After returning to her own bedroom, Marinette flopped onto her bed, grinning from ear to ear.
How could she not feel butterflies soaring in her stomach after Adrien had said those things to her?
The aching in her chest from the overwhelming events of the day had slipped away, replacing those feelings with ones of hope and giddiness.
Maybe staying in the castle as a guest, and potential bride, wouldn't be so bad after all.
Finally, Marinette's quickening heartbeat began to rest, and she dozed off in the comfortable bed.
A few hours later after some much needed sleep, Mister Damocles, the king's steward approached her room, knocking.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, breakfast is almost ready in the dining room."
She slowly sat up in the bed, yawning. So yesterday hasn't been a dream after all.
Remembering the clothing in the armoire, she leapt from her bed and flung the doors open, beaming. It took her a few minutes to decide which gown would be the first for her to wear.
After brushing her hair and leaving it down, she slipped into a pastel blue dress with gold detailing. It was slightly lighter than the color of her eyes, but it complimented them well.
She padded down the hallway to the dining room downstairs. The table was laid out with pastries her parents had spent preparing, her heart feeling warm as she got to be one of the guests eating her parents delicious baking.
The long table held 6 chairs, Adrien sitting at one end of the table. The girl Marinette knew to be Chloe Bourgeois sitting at the other end. Marinette took a seat across from a girl she didn't know but had been chosen last night as well. Beside her sat Lila Rossi.
All of the girls were dressed in equally extravagant dresses, if not more so than the ones the seamstresses had prepared for her. It was still kind of embarrassing knowing that she was the only girl that Adrien had selected that was not from much wealth or status, but she tried her hardest to not let that get in the way of the opportunity at hand.
Adrien cleared his throat and addresses the ladies as the wait staff began preparing the plates for everyone.
"Good morning ladies, I hope you all slept well." He looked at everyone and when his eyes landed on Marinette he gave her a small wink. It took everything within her not to blush, desperate to keep any attention off of herself.
"I know most of you aren't familiar with one another, so why don't you all introduce yourselves? Let's begin with you, Miss Bourgeois."
The blonde girl twirled her hair in her fingers, giving the server an annoyed look as he placed some fruits and pastries on her plate. She wore a yellow gown that was only a few shades darker than her hair.
"I'm Chloe Bourgeois, my father is Lord Bourgeois. We own a manor just outside of town, and our family has been close to the Agreste family for centuries." With that she smiled devilishly, looking down the table at Adrien. "I'm an avid horseback rider, too." She winked at Adrien, making all of the girls shift uncomfortably in their seats while he adjusted his collar awkwardly.
After she paused to signal she was finished, the redheaded girl across from Marinette began. She adorned a green dress.
"My name is Sabrina Raincomprix, my father is Roger Raincomprix, captain of the guard for the King and the Agreste's."
The next girl began, a dark haired girl wearing a purple dress. She spoke very quietly.
"I'm Juleka Couffaine."
That was all she said.
The girl sitting next to Marinette, whom she knew to be Lila Rossi, was dressed in a red gown with long sleeves, and had her hair in two braids, similar to how Marinette had worn hers the night before.
"My name is Lila Rossi, my father is Count Rossi from the kingdom of Bugiarda. He works very close with the royal family there, so you could basically say I'm already a princess."
Her smile was sickeningly sweet, and Marinette could tell she wasn't going to like this girl very much.
At last it was Marinette's turn.
"M-My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. It's nice to meet you all."
She didn't feel like explaining her parents like most of the girls had done. They all saw her walk up to the thrones in the Great Hall last night with her servers apron on, they knew she wasn't like all of them.
Adrien was smiling at her when she looked up, making her heart melt.
"I'm going to be spending time with each of you over the next few days, so please don't get too discouraged if today we don't have the chance to get to know one another more in depth. There will be plenty of opportunities for that this upcoming week."
He was smiling as he spoke, but Marinette sensed there was a lot more going on behind the curtains.
After everyone had chatted casually and ate their meals, Adrien rose from his seat, placing his hand on the back on the chair.
He was wearing a very nice white dress shirt with navy blue trousers and a navy overcoat. He seemed to be very comfortable, despite always wearing rather nice and constructing clothing.
"Today I'm going to be taking Miss Bourgeois out for a stroll in the gardens. You ladies are free to explore the castle and do whatever you please until we return."
Chloe began beaming, rising from her seat to go to the prince, looping her arm with his after kissing his cheek.
"Farewell, ladies." she said, winking as they walked away.
The girls were left feeling deflated, Lila the first to walk away from the table. Sabrina followed after her towards the doors to the courtyard. Juleka retreated back towards her room.
That left Marinette all alone at the grand dining table, picking at the grapes on her plate in silence.
