Marinette's vain and wicked stepmother feared that one day the girl's beauty would surpass her own so she dressed the little princess in rags and made her work as a scullery maid. Each day Queen Lila consulted her magic mirror, who was the fairest one of all and as long the mirror answered that she was then Marinette was safe from the queen's jealousy.
But as the years went by, Marinette continued to grow more lovely despite wearing ragged clothes and being forced to work hard labor. As she grew older her beauty continued to increase so much that by the time she became a teenager, she had become a most beautiful young lady who would one day far out shine the queen.
...
Inside the castle in the mist of the morning. Lila, dressed in a crown, an orange long sleeved gown, and a black cloak with a collar approaches her mirror to ask the same question she has always asked it.
"Slave in the magic mirror." She spoke. "Come from the farthest space, through wind and darkness I summon thee. Speak! Let me see thy face!"
Wind blew and lightning struck as an image of a mystic face appeared in the mirror.
"What would thou wish to know my queen?" It asked.
"Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" She asked.
"Famed is thy beauty majesty." It answered. "But behold, a lovely maid I see. Rags cannot hide her gentle grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee."
"Alas for her!" Lila snapped. "Reveal her name!"
"Pretty blue belle eyes, lips red as blood, hair dark as night, skin white as snow."
"Marinette!" She gasped.
Outside of the castle, in the royal garden, a sixteen year old girl with heavenly blue eyes, blood red lips, midnight dark hair, and snow white skin was scrubbing the palace stairs while humming to herself.
"Good morning your highness." Said a servant with reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Alya I told you to stop calling me that. Call me by my name, Marinette."
"Sorry but you are a princess."
"Was a princess you mean."
"Still are. I never understood how you could always be so happy? Don't you miss attending balls? Or banquets?"
"They're not really the same without my father and besides working as a servant is not so bad. All I do is work. True the clothes aren't my favorite choice to wear." She said looking down at the tattered grey and brown work dress she wore. "But I can sew it into something much prettier."
"I'm so glad that you can always find a way to be happy in a difficult situation. Well I have to go, time to sweep the kitchen."
Alya went into the castle to do her chores. Marinette smiled and went to the castle gardens. Her favorite place in the world, it was where her parents met and it was where she and her father would always play there. She sat by the well that stood in the middle of the garden, a few doves flew down to greet her.
"Wanna know a secret?" She asked them.
The doves nodded.
"Promise not to tell?"
They nodded again.
"This is a magic wishing well." She said. "Make a wish into the well and if it echoes back your wish will come true." She looked down into the well. "I'm wishing." She called.
"I'm wishing." The well echoed back.
"For the one I love to find me." She called again.
"To find me." It echoed back again.
"Today."
"Today."
Not too far from where she was a young prince named Adrien and his squire Nino were arriving at the castle. His father, King Gabriel had sent him to discuss royal trade business with Queen Lila.
"We're almost there your highness." Nino said. "A magnificent kingdom isn't it my lord?"
"Yes no wonder Father was interested in-" Suddenly his ear caught hold of a sweet and lovely voice singing. "Do you hear that Nino?"
"Me? No I hear nothing your highness."
"Someone is singing and it's beautiful. I must find the person who owns that sweet voice."
"But your highness what about the agreement?"
"I'll get to that. Just go ahead without me I'll meet you there."
"Sire-"
"Relax I won't get into any trouble." He rode his horse off in the direction of where the sweet singing was coming from.
"That's what he always says and when he does get into trouble I'm the one who gets blamed."
pAdrien followed the voice to a castle wall, he climbed over it and became awestruck by the maiden fetching water from the well.
"She's…beautiful." He sighed.
"There we go." Marinette said filling up the bucket. "Water to rinse the stairs." One of the doves cooed. "Oh I'm sorry, would you all like a drink first?"
The doves perched on the bucket and began drinking a little water.
"Hello." Adrien said.
Marinette gasped and turned around to see the most handsome young man she had ever seen. His hair was sun gold, his eyes were gorgeous green, and his smile was warm and gentle.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
Marinette started to walk away.
"No wait. Don't run away. Please I really do apologize I just…I heard your lovely singing and I just had to know who it was."
"Oh…" She said.
"Who are you?" Marinette asked.
"Adrien. Prince Adrien."
"Oh you're highness, I beg your pardon."
"No need to curtsy please." He took her hand and gently placed a kiss on the back of it. "What is your name milady?"
"Marinette."
"Your name is almost as beautiful as your face."
"Oh no! You shouldn't say that! Never say that!"
"Why? It is true."
"No! It's not. Please I-"
"Marinette!" A harsh voice called. "Get back inside at once!"/p
"Coming!" Marinette hurried back inside the castle just as Alya was coming out. /
"Hello Prince Adrien." Alya said curtsying. "The queen has been expecting you."
"Tell me who is that girl?"
"That's Marinette. She is a princess my lord."
"A princess? Then why does she wear rags and work on her hands and knees."
"That's her stepmother's fault. She makes her work to the bone."
"Alya!" The voice called. "The chamber pots need emptying!"
"Not again! Gross! Good day your highness." She went into the palace to do as she was told.
"I must see Marinette again." Adrien sighed. "She is by far the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."