"Wow that was stressful," Marinette said as she Adrien began to walk away from the staircase. "I was worried she wasn't going to like it."
"I was stressed for you," Adrien admitted shuttering a little.
"Dupain-Cheng." Marinette and Adrien turned to see Chloe walking towards them. "I have no idea how you did but you managed to find a gift my mother adores. I've never seen her so happy. I see plenty of more jobs in your future."
"It was my pleasure Lady Chloe." Marinette curtsied with an actually genuine smile.
"But you know I wasn't excepting you to actually bring a date." Chloe looked over Adrien for a while. "Especially one this cute."
Adrien started to take a step back but Chloe grabbed his arm.
"How much is she paying you?" she whispered but was still loud enough for Marinette to make out what she is saying.
"Nothing!" Adrien quickly removed his arm from Chloe and took a step back. "I met Marinette during one of her past adventures long before deciding to move here."
"Well, you do see genuine about it." Chloe turned around and started to walk away. "Now I must mingle with the other guests. But just remember mysterious man there plenty of women in this kingdom. Don't just settle for the first one you see."
Adrien shuttered as Chloe give him a small wink. Soon he felt Marinette place a hand on his shoulder.
"Apologies for her. We went to school together before I got accepted to the knight program. She's sadly always been like this."
"Well the apple doesn't fall from the tree." Adrien leaned closer to Marinette before saying as quietly as he could. "Even three hundred years later."
"I take it you know her ancestor or something." Marinette placed a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah Cleo Bourgeois." Adrien shook his head and rolled his eyes. "She used to call me Adrienkins and had no sense of personal space. There are differences appearance wise between the two but they look freakishly alike."
At that moment, the music started playing. May couples started to walk to the center and starting dancing. The remaining guests were off in groups conversing with each other. Marinette looked back and forth between the dance floor and the edge for a second. When she turned back to Adrien, she found him with one of his arms stretched out.
"May I have this dance?" he asked her softly.
Without a word, Marinette placed her hand on top of his. Adrien gently grabbed it and led her to the dance floor. Marinette kept taking deep breaths in and out until the reached it. Adrien proceeded to stand in front of Marinette and place his free hand around Marinette's waist. Nervously Marinette placed her free hand on his shoulder.
"I'm, um, not much of a dancer." Marinette smiled weakly and laughed a little.
"Don't worry all the dances I know went out of still decades ago." Adrien laughed along with her before speaking softly. "Just focus on me. No one else. We'll let the music guide us for now."
Marinette smiled as the two of them slowly stepped to the beat. As they did Marinette kept Adrien's advice in her mind. Focusing only on him. Not on any of the whispers that could be around them. Not at anyone who could be staring. All Marinette could look at was Adrien and for some reason that's all she needed. Slowly Adrien introduced more complicated moves into their dance. Nothing too extreme, just a few slightly more complex footwork and a couple of twirls. As the dancing continued, Marinette found her smiling wider. This moment just felt right to her.
"Wow Marinette I had no idea you had those dance moves in you," Rose said as she and Juleka walked over to Marinette and Adrien once the latter were done dancing.
"To be honest I didn't either." Marinette gave a small shrug.
"Oh looks like they're bring out food," Adrien said turning towards one of the tables. Everyone turned to see a bunch of servants placing ornate dishes out. "Hopefully there will be some good stuff by the time we get there."
"Well Juleka and I always try and get their as soon as possible." Rose smirked a little. "Cause no one in their right mind will cross the Duchess of Jubila."
"Rose's family is one of the oldest in the kingdom and now is related to Queen Barbara by marriage." Marinette whispered to Adrien. "Even Chloe doesn't dare to cross her."
"Is the other ruler her sister?" Adrien whispered back, glancing between Marinette and Rose.
"No, she's her second cousin. The queens actually have two daughters around our age."
"Oh I hope to meet them some day."
"So are we gonna get food?" Juleka asked a little louder than she normally spoke. "Cause they're all done setting up and I see sole meunière and I would like to get some."
"Of course sweet Juleka." Rose took Juleka's arm and the two started to walk over to the food, before stopping to look at Adrien and Marinette. "Are you two coming? We can sit together if you like."
"Oh yes that would be," Marinette said excitedly.
"Then let's get going!"
The four of them made their way to the food table. While Rose, Juleka, and even Adrien were quick to fill their plates with various foods that were spread out Marinette took her time. Everything was fancier and probably more expensive than she had ever seen. She had no idea what some of food even was. After a little bit of looking, Marinette decided to look at her friends plates and saw a few similarities between the three. Carefully she picked a few of them and a couple dishes of her own.
"I hope these are good," Marinette thought to herself while the group made their way to a small table.
"Wow this looks delicious," Adrien said as he placed his plate down.
