Adrien awoke to the sound of birdsong, his arm hooked around a pillow. He arched his back, displeased with the sunlight that erupted from behind his cotton curtains.

"Your Grace, His Majesty requests an audience with you."

"When?"

"Right now." Gabriel opened the door himself, strolling in and sitting at the end of the full bed. "Today is a special day for us, my boy."

"Why's that, Father?" Adrien sat up, hair askew.

"You're getting married."

Shock crossed the prince's face. "What?!"

"Your mother and I have made arrangements with a kingdom across the sea. Your fiancee is named Rose; she is lovely, Adrien. Somewhat shy, she is, but she is pleasant. She'll make a fine queen."

Adrien flopped back down. "Wake me when this nightmare is over…"

Diana gently rapped on the door. "May I come in to see the lovely groom?"

"Yes, dear."

Diana smiled. "You're a real looker today, son." She giggled. "'Tis time to get up and bathe yourself, lest you stink of horse."

Adrien sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His chambermaids hurried to his side, escorting him to the bathing chamber.

Flinging his pyjamas over a chair, he eased himself into the water, which was lukewarm. The maids must have heated the water a while ago, he thought. He sank below the lather from the lye soap, green eyes half-lidded.

On the other side of the castle, Gabriel lamented, "I hate to see our son marry someone other than that girl… it's a shame it didn't work out, she was wonderful."

Diana sat on the throne next to him, brushing his shoulder gently. "I know, darling… but for the good of the kingdom, and for Adrien's heart, we should do this."

Nathalie slowly glided into the room, bowing. "Your Majesties, may I show you the preparations for tonight's engagement ball?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes, please."

Ten maids came through the doors, each carrying a different set of items.

"Silver candlesticks for the tables, crystal finger bowls, silk desert sand colored napkins, china with silver trim, lavender and baby's breath for the centerpieces, silver table runner, and swan white tablecloth. For dinner, roast turkey, stuffed, with potatoes and carrots on the side. For dessert, petit fours and chocolate mousse."

Diana furrowed her brow. "Mousse? This is an engagement party. I request that you serve a five layer cake."

Nathalie bowed. "Of course, Your Highness, I shall revise the menu straight away."

She and the maids promptly left, leaving the king and queen alone in the great hall.

"Adrien will be decked out to the max, of course."

Gabriel frowned. "Do you really think all of that's necessary, love?"

Diana crossed her arms. "I do. Is there a problem?"

"No, none whatsoever."

"Adrien?"

The concerned voice of his mother broke the blonde from his thoughts. "Hi, Mom…"

"Nervous for tonight, son?"

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. "Not nervous… more like… I dunno… awkward. Everyone is expecting me to rule, with a proper queen by my side… but I don't even know this girl…"

Diana pressed her lips together. "She won't disappoint you, Adrien, if that's what you mean."

Adrien sighed. "That's the thing, mom. The expectation, the grandeur… it's too much pressure. Finding the one girl I'm going to be with for the rest of my life… it should be more… intimate. More special. More… simple."

Diana sighed. "I thought you might say that…I know this is hard, but we can't let any more rumors fly about the future king. It's for the sake of the kingdom, Adrien…"

Adrien sighed. "Sometimes I wish it wasn't… wish I wasn't…"

Gabriel interrupted by knocking on the dense wooden door, to find it swinging open. "Sorry to bother you two, but the tailor's here for your final fitting, Adrien."

Slowly rising to his feet, Adrien followed his father out and down the hall.

"I think that this will be the best ball yet. You'll be waltzing, and bam! The girl of your dreams walks in… just like a fairytale. You know, that's how your mother and I met…"

Gabriel rambled on about seeing Diana across the ballroom and instantly falling in love. Adrien blocked it out, too focused on surviving the night's torturous activities.

"May I present to you, His Future Majesty, Prince Adrien!"

All heads turned to the grand staircase, where Adrien slowly made his way to the floor. Soft, silky fabrics imported from around the world made up his clothes, jewels carefully positioned around his neck. His blonde hair was carefully tucked on top of his head beneath a silver crown inlaid with rubies. He opened his mouth in a slightly awkward smile, waving out to the crowd.

Polite applause echoed through the vast hall, lords and ladies from the neighboring lands praising the future king's arrival.

"Adrien, my dear, may I present His and Her Majesties of the Northern Kingdom, and their daughter, Princess Rose."

Rose lowered herself in a curtsy, smiling. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Majesty."

Adrien bowed, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to its gloved surface. "The pleasure is all mine, mademoiselle."

"I am pleased that you have decided to form this pact with us, Gabriel. I was worried that you had grown bored of our kingdom, as you have not visited since before the prince's' birth."

It was the king who had spoke. Gabriel nodded. "I am glad that you were able to travel all this way. It is bitter cold, and the roads in my kingdom have suffered a bit of wear."

"The ride up was not the best, but it was no trouble. My Rose was so excited to finally visit your lavish kingdom. The books do not leave out many details."

"Ah," Gabriel chuckled, "the books. Their details you speak of are sadly outdated. I'm surprised the news has not been broken to you yet…" He launched into an over-exaggerated tale about Adrien finding his way to the castle and lifting the curse, saving his kingdom.

Rose smiled. "You must be very brave to have done that for your kingdom."

Adrien shuffled his feet. "My father likes to put a spin on things… I was very afraid during all of that ordeal… actually, it was my good friend Marinette who should get the credit. She was so kind to my father when he was cursed, even though he was irritable."

