The lovely tumblr artist 'chatartistx' has created beautiful fanart of this story! :D I can't provide the link here, but if you go to her tumblr page you'll be able to find it :) So go over there and give her some love! :D

Chapter 12

It took a while for Marinette to fall asleep after Chat's-or rather, Prince Adrien's-departure. His confession kept repeating itself over and over in her mind like a mantra, effectively robbing her of any rest. It was only when her exhausted brain finally couldn't keep up with the rampaging thoughts of that night that she was finally able to sleep.

Now she sat at her desk the next day, her current sewing project forgotten, as she once again let her mind wander.

After a few minutes of getting nowhere, she took a deep breath, and let it out slowly through her mouth.

She had to calm down, and organize her thoughts.

Okay, first and foremost, Adrien was a vampire.

And not just any vampire, but a prince.

Marinette scoffed, sardonic and tired.

Of course she would somehow manage to attract a vampire prince. Because why should she ever have a mundane, predictable life like everyone else? Only she would end up getting her life tossed up like this, by a creature that everyone thought was only a myth!

She knew one thing, and that was the urge to know more about him and others of his kind in whole. Like could they turn into bats? Did they have a weakness to garlic? Or crosses? Could they see their reflections in mirrors?

A feeling of curiosity and enthusiasm bubbled inside her. He said he was going to come back later tonight, she would be able to ask all her questions then.

Her once brightened eyes and straightened posture dulled and slouched, new feelings of doubt overcoming her excitement.

What if she asks him too many questions and he gets annoyed? What if he thinks that she needs to stop being so nosey? What if he gets offended by her questions? What if he-

"MARI, HOLY FUCK!"

Marinette repressed the startled scream that very nearly tore out of her mouth as she quickly turned to her trapdoor, seeing it pushed open by an extremely familiar hand, followed by a more-than familiar head popping up through the hole leading to her room.

She literally leaped inside, slammed the trapdoor shut, then proceeded to grab Marinette's hand and haul her to the chaise. When her butt connected to the soft cushion, she looked up at her best friend in bewilderment.

"Alya, what-"

"Girl!" she interrupted, sitting down beside Marinette and placing her hands on her shoulders. She took a deep breath, clearly mentally preparing herself, and spoke in a serious tone that Marinette has never heard before.

"Marinette, there's something you need to know about Chat Noir."

Hmm…now just what could this be about? Marinette hadn't the faintest idea at all…

"Oh, really? Do tell," she coaxed with a slight curl of her lips. She couldn't help feeling at least a little smug; it was rare when she knew something before Alya did. Was feeling a little boastful for once a crime?

Although, she wondered just how Alya knew this little tidbit of information at all.

"Marinette, this is serious!" she hissed, squeezing her shoulders. "Don't laugh when I say this, but Chat Noir is a vampire! Like, those blood-sucking, evil creatures from the movies."

Marinette's sly expression quickly turned into a harsh glare, desire to protect the sweet vampire surging through her veins as she immediately came to his defense.

"Adrien is not evil!"

Alya drew back, blinking in surprise at her friend's sudden anger, until her look resembled that of confusion.

"Wait, is 'Adrien' Chat Noir's real name?"

"Yes, and I would appreciate it if you didn't say he was evil," Marinette huffed in return, not relenting on the dirty look aimed upon the budding journalist.

Alya shrunk back, apologetic as she flashed her a grimace.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I meant, like, he's a vampire like in horror movies and that. I didn't really mean to say that he's evil. Besides, if he was I would've made sure he couldn't see you again," she finished with an air of confidence and cheek.

Marinette fondly rolled her eyes, her earlier anger for Alya having dissipated by the time she had finished her apology.

"No offense, but I don't think you'd be able to beat a vampire in a fight."

Alya looked purely affronted by the claim, even placing a hand on her chest as though nursing a wounded heart. Although, with her, it was more likely her wounded ego.

"And how would you know? I'm sure I can beat your Adrien in a fight any day."

