Fire and Fury
Even as Gabriel started his bow, the two teens stood there in stunned silence before they realized they needed to show the proper respect. Adrien bowed gracefully, while Marinette gave a very low curtsy while the family approached.
"Please rise." King Bourgeois instructed. When they were standing fully, he looked at the two Agreste men. "We owe you both apologies for how we acted, and hope you will accept them."
"Already forgiven, my friend." Gabriel countered.
"That goes doubly for me." Adrien added, looking at the princess who averted her gaze. "I still wish to consider you my friend, Chloe." When she looked at him, he could see that her eyes were red and puffy from tears. "We've been friends for so long, I don't want to lose that with you."
Looking up at his emerald green gaze, she took a deep breath and nodded. "I... I've missed you, Adrien," she then looked at Marinette, her eyes growing hard and cold, "but I have something to tell your betrothed." Everyone watched as she stomped over to the young woman, her finger pointing right at her chest.
"Chloe..." Adrien warned, but if she heard him that one word was ignored.
"I swear by every measure of mine and my parent's authority that if you ever make my Adrien unhappy, then I will personally swoop in and snatch him up, and spoil him!" she glared at Marinette. "Understood?!"
"Very much so," Marinette answered, "but I have something to tell you as well, Princess Bourgeois." That caused everyone to blink as she continued. "If you ever insult Adrien again because he made a choice, then I will insist that we limit your contact after we are wed." That caught everyone off-guard. "I understand his desire to keep one of his oldest friends, and I want to consider you a friend as well, but I do not believe he needs that type of friend in his life."
"How dare you..?" Chloe started to balk.
Marinette, however, interrupted. "Had our roles been reversed, I would ask no less of myself."
Silence reigned for several seconds as the two women seemed to stare each other down. "You... really care about Adrien that much?" Chloe breathed.
Nodding, she gave the blond a pleasant smile. "I love him." Marinette answered succinctly. "If for any reason I had to believe he wanted to be with someone else, I should be willing to give him up so that he could be happy." She felt him grip her hand, and she moved so that the pair interlaced their fingers. "That's what it truly means to love someone. Mind you, I'm still going to make sure she's at least a halfway decent person."
King and Queen Bourgeois watched the two women as Chloe wiped away her tears, nodding. "Agreed." she then took a deep breath and let it out as she spoke. "I am sorry for how I acted in front of your bakery. Would you find it within your heart to forgive my... unladylike behavior?"
Smiling at the other young woman, Marinette nodded. "Forgiven and forgotten." Chloe looked like she was about to collapse as she trembled in front of them. When she felt Adrien's hand on her shoulder, however, she practically lunged at the pair, hugging them fiercely, only for them to hug her back. It took a couple of minutes for the three teenagers to disengage from each other, but when they did, there were smiles all around. Strained smiles, but smiles nonetheless.
Dinner was an interesting affair with much of the political information being shared between the baron and king. Much of it went over Marinette's head but she was able to grasp the basics of troop movements in the North, the baron establishing supply routes with alternates should the initial ones be stopped, and what needs they might have for supplying the troops with armor, food, and weapons. It was when they started talking about military tactics, Adrien finally added his suggestions, remarking on effectiveness of the previous decades of unrest that she was totally lost.
Marinette kept her thoughts to herself, as she knew so little about the subject, and was already stewing over her own questions she wanted to ask the royal family. "Miss Dupain-Cheng?" she heard across from her. Looking up, she saw Queen Bourgeois looking at her. The look in her eyes was less than friendly, but not overly hostile.
"Yes, my queen?" she acknowledged.
"I have heard some" she paused as a shiver roiled up her spine, "rather disturbing rumors about you, and wish to have them clarified, if that is alright." That caused everyone to blink, and look at the woman as she sat there, her roast pheasant hardly touched.
Confusion crossed her face as Marinette blinked. "What sort of rumors?"
