Chapter 20: The Wedding Reception
Fifteen minutes later, Clarisse, followed by Charlotte, joined Joseph in front of the double doors at the back of the hall that led directly to the gardens.
"Ah, my dear." Joseph said as he saw his wife arrive.
Clarisse smiled at him before kissing him tenderly.
"My suitcase has been brought to your suite." Joseph announced.
"It's perfect, but our suite rather." A smiling Clarisse answered him.
"I really feel like I'm dreaming." Joseph said with stars in her eyes.
"So, everything is ready in the gardens." Charlotte announced while holding her earpiece after receiving the information.
They headed towards the gardens of the palace courtyard to take some pictures, then they returned to the hall, in front of the doors of the throne room, waiting for their announcement to be made to make their official entrance.
"Are you ready?" Charlotte asked.
After receiving the agreement of both, Charlotte gave the signal into her small microphone. Three taps of a stick were heard on the other side of the doors, then a voice announced:
"Her Majesty Clarisse Renaldi Romero, Queen of Genovia and her husband, His Royal Highness Joseph Romero!"
The trumpets played the iconic music of the royal entrance, then the double doors opened.
The couple entered, hand in hand. The guests applauded them, visibly happy and festive. Clarisse and Joseph headed to the long table at the front of the room. At the table d'hôte, Mia, Lily, Prime Minister Motaz and his wife, and Pierre were all seated. Clarisse smiled widely at the life of her eldest son. Without letting go of her husband's hand, she rushed towards Pierre. She let go of Joseph's hand only to take her son in her arms.
"Oh Pierre, you came." Clarisse said, taking him tightly in her arms.
"Of course. I wouldn't have missed my mother's wedding for anything in the world." Pierre said, wrapping his arms around his mother.
"I'm so happy to see you, my darling." Clarisse said, not letting go of her son.
"I'm sorry for the delay, mother. I was supposed to be here earlier, but since I was in Italy and my flight was delayed."
"You should have told us that you were out of the country, I would have had the Genovia One sent for you." Clarisse said, slowly walking away from her son.
"I was thinking of coming back yesterday, but I ended up having a last-minute meeting scheduled with the Cardinal. So I came back to the country this morning. I didn't think to ask you for the royal plane." Pierre explained.
"It's nothing, the important thing is that you're here." Clarisse smiled.
"Hello Joseph." Pierre said, taking Joseph's hand.
"Hello Your Highness." Joseph replied, taking Pierre's hand.
During the handshake, they hugged each other quickly.
"The word Highness is no longer necessary Joe. You are Highness yourself." Pierre smiled.
"Oh yes. I can't get used to it." Joseph smiled shyly.
Clarisse wrapped her arm around Joseph's waist.
"That, I'm happy." Pierre said, pointing to the newlyweds.
"Really?" Joseph asked surprised.
Clarisse smiled. She found it cute that Joseph had a hard time believing that people were really happy to see them together, in love and married.
"But yes, of course. You know Joe, I've known for a long time that you are in love with my mother. I remember, my brother and I one day, about 10 years ago, we were having a little whisky on the balcony of the 3rd floor, the one of Phillipe's suite. My mother was walking in the gardens. You were not far from her, in a guard position, but your gaze on her betrayed you. Then we couldn't help but notice the way you looked at her every day." The Prince explained.
"I didn't think I was so unsubtle." Joseph laughed.
"My mother wasn't any more subtle, you know." Pierre laughed.
"Did you and your brother know?" Clarisse asked.
"Yes. You too looked at him with love quite often, mother. And then, when Dad died, Phillipe and I hoped that one day, you would finally be able to live out your love." Pierre said.
Later, they were all sitting at the table. They were eating and chatting. After the meal, Clarisse stood up and nodded to Charlotte so that she would give the signal for one of the guards to perform the three stick blows on the ground, signifying that she was going to speak.
"Thank you all for being here tonight. It is a real joy to see you all here to celebrate our love for Joseph and me. I realized today that the whole country knows that Joseph and I have felt for each other for years. That you are all here to celebrate our marriage means that you are happy with this union and it really warms our hearts. Thank you for being here. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now, I would like to give something to my husband. » She said, looking Joseph in the eyes at her last sentence.
Clarisse leaned down to kiss her husband tenderly on the lips, before continuing.
