A/N: HEAVILY MARICHAT-CENTERED CHAP AHEAD MUHAHA also, thank you so much for the reviews! I hope y'all enjoy this one! The characters are finally bursting in the seams, their identities are close to revealing themselves and feelings are developing hohoho we're nearing the end my dears! I think hehe

The Masquerade Ball

XVI

Marinette stared at listlessly at the morning sky, her thoughts a whirlwind. She kept replaying the scene yesterday of Chat Noir telling Ladybug to break her engagement with Luka. It frustrated her to no end how he didn't explain it fully nor did Marinette understand why the black rogue, out of all people, would be the one to say that to her.

Sighing for the nth time that morning, Marinette finally stood up and moved to leave the room. She needed someone to talk to about her problem. Unfortunately, Bella was out and busy buying her new things for the upcoming autumn season.

Walking out by herself, the lady decided to visit the garden where flowers were in full bloom with a huge tree at the middle of the whole terrain. It was her favorite place to relax on a listless day like this. The shade it provided helped her cool under the late summer's sun. Beyond the garden was the edge of their estate, lined with a tall fence to keep dangers of the forest from coming in.

As she reached the shade of the tree, Marinette looked up to find that it had already bore fruit. Reaching up to the nearest fruit, she plucked it off its branch and wiped it with her sleeves, glad no one was around to correct her unlady-like manners.

The apple in her hand felt full and looked ripe to eat. She wondered if she would be scolded for eating a fruit raw like this. However, Marinette thought how tiresome it was to have someone correct her all the time simply because of her noble status. She was tired of being a perfect lady but it was a part of who she was now. Still, the lady couldn't help but wish she could be Ladybug all the time – free and unbidden from high society's rules.

"If only freedom didn't come at a cost," she muttered as she stared at the red apple, slowly sitting down on the tree's roots. The cold wind fluttered through her hair as she lost herself in thought. "I wonder what life would be like."

Maybe if she had had such freedom before, then Marinette wouldn't have been hurt and tossed into a whirlwind of emotions leading her to her current situation. Maybe she wouldn't have been forced to disguise herself as a huntress because she'd already be one. Maybe she wouldn't have fallen for a noble like Adrien Agreste or be caught in an alliance engagement with a foreign prince if she had been born into a different life.

Of course, she was grateful for the easy life she had, but sometimes Marinette couldn't help but imagine what it would have been like if she weren't the Perfect Lady.

"Well, it would have definitely been a difficult one, for sure," a voice suddenly spoke from above.

Marinette startled so much that she dropped the apple as she looked up to find forest green eyes staring down at her. His familiar cat-like smirk irking her, making the lady sigh in frustration. Her peaceful time had apparently come to an end now.

"Chat Noir," she spoke in a disinterested and deadpan tone. "Tell me why you're here, in my garden, on top of my favorite tree, and obviously unauthorized to be here, before I call the guards to arrest you." She fixed him with a glare before moving to pick the fallen apple up.

However, before she could do that, the rogue suddenly dropped down to the ground with a grace only he could manage and picked up the fallen fruit. He then proceeded to sit cross-legged in front of her, wiping the apple with a black handkerchief. He then looked up at her with a cat-like smile and offered her the fruit back. "Before you call the guards on me," he spoke, green eyes twinkling. "I came here today to tell you something important. The sort that's life-threatening." He smiled as if it was nothing.

Despite knowing that she could and actually already did trust him, to keep up appearances, Marinette asked, "And why should I trust a notorious rogue like you? I still haven't forgotten how you disturbed me that day at the market. I was quite displeased, you know." She folded her arms and glared at him.

The rogue chuckled nervously, boyishly scratching his head before fixing her with a serious look. "Well, you're friends with Ladybug, aren't you?" he asked. "I'm sure you know that we're trusted partners. I wouldn't do anything to harm her friend, now would I?"

"But you're also her greatest rival," Marinette mentioned. "That's something worth taking note of, don't you think?"

"Ah," the rogue realized before smiling. "But has she told you how I've never ever betrayed her trust?"