Looking down at her food, the queen poked at it with her fork. "Let's get the unpleasant ones out of the way first." her voice was icy as she spoke. "There are rumors filtering through high society that you are secretly..." heat colored her cheeks as she continued, "entertaining men at the Rose Petal Inn, and have a good relationship with the current madam."
Everyone's eyes grew to the sizes of saucers as she finished. "I-I've never..." Marinette looked stricken, her face pale, and her voice barely coming out in gasps. When she felt Adrien's hand in hers, the young woman reached up with a hand to her bosom. Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe.
"Whoever told you that rumor," Gabriel countered, "is a blatant liar, Audrey."
"I would like to hear that from her, baron!" she nearly growled his title before turning her gaze upon Marinette, who seemed to have taken a few deep breaths, her eyes narrowing.
"Queen Bourgeois," her voice trembled ever so slightly, "I have never, nor do I intend to be with any man outside of my husband, and only on our wedding night and forever after that." She shook her head. "I don't even know who is the current madam of the Rose Petal Inn, nor do I intend to find out." Interlacing her fingers with Adrien's, she took another breath and let it out. "Baron Agreste is right, though, and you should never trust anyone who makes such rumors."
"Really?" Audrey asked. "Then you also don't know this "Black Cat" that supposedly saved you from being kidnapped?"
"I have met him, and he did save me from being taken to either Xavier or Robert Ross," she then shook her head, "but I wouldn't say I know him. I can surmise much about his character, just from our limited time being in each other's presence."
"Oh?" the queen raised her head skeptically.
Marinette nodded. "The first thing is that he's brave and skilled in combat. He was able to take down the five men that were kidnapping me with little difficulty. Next, he is a complete gentleman, and rather than acting like a rakish rogue, he ensured that I got home safely. Afterward, he made sure I was not about to be accosted again. I will always consider him with the highest in regards, but I cannot say that I know him like I know" she looked at Adrien with a smile, "my intended."
"I'm glad you mentioned Adrien, because the next rumor surrounds him as well." Audrey went on with a scowl.
Nathalie glowered at the woman. "If your intention is to surmise that they are about to have a child out of wedlock, then I highly recommend you keep that lie to yourself!"
King and Queen Bourgeois glared at the woman. "How dare you?! I will ask whatever question I deem necessary."
"You may ask, but then you question my honor and skills as a chaperon." Nathalie crossed her arms under her bosom. "That, I will say right now, will start a fight faster than you questioning Adrien's honor."
The two women glared at each other for several tense seconds, before Audrey said "Whatever."
"Ask your question." Adrien urged. "I want to hear what utter garbage you've heard so that I can dispute it vehemently."
Chloe glared at her mother as she continued. "Are you intending on relinquishing your title and lands in order to live as some sort of peasant with a girl that is utterly beneath you?!" Audrey growled.
For several seconds, silence reigned before Adrien started to chuckle. His laughter filled the room as he wiped away a tear. Everyone sat there and watched as he smiled back at Audrey. "With all of my heart and soul. If she asked," he then looked at Marinette, "I would give up everything, including my life, to prove my love for her." He then turned back to look at the royal family. "You have only been given half of the information. I fully intend to leave Paris, and take over my mother's former home. Doing so may bestow upon me a minor title, but it is a price I am more than willing to pay to be with the one I love."
"Aside from your daughter's familiarity toward my son," Gabriel countered, "I am unsure as to why his future has any bearing on your interest whatsoever."
"My interest is in ensuring your legacy remains..." Audrey spat.
Nathalie glared at her, "You have no need to worry about the Agreste legacy, Queen Bourgeois. Even if Adrien leaves, that just means his sibling will inherit his title."
"Sibling?" Marinette gasped as she looked down at Nathalie rubbing her lower abdomen. The girl nearly squealed as she lunged at, and hugged, the woman. Adrien joined her while Gabriel smiled at the reaction.
"We were planning on telling you both in private," Gabriel shrugged, "but why not in front of the royal family too?"
"Sorry..." Nathalie blushed at the loss of decorum.
"Don't be. It's about time they knew." Looking over at Audrey, he saw the shocked look on her face. "Has your curiosity been sufficiently sated?"
