5. Cursing lady
Adrien waited patiently for the man to dismiss them, breathing slowly to keep his fury at bay. He probably should not swallow all his anger, but he had no way of letting it out without getting a few lashes on his back, or thrown into a dungeon, judging by his father's mad measurements these days. Once the Mass was officially over, he got up and left before anyone could ask about the absence of his father, the most religious man in town.
The young man walked aimlessly around the outskirts of the woods, probably a bad idea given the recent announcements. Adrien shook his head, what was the man thinking by terrorizing people into religion? He had never liked his father, but now every new rule was a step closer to hating him; what was next? Making women stay in their houses the entire time?
He sighed.
"Damn it!"
Suddenly, he heard a voice cursing somewhere near him. It took him a second to realize that it was a female voice. Adrien widened his green eyes and walked to the stream.
There was a young lady trying to skip over a fallen tree. Adrien smiled to himself. He liked to spend time at that particular spot too: there was a big fallen tree and a large rock next to the stream, the two of them formed a private, quiet triangle of peace, perfect to enjoy the sound and sight of the water.
But she seemed to have absolutely no peace while trying to climb the tree. Her soft pink dress was getting in her way and her little satin shoes seemed to hurt her feet whenever she tried to climb it.
"Son of a…!"
Holding back a laugh, he decided to approach her.
"Good morning, Miss," Adrien smiled. "Can I help you?"
The girl looked at him so annoyed that for a second he was convinced that he had done something wrong. But suddenly she smiled, and, God, she was a sight.
"Good morning! If you were so kind to lift me up the log? Climbing is not as easy as slipping through the foliage."
Adrien offered her his hand and apologized as he grabbed her waist to pull her over the tree. She was very light, her hair smelled like fresh baked bread and her dress balanced with every movement.
"Thank you so much, Mister," she smiled, "I would have been there for the rest of my life if you had not found me."
"I doubt so, but call me Adrien. Mister makes me feel way too old."
She smiled again.
"You call me Marinette then."
He offered her his arm and she stared at it confused. Adrien chuckled again.
"You are supposed to take it so I can lead us back to town."
"Oh! Pardon me, I had never been in a situation like this."
He raised his eyebrow as she closed her hand over his elbow.
"No man has ever escorted you?"
She shook her head, laughing. Her laughter sounded like that of a fairy, a little too sweet and childish.
"Of course! But never a stranger."
He frowned while they emerged back in town, soon enough because it was not proper for a man and a woman to be alone together.
"I don't think I have seen you before."
"Oh, I am new in town."
Oh, right. The Lenoir girl
"You must be the granddaughter of the Lenoirs, then."
"Yes! How do you know that?"
"You were what everyone was talking about yesterday."
She smiled amused.
"Really?"
"You know, small town. The slightest changes are always a big deal."
She seemed to think about it. But before she could answer, Father Damocles approached them on the street.
"Adrien Agreste!"
Shit. He turned around forcing a smile.
"Good morning, Father Damocles."
"Good morning, son. Please, let your father know that the prayers for your mother will have to be earlier, Madam Rossi's charity event for next week has been moved to six o'clock, given the new curfew."
He nodded, desperate to get away before Marinette connected the dots. But Father Damocles spotted her in his arm and smiled approvingly.
"You must be Madam Lenoir's grandchild. Nice to meet you girl, I am Father Damocles."
Marinette smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you too. I am Marinette Lenoir."
Father Damocles looked at Adrien and he avoided his sight. Marinette had just given them her grandfather's last name, did that mean she had no father?
Damocles hummed awkwardly.
"Welcome to our town, Marinette. I am glad to see you in good company already, Adrien's father keeps our bodies and souls safe! God only knows where we would be without him! Goodbye."
Adrien practically dragged Marinette away.
"Sorry about that."
"So you are the son of Minister Agreste."
He sighed.
"Yeah."
Maybe it was his imagination, but her hand felt tense on his arm.