"My dear Joseph, my dear husband. We can finally live our love in broad daylight. When you asked me to marry you two weeks ago, at the time, I only wanted to say yes. Yes Joseph I want to be your wife. But at that time, I was blinded by my duty, so I refused your request two days ago. My duty is still important to me and I will continue to fulfill it, but from now on I will no longer have my duty to my country only to fulfill. From now on I will also have my duty to you. My husband, the man of my life. Mia will soon take the throne which will change my role in the monarchy, giving me more time and softening my responsibilities. By the same token, I will have the time and the right to live an almost normal life. A life with you. I want to enjoy what life has to offer me, starting with you, with our love. I promise you Joseph, my love, to always be there for you, just as you have always been for me, and as I know you will continue to be. I love you Joseph. "Said Clarisse, letting a small tear run down her cheek.
Joseph stood up, wiped Clarisse's tear then kissed her lips. The guests applauded. Some let a few tears escape their eyes.
"I love you so much." Joseph said softly, holding Clarisse's face in his hands.
"I'm not finished." Clarisse smiled at her husband.
He smiled at her, gave her another kiss before sitting down to listen to her attentively.
"I woke up this morning and I was sad. I was sad because two days ago, I thought I had lost you. And look at us-right now, our dream has literally come true. I was sad this morning, and a few hours later, I am the happiest woman. It is proof that we should never lose hope. I want to thank Mia. Thanks to her, we have the right to live our love, and a little earlier than we had planned." Clarisse said, turning to her granddaughter.
Mia raised her glass to her grandmother, then Clarisse continued.
"So Joseph, I want to give you something meaningful." Clarisse said, turning to Charlotte who was approaching her with a small flat red velvet box and a sealed envelope with the official royal seal of Genovia.
Clarisse took the box and the envelope and continued.
"Rocabruna has a very special meaning for both of us. That is why I want to give you this. The official title of Duke of Rocabruna. " She said, opening the small box and handing him the envelope.
" I know you don't necessarily want a royal title. All you wanted was a woman, but since a woman doesn't come without a little bit of royalty. " Clarisse joked.
" Rocabruna? " Joseph asked, visibly moved.
" Yes. A large part of our history is there, I couldn't think of a better place. It's for you, and you alone. Rocabruna means a lot to you, to us. It was an obvious choice. " Clarisse smiled at him.
Joseph opened the envelope and unfolded the sheet of thick parchment. It was a real official decree. It contained the information Clarisse had just given him, the official royal seal of Genovia and the signature of Her Majesty Clarisse Renaldi Romero. Joseph stood up and hugged his wife.
"Clarisse, I wasn't sure I wanted a title, but this is it. It's just perfect." He said.
"I know." She smiled.
They kissed and all the guests stood up to applaud. Everyone sat back down, Joseph and Clarisse too. Joseph opened the small box and found his official royal Duke pin. Clarisse took his hand in hers and smiled at him.
Later, after desert, Clarisse and Joseph prepared to dance their first dance. They stood in the center of the dance floor, in each other's arms. The first notes of their song played. They swayed to the sound of their song. After a few moments, Clarisse noticed the tears flowing freely down Joseph's face.
"Joseph, my darling, what are you crying about?" Clarisse asked softly, cupping his cheek.
"It's happiness, not sadness. All of it. You're my wife officially now, and I'm your husband. Our song. All of it. If this is a dream, I never want to wake up." Joseph said.
"I love you." She replied simply before reaching his lips with hers.
The rest of the evening went wonderfully. The newlyweds went up to their suite, hand in hand, around midnight. Once the new royal couple entered, the guards near the doors of the Queen's suite moved a few steps away. The goal was to give them their privacy. When King Rupert was alive, when he went to the Queen's suite in the middle of the night, or vice versa, this was also the procedure. Seeing the guards leave and hearing the cameras turn off, Joseph gave a nervous chuckle. He couldn't help but remember Rupert's time, how jealous he felt when he knew the King and Queen were consummating their marriage. Now, and forever, he was the one in the Queen's suite for the night, in all the privacy safely possible.
"Come on, let's unpack your suitcase in the bedroom." Clarisse said.
"You'll have to make some room for me in your closet, Your Majesty." Joseph joked.
"With pleasure. Tomorrow, we'll organize your official move here." Clarisse smiled.
"If I expected all this when I woke up this morning." He said.
"It is indeed a wonderful surprise." Clarisse replied as she entered his arms.
They both went to the bedroom, and Clarisse moved her things a little to make a nice place for him. She then helped him place his personal effects. As she took a black shirt from the suitcase to hang it in the closet, she came across a small blue velvet box. She put the shirt on the bed, then took the box. Joseph saw it and approached her. He gently took the box from her hands.