Marinette eyed the rogue before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Oh my god," she gasped as she tried to stop herself from laughing. "It's such a spectacle to see you in such a pinch. Me, a helpless lady, making the notoriously dangerous rogue, Chat Noir, nervous and desperate. I'm sorry." As she wiped her tears, Marinette saw his deadpanned look. "Okay, okay, I'll stop now. I'm sorry, it's just been such a long week. I needed that breather."

"Uh-huh," the rogue blankly commented before sighing in defeat. Then he smiled. It was the first time he saw her laugh like that, so he gave her this chance. "Well, you got me, Lady Marinette."

"I truly am sorry," she added. "I do trust you, Chat Noir, after everything Ladybug's told me. You don't know how grateful I am for your presence right now." She muttered in a low voice, "I needed someone to talk to for a while."

Chat Noir looked at the dispirited-looking lady before him and wondered why she never acted this way in front of his alter ego. He guessed it must have been both due to her status as the Perfect Lady of high society and feelings for him as Adrien. But, even then, she was already…

He shook his head, clearing such unnecessary thoughts. Chat Noir tried to focus on the lady in front of him now. After just having her first engagement broken, she was proposed to once again by someone of higher status with the stakes higher, too. He was sure she was struggling to manage with the repercussions to her reputation as the Perfect Lady, no doubt high society has finally found a loophole to her perfect streak. And now, after just being warned that her life was in danger, Chat Noir was sure she was now caught in a new problem she couldn't see the answer to.

Although Ladybug couldn't be bothered to talk to him, he took his chance with the lady in front of him. "I'm all ears, my lady," he gently spoke, surprising Marinette.

But she couldn't find it in herself to reject his kindness.

So she talked. Marinette talked and complained like she had never done before, mostly because she couldn't – not as a noble lady, anyway. With Chat Noir, she didn't feel like she needed to hold any pretenses nor act in a certain way that's approved by high society, so unlike when she was with Adrien. She even felt freer to talk like this than when she's with him as Ladybug. Because, as the huntress, she also had a reputation and secret to keep from her most trusted friend.

Yet, as noble lady Marinette, she had no problems expressing herself to the rogue.

It was such a funny and weird predicament, really. But it felt just right.

Chat Noir felt exactly the same, as he listened to the lady. He had never seen nor heard her like this when he was Adrien. As he listened to her, he could see expressions on her face and body she'd never exhibited before, and he could listen to her speak in a way that could earn her glares from nobles alike. He wondered if this was the real Marinette Dupain-Cheng and if, all this time, she had been wearing a mask to keep up with the expectations all around her.

Like him.

He always did feel more like himself as Chat Noir. But he wondered if the lady in front of him could express herself like this as often as he could transform into the rogue.

The more he listened and looked at her speak about her life, Adrien Agreste and her current situation, the more he realized…

He liked her like this more. Like true self.

And he wondered if she could ever be like this in front of Adrien.

"… so that's about it," she finished with a sigh. "I don't know how to deal with all these feelings inside me and, now that you've warned me I'm in a dangerous situation, I don't think I can handle anything anymore."

"I see," Chat Noir spoke, clearing his throat. "I apologize if I made you worry more, but from what I can see, there is a solution to all your worries."

Marinette's eyes widened. "No way. How could there be?" she doubted.

Chat Noir grinned before leaning in and explaining himself. "Alright, so you've got three problems. First, you have your stormy feelings for that Duke Agreste who just broke his engagement with you to have one with another girl, who is coincidentally the Eastern Princess. Now, that's a tough opponent, but not unconquerable."

Marinette laughed heartily. "What do you mean not unconquerable? I can't possibly meddle in such an important thing such as an alliance engagement," she spoke before looking down. "Besides, I don't believe he wants it to be broken. It is quite important for the country."

Using a finger to lift her chin, Chat Noir gave her a reassuring smile. "Lift your head up, princess," he used his pet name for her. "You've got more of a fighting chance than you know. Now, let me finish."

The lady giggled. "Okay, go on."