"I'm excited to try this." Marinette smiled and sat down. Suddenly she felt herself being pushed in, turning around she saw Adrien smiling at her. "Oh thank you."
"Oh my what a gentleman." Rose giggled a little.
The four of them started to enjoy their meals. Marinette had to admit the food was really was good. The Bourgeois defiantly knew where to find the best ingredients. As they ate the four of them chatted and from what she could see, Adrien surely had some planning on this persona of Adrien Noir he had created. No matter what Rose or Juleka asked, he had an answer for. She couldn't help but be impressed by it.
"Wow Adrien," Rose said before taking a sip of her drink. "I'm surprised you chose to come here."
"Well Marinette told me so much about here. My friend Kagami and I figured it would be a good place to settle down."
"So what is this Kagami girl like?" Juleka asked cautiously.
"She's pretty blunt and admittedly distant."
"Oh I can attest to that." Rose shuttered but laughed a little. "When I met you two, I swear she was trying to curse me with that glare of hers."
"But she is very sweet when she wants to be," Marinette quickly added. "She just, has um a hard time of showing it. Actually Adrien, I think I've only seen it, when she's talking to or about you."
"Well Kagami and I have been close since we were children." Adrien gave a small shrug with his shoulder. "I guess I never thought about it like that."
"Hmm the more that I think of it." Marinette thought to herself as she took another bite of her food. "With what I know about his parents they probably forced or highly encouraged their friendship. But it does seem genuine. I know Kagami has said time and time again it is her duty to protect him. But maybe, just maybe her friendship with him is what prompted her to protect him. Especially in a kingdom so far away from her birth land if she wasn't raised in the Agreste Kingdom."
A few hours later, the ball came to an end. Everyone lined up and started to bid farewell to the parties hosts.
"So your the one who found this heirloom for me?" Lady Audrey said once Marinette and Adrien made their way to the Bourgeois family.
"That is correct Lady Audrey." Marinette kept her voice firm as she could.
"It is quite the accessory." Lady Audrey looked over the amulet again. "And you're a freelance knight?"
"That is also correct."
"Then perhaps we might employ you in the future."
"And it would be my honor too." Marinette gave a small curtsy.
"And Adrien remember what I said." Chloe blew wink at him and blew him a kiss. For Adrien's part, he gave her a small wave and an kind of awkward smile as the two of them left the ball.
"After you may lady," Adrien said as he helped Marinette into the carriage.
"Many thanks Mr Noir." Marinette giggled as she climbed in. As Adrien followed in, Marinette pulled him next to her.
"Wow I haven't this much fun in ages." Adrien hugged Marinette tightly. "And I don't mean because of my usual predicament. I got to dance, mingle with friends, and even chose my own food for dinner. It was better than I could imagine."
"Well stick with me." Marinette proudly gestured to herself. "And there will be more of this to come."
"Maybe with another noble family..." Adrien looked straight ahead for a moment. "I don't know how much of Chloe I can take."
"That is understandable. Oh Rose's family has thrown some fun parties and don't worry Chloe won't bother us there."
"Wish I had someone like that before. Sure I could confide in Plagg but he could never appear at parties. Kwamii rules or whatever..."
"The Kwamii have had deal with a lot." Marinette spoke quietly and twiddled her fingers a little. "Tikki hasn't gone into detail but they talk about how careful they have to be when it comes to owners. And to only tell trusted confidants about them."
"Plus Plagg would stink up the ballroom with his stinky cheese obsession." Adrien shook his head a little and suck out his tongue while Marinette laughed.
The two continued to converse as they made their way back to Marinette's home. Both sighed when they reached her home, seemingly not noticing the other one did.
"Please let me escort you to your home." Adrien requested as they climbed out of the carriage.
"I wouldn't mind that," Marinette said softly. She gently took Adrien's hand and the two of them started to walk to the door. Seemingly going as slowly as the could reasonably go with out making it obviously they were trying to prolong this walk. Though Marinette could help but hold Adrien's hand tighter.
"Tonight was a lot of fun." Adrien said as they reached the door. "Well I should get going don't want Kagami and Plagg waiting to long. Plagg wants all the details. and maybe the food I snuck out for him."
Marinette laughed before hugging Adrien. "I promise we'll do this again."
"Thank you Marinette."
Marinette smiled as the two of the started to lean closer. Suddenly Marinette froze and backed away. Adrien stood there confused for a second.
"Oh wow these shoes hurt should take these off." Marinette quickly opened the door to her house and walked inside before poking her head out again. "See you soon Adrien."
"Um bye Marinette." Adrien reached for her as Marinette closed the door. He stared at it for a moment before walking away.
Marinette leaned against the door and sighed. "I don't even know what to do anymore."