"I bought this a long time ago. When I proposed the other day in the gazebo, I didn't have it with me. I don't think my initial proposal was adequate. Allow me to correct myself." He leaned down and put one knee on the ground.
"Joseph, your knee." Clarisse worried.
"Don't worry about my knee, my dear. I would go around the country on my knees for you." I think I regret not doing it the first time." Joseph said in a charming tone.
Clarisse smiled at him in response.
"Clarisse my darling, my love, for over a decade, you have been more than my Queen, you are the woman I wish to spend the rest of my days with. I love you so much, it is inexpressible. Today you have made me the happiest man. I have dreamed of this day for a long time. My darling, if you knew how much I dreamed of it. I thought for a long time that it was impossible, that you were my impossible love, but one day I forgot a letter in a book by Eleanor Roosevelt, which led to this conversation. That day, I really had a glimmer of hope, but it was short-lived. You had feelings for me, but you were also married, to the King. Years passed, I tried to fall in love with other women, but it was impossible. My heart belonged only to you. Then, there was San Francisco. Clarisse, San Francisco was the beginning of my happiness. Then you bought your home in Rocabruna. And look at us today, a world is offered to us, a life of happiness and true love. Clarisse, I promise to always be the best of husbands. I promise to always be there to support you and protect you. I promise to love you until I die, and even after. "Said Joseph as he opened the small box in front of her.
"Oh Joseph, what you just said is so beautiful. Joseph, I love you. I love you so much. And the ring. It's beautiful Joseph. "She said, letting a few tears fall.
Joseph took her left hand in his, kissed it delicately on the top, then inserted the ring next to Clarisse's new wedding ring. "That's lucky, it seems to match the wedding ring perfectly." Joseph said before Clarisse's hand in his.
"It's absolutely perfect Joseph." She smiled at him.
Without further ado, Joseph stood up and seized Clarisse's lips with his. The hands of one wandered over the other's body. The desire was more and more palpable between the two. They were becoming more and more eager. Joseph began to attack Clarisse's neck with thousands of little butterfly kisses, making her moan softly.
"Hmm, Clarisse, you smell so good my love." He said between two kisses.
"Ah Joseph, hum." Cooed a Clarisse eager for her new husband.
"Hmm I love you so much." Joseph added, already feeling tight in his pants.
Clarisse felt Joseph's growing erection against her hatred. She wanted to make herself more comfortable.
"Wait my love, I'm going to go take off her tiaras and her jewels. Give me a moment." She said.
"Yes, of course, but hurry up, I can't wait to make love to my wife." He smiled at her.
Clarisse felt a wave of heat at his words.
"Make yourself comfortable, I'll join you in a minute." She replied before smiling warmly at him.
Clarisse entered her dressing room. Meanwhile, Joseph took off his tie and then his jacket. He spotted the ice bucket with a bottle of champagne ready to be opened Two flutes had been placed near the bucket as well. They poured two glasses and brought everything into the bedroom, near the bed. He drank his glass in one go before filling it again and putting it on the bedside table. He was nervous. Clarisse and he had already made love several times, but this time it was different. It was the beginning of their married life. He felt nervous in spite of himself. After a few minutes, he saw Clarisse come out of the dressing room. He couldn't believe his eyes. She had a surprise in store for him. She was wearing a little fine and sexy lingerie, chosen judiciously. A short white nightie, in transparent lace, which particularly showed off her. The fine and transparent fabric easily revealed her perfectly arranged underwear. She remained in the frame of the dressing room doors, motionless and smiling, letting Joseph admire her. He was frozen in place, staring at her with an unusual admiration. "I didn't wear a white dress on our wedding day, so I think this might do for our wedding night." She said.
Joseph walked towards her, slowly and silently. He ran the palm of his fingers over the fabric covering his wife's body.
"Clarisse." He whispered, letting a tear run down his face.
Seeing Joseph's reaction and gaze, Clarisse felt tears flood her eyes.
"I bought it a few days ago. After you proposed to me. I was shopping and saw it in a shop window. I hadn't made a decision yet, but I knew I had to buy it. I thought that even if it wasn't right away, it would be useful for our wedding night." A smiling Clarisse told him.
Joseph's face was now filled with tears, he couldn't hold them back anymore. It was his biggest dream come true today, and then he realized that even though Clarisse had refused his proposal two days ago, it wasn't a definite no. She really intended to marry him. He had never really doubted it, but this proof felt inexplicably good.