After finishing her meal, she walked down to the kitchens. She expected them to be empty and without her parents, but she had silently hoped they may still be there cleaning up so she could see them. She had been given instructions not to go and visit them in their quarters, but she knew if she really had wanted to that none of the guards would rat her out.
She sighed as she made her way back up to the main rooms of the castle, then she smiled as she saw Alya walking towards her to head to the kitchen herself.
"Mari! My girl!"
Alya ran towards her, pulling her into a brief hug.
"How's it going so far? What has Prince Adrien said? Tell me everything!"
Marinette laughed, giving her friend a small smile.
"Well, he's currently taking Chloe on an excursion, so the rest of us have some free time. We also may have snuck away into his secret treehouse in the forest last night..."
Alya squealed.
"No way! How was that? Anything romantic and steamy happen?" she wiggled her eyebrows.
Marinette smacked her arm, blushing.
"N-No! We just caught up. We talked until the sun was out, and he said some really sweet things. It's been nice to see him, honestly. I forgot how much I had missed him until we were really able to speak to one another. And he's always so proper and kind, and handsome..."
Alya laughed.
"I'm so happy for you Mari. Let me know if you ever bump into his friend Nino, I think he is so cute." Alya winked at her before squeezing her hand. "I have to go down and prepare lunch with my parents, but come see me soon, okay?"
They hugged once more before Marinette returned to her room.
She spent the afternoon in her room, reading a few books in her bed. Once that became boring she found the seamstresses room and watched them sew from the doorway. They knew her quite well, so they chatted with Marinette casually as she studied their clothing and handiwork.
Adrien had decided to take Juleka into town for lunch, the other girls staying at the castle to eat alone in their rooms. He had been intrigued to get to know her a little more because she had such a mysterious quality surrounding her.
As they walked from the gates of the castle towards the town, his personal guards trailed behind them. Adrien kept attempting to make small talk, to try and coax her out of her shell, but it seemed she wasn't having that.
They ate their lunch at a small restaurant, not much talking happening.
Adrien let her know as they headed back to the castle that she was free to leave at anytime.
"My mother thinks I should marry you, but I have feelings for a girl who works in the town market."
Adrien's mouth dropped open, but he quickly composed himself.
"Then you should return home, I'm sure she's a lovely girl."
They smiled at each other, and Juleka told him she would pack her things after dinner, so not to be rude to the other girls.
Dinner time came, and Marinette found herself back at the awkwardly long dining table with the four other girls and Adrien.
She was quiet while everyone tried getting Adrien's attention, flaunting their statuses and wealth, trying to make themselves appear more desirable.
Juleka also ate her dinner silently, making small glances at the head of the table where Adrien sat.
"Adrikins, our walk in the courtyard was absolutely divine," Chloe said, stabbing her fork into her food. The other girls widened their eyes at her. "it's always nice talking with you. You're so smart and eloquent."
Adrien smiled at her kindly. "Thank you, Chloe."
Lila then piped up, putting her hands politely on her lap.
"I'm so excited to get to spend more time with you, Your Majesty. Back home we own a beach that I'd love to take you to visit. The water is so blue and the sand practically sparkles."
He nodded in her direction, taking a bite of his food.
"I'm sure it's very lovely, Lila."
While the two girls continued to talk to Adrien about their hopes for this experience, Sabrina chiming in every so often, Marinette ate her food quietly. She occasionally made small glances up at Adrien, who always seemed to be looking at her before she looked at him.
When dinner was finished, Adrien stood like he had this morning.
"This evening I wish to take Marinette on an adventure."
Marinette blushed and looked up from her plate again, seeing him smile at her with warm eyes. She put her napkin onto the table, quietly walking to his side. She heard Chloe and Lila both make aggravated noises, but she paid no attention to them.
"I can't believe he's taking a servant out."
Marinette heard Chloe's comment and ignored her, standing next to Adrien with a soft expression on his face.
His face contorted into an expression of anger, though. He looked at Marinette before he spoke. He didn't look away as he said:
"Miss Bourgeois?"
She stood with haste, smiling that devilish smile again.
"Yes, Adrikins?"
He motioned to the attendant standing beside him. Max was one of Adrien's favorite castle staff members, a servant exclusive to Prince Adrien. He was there to follow any duties Adrien wished of him.
"Have dear Maxwell here gather your belongings. You'll be returning to your father's manor by sunrise."
Chloe gasped, stomping her foot on the ground. Adrien finally glanced at Chloe, who's expression faltered. His serious tone and face made her tremble. She crossed her arms and frowned, turning away and walking from the dining room without another word.
Marinette couldn't blink. She was in utter shock. Had he done that just because of the comment she had made towards her?
Adrien's kind face returned, taking Marinette's hand.
