WARNING: There is a light lemon in this chapter. If you prefer to skip a lemon then skip the last paragraph of this story.
Chapter 7 Seven days left
Adrien woke soft fingers combing through his hair. A voice, a female voice, sang softly to him. The tunes were unfamiliar but in his tired state he dreamt that it was his mother. He saw her as he remembered her, her golden hair neatly braided like a Gloria around her head, with ornaments of pearls and diamonds pinned into it. Her soft hands, which had always been so warm, gently stroking her precious child to sleep. He smiled as his body slowly returned to the land of the living and slowly the memories of the day before returned to him. His mother… no wait, Plagg said she was gone.
He opened his eyes and blinked as the room returned to focus and his sleepy brain caught on. Mari sat by his side. It was her hand he had felt. He didn't understand why she was here and who had let her inside. She was humming gentle tunes to a lullaby, but stopped when she noticed that he was awake.
"Good morning, how do you feel?"
He blinked. Mari was dressed in her usual plain grey dress, but her hair was loose and he could see evidence of a few tangles. He figured she must have hurried to see him because he had no clue of when she would have arrived.
"Better, I think. But why are you here? How did you get in here?"
Plagg got on the bed to join them. "Good to see you awake. I hope you are feeling a little better. Sorry about yesterday, but you had to know, Prince."
Adrien cringed, both at the memory of last night and for Plagg to use his title so openly. "So, it wasn't a bad dream." He said sadly. "But, how… when did you get here?" he asked Mari. She smiled.
"Plagg went to fetch me. He kind of explained everything once her got me out of bed. He let me in and I've been here for a few hours now. He told me not to wake you said you needed to rest, but that I should be ready to help you once you woke. I am sorry for your mother. I too lost my parents. I know the pain."
Adrien didn't know what to think. Should he be surprised to see that Plagg had been so considerate or surprised that Mari didn't seem phased that his cat talked. He had so many questions, yet none of them could make from his heart past his throat. He was scared. He loved her, but she didn't know.
Then he remembered the day before when he seen the red and black dress in her room, the dress she claimed had been stolen. His heart hammered in his chest and she held his gaze with her large blue eyes. For a moment he forgot about his worries and drenched himself in the calmness that she always carried with her.
"Mari, are you Lady Bug?"
She smiled.
"I heard you saw it. Yes, yes, I am."
Adrien stared at her. She smiled and it was a smile that reached her eyes and made her eyes sparkle like sapphires. He was reminded of their day at the Square when they danced and he first realised that he loved her. It should be impossible to feel such love, they were still to a certain extent strangers.
He sat up and their lips met. His hands reached around her waist, he never wanted to let go and it would seem she felt the same, because she clung to his shoulders as if she was afraid of losing him. His hands wandered over her back, felt the curves underneath the grey dress she wore. She felt so small this close to his body but he needed her. He needed her like he needed to breath. Her hands moved from holding herself on his shoulders to hold him by the back of his head, bringing their mouths closer. Her lips, soft to the touch like warm cream, were desperate to move with his own.
Suddenly she whined and the magic broke. What was happening to him, why did he not want to let her go? And was she scared? Was she scared of him?
"I… I'm sorry." She said and he saw traces of tears in her eyes, he could pretty much read doubt and a hundred emotions from them. A wave of panic rose and he hugged her close. He couldn't let her go, not after all that was happening, she was an anchor he needed right now.
"Don't be. Please, stay with me. I love you."
She sniffed but her face broke to a smile. He didn't see it but felt her relax.
"I- I love you too." She said weakly and they laughed. It was like bells ringing and relief washed over him.
By this point Plagg had jumped of the bed and was heading towards the window. Neither noticed, too caught up in the own world.
"There is something you should know." She said and her arms fell back to clutch her chest. My real name isn't Mari, it is Marinette."
He blinked. He had no clue she had given him a false name during any of their meetings. He looked to see if Plagg knew something, but he was gone. He nodded at her and she shook slightly, probably nervous, but he calmed her by stroking her arm. She continued.
"My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I was, well, I am not anymore. I was the princess of the Kingdom of DuChamp before King Gabriel sent his akumas at us. We, myself, my parents' advisor and my chambermaid took refuge here in this town. He doesn't always look what is under his nose, so we have been safe here. I am sorry for not saying anything, but Master Fu made me swear not to tell."
Adrien stared at her. Mari… no, Marinette was a princess, an actual princess. It sounded too good to be true.