"Clarisse, I love you so much. I can't even put into words what I've been feeling for the past few hours. Happy, fulfilled, passionate, elated, in love, no words can match how I feel. I can't describe it." He said in a whisper, looking into her eyes.
Clarisse let the tears fall down her face. She understood what Joseph meant, she felt exactly like him.
"I love you Joseph Romero. I love you like I've never loved anyone before. I am extremely happy and proud to be your wife. Finally." She smiled at him.
"My wife. » Joseph whispered, trying to contain his tears a little.
They simply hugged each other, letting the emotion invade them. It wasn't carnal or sexual, it was only love, strong and powerful.
"Finally." Joseph whispered in Clarisse's ear.
"We're going to build a wonderful future together. I promise to always be there for you. I promise to be the best wife possible. I love you Joseph." Clarisse whispered.
Joseph took Clarisse's shoulders to move her a few inches away, so that they could look into each other's eyes.
"I'm going to be the best husband there is, I promise you. I love you and I've always loved you, you know that. Clarisse, you will never, ever regret marrying me. I swear to make you happy every day of our lives."
"I don't doubt it for a second Joseph." She answered him, smiling.
They kissed lovingly before Joseph moved away a little to talk again.
"I poured us some champagne, come on." He said, pulling her towards the nightstand, on which he had placed the champagne.
They took their glasses and clinked them delicately.
"Ours." A smiling Clarisse said.
"Our love." Joseph added, just as smiling.
They took a sip before sitting on the big bed, next to each other.
"I intend to take it away from you, but I want to admire you a little longer. God Clarisse, this vision, I will never forget it." Joseph said sincerely.
She answered him with a sweet smile.
They finished their drinks while chatting and cuddling, before starting to kiss intensely. Clarisse began to pull the shirt out of Joseph's pants and begin to unbutton it. Seeing the desire rising in his wife's eyes, Joseph unbuckled his belt and took it off. He was now in his pants, the shirt completely open and Clarisse straddled him. He was in an ideal position for an exquisite view. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, Clarisse straddling him, her generous chest, divinely covered, right in his face. He felt himself harden very quickly. Clarisse felt it too. She smiled at him, then attacked him with soft kisses in his stroke.
"Hmm, Clarisse. Hmm, I love you." He murmured, running his hands over her body.
Clarisse felt Joseph's very firm erection beneath her. She really enjoyed the effect she had on him. She began to rock her pelvis tenderly against Joseph, which made him moan loudly.
"Hmmmm Clarisse." He said, grabbing her hips to lay her down on the bed, making her laugh.
He took a moment to admire her one last time, then crouched slightly on the floor, at the edge of the bed. He gently removed her white lace panties. He kissed from her feet to her thighs, then quickly pressed his tongue against her center, making her moan. He took his time to satisfy her. He wanted to make the moment last as long as possible. It was a magical night. After several minutes, Clarisse felt ecstasy invade her. She was unable to contain her moans and she didn't care at all. She exploded with pleasure loudly. Joseph tenderly kissed the inside of both of her thighs before getting up. He looked at her, lying on the bed, breathing heavily, coming down from his heaven. Without taking his eyes off Clarisse, Joseph gently removed his shirt. Clarisse rose on her elbows to look at him.
"I love you." He said simply.
"I love you too. So much." She said in a whisper.
Without taking his eyes off the blue depths of his wife's eyes, Joseph removed his shoes with his feet and unfastened his pants, slowly. He then removed them, at the same time as his boxers. He took his eyes off Clarisse for two seconds, maximum, to remove his socks. He then climbed into bed, next to her. He took her in his arms to kiss her. Joseph noticed that Clarisse was starting to remove her nightie, he gently stopped her with one hand.
"No, no, let me do it my love." He said in a soft tone.
Clarisse understood that it was going to be of an unequaled sensuality tonight. It had always been with him, but this time, she felt that it was special. Even their first time had not been like this, and yet, it had been of a sensuality that she did not even know existed. But tonight, she felt that it was once again, a discovery for her. For Joseph too it was an unknown step for him. It was the beginning of their new life.
Joseph lowered the small straps of Clarisse's nightie. He pulled it down slightly, to have a little more access to Clarisse's chest. He took Clarisse's hips to make her climb on him again. They were in the center of the bed, Joseph leaning against the headboard, Clarisse straddling him. He was kissing each of Clarisse's breasts for a long time.
"I want this forever." He whispered.
"And you will have it forever." She whispered in his ear before kissing all the parts of the side of Joseph's head.