She couldn't miss the opportunity to at least tease her a little bit, and felt satisfaction course through her as she noticed her friend's cheeks color. Marinette grabbed her pillow on the chaise and rightfully smacked her upside the head with it. Alya blew the tendrils of loose hair that had fallen into her face due to the hit out of her vision and fixed her with a mischievous grin.

"While I would normally finish you off in a pillow fight, I honestly think we have to talk about this."

Marinette nodded, agreeing with her and put down her temporary feather-filled battle weapon.

"You're right. Let's just start with the basics. Adrien's a vampire, and I know Nino is a werewolf," she stated calmly.

Alya blinked, stupefied by this new disclosure.

"You know? How did you know?"

Marinette grinned, since it was usually her asking that question to Alya whenever something new happened.

"Adrien told me, just as how I'm sure Nino told you that Adrien is a vampire. Which is not all that surprising, now that I think about it, since they're best friends and all."

Alya let out a short chuckle of ironic amusement.

"You know, this is the perfect set-up for a rom-com. The two best guy friends liking the two best girl friends?"

"Wait," Marinette halted, her eyes widened and her mouth open in surprise. "Nino likes you?! Really? When?" She wanted them together, but didn't think it would happen this fast. Her eyes sparkled slyly and her butt wiggled on the seat of the chaise in new eagerness for details. "What exactly happened when Nino picked you up last night?"

Now, it was Alya who was bashful. In the back of her mind, Marinette remarked that it must have been opposite day with how their roles were suddenly switched.

"Well, he didn't exactly say that he liked me," Alya said, her mouth twisting in an embarrassed grimace. Her hazel eyes glanced away from the curious blue-eyed gaze of her best friend. "I flirted with him a little and he got flustered. You don't think I scared him off, do you?"

Marinette smiled in reassurance, taking Alya by the shoulders so she was forced to look at her.

"I'm sure you didn't scare him away. He was probably taken aback by your flirting, but I'm sure it wasn't unwelcome."

"Thanks, girl." A corner of Alya's mouth tugged up in a half-grin, until it broadened into a cunning smirk.

Marinette faltered in her confidence; it seemed that their roles were going to switch back to normal.

Alya leaned forward, a devilish gleam in her eyes as she spoke. "And what exactly happened with you and Adrien last night, hmm?"

"Nothing much," Marinette nervously replied, shifting her gaze away from Alya's pressuring one. "He just…ah, you know…" Her voice lowered to a small squeak as she spoke the last part. "Told me that he loves me?"

"He what?!" she shrieked, this time taking Marinette's shoulders but unlike before, she actually began to shake the girl in her astonishment. "He said he loves you?!"

"Y-e-e-e-e-s," Marinette managed to get out through Alya's shaking.

"Tell me!" Alya demanded, finally relinquishing her hold on the girl. Marinette took a moment to recover, rapidly blinking her eyes as the world returned to focus.

"Well," she started once she was fully lucid again, "he said he's in love with me and that I'm his Loved One, which is kind of like a soulmate, I guess."

There was no way she was actually going to repeat Adrien's definition. One, she didn't think Alya's heart would be able to physically take it, and two, she felt that the confession should be for her ears only, and that it was a special moment strictly reserved between her and Adrien. She didn't want to share it with anyone else, even if the thought might have been selfish.

"A soulmate? And what did you say back?" Alya asked, ever anxious for more details.

She sighed. Under the scrutiny of her best friend, she was beginning to wonder if her answer had in fact been a mistake. Adrien was fine with it, but Alya was pushing for this relationship to happen. What if she reprimanded Marinette for her answer?

"I said that I didn't feel the same for him, but I'm willing to give him a chance so that my feelings for him can possibly grow. I already do like him, but I'm not in love with him, you know?"

Alya nodded, understanding shining in her eyes and Marinette immediately sagged in relief.

"That's understandable. After all, you haven't personally known him for very long."

Marinette chuckled. "Actually, he said that vampire couples normally marry within two weeks of knowing each other."

Alya's eyes threatened to bulge out of her head at that new fun fact.

