Hello everyone! I am finally back!
Thanks for understanding! We actually took more than expected to return (the 26th to be exact) but it was a good trip, however I really hate long car rides and it doesn't help that we didn't sleep for almost 24 hour so I still suffer from a headache till now -_-
A confusing princess
Honestly can her day get any worse than this?
The answer was apparently yes, it defiantly can.
It started right after they started walking. You'd think Chat was a gentleman or had enough chivalry in him to help a small fragile lady (not that she was one. Oh no! She was simply tired) carrying her oversized bag but nooooo! She had to drag it all alone which made her fall behind and run to catch up to him.
That was when the second problem occurred, due to her heavy bag and stupid long dress; she kept tripping all the time. At one point she fell hard causing her bag to rip and her knee to get injured, seriously she knew better not to accompany a black cat, they only brought bad luck.
To add to her problems, Chat was likely enjoying himself, often cracking stupid jokes and puns, not caring about her trailing behind him as he kept moving on and laughing at his own dry humor. Seriously this was NOT what she had agreed to.
She looked down at her bag and let a small pout before shifting her gaze to her knee. It wasn't that bad really it only stung a bit but she can still walk properly with it, however it felt weird being physically hurt after so long yet at the same time it felt happy, to be able to feel such things again gave the impression of being normal, of being …Free. You see, spending years in the castle with all the princess' duties, servants taking care of every possible complex that might face you, and a protective worried mother didn't leave much of a place for difficult or demanding activities, even as a kid; she swore to be a perfect daughter and ruler so there was no time for goofing around.
Her nostalgic thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she remembered her companion. She lifted her head expecting him to be far away when her blue eyes fell on the sight of a quiet amused Chat standing a few meters away from her and eyeing her from head to toe. He shook his head and sighed while murmuring words she couldn't catch.
Just when she was about to scold him, he started getting closer and fished his knife in the process. The bluenette's eyes widened and she backed away a few steps until her back met a tree. Chat kept getting closer and closer with an unreadable expression while she gulped hard.
She knew it was a mistake! She shouldn't have accepted his offer in the first place she should have just run! Her consciousness was right she couldn't manage to live one day out of the castle, marrying prince Félix was the right choice! Wait no! That's not true! Her only mistake was to trust this mugger and getting out of her way to help him, now he was going to kill her, goodbye dear life, goodbye papa, mama, Bri, A…
Her eyes got even wider if that was possible as chat bent closer to her, "C-chat…" she stuttered not able to find the right words as he held the tip of her dress in his finger.
He lifted his head and gave her a worried look, "relax, I told you I am not going to harm you….At least not yet" he whispered the last part with a bit of a threatening seductive voice that caused her to shudder a bit.
Slowly, the feline man started to cut the fabric until the dress reached just above her knees, he backed a few inches from her and gave her one of his famous grins.
"Now you'll stop tripping and slowing us down, seriously who would travel in this kind of dress" he let a huff then smirked when he heard Marinette's confused 'what', "remember I promised to escort you safe and without a scratch, what kind of knight would I be if I let my princess get hurt"
He chuckled at the girl's priceless features as her expression travelled from scared, to confused to finally annoyance. Her crossed arms and pissed face was a hint that she had come back to her senses.
"I guess you are a bit late my dearest knight" she remarked sarcastically while pointing to her -now visible- injured knee.
Chat frowned and rolled his eyes before grabbing a green bottled from his backpack, he took a piece of the torn fabric and poured some of the liquid in it. He carefully bent and placed the wet fabric on the wound then tied it on her knee.
After finishing he dusted his head and turned to her, "it would take some time before the medicine start working and it may hurt a first, but I assure you it will heal you like magic"
The princess blinked a few time then touched her knee, she hate to admit but Chat was ready for everything, she was certain that he travelled a lot and had an experience when it came to surviving, she will need to ask him more and get some informations if she wanted to achieve her goal faster. She snapped her attention back at him as he carried her bag carefully.
"Thank you" she said a bit shyly as she walked beside him, and he had to admit it took him off guards again, he just shook his head and smiled faintly.
"Let's just keep going"
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All along the way, the bluenette kept on asking him several question about surviving techniques, needed materials, even to go far at asking him if she could borrow a spared knife. Of course he answered most of her question and he found it really cute how she took her time at trying and memorizing the new information each time before posing another question, however he pushed that feeling aside and replaced it by confusion.