"Second problem is you're currently unsure of your engagement to the Drakonese Crown Prince. You know he's a nice guy and, not to mention, handsome, but you don't like him the way you do with Agreste. But you know this is for the good of the country so you couldn't say 'no' when he proposed. The solution to this is easy, princess," he explained with a smirk. "Tell him about your third problem. Tell him you're being targeted because you're engaged to him and now your life is in danger because of this engagement. Since he's a nice guy, I'm sure he'll find a way to keep you safe." Then he paused and gave a somewhat sad-looking smile.

"And even when he won't cancel your engagement, I'm sure you'll fall for him in no time, princess. He might even be able to help solve your first problem," he concluded rather placidly. "In the end, it all rides on the depth of your feelings, princess."

Marinette stared at his green eyes behind that black mask. They looked conflicted and stormy yet clear, as if he had already made up his mind about something but leaves room for enough doubt to seep in. She wondered what he was contemplating about that could make him look like that, but knew it wasn't any of her business.

And then he smiled even though his eyes looked otherwise. "How far are you willing to go to become free to be yourself?" he said, reaching for her face. "Free to express your true feelings?"

Marinette didn't understand why her heart thudded at the action until she realized he was only removing a piece of leaf off her hair. She blushed and looked down at the apple in her hand. "How is that a solution to all my worries? You're only making me worry more." She rolled her eyes playfully.

Chat Noir's eyes widened as he found the gesture familiar before calming himself. He chuckled. "I never said it was easy, princess," he said. "What I'm saying is…"

Using his gloved finger, he lifted her chin once more to look at her sky blue eyes. "It's okay to be selfish sometimes," he spoke with a soft smile that made her heart thud louder.

It was only when she felt the apple fall off her hands that she broke from the reveries that was his eyes and looked away. "Thanks… for the advice," she spoke. "But I don't believe you know me well enough to know that those kinds of solutions won't work."

But the rogue simply chuckled. "Believe me, I do. I know someone exactly like you," he said as a memory of himself as his alter ego flew by his mind. "He's in much of a pinch as you are, some of his problems exactly the same as yours. Huh, you're actually quite similar…" Chat Noir mumbled as a small realization dawned on him.

Oh, how he was regretting allowing his father to break off his engagement with this wonderful woman. He was only now realizing how idiotic he'd been for doing nothing but comply with his father's whims. Once he's through talking with Marinette, he'd be sure to solve his own problems and help keep her safe from the danger that is the Crown Princess.

Marinette looked at him weirdly before shrugging. "But, well, thanks… for listening to me, Chat Noir," she gratefully spoke with the same sincere smile she'd show Adrien. It made the rogue feel weirdly flustered. "I really do appreciate your advice, too. I'll think deeply about what to do next."

With that, Chat Noir regained his suave and gave her his signature feline-like grin. "Anything for you, princess," he flirted to which he received only an eye-roll for.

And then he suddenly remembered what he was originally here for.

"Ah, I nearly forgot," he said as he stood up and stretched. And then he casually spoke. "The Crown Princess is out for your head if you don't cancel your engagement to the Drakonese prince."

Marinette's eyes were as wide as saucers. "Excuse me?" she asked, shocked.

"I changed my mind and thought you should know the details instead of being in the dark," the rogue spoke as he offered her a hand to help her stand. When she was too shocked to respond, he crouched to her eye-level. "Don't ask me how I know this. Just know that it's true and that's why you're in danger if you remain engaged to him."

"You should have said this earlier! It changes a lot of things," Marinette finally found it in her to speak albeit in the form of a panicked yell.

Chat Noir made an expression as if he was thinking about it. "Hm, well, not really a lot but—"

"Chat!"

"Okay, okay, maybe a lot," he receded. "But it should give you a clearer understanding of your position now. Princess, that's why I said it's okay to be selfish sometimes because being selfish sometimes can keep you safe." His green eyes bored into her blue ones with such worry that she found it utterly weird why a hunter like him would be worried for a lady like her.

Marinette stood up, fully forgetting about the fallen apple now. "Oh, that Chloe Bourgeois," she muttered, obviously irritated. "Apparently it's true she had been pining for a certain prince lately. I just didn't know it would be Luka."

