A/N: Hello! I'm just gonna randomly drop my disclaimers…just cause we all know that I don't own anything, except for my OCs. I'll put it back in incase I use an akuma idea that someone leaves me…please leave me an akuma idea! So, um, yeah let's go see what the king wants with Marinette. Just so you all know, I know absolutely zip about gardening and greenhouses (despite taking one greenhouse class in high school…didn't enjoy it as much as Cat did)

Chapter Nine: The Top Secret Greenhouse of King William…

Marinette hurried down the long hall to the king's office, believing that he would be in there. Surprise flickered in her when a servant stopped her. Upon learning that the young apparent princess was supposed to be with the king via the king's orders, he redirected her to the large courtyard garden behind the palace. Confused about that, she made her way to the palace's equivalent of a backdoor and slipped out back into the large yard.

Picking her way through the cobbled pathways, she approached a lone gardener that was trimming one of the rose bushes, so that it looked like a unicorn. "Excuse me? But have you seen the king? He requested my presence."

The gardener didn't look up as he pointed down the path. "That way. Turn left, go straight for five steps then turn right. Take another six steps, and then turn right again. There should be a little greenhouse there. Can't miss it."

"Merci Monsieur." Marinette thanked the man before hurrying off into the direction he had pointed.

It didn't take her long to find the little greenhouse that he had mentioned, which suspiciously had a sign that read no servants allowed hanging in the window. Wondering vaguely what that was about, she walked into the greenhouse…and immediately felt like she had walked into a dream come true. Plants were everywhere. Hanging in pots that dangled from the ceiling, to multiple tables filled with beautiful, well cared for plants, there also were several planted into the ground itself. Sucking in a deep breath to fill her lungs with the slightly moist, warm air of the greenhouse, she walked over to one of the plants, her hands gently caressing it.

"Good, you're here. I thought we could bond over my favorite hobby…especially since according to Tom and Sabine you enjoy it as well." King William appeared by her shoulder, covered in dirt, gesturing around the greenhouse at the various plants.

Marinette turned in a slow circle eyes dancing over every single plant form in the small greenhouse. "You enjoy gardening?"

"Oh yes. In fact that one you were just admiring was a wedding gift to me from your mother." King William stated with pride.

Marinette allowed a small oh escape her, before moving onto another, very sweet smelling plant that was planted in the ground. "Is that what I think it is?"

King William winced at her obtuse way of changing the subject. "If by that you mean a strawberry plant, then yes it is. Ah, I have three more in here somewhere…too many for me to enjoy all by myself if you catch my meaning."

"This one is ripe." Marinette fingered a plump strawberry.

King William nodded his head, a smile slowly crossing his features. "Go ahead. I won't say anything."

Marinette grinned as she plucked the strawberry off of the plant, popping it into her mouth. Tikki slipped out of her hiding spot, zooming over to examine the plant before taking a strawberry for herself. King William plucked one off as well, popping it into his mouth. Gesturing to Marinette to follow him, he moved farther into the greenhouse. Marinette brushed her hands off her pants as she followed after him.

It didn't take long for him to silently hand her a spray bottle full of water and gesture at several rather droopy plants near the back. Staying silent, she quickly set to work tending to them, King William falling in step next to her with his own spray bottle.

….

Marinette knelt down next to a large, gorgeous bush, pruning it gently as King William watered a small potted rose bush. Tikki was zooming everywhere, occasionally pausing to sniff the different plants and nibble on a strawberry.

A loud frantic knocking sound filled the air suddenly, causing King William and Marinette to pause in their work, a frown crossing the former's face. Tikki zoomed into Marinette's purse, hiding from the servant's eyesight. Brushing the dirt off of his pants, King William walked over to the door, pulling it open to admit a concerned looking, matronly housekeeper into the small greenhouse.

"I'm so sorry to bother you while you are out here your majesty…but you must understand, the break in yesterday was leaked to the news." Taking a deep breath, she crossed her arms, to prevent herself stop herself from trembling. "The news reporters also know about the princess and want to know who she is. They don't have name, and they want one."

Marinette frowned, not liking the anger that was slowly building up in her king's eyes. Reaching a hand out to a ladybug that somehow had flown into the stuffy room, she allowed it to crawl all over her hand. "Coccinelle." Looking up she noticed the weird looks that the others were giving her. "My best friend is a wannabe reporter. She practices constantly and is really good. Experience with that is what I'm going off of here. We tell everyone that I am Princess Coccinelle. Not Marinette, not yet anyways. Am I making sense?"

King William arched his eyebrow upwards, now surprised instead of angry. "I did not know you hung out with someone like that."

Marinette shrugged as she turned back to the plant next to her. "You never asked. Alya's really cool though. Wouldn't trade her for anyone."

King William nodded, before turning back to the housekeeper. "Make sure that Peirre does that Hannah. Anything else I need to know?"

"Yes…the nobility insist that they meet her." Hannah twisted her hands together in worry, her brow creasing in thought.

"She's not ready…and that usually draws the attention of the paparazzi." King William folded his arms, a scowl crossing his features.

Marinette rolled her eyes, wondering if he forgot already who she was according to all of Paris. "I can wear a mask. We can all wear masks. A masquerade to introduce me to all of them at once."

Hannah nodded slowly, her mind clearly catching onto the idea. "The annual ball coming up and we already were planning it to be a masquerade."

King William nodded his head in agreement, before speaking again. "Tell everyone that Princess Coccinelle will be attending the upcoming ball."

"Yes your majesties." Hannah dipped into a deep curtsy.

Marinette felt awkward and unsure how to respond to that, while King William dismissed the housekeeper as if it were totally normal.

A/N: Done! And interesting fact that won't make sense to you unless you're LDS, there was a member of the seventy by the name of Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi, and he apparently wrote my oldest sister a letter. I'm working on this and texting her about it at the same time. I really should get to bed though…so night!

Review!

SkyTalon