Chapter 10: Drawn Gifts and the Hunter's Challenge

Strange sounds roused Marinette from her dreamless rest. She felt warm... safe and protected. Her chest felt significantly lighter now when her lungs expanded to take in a waking breath. Her fingers twitched and her brow furrowed. It sounds... like music? she thought. It was soft, a flute she thought, and it was soothing. However, the ever present background sound behind the notes kept her awake.

Scritch-scritch... scratch- shhhh-scritch

The noise was constant until she took a breath. When it stopped, so did the music. No, keep playing, she wished softly and settled again. Once more, the scritching sounds started and so did the music notes. It was then Marinette opened her eyes and blinked blearily at the stone ceiling above her. Light from her window cast brilliantly inside, showing the time was well past when she was supposed to wake. I'm in my bedroom... what time is it? Where's Tikki? Why didn't she wake me? she wondered. I must be late... Madame Bustier must be coming soon. What's today again..? I have fencing practice- fencing! Oh no! The duel! Awareness flooded her mind and she sat up with a gasp. Immediately her muscles nearly gave out from under her and she groaned in pain.

"Princess Marinette!" someone yelped from beside her and shot to their feet. Hands grasped her shoulders gently to steady her when her arms began to shake violently. Instinct took over and Marinette opened her mouth to order her captor to release her when she took in a shock of crimson red hair. She knew that hair. Nathaniel! "It's alright, Princess," the attendant soothed, wincing when her sharp nails dug into his flesh. "You're safe."

"N-Nathaniel," she whispered, nearly collapsing again. "You shouldn't surprise me like that."

"I'm sorry," he murmured quietly, blushing. He helped her recline back again, tucking her pillows so she would be more comfortable. "Are you alright? You gave us all quite a fright."

Marinette blushed softly, looking down at her hands. Her wrist guards were gone and they smelled faintly of healing balm. She winced when she saw the forboading bruise that encircled her wrist from days before. It was uglier now, instead of dark purple, it was more blueish with green around the edges. She hated the sight of it but she couldn't bring herself to move. "I'm fine," she whispered softly, embarrassment coloring every word she spoke. "I'm just very tired. I haven't been resting well."

Nathaniel's blush of shyness turned to one of irratiation. His hands clenched into fists on his lap, "Are you sure you're not injured? Are you in pain anywhere?"

Marinette took swift stock of herself, finding nothing ached save her pride. "No, I don't feel any pain. Why are you asking?"

That seemed to relax the attendant some but his blue eyes remained frosty. "Th-the whole castle heard about your duel with Prince Adrien... and that you lost and passed out at the end of it. Healer Juleka came in and assessed any injuries you would've had. We were worried about you."

Marinette closed her eyes in shame, looking away. "I'm training for combat, remember? I'm sorry I scared you all."

Nathaniel blinked, confused and concerned for her. He relaxed more, realizing that his anxiety must've been causing her distress. "Of course," he smiled. "I'm glad you're alright, your highness. There's no reason to apologize." He bent down to pick up his fallen sketchbook and pencil. The movement caught Marinette's eye and she remembered the strange skritching scratching sound that she heard earlier.

"Were you drawing? Just now?"

Nathaniel blushed again, running a nervous hand through his bangs. "Y-yes, I was. I was waiting for you to wake up. Lady Alya asked me to stay while she fetched you something to eat."

Marinette's eyes flashed outside and realized that the sun was well overhead. It was well past noon, she could tell. I've been out for a few hours at least, she realized, shamefaced still. "Alya was here?" she asked, trying distract herself.

"She wouldn't leave until she heard the meal bell," Nathaniel told her.

"No one else?"

"No, your highness. It's just been me and her."

Marinette's brow furrowed and she pressed a hand to her eye, rubbing the sleep from the corners. "I thought I heard music earlier. Is there a minstrel outside?"

At this, Nathaniel blushed harder and clutched his pencil in his fist. The wood creaked under his grip, warning that it would break if he tightened any further. "Ah- no, your highness... there's no minstrel. D-did the music disturb you?"

"It was very soothing," she told him, turning her eyes to take him in fully. "Nathaniel? What's the matter?"

"What do you mean? Nothing is wrong! Nothing at all!"

Marinette winced at his outburst. His voice echoed off the walls of her room and reverberated back to her. "You look like you're about to run. It's okay, I'm not upset... well, I am, but not at you or the music. I promise," she tried to soothe him by offering a smile. His breath caught, unable to look away. Slowly, a smile spread over his own face and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm glad you liked it," he told her truthfully, looking down at his sketchbook again. It was open to the page he had been working on. She followed his gaze and blinked in surprise.

