. He started his stroke with soft kisses then went down to the swell of her breasts. She wore a simple light blue camisole with a sheer white chiffon blouse, unbuttoned over it. She had paired them with cream-colored flared pants. A classy, yet casual look that Joseph really liked. He slid a hand under her camisole, to feel the skin of her ribs. Clarisse began to unbutton his black shirt and take it out of his pants. Joseph stood up a little and helped him. Once Joseph's shirt was open, Clarisse pulled him closer to her to have access to his neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in it. She kissed him tenderly at first, then sucked strategic places on Joseph's neck, because she couldn't risk love marks appearing in places visible to the outside world.
"Hmmm... Clarisse, come on, I'll take you to the bedroom." Joseph mumbled, feeling his pants tighten more and more under his belt.
"Hmmm... Yes, okay." Clarisse said, but without letting go, before seizing his lips for needy kisses.
Joseph welcomed the kisses without hesitation and rubbed Clarisse's hips, back, and neck. He wanted to touch her from head to toe. Then, he had a small moment of lucidity. He stepped back a little.
"Clarisse, seriously, if you don't want me to make love to you on the couch, let me take you to the bedroom, a bed seems more comfortable and especially more suitable for everything I want to do to you." Joseph said with a sensually husky voice.
"Oh Joseph, when you talk like that, you make me lose my means." Clarisse said, closing her eyes to calm down a little.
"Come my love." Joseph stood up then took Clarisse's hand to guide her to the bedroom a few steps from the living room.
Meanwhile, on the balcony outside, Lilly and Mia had their eyes wide open at what they had just seen and heard. They regained their senses then went down themselves from the balcony and walked away from the main building.
"I don't think we should have seen that. » Lilly began, looking a little confused.
"I'm torn between the happiness of seeing my Grandmother so happy, the sadness of knowing that she deprives herself of such happiness on a daily basis, and disgust too. It's my Grandmother that I just saw "nacking" on a couch." Mia said, grimacing at the end of her sentence.
"It's true that she looked happy. She seemed like a woman, quite simply. She left her Queen's hat in the car when she arrived, that's obvious. And Joe, you saw how happy and smiling and warm he is. I've never seen him like that." Lilly was surprised.
"Joe is warmer than you think. But it's true that with Grandmother he's much warmer. And it's also true that I've never seen him as happy as in the last five minutes. »
"Are you going to tell your Grandma that you know about Joe and her?"
"No, I don't want to have to tell her that I spied on her. And I don't want her to miss out on these beautiful moments here with Joseph. That's what she'll do if she finds out they got caught. She deserves to be happy, she deserves it." Mia said as she turned back to the house before leaving with Lilly.
In the car, the two friends discussed the situation.
"My Grandmother is a naughty girl, she did somersaults with her bodyguard on the night of the ball, can you believe it. My Grandmother is so cool."
"I think it's super romantic. Did you hear what Joe said, he's been in love with the Queen for a long time, she was even still married."
"You're right. Do you think my Grandmother knew that Joe was in love with her? Did my Grandfather know? And when and how did Joe confess his love to her? I have so many questions! One day, I'm going to ask them to tell me their story."
"I hope they'll let me hear it too. Just the little we know so far, it's so beautiful."
"Indeed, a true love story worthy of the greatest movies."
The next morning, the rays of the sun woke Joseph. He opened his eyes, blinked a few times to wake up and looked at Clarisse, still asleep, next to him. He found her so beautiful, he watched her sleep for a few more moments before looking at the time on his watch on the side table next to him. He saw that it was 8:30 in the morning. He decided to go and prepare a good breakfast for Clarisse and him. He had barely gotten up when he felt the warmth of Clarisse's hand on his bicep.
"Stay close to me." Said a still-sleeping Clarisse.
"I didn't want to wake you up. I'm going to go and prepare us a good breakfast."
"Come and cuddle up with me a little before." Clarisse asked as she slowly opened her eyes.
"With the greatest pleasure." Joseph replied as he settled back into the covers.
As soon as he was settled, Clarisse moved closer to him and entered his arms, her face buried close to his chest. Joseph hugged her tightly. He felt her breathing become regular, he concluded that she had fallen asleep again. After just a few minutes, he fell asleep again too.
