Chapter 4
Blood was rushing all through her body as their lips parted, her head was spinning and she couldn't get out of this trance he put her under. She quickly latched back onto reality and realized what she had just done.
You're engaged
He's using you
She shoved him off, filled with the same amount of anger she had just moments before .
"I know exactly what this is!"
She screamed
"What?"
"You can't just go around kissing people! Especially engaged people"
He shot her a classic Chat Noir grin, making her melt even more.
"Well you seemed to of liked it, do you want to kiss again my lady?"
Yes
She thought in her head
"Stop trying to confuse me you nasty alley cat"
"Whats so confusing about a kiss princess?"
She kept getting more and more flustered the more he predicted her exact thoughts.
"You just want me to like you instead of Nathaniel so that way YOU get the crown"
She kept trying to scurry away from him but her guard fell every time she felt him grab her from behind.
"Who said anything about the crown?"
Chat pulled her closer making her cheeks turn even redder
"Maybe I just like kissing you"
He smirked
Jesus Christ he's cute
"No, you get the hell away from me!"
He tried pulling her back to him but their bodies got lost in translation, causing them to both go straight into the same fountain where they met just days before.
"OH MY GOD!"
Falling into the fountain gave her a ting of satisfaction, considering Adrien and his cat-like tendencies. But when her head came above water she was shocked to see him holding his hand out for her.
"Mari? Are you alright?"
She shooed his hand away
"Here I have an idea, how about you go under water and ill count to a million"
She said as she stepped out of the fountain soaking wet.
"Marinet-"
"And never call me by my name, I will be addressed as Princess Ladybug to you"
Turning around and stomping out of the garden, she left him behind struggling to get out of the water.
"Don't you think that was a little harsh?"
Tikki flew to her
"That was the most disrespectful thing I have ever experienced in my entire life, how could he jus-?"
"Marinette you need to remember that you did kiss him"
Her stomach turned, but not with disgust, it was excitement, but she didn't label it as such, she may have admitted that she loved him to herself but she would never say it out loud.
"Please don't remind me"
Ladybug weaved through the different hedges and tried to get past King Fu, but she failed, walking right up to him and another guard.
From his disappointed glance she already knew that she was in for a world of trouble.
"Do I even need to ask?"
He said through gritted teeth
"I'd prefer you don't"
She said as she walked by, Tikki mouthing sorry behind her shoulder
"Ladybug!"
Nathaniel shouted behind, he had been looking for her for the past 20 minutes
"Why is she all wet?"
He turned to King Fu
"Let me just tell you that you'll never be bored my boy"
King fu said, patting Nathaniel on the shoulder
"You are engaged young lady!"
"Would you please stop making this harder then it has to be?!"
Marinette was frustrated and rubbing her temples. She was wrapped in a robe and was using a towel to dry off her hair, Tikki was using a Q-Tip to clean out her wet ears.
And what made things worse is that she couldnt get her mind off Chat Noir, she needed to be focused on Paris and her people, Hawkmoth could attack at any moment and she was too flustered to even be in the same room with another person.
"I keep telling you that becoming Queen and leading your people is the most important thing in your life right now! You don't seem to get the message"
"The message is received Fu, but what you don't understand is that everyone makes mistakes, even a princess"
She gathered her things and stormed out of the room, leaving Tikki in a spin.
She tried to find a common place with King Fu but she thought that he was being too harsh on the young princess, she's still learning and its not fair for him to critique every move she makes.
"Are you mad at me too?"
Today was the day when a parade would be held for King Fu and Ladybug, an event that was held whenever a King or Queen would step down and hand over their crown to the next heir. It wasn't the official ceremony, just a celebration, but it was still all glitz and glamor just like everything else.
Marinette stood in the mirror looking at herself and what she was forced to wear. It was a horrible pantsuit-like dress that was red and covered in polka dots, she had to wear a pair of hideous gloves and have her hair in a tight low bun. She hated the way she looked, but more importantly how she felt.
You look like a fool
She said to herself
"Are you ready?"
Tikki sheepishly asked.
She gave her kwami a forgiving glance, Marinette realized that she hasnt been so kind to her friend, and she felt guilty.
"Yes Tikki, thank you"
She held her companion in her hand and pulled her to her cheek.
"Im sorry for the way I've acted these past couple of days, a lot has been happening"
"I understand princess, King Fu might not know it yet but, you're perfect for the throne"
They were escorted out of the palace and transferred to the location of the parade, Nino standing at the back of the carriage waiting for her and King Fu.
"How are you princess?"
"Im dong alright Nino thank you"
You're lying
Nino could see right through her.
"Would it make you feel better if I call you Marinette?"
She giggled at his offer, it was sweet but it wouldn't mend what was going on within her.
"It's alright Nino, thank you"
King Fu stepped into the carriage beside Ladybug, sending her an apologetic smile, giving her confirmation that all was forgiven.
"Let us be on own way Nino, we're already late"
Ahead of them was the best school band in Paris, along with dancers and other performers that Marinette picked herself. She felt content with herself until she saw Nathaniel sitting with Chloe, and next to them was Chat Noir with his father.
She got distracted by a faint whining in the crowd. It was a little girl that looked faintly like a child she used to babysit. She was being bullied by other little boys around her.
"Stop the carriage"
"What?"
King Fu snapped his neck to her
"I said, stop the carriage!"
Nino had the driver snap the reins and brought the wheels to a sharp halt.
"Ladybug what do you think you are doing?"
King Fu shouted at her as she strode to the crowd of children
"What is she doing?"
Mr. Agreste turned to Adrien
"She's greeting the children father"
"Kissing babies? How incredibly cliché"
He shrugged his annoying presence off, which alarmed Adrien. Normally he would entertain his father's rude comments, fueling the fire that they were burning together. But he felt differently now, nothing like how he felt just days before.
Ladybug approached the young girl and the small chatter between the group ceased.
"Hello, what's your name?"
She kneeled in front of her
"Julia"
The little girl squeaked
She then stood up and approached the young boys.
"Were you too messing with Julia?"
Of course she was doing nothing but poke fun at the two boys, but acted as if she was dead serious.
Once Ladybug spoke the words to the two boys they were struck with immediate fear and ran off, back into the building behind them.
The princess chuckled to herself.
"How old are you Julia?"
"4"
She held up her little fingers
"Well Julia, would you like to be a princess today?"
The little girl's face turned into a pout and she clung onto her blanket even tighter.
"Im too little"
She mumbled
There was a man standing outside with them and Ladybug approached him.
"Who are these children?"
"They're all orphans your highness, we take as many as we can"
She looked around at the children and felt her heart almost burst from sadness and pity.
She knelt back down to little Julia.
"Nonsense, anyone can be a princess!"
An amazing idea popped into her head.
"Would all of you like to join me in the parade?"
All of them eagerly agreed by rapidly shaking their heads up and down.
Ladybug addressed the children and stood up straight.
"If you want to be Royal, you have to walk like you're royal, wave like you're royal, and most importantly, believe that you're royal, can all of you do that?"
The group of them jumped and giggled and stood in their most prince and princess like stance, ready to join the parade. Ladybug knelt back down to little Julia and took her hand. She led the group of her little royals back into the parade and started walking.
"Let the parade proceed!"
Nino shouted from the back of the carriage
As Adrien's father scoffed next to him, the tom cat felt other emotions. He looked at the young princess and felt something that he'd never felt before.
You're supposed to hate her
But you love her