"I didn't know you could draw," she noticed out loud and leaned over to get a better look.

"Ah! Yes!" Nathaniel jumped, nearly dropping his pencil. "I mean, yes," he added more softly this time. "I love to draw."

"May I see?"

He hesitated before moving to show her his drawing. This was of a woman playing a flute. She had long hair that must've been light colored because the shading in it was very gentle. She was playing beside a stream, music notes floating out of the instrument. Oak trees loomed overhead, giving shelter from the sunlight above. She could practically smell the fresh air and hear the babble of water as it flowed past. "She's beautiful," Marinette finally spoke up in awe. "Look at all this detail... it's like I can pick up a stone and hold it in my hand!" She pointed to one and jumped when her fingernail hit something hard. It was as if she actually touched the stone itself!

"She's my mother," Nathaniel spoke up. "This is her favorite spot to practice her music. Sh-she's a minstrel by trade."

"I would love to hear her play," Marinette told him truthfully with a smile. She noted all the music notes. "What's all this?"

Nathaniel blushed again, hesitating. "W-would you like to see something?" he asked. When she nodded, he waved a hand over the page. The music notes floated up in random order. However... when the came off the page, the flute music she heard before began to play. Marinette gasped, watching in awe as the notes arranged themselves in their proper order and faded after their turn was played out. When all the notes were done, silence greeted her ears again.

Stunned, she turned her eyes to the attendant in amazement. "That was wonderful! You were the minstrel I heard earlier."

"Oh I'm not- I'm not that good. It's just a bit of magic," Nathaniel waved her praise away.

"Nonsense!" Marinette beamed, "It's wonderful magic. You're very talented, Nathaniel. I envy your gift. Are you practicing so you can train to be a court artist?"

Nathaniel gaped at her. A court artist? "No, your highness. I'm... I'm here to train to be a knight. My father sent me here, Sir Collin of Oak Hollow." He turned a few pages back and showed a stern looking man on horseback. Marinette immediately recognized this face. He had not been one of Ladybug's instant supporters when she first appeared.

"I remember him. I saw him with my father last year... when Ladybug first appeared. He's good to the people he watches over."

"Thank you for your kind words, your highness. I'm sure he would be proud to hear that."

"Forgive me, but I confess to some confusion," Marinette turned her eyes to Nathaniel's ocean blue ones. "You have a natural talent. You could easily be apprenticed by Master Arielle Youngblood. Why knighthood?"

"Because being an artist is no way to make a living, or so my father tells me." Nathaniel lowered his gaze, unable to meet the princess he had grown to admire so much. "He had me practice more with swords every day so I would be too weary to draw."

"He doesn't approve."

He shook his head. "I'm hoping to at least be an archer. That requires a steady hand and I'm a pretty good shot. But the man father sent me here to train under is one of his closest friends... and he's a terrible shot at archery."

"I didn't know that," she whispered. Slowly, memories of seeing Nathaniel in the practice yard with Sir Leonard the Lion surfaced in her mind. Clearly the young aspiring artist was no match for the experienced knight. But there were times when she had thought asking for a different training master for him... clearly Sir Leonard was not the most patient teacher. He should have a different training master, she thought. And not one for the knights. "If you could, would you want to train to be a court artist?" Nathaniel didn't answer her. When she looked up, he was squeezing his eyes shut and his lips were caught in his teeth. There was her answer but she had to get him to ask. She sighed internally, "May I see more?"

"Uh... y-you want to see more of my drawings?"

"If you don't mind," she smiled. "I would love to see more of your art."

"They have nothing on your designs," Nathaniel told her as he handed the book over more freely now.

"M-my designs?" This caught the princess of guard.

"I mean, you take such care when you draw them," the attendant hurried on. "And it takes real talent to sew them together... I love your dresses! They're beautiful and the dress uniform that you made for Alya... that's art!" Oh sweet Mother of Inspiration he was rambling! He began to stutter and trip over his words when Marinette giggled softly at him.

"It's alright," she soothed. "Really, thank you Nathaniel. Coming from an artist, that means a lot to me."

Nathaniel beamed with pride, pushing back his hair with his pencil. This was a dream come true! He was openly conversing with the princess for the first time and it was going well! His heart began to pound, "I-I would be glad-todrawany- anything you wish, Princess Marinette; if it pleases you." Marinette found her opening and went for it.

