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Joe was ready to bash some heads in. Or, barring that, to hang some people from the courtyard by their toes.
Unfortunately, seeing as one of those people was a Crown Princess he promised to protect and his pseudo-granddaughter in one as well as the man she was in love with, Joe had to use all of his extensive training in order to restrain himself. Not to mention, Mia would pout and Clarisse would be disappointed, then Charlotte and maids would sneak around the castle while Shades would stare disapprovingly, Lilly make heated speeches and Joe would have to dispense sage wisdom and soothe hurt egos… In other words, too much hassle.
The problem was, Mia was too much like her grandmother and Nicholas was too much like Joe. And Joe didn’t want both of them to end up heartbroken in their sixties, too stuck in their ways to find happiness. It’s not that Nicholas couldn’t walk away at any point and marry some rich heiress or that Mia wouldn’t love Andrew… Aaand who was Joe kidding? The moment Mia and Nicholas met each other (unnoticed by Clarisse, but Joe always kept an eye on both of his girls) it was like history repeating itself. And although Joe watched Nicholas like a suspicious usurper he was, he was starting to feel really sorry for the guy.
After all, he was once in the same place Nicholas now found himself in. Not the my-evil-uncle-wants-me-to-take-over-the-throne place, but the fallen-in-love-with-stubborn-dutiful-would-do-anything-for-her-country-amazing-woman. You know, the once in a lifetime love that could never be erased. Renaldi women had that effect. Or, he rather should say, Bechard, seeing as his downfall happened when young Lady Clarisse arrived in Prince Rupert’s life to become his bride.
Joe, tired from travelling the world to kill and torture people for information, had been saved by the old Head of Security, or rather Captain of the Guard then, a very quiet and stone faced man named Bruno that noticed both Joe’s potential and rather similar disposition. So they went along, grunting and staring darkly, while Joe was being prepared to take over Bruno’s place. And then She arrived.
Lady Clarisse Amelie Bechard, a sweet Genovian fresh from French finishing school, all polished and ready for her role as future king’s wife. So sweet butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, with a wardrobe appropriate for every occasion, handpicked by the King and Queen to help their son lead Genovia into the future. Bruno took one look at her and muttered “this one will be trouble”.
Bruno was right; Lady Clarisse was the devil. She loved to sneak out of the palace, ride horses like a madman, dress up as a man or common girl and explore the darkest corners of Genovia. Not that there were many dark corners in postcard, sweet small country of Genovia, but you get the gist. She sneaked into the kitchens at night, climbed the trees and sang at the top of her lungs while on walks in the countryside (to be fair, she had a voice of an angel). She also seemed to work her hardest to make Joe break his stoic facade and join her shenanigans (which didn’t work).
The thing was, Crown Prince Rupert was a good man. He loved his country, remembered everybody’s name, their families and their troubles, and he had this warm, quiet sense of humour that only those closest to him were witness to. He took great care in getting to know his future wife, always courteous and interested in not just the superficial, but also his future wifes’ interests and brain. But he didn’t love her. And, half with hope, half with regret, Joe noticed that she didn’t love him either.
Joe tried not to remember what became one of the worst months of his life. For the first time in his life, he regretted his choice of career and his sense of duty. He felt bitterness to the Crown Family, to Bruno, to Clarisse and most of all, to himself.
To be a servant of the Crown is to see all the scenes behind the curtain. And to keep silent about it. So Joe was a witness to the struggle Clarisse went through, when her girlish hopes of marrying for love were (gently) squashed by Rupert himself; as a gentleman, Rupert offered Clarisse a way of escape before the engagement became official. And Clarisse, wild, hopeful girl that she was, almost took that chance. Then, the King became ill and the country looked towards the young couple for hope. And Clarisse stayed.
With shining eyes and straight spine, she had agreed and married Crown Prince Rupert and slowly, bit by bit, under watchful eye of the Queen, she had tucked away her dreaminess and recklessness and, after giving birth to an heir, seemed to have forgotten that magic moment of before and grown into formidable Queen herself. And Joe, forever watchful Joe, had followed.
He didn’t live like a monk; there was a romance with countess from Monaco, stormy exchanges with a Spanish princess and very unfortunate, very inappropriate dalliance with crowned Queen Clarisse’s lady in waiting, that almost ended with a wedding, but ended with lady herself moving to England and marrying a musical producer of all people year later. There was also a very laughable attempt at seduction from Baroness von Troken. Really, Joe laughed for a second and everything. Bruno even cracked a smile.
There were job offers too; not to be boastful but Joe was rather good at his job. Not flashy like that James chap from MI-6 (Joe knew his training officer from the Navy and might have poked him a bit whenever they met up) or that American guy that loved jumping from buildings and planes and whatever was the highest at hand (considering his personal height, there were a lot of options, muttered Bruno). There was also that bodyguard that got shot at the Oscars (this one, Joe couldn’t help but cheer on secretly; somebody deserved a happy ending in their line of work).
Various governments tried to poach Joe but it always came down to one thing: Joe couldn’t, wouldn’t leave Clarisse’s security to anyone else, damn his bleeding heart. So he lived on, ignoring the pain, becoming a living statue protecting his chosen country and his chosen family. He felt the pain of Rupert’s parents passing, of Rupert himself dying. He watched the boys grow up, Pierre choosing the church, and Philippe… breaking his heart to serve his country.
Then Mia arrived, bringing hope and joy and light into the palace, into Clarisse and Joe’s hearts. And now, it looked like she too would be doomed to live broken-hearted in her service to Genovia unless someone (again, Joe tried very hard not to bash people’s heads) would do something about it. So Joe had to dispense sage wisdom and turn around when certain people were “sneaking around” and pray that in the end Mia’s courage would win out and at least one Renaldi would get to have their happy ending.