"I also know that you are Adrien Agreste, son of king Gabriel and I know I shouldn't tell you, because I don't know you well enough. But Master Fu swears there is a better man in you than your father and he told me yesterday that the noodles were ready to be placed into the water and I… I can't run anymore. I hate lying. Alya never lies, she cannot, but all I ever do is lie and I…"
He didn't let her finish. He didn't want her to be sad when this was the happiest he had felt for some time. Yes, his mother was gone and his kingdom was falling, but for the first time something was going right. All his life he was told to find and marry and princess and he had been so close to give up. She was here and she had been here for so long, right under their noses.
"Marinette." He said. He wished he had been able to bring his mother's ring to giver her. Now he knew who he would marry and nothing could stop him anymore. This was perfect or as perfect as perfect could be.
He had to know.
"We have not known each other for long, and we are in some regards still strangers. But I feel like meeting you has been my destiny and therefore I must ask you. You do not need to tell me today, but please. Will it be possible for us one day when all of this is over, to return to the castle, not as two people who are in love, but as husband and wife? Will you marry me?"
She gasped, but then smiled. Tears streamed down her eyes. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, I will." She near shrieked. He laughed as they fell back on the bed, holding each other close, never letting go. Their lips met once more and this time there was a newfound passion in it. Her small hands clawed at his shirt and he quickly removed it. She needed to feel him and he did the same, but he was unsure whether she would be willing to go that far today. This was still new to both of them.
Her hands roamed his chest and she kissed him, by the collarbone. He did the same, his hands roamed her body, touched her curves over the dress she wore. He kissed her mouth, her jaw, down her neck and to the patches of skin that he could reach.
It was exciting and exhilarating to be with the person you love most. She took of her thick dress, to be there in her underwear of a cotton corset and chemise. It was scandalous, he knew, but he wanted her so badly. If worst came to worst he may never have the chance and he was afraid. His worries caught up to him and it made him cry, but she soothed him. Unlike him, she didn't seem to be in any hurry and simply held him.
"I love you" she said over and over and that was what he probably needed most because the softness of her words and the meaning behind him eased his breath and ceased the tears.
As his breath settled once more he kissed her again. He didn't want to stop, but he was broken. More broken than ever before and she held him together. Smiling she kissed him back.
Her hand was travelling over his stomach and up to his shoulder, she clung to him content just to be close. Her head lay over his heart. "Did you know," she started "that in DuChamp they had a story for this."
"A story?"
"Yeah, about love. My mother said that I was cursed as a child. I would never find love until I had given up everything I was, and only then would the ladybird help me find where my love is. I, I did lose everything in the end. Until you came, I was sure my life could never get better. But then we danced and well… I loved you, but I couldn't tell you who I was. I didn't know you were a prince then and it's been so dark here. I can feel the magic from it and it scares me."
Adrien's eyes widened. She trembled slightly and he knew she wasn't lying because she cried just as he had. Instead he held her close and told her his story.
"I too was cursed. I was cursed to bring these lands to destruction. My father killed a fairy and she cursed him so that his reign would cease."
"But that is unfair." She muttered. "You are not your father. You are better than him, ten, no a thousand times better."
"I don't know about that."
"I saw you that day, before we danced. You gave bread to those girls. I saw it. You have a kind heart Adrien. Your father doesn't deserve the throne."
"There is one more thing. My curse can break, but only if I marry a princess."
She gasped.
"I don't think it was a mere coincidence that we met each other. We were born for each other. I was born to love you, and you were born to be mine. I love you, my Ladybug."
He kissed her and slowly the laces of her corset were unmade. He had to have her because there was no telling of what tomorrow would bring. Their clothes were tossed to the side, one by one. Skin upon skin, lips on lips and he touched her wet folds. She groaned and the sounds from her lips were made for him only. She touched his cock and stroked it gently, making his pulse rise rapidly. One gaze upon each other was shared before she sank down on him and they both gasped.
As darkness loomed forever thicker two lovers danced an ancient dance. It might be a scandal, it might be the end for them all, but for the first time there was a light that slowly started to break through the clouds of darkness. A light of hope.
And CUT!
I was debating myself for quite some time whether I should even make something remotely bedroomish considering that in these times these two would have caused a major scandal. But then I remembered that one of our own kings in history had an affair with and later married the nanny to his children. So yes, they did the deed, but no, it won't result in any kids. But for those who think like these two, trust me, kids happen much easier than you would think.
Anyway, what do you think of the story so far? We're more than halfway through.
To my reviewers:
RebekMiraculous: No worries, no stress today. Yes, there is definitely something happening at the castle, but these two will have to wait for yet another day before they get some more info.