An hour later, Clarisse woke up and tried to get out of Joseph's arms without waking him up. She failed almost instantly.
"Where do you think you're going like that?" Joseph asked, smiling.
"I didn't want to wake you up, I wanted to go make tea and coffee. I barely had time to move before you woke up."
"Your Majesty, my role as head of royal security is to protect you day and night. I am alert even when I sleep. And since you are also the woman I am in love with even when asleep, I watch over you effectively, ma'am." Joseph said to tease her.
Clarisse laughed a little, he kissed her shoulder and then the two of them got up. Joseph checked the cameras on the computer hidden in one of the closets in the master bedroom, while Clarisse headed to the en suite bathroom. When she came out, she moved closer to him, wrapping an arm around his bicep and leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Is everything under control?" She asked him.
"Yes, nothing abnormal." He answered.
A few minutes later, Clarisse was in front of the bathroom mirror, Joseph joined her. He settled behind her and wrapped his arms around her body and they both looked at their reflection in the mirror. They stayed like that for a few moments, before Joseph noticed the high view he had on the neckline of Clarisse's nightie. She noticed it and smiled.
"So Joseph, I'm going to run myself a bath, I need it after everything you did to me last night." Clarisse began in a seductive tone.
"Hmm... Do you want me to do it again?" Joseph asked after noticing the desire in Clarisse's eyes.
"I would be crazy to refuse such an offer. You have such talent, Joseph. » Clarisse said as she slowly moved away from him and headed towards the claw-foot bathtub.
"That's good, I'm starving." Joseph added as he advanced towards her like a predator towards its prey.
Clarisse turned on the water in the bathtub, acting naively on purpose, like a gazelle that ignores the approach of a hungry lion. Joseph came up to her and whispered in her ear.
"Any preference regarding the utensils I would use? Three options are available to you: My tongue, my fingers or my handle."
"I'll opt for a three-course meal." Clarisse replied in a whisper.
Joseph smiled at her in response, then grabbed her by the hips to kiss her.
Later, they were both in the kitchen.
"What would you like to eat this morning, my dear?" Joseph asked.
"Would you make me your Spanish omelette? I love them."
"And go for a Spanish omelette." Joseph called out.
Clarisse was sitting on one of the stools at the island, reading the Genovian newspaper, her reading glasses on her nose while Joseph cooked and whistled. She looked up from the newspaper to look at him. He looked like a completely happy man. She smiled at the sight and the prospect. Joseph, after finishing beating the eggs, looked up at her and noticed her sparkling blue eyes already watching her.
"May I know what makes you smile like that, ma'am?"
"You are so beautiful to look at." Clarisse simply replied.
"With that apron? No, I don't think that color is in my palette." Joseph laughed, pointing to the light blue apron he was wearing, which instantly made Clarisse laugh.
"It suits you so well, Joseph. No, what I mean is that you look happy, fulfilled, fulfilled. And this scene here, this morning, it's like it's always been like this. Like this is our life and it's normal. I feel so good."
Joseph approached her, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her head.
"I'm happy, oh Clarisse if you only knew how happy I am. Every time you're near me, it can't be otherwise. And we're here together, the sun is shining outside, a wonderful day awaits us, and speaking of the day, I must say that it started extremely well." Joseph teased, making Clarisse laugh again.
Clarisse and Joseph had spent the rest of the day relaxing together. They had taken walks in the gardens of the property, they had done a bit of gardening for fun, they had watched a movie, in short they had really taken the time to relax.
At the end of the afternoon, barely arrived at her suite, Clarisse heard a knock at her door. It was Mia.
"Hello Grandma." Mia began.
"Mia? But what are you doing here?" Clarisse asked, smiling.
"I had some free time and I missed Genovia and my grandmother."
Clarisse answered her by taking her in her arms.
"So Grandma, where were you this weekend, I wanted to surprise you."
"Oh, I was in Rocabruna."
"What for?" Mia asked.
"Just a little vacation." Clarisse answered as naturally as possible.
"It seemed to do you the world of good, you're beaming, Grandma." Clarisse smiled at her in response.