She was pacing now, as if thinking what to do. Chat Noir took that as a good sign, noticing the apple on the ground and picking it up. Wiping it once more, he didn't wait to ask and took a bite. He reveled in the sweetness and ripeness of the fruit as he observed his princess. He found it cute how her brows furrowed in deep thought, as if she was trying to solve a hard problem. Well, that must have been a good sign given she was a ball of doubt just minutes ago. He was pleased he was able to help her regain her clarity again.

"That's it!" she suddenly exclaimed, turning to him with resolution written all over her face.

He liked looking at her like that, he thought. Wait, what?

"I found a solution, Chat Noir," she said, and the clarity in her eyes reminded her so much of his Lady. Even her manner of speaking reminded him of his Lady, and it was irking him to no end how similar they were when Marinette was like this.

As he looked into her now twinkling eyes, Chat Noir thought that she was really suited to this sort of personality instead of her 'perfect lady' self.

"And what would that be?" he asked as he bit into the apple.

"The princess can only possibly attack me when and if I'm alone," she surmised. "But that won't be possible if I have a guard with me at all times, wherever I go."

He raised a brow at that and smirked. "Not a bad idea," he said. "I'm sure your parents wouldn't oppose, as well. It's a reasonable acquirement. However, it's only rational to suppose the princess will only hire the best assassin to avoid suspicion." She'll probably make it look more like an accident than a murder, Chat Noir thought, careful not to scare Marinette. He took another bite.

"So you're going to need a strong and experienced guard, and not like those ones in the Palace," he scoffed while chewing. "Those puny, weak basta—I mean, knights won't know what hit 'em. You'll need someone more elusive and alert."

"You mean someone like you?" she asked.

"Yeah, someone like me," he replied almost instantly and quite arrogantly.

Marinette smirked and folded her arms. "So you wouldn't mind if I hired you, right?"

To that, everything he was chewing in his mouth at that moment were all suddenly spewed out onto the grass. "You what?" he asked incredulously and in shock.

Marinette cringed at the mess near her skirts and moved away. "You heard me," she said with a confident and somewhat cheeky smile. "I believe you're quite suited for the job, and you think it's an excellent idea. So why not?"

The rogue stuttered. This was all going in the opposite direction of what he was hoping. "B-But you have Ladybug!" he said.

"She's too busy for this! Besides, I don't want to intrude on her any more than I already have," she said, looking away.

"And you think you can intrude on me?" he asked, deadpanned.

Marinette's eyes widened and her cheeks were painted pink in no time. "Oh, er, I can't?" she asked, embarrassedly.

Unfair. That right there is unfair play, the rogue thought as he looked down on the blushing and embarrassed yet cute lady in front of him. He sighed. It wasn't like she's aware of her own charms. She really needs to keep her guard up, he thought. I'm just glad my Lady doesn't speak like this.

"Alright," he muttered in a low voice, pinching the area between his eyes and sighing. "I'll do it. I'll be your personal guard, princess."

Marinette's eyes lit up. "I'll pay you tenfold!" she enthusiastically spoke.

But Chat Noir chuckled. "I don't need money, princess," he said. "But I do have conditions."

"What are they?" she asked eagerly.

"Well, first, I'll only guard you in the shadows. I can't allow myself to be seen with you publicly," he enumerated. "You won't even know I'm there. Second, I won't intrude in your personal space and that includes bedrooms or bathrooms. I'll only be outside your window at most. Lastly, don't tell Ladybug I took on this job. I'll never hear the end of it from her."

Marinette smiled. "Alright, I agree to all terms," she said. "So it's all settled then?"

Although she knew she didn't need that much protection, given who her alter ego was, Marinette still decided she needed one for the times when she can't be Ladybug especially when she was in front of the other nobles. It was more appropriate if she had someone do all the action for her while there were people. Otherwise, she could take care of herself.

"Not yet," the rogue spoke before kneeling down on one knee, gently taking one of her hands in his. Gracefully, he leaned down and kissed the back of her hand before looking up at her with a smirk. "Now it's settled."

Marinette grinned. "Protect me well, my knight."

At the name, Chat Noir felt his heart swell and thud. "Of course, my lady."

And he realized maybe he needed another lady in his life. This time, he was going to make sure she would be his in the end. With that, Adrien knew what he needed to do.