"This Marinette… is she here? I'd love to meet a real hero."

Adrien sadly shook his head. "I haven't seen her since then. Last I heard, she was in Germany…"

"Marinette!"

Tikki's voice carried across the foyer. Marinette was wearing a brilliant red gown, with small rubies on a chain around her throat. Her blue-black hair was longer now, pinned up loosely and curled.

Rose gasped. "Is that her?! She's beautiful!"

Adrien nodded. "That is… why is she here?"

Marinette embraced Tikki, grinning. "It's wonderful to see you again. How is life at the castle?"

Tikki smiled. "It's wonderful. I've been promoted! I can now attend the balls that His Majesty throws for his son. I'm head housekeeper."

"That's fantastic, Tikki!"

Gabriel slowly but carefully made his way over to the two young ladies, both bowing as he approached. "Ah, Lady Marinette, it has been too long."

"It has, Your Majesty. Are you and Her Highness well?"

Gabriel smiled warmly. "We are just fine. How is your family? I hear the family business has taken off."

Marinette nodded. "It has been a lot more efficient with Maman, er, Sabine's help. I don't know how we could keep up without her."

"I was always a fan of your mother's pastries. It's a shame she couldn't be here tonight; I did offer for her to come just to enjoy herself instead of working."

Marinette shrugged. "I haven't heard from my mother in awhile… I just got back from Germany last night."

"Ah! Germany, what a beautiful place," Diana chimed in. She had joined the circle just a moment before, smiling. "It is such a pleasure to see you again, Lady Marinette."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I am no lady," Marinette chuckled. "Just Marinette is fine, if you so please."

"Just Marinette it shall be, then. Now, we shouldn't occupy all of your time! Let us continue, Gabriel. The night is still young."

Marinette curtsied as they left, the nobles returning the gesture with much more poise than Marinette thought she would ever have. The nobility just naturally are graceful, huh…

"Um, excuse me? Are you Marinette DuPain-Cheng?"

It was Princess Rose. "My name is Rose… Adrien, er, His Grace, was telling me about how you helped saved the kingdom from a wicked curse!"

Marinette blushed. "Well, I wasn't really the hero… A- His Majesty Prince Adrien was the real hero."

"From what I remember, that wasn't the case."

It was Adrien. Marinette's heart dropped. He looks like a wedding cake.

Adrien was drenched in jewels and expensive fabrics. That must weigh a ton.

"Sorry about my appearance… "future king" and all that." He smiled. "It's good to see you."

Marinette huffed. "Seems like everyone feels that way…" She paused, blushed, then continued, "Your Grace."

Rose giggled. "You have a sense of humor! Oh, it's a relief. My kingdom is so dull and lifeless. Oh, do continue!"

Marinette stopped herself. "Your… kingdom…?"

Rose nodded. "Oh, yes, the formalities. 'Your Highness'," she wheezed in a high-pitched tone. "Please, spare me of all that. Just Rose is fine."

"As it pleases you… Rose."

Rose laughed, continuing to shower Marinette with questions. Adrien, laughing, joined Marinette in a total retelling of their life in the village and how they ended up where they were now.

Diana smiled, watching the two young ladies and her son interact from across the room, leaning gently on Gabriel's arm.

"It's almost time. When, when will we be let out to hunt, mistress?"

The woman was laid out on a blood red chaise, her delicate pale arms illuminated by the roaring fireplace in the otherwise dark room. "Soon," she purred, "soon we will get that girl, and her power…"

"How do you know she is the one, E-"

The woman sat up, slinking off of the chaise and approaching a tarnished, ornate mirror on the wall adjacent to her. "She is the one. Look at her eyes, so blue, so crystalline, like his green…"

"Emilie, please, how can you be sure? There are thousands of young girls with blue eyes and dark hair."

Emilie stomped her heel, silencing both of the men that sat in armchairs in front of the fire.

"Oh, you really are naive, aren't you, dears? You see, the enchantress that was supposed to get rid of that treacherous sister of mine, she only temporarily got rid of her… something was preventing her total annihilation. That, gentlemen, is power. The boy, Adrien. He also has power, of equal magnitude. He will be capable of many things, but only when he unlocks it with the help of that girl. The air around them… it's much sweeter than the usual sour taste of that castle…"

"So, basically, they must both unlock their powers together? But, isn't he marrying that other girl from the North?"

Emilie laughed darkly. "Oh, she's only a small obstacle. I won't kill her, of course. That's just cruel…"

"And killing your sister isn't?"

An inch remained between the man's face and her's. "I didn't want to kill my sister. Her actions spoke for herself. She chose to be a traitor."

Emilie sighed. "It's… complicated… I won't go into it now. Fetch me my lipstick, it's in my bag…"

The taller man bowed, retrieving her bag from the other room in the small cabin. Emilie returned to her chaise, settling into the cushion.

it's been more than a year, and i've deleted much of this chapter and rewrote it...

Hi! How has life been! I've totally re-worked this story... but I'm keeping the first chapter.

Many things in the Miraculous Universe has changed! This contains spoilers for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. You've been warned.

I'd like to thank everyone that left me reviews all that time ago, and know that I WILL be continuing this story.

Yes.

Thank you for sticking with me as I figure my life out dramatically and return to my normal schedule... which is random. Crap.