"I..." Audrey looked at him for a few seconds before bowing her head. "Yes."
Completely inundated with questions from the two teens, Nathalie just sat there as the pair hugged her from both sides, but she stayed quiet until Gabriel spoke up. "Children, all of your queries will be answered in private. Let us remember we are hosting a dinner, and be proper ones toward our guests."
When everyone resumed their seats, Marinette smiled at Gabriel and Nathalie, joy radiating off of the young woman before she remembered the questions she wanted answered. "Queen Bourgeios, I have answered your questions, but might you and your husband answer a few questions from me?" she asked.
Glaring at the young woman, Audrey scoffed. "We don't answer to peasants."
"Yes, you do." Adrien countered. "Peasants pay the taxes that are the income with which helps to bolster the economy. By that right, they can refuse to pay taxes, and revolt against the hierarchy if so inclined." Looking straight at the woman, she saw his eyes boring into her. "You have insinuated, scoffed, insulted, and lied to my betrothed. The least you can do is answer any questions she has regardless of what they might be."
Andre nodded. "It is only fair, and perhaps this will allay any hard feelings." Looking at the young woman, he bowed his head slightly. "Ask your questions, and if my wife will not answer, then I will." She watched as he leaned back, a placid smile on his face.
Marinette bowed. "Thank you, King Bourgeois." Once she was sat up, she looked at the man. "I have run into a friend of my mother's, and she... made a startling accusation against you both." She looked at Adrien, then down in shame. "This friend of my mother's accused you and your family of taking someone away, and executing them without trial."
King Bourgeois smiled and shook his head. "That, dear lady, will never happen in Paris as long as I live." He watched the hopeful look in her eyes and clasped his hands under the table. "Have you heard about how Darkblade was finally ousted from Paris?"
"I know that he would find and execute people just for the possibility of dissension. My father said that he was almost a monster, and never took off his armor because he feared assassination." she answered.
"Yes, but few understood just how and why I had him ousted." Looking at Audrey for a few seconds, he turned his gaze back at Marinette. "The why is simple. He was killing and starving the people of Paris indiscriminately. Anyone who dared to speak out against him was put to the sword. My father was a minor noble under his rule, but hated what he was doing. He went to talk with Darkblade, and found him... unwilling to compromise, and because he had spoken out..." he let that part end.
Shaking her head, Marinette's eyes widened in horror. "No..."
"Regardless, I obtained my father's vast fortune, and more than enough influence to seriously worry Darkblade." His eyes became a glower. "I managed to talk with each of the nobles. The ones I couldn't convince, I bought off, but those would be dealt with later. In a few months we managed to oust him with a veritable army." Shaking his head, he sighed. "We lost many that day, including several of the nobles that I had convinced, but we managed to secure our home and consolidate all those that we had hired into a militia."
"Do you know where Darkblade went?" Marinette asked.
"No, but I also didn't care. Paris was in need of leadership, and I was honor-bound to see her prosper." Andre saw the questioning gaze. "There were rumors that he went south to Spain, or across the Alps to Italy, but I didn't care enough to look further." Shaking his head slowly, he sighed. "Several of the bought nobles wanted to fill the power vacuum left by Darkblade, but none of them realized that the militia was loyal to me, and I had every belief that they were still loyal to my enemy. I had each of them imprisoned for treason, and liquidated their assets." His eyes grew hard at the next part "Each one stood trial. Many of them tried to bribe, or threaten me, but doing so just proved that they were guilty of the crime. As such, I had the ones who spat threats executed, while the bribers were sentenced to prison."
"What about a man named Alec?" Marinette asked.
Shaking his head, he sighed. "I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about this man." at the look on her face, he smiled. "I can have the militia look into his case and see what happened to him."
"I would very much appreciate it, King Bourgeois."
"May I ask why a potential traitor interests you, Lady Dupain-Cheng?" Audrey asked, her eyes narrowed.