"I'll see you all tomorrow morning, save Juleka. She's decided to return home as well. Farewell, Miss Couffaine."
Juleka stood and nodded towards him. She smiled before turning and leaving them room as well.
Lila and Sabrina shared concerned glances as Marinette followed Adrien.
Adrien ran as soon as they walked out into the night air, laughing as she struggled to keep up with him. They made it to the tree house, climbing up and finally relaxing as they sat down on the blankets.
"Th-That was something." Marinette said, looking over at him. "I've never seen you act in such a way."
Adrien cleared his throat, staring at the wall of the tree house, clasping his hands together.
"Miss Bourgeois was being disrespectful towards you. I couldn't ever marry someone so cruel."
Marinette gave him a sheepish smile as he finally looked over at her.
"Thank you, then. For defending me."
"Of course, my darling."
He shut his eyes, leaning his head against the wall behind him.
Marinette felt her breath dissipate. She couldn't help but feel shocked and in awe by his words and actions. It had been so long since she had been so close to another person other than Alya and her parents. She could feel their connection deepening each time they met, each time they spoke. It was like they had always been friends, just like when they were children.
Marinette shifted on the floor, crossing her feet and outstretching her legs, her blue gown spread out around her.
"Why did your father choose a competition of sorts to decide your future bride?"
Adrien opened his eyes, now looking towards the roof.
"Because he couldn't accept that his son, a prince, was in love with a servant girl."
Marinette's mouth dropped open.
He wasn't speaking of her, was he? They hadn't truly spoken to one another in nearly a decade. There was no possible chance that he had been in love with her this entire time, not after meeting so many attractive women as a prince. Girls were constantly falling all over themselves for the opportunity to even look at him.
She was the baker's daughter, a servant, sure. But there was no way...
Adrien turned his head, his eyes growing much more serious.
"Marinette, that servant girl is you."
She blushed, hard, looking away from him.
"B-But..."
"I've known you were the girl I wanted to marry since I was a child. You've always held a special place in my heart, and I found myself sneaking away at night to play piano so that I may have a chance to see you,"
"Wh-What? You knew I was watching-"
"Of course I did. You've always been a clumsy girl." He smiled brightly. "But my father would never allow such a marriage to occur. My job is to continue running the kingdom after he steps down from the throne. See my father has outrageously high standards, and marrying you was never an option. In fact, this entire 'competition', if you can even call it that, is rigged. It's all for show. A ruse to let me have a few moments of happiness before I'm forced into an arranged marriage."
"Ar-ranged? With who?"
"Lila Rossi."
Marinette flushed, looking down at her fingers as she anxiously rubbed them together, bunching her hands in the skirt of her dress.
"Since her father is a Count from another kingdom, my father sees this as somewhat of a business transaction. Two kingdom's merging to one. A legacy for myself to continue on, expanding the kingdom, blah blah blah."
He sighed, scrunching his eyes closed before he sat up straighter.
"My father found out I was in love with you when we were children, and decided it would be best to not allow us to spend anymore time together. He knew I would grow too attached to you and disobey him. And he was correct. I'm attached to you even after all these years, and I'd like to disobey him, very much so."
Marinette couldn't look away from him as he continued to share.
"Every lady I've met as the mature and older 'Prince Adrien' has been utterly disappointing. You're different. Very unique. You have the same free spirit I long for, the same dreams to run away from this place forever. I know I should have just told you all of this last night, and I wanted to so desperately, but I didn't want to scare you away from me. I truly mean it when I say that you haven't left my mind since we were children, and I know that all sounds absurd... I simply wanted a night to catch up with you and forget about my reality."
Marinette took a few deep breaths to try and steady her breathing as it threatened to lose control.
"But if your father would never allow us to marry, why did you choose me at the ball?"
Adrien's look saddened, his gaze moving to the floor.
"My father said he would allow you to stay in the castle for the two of us to spend time with one another before I inevitably marry Miss Rossi. He said if I couldn't let go of you, maybe this would bring me some closure. But I have no intentions of marrying Miss Rossi. She has a shady quality about her, and I find her to be entirely untrustworthy."
Marinette couldn't help but giggle at that, in complete agreement with him. She'd known this girl for two days and got the same feelings from her.
"Unfortunately, as much as I would love to dismantle this chauvinistic charade of choosing a bride, it's the only option I have to spend time with you before I'm forced to have Lila take the throne with me."
Marinette stared at him, inspecting his face as he spoke. His expression was dark and clouded. His eyes stared at the ground, his gaze shaky. His face was pale, the anxiousness he felt was palpable. It broke her heart into a million pieces.
"Is there anything we could do to change his mind?"
Adrien glanced at her, frowning.
"I'm afraid not."
"Then let's make these moments count, shall we?"