"It would please me more than anything if Arielle would consider taking you as an apprentice. If art is what you love doing most, I want you to be happy."

Nathaniel gasped, unable to help it when Marinette met his eyes with her own bluebell orbs. A fresh blushing colored his cheeks when she smiled so sweetly at him. Air rushed out of his lungs when he realized that she meant what she was saying. She truly thinks I'm good enough to train and become a court artist? She wants Master Arielle to take me on as her apprentice! She's... she's amazing. But what about father... he'll be disappointed.

"Your highness-"

"Just think about it, Nathaniel. Please... you don't have to give me an answer now."

Some of the knot in his stomach loosened and he smiled, "Thank you." He stood, bowed and kissed her hand softly. The gesture was sweet, but Marinette didn't nearly feel the same fluttering as she did when Chat Noir had done the same gesture to Ladybug. The pair settled in to leaf through the sketchbook. She admired his work wholeheartedly while Nathaniel allowed himself to show off a bit more magic. Occasionally, he would murmur a charm or wave his hand and one of the drawings would either react to them or come completely off the page. Her favorite was when he conjured a rose, fully colored in its prime red radiance, off the page and handed it to her. She hesitated and took it carefully. It felt real and even smelled so. When she told him, awestruck, he grinned and told her that his mother taught him that bit of magic. "I did that once for her when I finally mastered the spell," he told her. "It won't wilt like a real flower, but it will keep its scent and form until something breaks it."

"What happens if the spell breaks?"

"It will turn back into lead and color dust. It took me forever to master it."

"It's a wonderful talent, Nathaniel. Not even Master Arielle can do something like this!" Nathaniel chuckled and blushed again, handing the rose to her.

"For you, Princess."

At that second, a knock rapped on the door. "Princess Marinette?" Alya's voice called. A second later, the door opened and the lady knight appeared and Prince Adrien followed. He nearly froze when he caught sight of Nathaniel's offering, his grip tightening on the tray of food he held. Alya's noisy steps came to a halt when she realized he wasn't following and looked back. She ccleared her throat, obviously annoyed and motioned him inside. The prince moved, though he didn't take his eyes off the rose. Her eyes remained on the prince, and his task, all the way until the door shut behind him. She turned and took a breath to relax as she finally caught sight of her charge. "Nathaniel... why didn't you come get me? I would've been back in a flash!"

"M-my apologies, Lady Alya," the redhead shot to his feet, knocking his seat over.

"I haven't been awake very long," Marinette covered for him, carefully cradling the flower. Her eyes drifted past her and took in Prince Adrien's face. She blushed and turned to the attendant. "Will you help me up please?"

"No! Juleka gave us strict orders that you are to remain resting," Alya strode over, freezing Nathaniel in his place with a sharp amber look.

Prince Adrien jumped at Alya's tone and nearly dropped the tray in his bewilderment. No one back home would ever overrule his orders... yet Lady Alya just did so with the princess. He moved more slowly to the bed, green eyes watching the exchange with interest. "It's fine," he finally spoke up. "You don't have to get up on my account." Marinette hesitated, caught between all her lessons on Aromour etiquette, her own weariness and Alya's own warning. After a few minutes, she allowed her muscles to relax and sat back into her pillows. Adrien breathed a of relief and took up position on the other side of the bed to face Nathaniel. His eyes shifted and fixated on the bruise around the princess's wrist. There were many things that he was, but a fool was rarely one of them. He took in the princess more carefully, noting how she was watching him with a questioning, yet slightly blushing, gaze. His eyes flicked back to her hands and then shifted back to the bloom in her hands.

"Are you feeling better?" Alya's voice cut through the silence, trying not to go on edge. She had been watching the prince carefully ever since his duel with her friend. He was... very difficult to read and she refused to speak to Nino for any sort of clues on his character. She never pegged Prince Adrien for a ruthless fighter, but he was clearly skilled and better than her friend. The fact did not sit well with the lady knight. The pair practiced for years in preparation for Marinette's birthday, and yet Prince Adrien's skill clearly outmatched them.

"Yes, thank you," the princess answered. "N-Nathaniel was keeping me good company. Have you seen his artwork?" she held up the rose.

"I never took you for one to like roses..." Alya hesitantly mentioned.

"This one is special," Marinette boasted, smiling. "Show them, please, Nathaniel?"

Prince Adrien shifted his focus to the attendant, fixing him with a cool green stare. The redhead met his eyes, blue eyes turning to icy chips. Now Adrien could see dislike that he held shielded in his mind. Nathaniel looked at the princess, asking softly, "What would you like me to do?"