Glancing at Adrien, she saw the question in his gaze as well before she turned to look at the queen. "I'm just worried that a friend of my mother's might have just lied to her, and I want to find out why."
"Then I will try to get you the information you need as quickly as possible." King Bourgeois said with a nod. "Hopefully you will have the information either by tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."
"Thank you, King Bourgeois." Marinette bowed in respect.
oOo
Not long after Marinette had left, Sabine managed to console Nadja. The woman offered the two bakers a wan smile as she left. With the rain pattering against her hooded cloak, she started walking in the same direction their daughter had taken before her abduction so long ago. Glancing back at the bakery, she noted how Tom and his wife moved inside before she descended toward a two story building by the river. She was three meters away when she heard "Hold! State your business!"
"A pretty white sheathe..." she started.
The response from the male was "... can still hold a dark blade." Luka stepped out from the dark corner he had secreted himself away. "Only three of the Assembly are here right now, including us."
"Let me guess, D'Argencourt?"
"No." he turned to walk into the building with Nadja following. Opening the basement, she saw the scowl on his face. "Rossi is here, although now she's calling herself "Vixen" as if that makes any sort of difference."
"You could stand to be a little nicer to her." the older woman countered. "Her mother is one of our benefactors."
Scowling at her, he shook his head. "Not after last time." Closing the basement door, he went back to his position, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.
"Hello, Lila." she watched as the young woman sat on the table, her entire body covered over by a skin tight tunic that draped behind her like a tail, her black gauntlets and mid-thigh boots covering a pair of honey-golden breeches. Turning her glare upon the woman that entered, she pushed off of the table.
"Why is it so hard to accept that I prefer to be called Vixen now?" Lila scowled.
"Maybe we just think Lila is a prettier name?" Nadja cajoled.
A scoff was all she heard as more footsteps echoed in the cavernous room. Several people filled in the spaces around the table. 'Our generals and officers.' Nadja thought caustically before noticing a single, incredibly slender man separated himself from the group. "Good to see you Fred. How goes the guild work?" reaching out, her hand was gripped by the white gloves as he bowed forward toward her.
Returning to an upright position, he looked at the woman. "So far so good. Stone is keeping the lute players in line, while I've been helping the dancers and performance artists." He shook his head slowly. "Some are interested in joining us, having heard about how Darkblade's loyalists were treated while he ruled, but Stone is highly resistant to joining a "lost cause" as he described."
"That was to be expected." she looked back toward the entrance of the basement. "Has anyone managed to speak with our benefactors?"
"Mother has already accepted the alliance." Lila answered, "Not surprising considering our personal relationship."
"Keep telling yourselves that." D'Argencourt scoffed as he and the larger male entered the room together, with Luka bringing up the rear. "Being the direct descendant to Darkblade, I have yet to see you at a family reunion."
"We would've gone, had he not been an absolute stronzo toward out side of the family." she glowered at D'Argencourt. "Sending your aunt across the Alps, and refusing to talk to her all because she thought that maybe... maybe... they could've done things slightly different." She glared at him. "My family didn't have anything to do with what happened, and he cut us off like we were Merda!"
If she was looking for sympathy, she was apparently searching the wrong face. "So what? Now do you want a hug for trying to get in good with the new regime?"
Lila just looked at him before closing her eyes and shaking her head. "No. I just want a small bit of compassion from my uncle, but if you think that's too much to ask for, then I'll just take the consolation prize of murdering Adrien's little puttana myself, and taking him for my own."
The larger of the males glared at her. "Language, young lady."
"As always, it's a pleasure to have our spiritual leader around." hopping off the table, she bowed to the older man her previous anger melting away.
"Now that Bishop Damocles is here, we can get this meeting under way." Nadja commented.
"I have a midnight mass to conduct," the bishop stated, "why did you call me away from Notre Dame?"
"We have a few new developments." Nadja announced. "Vixen, report on Ladybird Beetle and Black Cat."
Lila scowled "The bug is highly resistant toward my illusions." she looked away. "I have tried to manipulate her in our direction, but she would rather rely on King Bourgeois. Black Cat is even worse. Apparently he knows the difference between me and anyone I transform into via scent. I can't fool them and neither seem interested in anything I have to say."