"Are you serious? Two weeks? That's crazy! Do they get divorces in vampire world?"

She shook her head. "I don't know, I didn't ask him."

"You should ask him next time you see him, but don't make it look like you don't have confidence in a potential relationship with him," Alya advised, nodding and acting as if she was a love guru, in Marinette's eyes. "When's he coming back?"

"He said he'll be here tonight."

"Good, ask him then," Alya decided with a resolute nod. "Did he tell you anything else about vampire life?"

"He said that vampires can't go out in the sun, and that they are immortal, but they can still die when dealt with enough violence." Marinette frowned, cringing in aversion to the idea of Adrien getting hurt. He's extremely durable, he said so himself, so was it normal for her to worry about him?

"Woah, Nino's the same way," Alya remarked in disbelief. "Well, except for the 'sun' thing. And he said that a bite from a werewolf is guaranteed to turn someone into a werewolf."

"So I guess the myths are true, to some extent," Marinette concluded with a wry grin. "I wonder if the other ones are true too..."

…

"Wipe off that stupid grin on your face, you're going to make me throw up my cheese."

Adrien followed through with the order, relinquishing on his lovesick expression by offering Plagg a glare devoid of any real animosity.

"I'm surprised you haven't thrown up already, given by how much cheese you scarf down every day, you glutton," he retorted, reaching over to the top of his computer monitor to give a fond scratch on the top of Plagg's head.

The kwami reacted by arching into the touch and letting out a low purr-a sign of vulnerability that he only permitted his holder to see. Adrien smiled and after a moment retreated back, glancing down to the foreign letter lying in front of him on the desk. He picked up his previously discarded fountain pen, using it to tap at his lower lip as he mentally sorted out his response.

It was a letter from the Chinese Emperor of Vampires, requesting for a meeting between his daughter and Adrien in order to possibly arrange an engagement. Adrien wasn't too surprised by the proposal, he had never made his 'taken' status known to all the other kingdoms since nothing official between himself and Marinette had happened yet. She didn't even love him yet; she could reject him and Adrien would be resigned to pick someone else for his wife.

Granted, he would be heartbroken and likely miserable for the rest of his immortal life, but he was aware that the kingdom needed an heir, and he wouldn't abandon that duty for his people.

However, as of now he was solely dedicated to Marinette and winning her heart, and since she hadn't rejected him, he could technically still say that he had a Loved One.

And so, he began to pen his response, politely telling the Emperor that although he was flattered at the offer, he was interested in someone else and may marry her one day.

Adrien paused in his writing, a smile curving his lips as he thought about it.

Marinette, in an elaborate, gorgeous wedding gown fit for a princess, and he, at the altar blissfully waiting for her and probably smiling so wide his face was close to cracking. Or he could have the love-struck look he was more recently prone to having, either one was plausible.

Just as he was getting to the part where he removed the veil in his daydream, a sharp knocking at the door jarred him from his reverie.

He shook his head to clear it, drawing a snicker from Plagg.

"Yes?" Adrien answered, setting down the pen.

"Your father would like to see you, Adrien," came the reply, before the door opened.

Nathalie, the Royal Advisor. Also the only one in the castle permitted to call Adrien by his first name, other than his father. When Adrien's mother was killed, Nathalie didn't exactly slip into the role as second mother. She still maintained some of her distance as was royal protocol, yet made her presence known all the same.

Back when Gabriel kept his son on a tight leash, Nathalie was the one who brought Nino to the castle to keep him company. As he got older, it was Nathalie who persuaded Gabriel to keep increasing the distance in how far he was allowed to venture.

And it was Nathalie who convinced Gabriel to approve of Adrien's choice in a Loved One.

So, not exactly a second mother, but pretty damn close in Adrien's opinion.

"Did he say what he wanted?" he asked, coming back to the present, his stomach in knots over his father's request. It was hardly ever good when Gabriel wanted to see him. However, if he had to guess, he would say that it more than likely involved Marinette somehow.