"Anything, whatever you feel comfortable doing."

The boy beamed and flipped to the flautist, his mother. As he did so, his lips moved and enchantment took hold. Music notes began to float up as if the woman herself were playing again. Alya's jaw dropped, watching in awe as the notes floated up and off the page in sweet melody. Adrien was also impressed, leaning forward so that he could watch better. "Amazing!"

"He's right, that's quite a talent you've got," Alya praised. When Nathaniel finished the short piece, he stopped his enchantment and the audience of three clapped.

"He also drew this rose," Marinette held up the red bloom. "It's nothing like I've ever seen before!"

"He drew something into being?" Adrien asked, disbelievingly. "Music notes are one thing... but... a flower?"

Nathaniel's smile dropped and Marinette narrowed her eyes at him. "Whether you believe it to be so or not it's true! Here Alya, look," she handed her prize to her friend. Alya turned the flower over and over, looking at it carefully.

"It looks so real!"

"Here," Nathaniel opened another page in his book and furrowed his brow in concentration. He held a hand over the page and began his spell again. This flower was a blue, delicate water lily. It took moments for the pigmants and lead to form its shape and solidify enough before falling into the artists hand. He held it up for them to see. Sweat began to bead his brow but he looked at the prince. The pair's eyes met and a clear challenge was thrown, but the two women were too entranced to notice. Adrien had never felt jealousy before... but he didn't like the look this attendant gave him. He suppressed a cat-like hiss behind his teeth. If the princess truly is Ladybug, then I have a rival, he thought.

"This is wonderful, Nathaniel! You could wind up being the most renown court artist in history!" Alya praised.

"You are very gifted," Adrien smiled, hoping some kindness will help with the sudden animosity being thrown at him. The attendant did backtrack, then lowered his eyes. "Are you going to study?"

"P-Princess M-M-Marinette wants me to sstudy with Master Arielle Youngblood."

"Oh? Are you going to?"

"Nathaniel hasn't given me an answer yet and I'm not pushing," Marinette cut in, turning to smile at the Prince. "There are... other obligations that need attending first."

Obligations. Adrien knew that word so well it was like his own name. A niggle of sympathy appeared in his mind and soothed the flash of jealousy that he had encountered. Keep your cool, Agreste. You're not even sure if she is Ladybug. That bruise can be purely coincidence. You don't want to make a fool of yourself. His gaze shifted to the princess, taking in her blue eyes and dark hair. It was out of its normal braid now... but once more Ladybug's features, from what he could remember, reminded him that she too wore a braid of similar length. What color are her eyes? he wondered, trying to remember. However, his image blurred even more before he returned to the present.

"What's that?" Marinette motioned to the tray in his hands. She could see what he had, and whatever was in the bowl smelled wonderful. Her stomach growled softly, reminding her that she had barely touched her morning meal.

"What? OH!" Prince Adrien move forward suddenly, nearly knocking over the glass of milk that stood closest to the edge. "Cook had Alya escort me... she wanted to make sure you ate." So do I... "Sh-she says you barely touched your breakfast."

"That's Cook... always with eagle eyes in the back of her head," Marinette giggled softly and took the tray. Cook had prepared a small bowl of soup, chicken and garlic from what she could smell, two croissants and a glass of milk to wash it down. Her stomach growled softly, reminding her that it had been too long since she had eaten. She blushed when all eyes fell on her and silence engulfed them all. Taking the two croissants, she tore both of them in half and handed one to Nathaniel, whom blushed and stuttered a thanks, one to Alya, and finally one for Prince Adrien before keeping the last for herself. "Thank you for bringing this. I am famished." Alya looked like she wanted to say something about her morning breakfast but she kept silent, nibbling on her croissant.

"It was a pleasure, Princess-"

"Marinette," she cut him off again, raising her eyes to meet his.

"Pardon?"

"My name... is Marinette. I think that after all that's happened these last few days, you've earned the right to call me by my given name; no titles required." This time, Adrien blushed and ran a hand through his neatly groomed blond hair."I also think it would make you more comfortable instead of calling me by my full name and title," she added hastily. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I... I would like ustobefr-friends."

"I would like that very much," Adrien rushed to answer her, personally thrilled with the opportunity. "If-if you don't mind calling me by my given name too..." The smile she gave him was so bright, he would swear she had sunlight trapped in her face.

