Fencing

The sound of clacking wood and laughter filled the street as the two teens danced around each other; both trying to land hits on their opponent without receiving one themselves.

"Is that all you've got, Princess?" Chat Noir taunted, jabbing expertly in her direction.

"I should be asking you that, young squire. You have yet to beat me, and you have been trained your whole life for this!" Marinette threw back.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng had met Chat Noir only a few years back, when they had been fourteen. He had been parading down her street in his leather suit and domino mask, with the two black ears sticking out from his messy hair, and a wooden sword strapped to his belt when she first saw him. He had taken one look at the bakery sign and quickly came in, looking around at all the pastries. She was immediately drawn in by his lemon coloured hair and dewy green eyes as he slowly walked around the shelves. She appreciated the way he took time to scrutinize them all, as if he had never seen anything like them before. At first she had thought maybe his family was too poor to buy them, but then he had come up to the counter with a large smile, a hefty order, and an even larger bag of coins to pay for it. When he told her that he was a squire, or a knight in training, she understood his lack of sweets before must have been from a diet he was on to keep him fit enough for the job.

"A squire?" She had asked. "How noble!"

He had preened at the compliment and promised to come back the next week to buy more. When he returned he was once again carrying the wooden sword, and she asked him about it.

"In case I ever need to duel someone." He had said, puffing out his chest before giving her a silly, lopsided smile. "Or, for if I come across someone who wants to spar with me, for fun of course."

"Really? I'll spar with you!" She had replied.

His face had lit up with a bright smile as he held out his hand and introduced himself. "Chat Noir."

"Marinette." They had shook hands, sealing their partnership.

Now they had it down to a science- Chat would come twenty minutes or so before her shift in the bakery ended, eat some treats, and then they would spar for however long they saw fit before parting ways for the night. Some days he wasn't able to make it, do to "Squire lessons" and the such, and others they simply walked around the shopping district, having a few hours just to relax to themselves.

Back to the moment at hand, Marinette gasped and cursed under her breath as Chat's wooden sword poked her in the ribs.

"Language, Princess." He teased, to which she blew a raspberry in his direction.

"This is why I'm not a Princess." She said, lowering her sword. "But on the mention of Princesses, did you hear that the King is in search of one for the Prince? Who do you think it'll be: Princess Chloe or Princess Lila?" She asked, wrinkling her nose.

Chat went pale. "Neither, I hope." He squeaked out.

"Me too." Marinette said. "I can't stand either of them and I would hate to see what the kingdom would become under their snooty control. And poor Prince Adrien! I would hate to be married to one of them."

Chat couldn't help agreeing, a shiver running down his spine. "I agree, but you best be quiet, Princess. We don't want you getting in trouble."

She sighed. "Yeah. But really, who do you think it'll be?"

Chat met her eyes and thought about it. "Honestly? I'm really hoping it will be neither."

"Neither? But, no other Princesses have even been around here or talked about as possibilities since before he was born! Truely, my bet would be on Princess Bourgeois. And the lesser of two evils, if I do say so myself. She's not… quite terrible when paired with the Prince. Perhaps there's good in her yet. And from what we've seen of him, I think Prince Adrien would do her lots of good."

Chat fought back the happy tears and smile at her praise. She seemed to really admire the Prince- which was him, of course.

Deciding to step out on a limb, he asked, "What would you say if Prince Adrien asked you to be his Princess?"

He had half expected the snort that came at his question. "I'm not a Princess, I don't think that's quite how it works."

"That's not an answer, Nette." He tsked.

She stared at him for a moment, something in her eyes that he couldn't quite place but thought might perhaps be longing before it disappeared and she finally answered. "I would say no."

"No?" He spluttered. "Why?!"

She blushed and fidgeted, her arms gesticulating all over.

"It's not that I don't admire him! Or th-think that he's, well, handsome, but it's just- I… There's someone else." She ended quietly, looking down at her shoes.

"Oh." A wave of disappointment crashed over him hard. Her not being a Princess he had already figured a way to work around, but he being in love with someone else? Even if he could figure a way around that one, he wouldn't be able to bring himself to take away her happiness like that. To know he had been the cause of her to be unhappy would simply murder him. "W-Who?" He murmured.

She fidgeted some more, her face a deep shade of red.

"You don't have to tell me." He sighed, looking off somewhere, squinting in the evening sun. "It's not my business."

Marinette nodded and he fought the urge to cry. He had been so sure, so hopeful- But now…

"But…" she started, and his head shot up to look at her. "I don't think he cares for me like that. Like how I care for him. And besides, it would never work. So I suppose, if somehow the Prince decided he wanted me to be his Princess, and had found a way around me being a lowly baker's daughter, I would say yes."

"R-really?" He said, feeling his hope rise and crash down again like a wave. "What do you mean, 'he doesn't care for you'?" How could anyone not care for this amazing, beautiful girl?