"You… you must be proud, he seems to be successful in his duty."
Adrien almost scoffed.
"Yes, he is very invested in protecting this place from all the dangers."
"And he has done well, my grandmother told me that there are hardly any robbers around the roads and…"
"Not robbers, evil."
She gaped, trying to discern whether he was serious or not.
"What?"
"The devil, spirits, demons and above all, witches. They enchant people, steal their belongings and children, and force them to sign the book of the devil. According to him, at least."
She frowned.
"You do not believe it."
"No, I do not."
"But you are his son!"
"I am."
Marinette unhanded his arm. Was it possible that the young man wasn't like the rest of the Agrestes she had heard about?
Adrien realized he might had let out too much of his witty personality with this girl, he was supposed to be the eternally nice and well-mannered son of Gabriel and Emilie Agreste.
"Forgive me, Marinette. I do not know what has gotten into me."
But she smiled.
"I do. Common sense."
He laughed until he realized that this girl was having the guts to call Gabriel Agreste, of all things, nonsensical.
"Are you calling my father…?"
"Forgive me if I have insulted you. I have been told that I should learn when to keep my mouth quiet."
He smiled.
"You have not, but don't let anyone else hear you, much less now that is hunting season."
"Hunting season?"
"Well, yes. For all women that could be witches."
She smirked.
"Only women? Your father does not believe in warlocks, I take?"
Adrien almost rolled his eyes.
"No, he says that the devil only chooses beautiful young women to cloud the minds of good rational men and that old witches teach the young ones."
"That is…"
"Ridiculous, I know."
She denied it with a head motion.
"Actually it kind of makes sense."
Adrien actually rolled his eyes this time.
"Do you not think that the devil could be interested in clouding the minds of women? If you ask me, I could be a wonderful warlock."
Marinette gasped and glanced at him like he was crazy. And Adrien remembered why he wasn't supposed to make jokes: his sense of humor was too much for the simple people of Saint Emilie, like his mother used to say, or he was foolish and imprudent, like his father said.
Please have a sense of humor, please have a sense of humor, please have a…
Marinette laughed.
"You have guts to say something like that. Didn't you hear the Father encourage us to denounce suspicious behavior?"
"I don't have guts, I am the Minister's son. Besides, look at all this! I could bewitch women without even trying."
She laughed like a little girl, earning some disapproving glances from old ladies and jealous ones from young girls.
"What about me, do you think that I could bewitch men?"
By the innocent playful tone of her voice, Adrien didn't think that she was flirting, merely joking, but before he managed to answer, Madam Lenoir came to them with her maid and coachman. Adrien wondered if servants counted as male chaperons for women.
"Marinette, I have been looking all over for you!"
She smiled soothingly.
"I am sorry, grandmother. I went to freshen up to the stream and got myself trapped between a tree and a rock. Mister Agreste here, came to my rescue."
Madam Lenoir smiled to Adrien and then looked at Marinette. She let go of Adrien's arm and gave him a tired smile.
"Thank you so much for your company, Mister Agreste. I hope I see you around."
"So do I, Miss Lenoir," he kissed her hand politely and did the same to Madam Lenoir's before leaving.
Grandmother and granddaughter walked down the street with their maid, smiling to the neighbors, but Marinette knew Marianne well: she was angry.
Once in their house, the usually agreeable woman dragged Marinette to the third story of the house and slammed the door.
"What were you doing with the son of Gabriel Agreste? Don't you realize who he is? What it could happen if you let something slip through your lips?"
"Nanna, he doesn't even believe in his father, he finds the whole witchcraft thing ridiculous."
"Or so he says. He is a popular boy in town, he must be trying his charms with every girl in Saint Emilie to find a witch."
The possibility really hurt Marinette's pride, was she so stupid to let herself be tricked that way?
"I do not think that…"
"You will not talk to him again, Marinette. Swear to me, on your mother's name."
She sighed.
"I swear, grandmother."
But witches always lie, she remembered the voice of Father Damocles.