All in attendance were stunned by the declarations, Nathaniel the most. He stared at her in disbelief. "Even after beating you the way he did?"

"He didn't harm me in any way," Marinette shrugged, bringing a piece of bread to her lips after dipping it into the broth. "It was nobody's fault. I don't want what happened to cause... cause problems between us." Or our kingdoms, she added silently. "Besides, it was a training exercise... right?"

"Of course, just training!" Adrien agreed, willing himself to relax again. But it was hard, especially with the distrustful looks that Nathaniel was giving him and the guarded ones that Alya kept throwing out of Marinette's line of sight. In the distance, the bell tower rang out the signal for the third afternoon hour. Nathaniel grimaced and stood.

"Please, excuse me your highnesses," he bowed, though he was turned more towards his princess. "I must return to my duties. Sir Leonard will be wondering where I am." Marinette bobbed her head, excusing him. However, just as he was leaving she called out to him.

"Nathaniel," he stopped and turned to meet her eyes, a light pink blush on his cheekbones. "If... if you do wish to take up the offer and speak to Master Arielle, you can come find me. I will take you to her myself." The attendant blushed and bobbed his head in agreement before fleeing out the door.

Alya also moved away, warning the prince with a look to mind his manners. "I will give you two some time to talk. Mari, I will be outside the door if you need anything." The princess smiled in relief and the tension was officially cut. She was thankful that the lady knight began calling her by her nickname and forgoing her title like normal. Alya returned her smile and walked out. Prince Adrien waited until he was sure the door was shut, but the click was so soft that it was nearly inaudible if he didn't have his heightened hearing. Fighting and practicing with Chat Noir's powers had left him with small enhancements while he moved during the day as Prince Adrien. It was something that he had grown very thankful for over the last year. He took a breath, relaxing all the way and turned back to his new friend.

"I'm sorry I didn't join you. I wanted to, but father wanted me to join him for a private meal in his rooms."

Marinette lifted a spoonful and stopped, blue eyes flicking to him. "Y-you're not in trouble are you?"

"Oh no, he wanted to know about what I've seen when we were riding yesterday. I told him this kingdom thrives and is happy. He was thinking of asking the king and queen to take him out so he could see for himself what I saw yesterday. Pr-I mean, Marinette... I had a good time yesterday. I think the new trade agreements he wants to implement will benefit Aromour very well."

"Trade agreements?"

"I finally got father talking, which is a challenge itself." Adrien laughed softly and rubbed his neck. "He wants to further Aromour's influence and expand the borders. We're hoping to do all of this through the treaty agreements."

Expand his borders? Marinette couldn't help but feel her stomach knot. Her fight with Prince Adrien took on whole new meaning for her. She felt unsure if it was divine intervention on her losing her fight... or if it was because the man in front of her was a ruthless fighter in disguise. What was it in these agreements that had her so edgy with the King Agreste? "Do you think that you need to expand the borders? What's wrong with opening them between our kingdoms?"

"I asked father that. He says that our crops have not been bringing in as good a harvest as years before. Carroway has flourishing ties with other kingdoms and trade ports. With father being as closed off as he has been, it's harder for us to talk to others." Adrien met her eyes. "Either way, King Tom seems very fair and so does Queen Sabine. I want things to go well."

"So by making relations better with Carroway... other kingdoms will be more open to speaking with Aromour," Marinette stated, sipping her soup.

"Precisely," Adrien beamed, taking her breath away. The pair lapsed into silence, Marinette having much on her mind with what her new friend had told her... Adrien with his mind fixated on the bruise that encircled Marinette's wrist. It stood starkly out at him now against her pale skin. He felt a pang, better now than never. It's time.

"Marinette..."

"Yes?"

"H-how did you get that bruise?"

"What bruise?" However, her body froze when her eyes flashed to her wrist.

"That one, around her arm." He pointed with two fingers at the offending mark.

"O-oh... this..." she scrambled an excuse but it was hard. Marinette didn't want to lie, but the fact that she received the mark while performing her Ladybug duties was more than enough reason to hide its true origin. She now wished Adrien weren't so observant. She wished he weren't staring at her right now, and she wished even more that he wasn't staring at the bruise!

"It looks... like you got your hand caught in a whip."

It was hard, but the princess didn't react to the term. She bit her lip, putting down her spoon. "Ah well..."

"And you didn't get it from training today. It's at least a few days old."

How does he know that..?! Oh wait, he was there. Marinette, don't panic. Breathe!