"We're only friends, and he's never shown a inkling that he wants more. So if the Prince went through all the trouble to pick a merchant for his Princess, and decided I was the one he wanted, then I guess I would say yes. I mean, what girl doesn't want a Prince to move heaven and earth to have anyone they could possibly desire, only to pick them? That's… That's pretty romantic, Chat."

He stared at her, formulating the plan in his head. He would show her just how romantic he could be, or so God help him.

"Oh, wow, would you look at the sun. That's really a good point, Princess, and I enjoyed talking about this with you, but I, uh, need to go, okay, bye!" He said hurriedly, turning tail and taking off in the direction of the palace.

"Father!" Adrien said, bursting through the doors to the throne room. "Father, may I speak with you? It's important. Please."

His father raised an eyebrow at him before motioning for him to continue. He hardly saw his son get this worked up about something, and since he had announced that he would be finding a fiancé, his son had been even more reclusive. This was progress.

"I do not wish to marry Princesses Chloe or Lila." Adrien said, breathing heavy from his run to the castle.

"Ok, then which Princess? Princess Kagami? Princess Rose?"

Adrien shook his head. "Father, if I may be so bold, I do not wish to marry any Princess."

"Adrien," The King groaned. "We've been over this. You must marry-"

"I know! I know. But… I do not want to marry a princess. Please, Father. There's… I am in love with a girl from the village, and I do not want any other. Please, Father. I- I love her." He choked out.

To say that King Gabriel was surprised would be like saying the crops didn't die in the winter. His son had been so adamant about not marrying anyone for so long, and after his mother died, Gabriel had thought he truly meant to never marry. But now, to hear him confess his undying love towards any girl, much less to beg and plead for him to allow her to be his bride, had nearly floored him.

"Who is this lady?" He asked, lying if he said he wasn't hugely intrigued.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the baker's' daughter."

Gabriel spluttered. "Adrien. The baker's daughter? Truly?"

"Yes, Father." Adrien said, taking a step closer. His eyes were wide with sincerity and hope as he continued. "I adore her, and wish not for anyone else. I refuse to have anyone else."

This… was indeed a predicament. Gabriel couldn't simply allow his son- the Prince!- to marry a merchant, but he had no doubt that Adrien fully meant what he had said.

"I'm not sure she would make a suitable Queen, though, son."

"But Father, She is fair, and kind, and so very caring. She is just and knows a great deal about the kingdom, especially the lower classes, which is more than most other women of higher classes can claim. Think of how her knowledge could help us to avoid revolution like the surrounding kingdoms!"

Gabriel raised his eyebrows. He hadn't heard Adrien provide such an excellent argument in ages. And it had been even longer since he had seen his son so passionate over something.

"That is… a fair point." Gabriel sighed. "Alright. If Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng can prove she is worthy of your love, I will grant it so."

Adrien paused, his mouth open to give his next argument. "Do… Do you really mean it?" He asked quietly.

"Yes, Adrien. I wish for you to be happy."

Adrien barely kept himself from falling to his knees and praising both God and his father right there, and instead let out a breathy, "Thank you, Father, you- I- Thank you."

His father gave him a brisk nod, unsure of how to respond to his sons sudden emotion.

"I will see to it personally tomorrow. For now, it is time for dinner."

Gabriel stepped out of the carriage, looking around the merchant sector warily. The bakery of which he stood in front of was quaint, but very well kept. He walked inside, leaving two guards just outside the door to keep anyone from coming in, and to make sure everything was alright inside.

"Hello, how may I-" said a pretty, young woman behind the counter, her blue eyes growing wide. "Your Highness!" She quickly dipped into the lowest courtesy he had seen by any girl her age, before gesturing to the items on the shelves. "Please, pick anything you would like. It is on us, your Highness."

He waved his hand at her offer, replying, "I am not here for the baked goods, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng. I am here to speak with you."

The color drained from her face, and she squeaked, "M-Me?"

Gabriel frowned. The stutter he could do without, for it wouldn't make a fine Queen, but he figured it was merely from the way he had worded his request.

"Yes. Not to worry, I am not here to cart you off to the dungeons or anything equally ridiculous. I have simply come to speak to you about my son."

"Your son? Whatever for, your Highness? Are you in need of a wedding cake?"

"I am quite positive I am. But not made by you, Mademoiselle. You see, my son has requested you to be his fiancé."

"... Oh my." She breathed, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. "Oh my."

"Do you think you deserve him? Please, be honest."

She stared at him with wide eyes and immediately shook her head. "N-no! It would be an honor, and I would simply never dream of t-turning down the offer of marriage, but I must confess I am not deserving enough of your son, whether or not he is the Prince."

"Oh?" Gabriel asked. "And why is that?"

"Because he is so kind, My Lord, and surely one of the finest men to ever grace France, and of course so very caring and wonderful, and while I might be better off than some of the others in my class in terms of education, I simply could not ever begin to be worthy of his affection. Surely there are girls more deserving-"

"Really? My son seems to think you are all of those things as well, and refuses to see otherwise. And I, for one, cannot disagree. Do you have any other reasons why you are undeserving?"