"Unfortunately for you, Ladybird Beetle is a person of great moral clarity," Luka admitted, "manipulating her is going to be difficult if not impossible. What about the baron's son?"
"I've tried to manipulate him toward our cause, but he seems steadfast on his current course," D'Argencourt stated, nonplussed, "and I have had very little contact with Miss Dupain-Cheng."
"She is a non-entity." Lila waved away.
Nadja shook her head slowly. "That's where you're wrong. I have spoken to several sources, and they say she has not only the ear of Baron Agreste, but also Tomoe Tsurugi. Even the word on her street is that she's one of the most popular ladies here in Paris because of her heart and willingness to help all others." Looking down at the table, she sighed. "Even I was swayed by her, so... I went to her bakery to bring both her and her parents over to our side, and she would rather confirm what I said rather than stick around and listen further."
"You haven't gotten the knack of lying then." Lila countered.
Shaking her head, she sighed. "No. I think that we cannot rely upon Adrien and his betrothed." Nadja looked across the table at Vixen. "Should they approach the battlefield, you have my permission to stop them in any way you feel necessary." Turning to Luka, she missed the nearly psychotic smile that spread Lila's lips. "How is our flotilla?"
"Ready whenever you are." he answered with a smirk, crossing his arms over his bare chest.
"D'Argencourt, what about our troops?" Nadja asked.
"Ill-prepared, but they will get the job done." the fencing master admitted. "Give me two more months, and they'll defeat the king's own personal guard."
Bishop Damocles then spoke up. "If you're going to be at the head of the assault, then I have something for you. Know that it will make you more than a match for Ladybird Beetle and Black Cat." He then smiled. "Come to Notre Dame, and we'll make sure you're properly outfitted."
Nodding at the summons, they continued. "Do you have the distraction ready?" Nadja asked.
Fred nodded. "Just need you to give the signal."
"You won't miss it at all." She then bowed. "This will be our final meeting until the assault."
"Just make sure that we get into the palace as soon as possible," Luka glared at Vixen, "once there you can do whatever else you like, but the drawbridge needs to be down so our forces..."
"I know the plan, you sanctimonious prick!" Lila spat. "Perhaps you should remember who you talk to, because I can do a lot worse than trick you into a romantic evening."
"Touch me again..."
Lila smiled evilly, "I was talking about doing something worse than touching you." the sudden appearance of a dagger in her hand caused him to glare at her. "How many young women work for your sister?"
His eyes widened. "You leave my..."
"It would be a shame if one of them betrayed her, slit her throat, or stabbed her in the back." her smile widened even more. "How would that make you feel?"
For several seconds, Luka was beside himself with anger, his eyes burning as he gritted his teeth. "I swear, if you do anything to hurt my sister..."
"Make sure you do your part in getting us into the palace, and her safety is assured." Giving a soft laugh, she smiled. "In fact, my mother may even offer her a discount on her taxes depending on how this battle goes. Now be a good little boy, and do your job."
With that said, the entire group went their separate ways.
Congratulations to Ladyrhi who took up my challenge. Below are the names, and the clues to their identities:
Nadja Chamack (Clue: Adult female Akumaitzed - only two that were still alive Nadja and Nathalie)
Fred Haprèle (Clue: White gloves... Mime wears white gloves)
Mr Damocles (Clue: Wide adult male... could only have been Tom, or Damocles since he talks)
Luka Couffaine (Clue: Been literally hinting that he was a villain since Part 1)
Lila Rossi (Clue: If you couldn't tell that this was Lila... holy crap!)
Armand D'Argencourt (Clue: I literally gave this one away!)
As you can see, the names of the "Assembly" (still not sure I like that name, but... oh well) have been revealed. In the next chapter we shall meet her OC; Mary.
With that said, let the killing commence. Yes, several named characters will lose their lives in the next three chapters, and the story will change drastically from this point forward.