"It was an accident," she finally managed to get out. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Or the right place at the right time, her Ladybug side chided. Clearly the excuse did not sit well with the prince. His eyes watched her carefully, trying to detect signs of deceit.

If she's hiding the Ladybug secret, she's doing it very well, he thought to himself. "Wrong place?"

"I really don't want to speak of it, it's a bit of an embarrassing story," Marinette tried to brush it off with a laugh and shoved another spoonful of soup into her mouth. Adrien smiled and laughed.

"I'm sorry... it's just... I saw it and can't help but have flashbacks to when Ladybug saved me on our arrival here." That made Marinette's eyes flash to him, looking surprised. Though, in her mind she was surprised that he was bringing it up in the first place! "Some children had startled Midnight, my horse, and I fell from my saddle. Kind of embarrassing, huh?" he laughed. "Imagine my shock when the Ladybug swooped in to save me of all people! I was so startled that I didn't see the whip in Nino's hand until it was wrapped around her arm."

"You're very lucky... it could've been a terrible fall," Marinette commented, stirring her soup without much appetite left.

"Well, she is Lady Luck incarnate," Adrien smiled. "It's a name she went by before, Lady Luck. Did you know that?"

Marinette did, but she doubted anyone else had. Tikki had told her a few tales from her previous Ladybug charges... and the ones whom did call themselves Lady Luck were particularly brash and rave souls. No one except Miraculous holders knew of that. It made her eye the prince warily. "D-did she? How did you find that out?"

This time, it was Adrien's turn to look flustered. The prince looked down at his lap, fiddling with his fingernails. "I erm... I read about her, in the palace archives back in Aromour."

Marinette was silent for a moment before stating, "You jest."

"I'm don't; we have records on many Ladybug appearances throughout the whole world. Now that she's appeared here, I would love to meet her personally. You know, when I'm not in danger of anything."

"That's nearly impossible," Marinette told him, trying her hardest to ward off another impending search from the handsome prince while trying not to be secretly thrilled by the prospect. "F-father sent out hundreds of knights and guards throughout Carroway... no one has found her."

"I know she's in the captial," Adrien shot back. This time, Marinette raised her eyes to meet his again. There was a tiniest quirk in the corner of his lips that she caught. "That's enough of a start for me."

"What makes you think she's here..? In the capital I mean?"

Adrien sucked in a breath and went for it, "Because she's had the most akuma attacks here. She's needed here most."

Not... many people know what the monsters are actually called, Marinette noted silently. He called them akuma, not 'demon' or 'monster' like other people have. This made her eye the prince with a whole new light. He knew far too much for a regular person. He admitted that he had prior knowledge of Ladybug. But how far did that go? Did he know about Chat Noir? "Ladybug doesn't want to be found," she told him. "She said so herself."

That stopped Adrien in his tracks. "What?"

"Ladybug... my father wanted to thank her properly too with lands and titles for her services to the crown. I was unable to be present, but Alya told me that she declined his gift with grace and dignity. She said that her duty was to the people, and that meant all of the people. There was nothing that father could offer her that would sway her. She did not want to be found, but she would appear when the people needed her; no matter what the trouble was or what danger threatened them."

Adrien leaned back, amazed. "Then this is a woman I definitely want to meet."

"You won't find her."

The prince's face slowly spread into an amused grin. "Princess... there is nothing I cannot find. Now that I've met her, I would search the world for her."

Marinette's heart thumped in her chest and she couldn't help the light dusting of pink that covered her cheeks. Somehow, she believed him. His tone was clear, challenging her as Ladybug to hide from him. She bit her lip, eyeing him warily.

Alright Prince Agreste... game on. I will even wish you luck.

Uuuuugh... *stretches out writing cramps* WOW this is the longest chapter to date! 5549 words (excluding my Author's notes).

Wow! So much going on in the romance world between our heroes hmm? And things seem to be heating up now. The hunt is on for the prince to find Ladybug. *grins* There was so much detail I wanted in this chapter that I just couldn't STOP putting it down until I was satisfied.

I also couldn't bring myself to make the pair blindly oblivious to each other. I just couldn't do it... so here we are! *does the TA DA theme*

Chat: My turn?

Kestra: Yes, your turn next chapter

Adrien: HEY!

Kestra: Oh shush! You ARE him so sit down and wait!

ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER! *walks off with a carrot stick dangling behind me... the plot bunny following* Heh... I think I finally got the hang of this one *wink*

Til the next chapter lovelies! Remember: Reviews=Food for the writer!

-Kestra EchoWolf