"Hmm, my love." He whispered as he ran his hands all over her body.
Clarisse grabbed Joseph's face with both hands and kissed him on the lips. During the kiss, he unhooked Clarisse's bra then slowly removed it from her. He let it fall next to the bed. Her breasts now free, he languidly, but gently, attacked each of Clarisse's nipples, making her moan and tilt her head back. After a moment, he pulled the nightie up Clarisse's body to remove it completely, leaving her now naked. He stood up a little then turned her around to hover over her. He kissed her, while lightly cupping the sides of her neck. Without leaving her lips for a second, he slowly moved his hand down her body to find her center. He stimulated her clitoris with his fingers. He then pushed two fingers inside her body to confirm what he already knew: she was completely ready to receive him. He gave her one last soft kiss before taking his throbbing erection in his hand to guide it into his wife's very wet opening. He slowly entered her body. Once completely inside her, he stopped.
"I love you my wife, my love, the woman of my dreams." He said before starting to rock slowly inside her.
"Hmm, I love you too my husband. Oh how I love you Joseph." Clarisse murmured.
Without stopping his slow movements inside her, he buried his face in her neck. Both were enjoying the moment greatly. After several sweet moments of kissing, caressing and moaning, Joseph felt Clarisse begin to tighten around him. He found her throbbing bud with his fingers and stimulated it. Quickly, he heard and felt her coming, which led him to the edge with her. After several kisses, he slowly pulled out of her body and lay down next to her. As soon as Joseph lay down, Clarisse placed her head on his chest and they intertwined the fingers of one of their hands together.
"I am such well Joseph. I feel so good with you." Clarisse said.
"And I feel so good with you Clarisse. Oh if you knew how good I feel." He answered her before kissing her hand.
"That was a beautiful wedding reception downstairs." Clarisse said.
"Yes indeed. It's completely crazy, it's like the whole reception, I didn't really realize. But at the same time, I realize it perfectly. It's a very strange feeling." He said.
"I know exactly what you mean." She smiled at him.
"I think I can say without exaggeration that today is the best day of my life, and the first of many." Joseph added.
"It's completely crazy. I spent hours planning this wedding for Mia and Andrew. I put time and care into it. I never would have guessed that I was actually planning my own wedding with you." Clarisse laughed.
"It was indeed a surprise, a wonderful surprise." Joseph said as he kissed Clarisse's arm.
"I would have liked to plan our wedding anyway. I mean, personalize it for the two of us, shop for a pretty dress, choose what represented us. I loved our wedding, I really did, but it was still a wedding that wasn't meant for us and that was planned in less than a month." Clarisse explained.
"I understand what you mean." Joseph smiled slightly at her.
"If I had to do it again, I would do it exactly like that, I loved the spontaneity and romance that our spontaneous wedding created, but it's true that during all these years, when I imagined our wedding, I imagined something different." Clarisse admitted.
"Like what? Tell me what you imagined my darling. » Joseph asked thoughtfully.
"Something light. But grand at the same time. A ceremony and reception outside. Something filled with greenery, flowers and sunshine. I imagine something with a small river or a small lake. Solar lights by the thousand so that when night falls, the party can continue. I also imagine an intimate wedding. Oh there are many guests, but only people we love and who we invite because we want to share our happiness with them, not because it is protocol to invite them. I imagine a large meal served on a long table. All our loved ones and us at the same table, in a sublime setting." Clarisse said dreamily.
"You know, I couldn't imagine our wedding any other way." He smiled at her.
"Organizing all that would have been such a joy. Choosing all the elements together for this dream day." Clarisse added.
"But you know, nothing prevents us from doing it. » Said a broadly smiling Joseph.
"What do you mean?" Clarisse asked, standing up a little to face him.
"Our wedding has already taken place, that's true, but nothing prevents us from organizing a party or an event to mark it in our own way. We could even go so far as to renew our vows. Since we haven't really been able to do it completely in our own way, that could be good. A real ceremony and a real reception, as if it were the first time." Joseph suggested.
"Usually people do that after 10 years." Clarisse said smiling.
"And then, honestly, I would marry you every day if I had to." He said.
Clarisse smiled at him in response and approached him to kiss him on the lips.
"And we can organize this event together, each element will be chosen according to us." He added.
"That's an excellent idea, Joseph. » Clarisse replied.
"We'll pick a date and we'll organize everything, just you and me." He said before pulling her in for a kiss.
"Oh yeah." She replied, smiling.
After a few caresses, the two fell asleep peacefully in each other's arms.