The things she was asking about, the way she got easily excited it made him wonder, what kind of person was she really? She didn't have the slightest idea about the outside world, no he was not exaggerating, he noticed that all the knowledge she got were from books, he himself read and let him say that while some were quiet detailed and useful they were….Old, things has changed and people too but this girl seemed unaware of most of it, at least that was his conclusion. If he didn't know better he would go as far as to say that she was locked in her mansion her entire life and was suddenly running away and trying to live a proper life. Pff, seriously that was ridiculous, it's too imaginary to be true.
It was after a few hours that they reached a small waterfall, Chat insisted that they rested and got some fresh water although 'princess' was convinced that they shouldn't waste time and keep going, she was so stubborn even when tiredness was written all over her face and her limbs started to slightly tremble, in the end he won and they were now approaching the waterfall, with him walking ahead of her.
Suddenly he stopped and turned around slowly upon feeling the absence of the small figure that was once behind him, his green eyes scanned the area in search for any glimpse of his companion.
"Princess! Princess are you there!?" his voice sounded more desperate and concerned than he planned it to be.
He hated to say it but he was worried, a bit over the top worried, and he couldn't understand why exactly. He only met this girl a few hours ago and truth to be told is he despised her! Well at least for the most part but he was still responsible for her safety right? It was a deal. But then again he was a criminal for crying out loud! A servant to the master of evil, he killed, betrayed, robed all the time with no problem! Heck he even has the map served in a silver plate right beside him so why?...why was he so...hesitant about turning his back and walking away?
Before his mind could give him a proper answer, his ears perked up as he heard some noises from a nearby bush. He seated the bag and walked to the sound, all the way ready for anything.
He jumped behind the bush and was ready to kick the ass of whoever was there and have possibly hurt his princess! Wait that sounded wrong, his companion was better, when his eyes fell on a certain girl; she was lying on her stomach clearly concentrated on whatever was in front of her.
"Princess! What the hell…" he didn't get the chance to finish his sentence as she quickly shushed hum.
"Hush Chat! You are going to scare it!" she whisper yelled as she got up and turned around allowing the boy to take a close look at what was on her hand. A big weird looking Centipede slowly crawling between her ungloved fingers.
"What the...Princess! I thought we discussed this before!" he scolded in a fatherly tone," we do not simply eat and approach any plant, animal, or human we face epically in the woods! Now put it down it might be dangerous"
"Oh please, it is perfectly safe! I mean look at it is more beautiful than in the books!" she practically gleamed with joy! Like a kid who just got a present.
Chat only sighed and stared at her with a bemused expression while she started rumbling about the creature in excitement. Honestly, he couldn't get this girl, getting excited over small random and weird things. One moment she's all serious and spoiled the other she's like an eight years old, so cute and innocent. It made him wonder who was really his 'princess' and what kind of past and life she's trying to hide.
But more importantly it made him wonder what had he put himself into.
Meanwhile, in the great kingdom of Oldiron.
A woman with dark hair and formal attire walked down the long empty corridor, the echoing of her clacking heels was the only sound heard. She fastened her steps while gripping her papers harder, last thing she wanted was to waste any more time collecting an unneeded mess.
She stopped in front of the woodened door and took a glance at the two guards standing in the entrance, she slightly nodded in satisfaction seeing that they were still as statues but maintaining their cautiousness, just the way they were supposed to be. She quickly snapped to reality and decided to knock on the door.
She heard a voice ordering her to enter, so she walked in as the door behind her closed.
"Your majesty, I was told that you have asked for my presence" she bowed her head in respect.
"Indeed" he answered in a deep regal voice without turning from his pot in front of the only visible window that was not covered with dark purple curtains. "If I recall correctly, yesterday would be princess Marinette of Lermiria's eighteenth birthday." He stopped waiting for a confirmation.
"It was indeed" she knew very well were this conversation was headed to.
"Very well" he turned around, his icy blue eyes staring down at her, it was less harsher then his late father's piercing gaze but it didn't fail in making any person intimidated, she was no exception to that. Even after her long history of serving the royal family the presence of the young prince that she helped took care of and watched him grow still sent shivers down her spins.
"Natalie, I believe a letter need to be delivered to queen Sabin as soon as it is possible" he added before turning back to the window, and the woman known as Natalie took this as an order to start writing.