Nathalie's stony visage didn't change.

"He did not. Shall I tell him you'll see him shortly?"

"Yes, please. Thank you, Nathalie."

Thank you…so many times he has uttered those words. He often wondered if she knew the full extent of them.

She nodded once.

"I'll go tell him. Have a good day, Adrien."

With one smooth turn of her heel, she was gone and the door closed with a soft click.

"Well," Adrien sighed, rising up from his chair. "I better go see what he wants."

"Make sure you say hello for me," Plagg joked, shooting his holder a wink before he left the room.

…

"Adrien," Gabriel began once his son was seated in front of him. On his desk lay several scattered documents, of which Adrien didn't have any notion about. He would learn soon, he supposed. Nathalie usually read them to him once his father was done with them.

"Father," he returned, his mouth set in a neutral frown, matching Gabriel's. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"I did." He nodded and steepled his fingers together, indicating the matter he was about to discuss would be serious…pretty much how every conversation between Father and Son commenced. "How is your progress with your Loved One? Have you decided on a date to bring her here for an engagement ball?"

Adrien blinked, for the question caught him off guard, considering the details of the previous night with Marinette and himself. She wasn't in love with him, not to mention that she barely knew about his world. He wasn't about to bring her here for an engagement and let her go meet every vampire leader blind!

"N-No, I haven't, Father." He decided not to explain any more than what was necessary.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. Of course the simple answer wasn't enough for him.

"And why not? Surely your pursuits are working, if you disappearing every night is anything to go by?"

Adrien was sure if he was human he would've blushed right then. Going to see Marinette was one thing, but having his visits referenced by his father was another altogether.

"Well, they are, kind of?" He rested his hand on the back of his neck; he could never quit that reaction of when he was nervous. "She likes me, of that I'm sure of. I told her the truth about me last night and she-"

"What?!" Gabriel interrupted, his solemn expression crumbling for possibly the first time in years. His eyebrows furrowed in what was undoubtedly anger. "You only told her last night?! What have you been doing all this time?"

"I'm taking this slow," Adrien retorted, the second time in his life he ever stood up to his intimidating father. "I'm not going to mess this up by rushing it. I don't care what you say, my possibility of a future with Marinette is too precious to risk. I'm going to do this at her pace, not mine."

Gabriel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"We need an heir-"

"Do we really?!" Adrien snapped. His earlier bravery only serving to pave the way for more. He wasn't going to back down this time. "You're King, and you're healthy. I'm perfectly fine as well, so there's plenty of time for me to get married and have an heir. I know you always like to be prepared, Father, but you don't need to worry. I'm not going anywhere."

Gabriel's ice blue eyes flashed in ire, his fists clenching on the desk as he spoke with a snarl that normally would've sent Adrien bowing his head and apologizing. Today, he met the furious gaze head-on with his own look of hardness.

"They're still out there, Adrien. One night you could go out and never come back! So yes, I do have reason to worry."

"I can take care of myself!"

"Your mother thought the same thing!"

Adrien faltered at the mention of her. Nevertheless, he continued to press on.

"What happened to Maman was an accident. There haven't been any sightings of them for years, it's not going to happen again."

Gabriel calmed, but a storm still brewed in his countenance.

Adrien sighed, all of the pent-up emotions leaving him in a single breath as he felt himself relax.

"I'm not going to rush anything with Marinette. You're just going to have to be patient, because I'll wait 10 years for her if that's what it takes. I am not screwing this up. I'm going to be okay, Father. I promise."

Without waiting for a dismissal, Adrien rose out of his chair and quietly left the room, not offering another glance to his father.

Gabriel slumped in his chair. He was frustrated with his son, extremely so, yet he couldn't help but notice something during their entire exchange, especially with how it ended.

Adrien no longer bent to his will, instead choosing to follow his own heart and mind.

A corner of his mouth quirked up just the tiniest bit.

His son was beginning to act like a king.

I apologize for the long delay of this. I hope this chapter was worth it :) More info about Mama Agreste will be out next chapter ;)