"I… I love another." She said so quietly he almost missed it.

"Are you promised to him?"

"No, your Highness."

"And, despite this love, if my son would have no other but you, would you accept?"

"Would- would I accept? Of course, My Lord. As I said, it would be the highest honor, and my duty as a citizen of France, to accept such a proposal."

"And why is that? Is it because he is the Prince, and you would then become a Princess?"

She gasped and hurriedly dispelled his question.

"No! It's just… He has done so much for our country, and deserves whoever he so wishes as his Queen."

"Despite loving another, would you be able to return his affections?"

She paused to think about it, and he admired her care of the situation. "If not, I would have made it my biggest reason of why I would not deserve his love for me. It would be nothing short of cruel to accept for the title but care nothing for the man himself."

He could see why Adrien was infatuated with the girl so much. He couldn't fault her for any of her answers, and despite what she was saying, he doubted there was anyone more deserving of his son's love.

"Well, then I will ask you only once, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng- do you accept my sons proposal?"

Her cheeks flushed bright red but she powered through. "If it is what he so wishes, than I will accept with a happy heart."

Gabriel clapped his hands together. "Then it will be so. I will send servants within the next few days to arrange with you a day, and it shall be done. Have a nice rest of your evening, young Mademoiselle."

Marinette watched the King leave, allowing her jaw to fall open as soon as he was gone. What had she just agreed to? Sure, she had told both Chat and the King that she would accept and practically give up her love for, well, Chat, but it was so much harder in action.

What was she going to tell Chat?

Chat Noir raced through the streets, dodging people and carts left and right in his haste to see his Princess. His Princess, his true Princess! He had known that she would pass whatever test his father put her through, but was ecstatic either way at the news.

He burst through the bakery door, a smile cracking his face in two.

"Marinette!" He cried. "I heard the news!"

She looked at him with wide blue eyes before understanding filled them. God, he loved her cerulean eyes, and he couldn't wait to stare into them for the rest of his life, whenever he wished to.

"Chat, I-" She said, but he cut he off excitedly.

"Isn't this wonderful? You get to marry the Prince of France, and we get to see each other more! Well, perhaps. You are marrying the Prince of France! He may wish to keep you all to himself, and no one would be able to blame him!"

Marinette looked down at her hands on the counter quietly, and he quickly stopped talking.

"...Nette?"

She took a deep breath before choking out, "I don't think we should see each other at all anymore."

"Wh-What?" He said, recoiling as if she had physically hit him.

"I- I just- I promised the King that I would be able to return his affections, and I will not be able to hold true to my word if…"

"... If I'm around?" Chat sighed and rubbed his temples. "Marinette… I came to tell you something."

"What is it?" She asked quietly.

Please, Lord. She thought. Don't let him say he loves me now, after I have already promised myself to the Prince.

Chat Noir checked the store, making sure it was empty before using his pointer and middle fingers to lift her face so her eyes could meet his. Once he had her attention, he deftly lifted the mask from off his face, placing it on the counter in front of her.

She gasped, clasping both hands over her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes and he could feel his heart breaking.

"If you wish to change your mind, you may. It was not fair of me to lie to you." He said gently. "And I know you said you love someone else, but when you told me yesterday that you would say yes if the Prince asked, I couldn't… I couldn't help myself. I was selfish, and I still am, so I convinced my father to allow me to marry you." Her shoulders shook as tears fell down her cheeks. "Chat!" She cried, lunging across the counter to throw her arms around his neck, crying into his collar.

He carefully placed his hands on her waist, relishing the feel of her in his arms.

"Marinette, please don't cry." He whispered into her hair. She trailed her hands up into his own hair, causing a shiver to go down his spine. "If you keep that up, I don't think I will be able to let you go."

A laugh bubbled up from her and he frowned in confusion.

"Good, don't." She said, tightening her own hold on him.

"But-"

"If you had asked me yesterday, what I would said if Chat Noir asked me to marry him, I would have immediately said yes."

His heart skipped a beat and his head felt light. "You…"

"I would have said yes, because it's you I love, Chat."

He pulled away from her, grabbing her shoulders and crashing his lips on hers. She gasped and he snuck his tongue between her teeth, kissing her deeply like he had dreamed of doing for months now. She traced her fingers along his arms and neck and twirled them in his hair, returning his passion.

When they broke apart, she stared up at him blearily, her lips swollen and still parted. Adrien smiled down at her, smoothing her hair back down and tucking the ends behind her ears before picking his mask back up and setting it on his face.

He leaned in for one more loving kiss pressed to her cheekbone before flashing her a sly grin.

"Sorry, Princess, but I'm afraid I can't stay any longer. I have a wedding to plan."

Marinette returned his smile with a dopey one of her own, lifting her hand in a slight wave.

Back at the palace, King Gabriel was taking a week off, knowing that even if he stepped down now and did nothing for the rest of his life, he would still not have enough time to recover from the past handful of years filled with stress and a stubborn child.