Due to Chat's insistence on privacy, there could be no official ceremony. Although that didn't matter to either of them. As far as they were concerned, they were husband and wife, and neither needed a formal wedding to affirm that.

The two lived happily together for many months, and each day followed the same routine. As soon as the sun went down Chat would appear. The two would spend a few hours in each other's company, until both grew tired. They would then go to sleep, and Chat was always gone by the time Marinette had woken up the next morning.

Marinette was happy with her new life. She had a perfect husband, an amazing palace, and anything she could ever ask for.

However, as humans so often do, she began to long for more.

A year after her marriage, Marinette began to grow lonely. At first it was only a bit of homesickness, but as the days went by, Marinette found herself longing for the company of someone besides her husband. Even the tiny servants could not satisfy her need for companionship.

Try as she might, Marinette could new get rid of the longing she felt to speak to someone else. And eventually, she realized she didn't want to see just anyone. She was missing her sisters.

Although her sisters had never liked her, they always treated Marinette kindly. They forced themselves to smile and act nice around their sister, knowing that if they did otherwise the servants and their parents would turn against them. So, in Marinette's eyes, they were the closest thing to friends that she had.

One night, Marinette could take the pain no longer.

"You want to what?" Chat asked her that night when she told him about her desire.

Marinette sighed. "I know that you don't want anyone to know about us but…" Marinette looked up at the stars above them. "I really miss them."

Chat grimaced. Unlike his wife, Chat knew of Chloe and Lila's true nature. He knew about their jealousy, and he knew about their hatred. However, he never could bring himself to tell the love of his life that the only people who she had liked growing up actually hated her in secret.

"I told you that if you ever left here, you could never come back. Are your sisters really worth that?"

Marinette looked into his eyes, seeing the concern and fear pooling within them. Se shook her head. "No, but…" She thought for a moment. "Maybe they could come here?"

"What?!" Chat looked like he was about to die of shock.

Marinette looked at him. "I mean, in the day, when you aren't here. They could leave before the sun even went down!" She defended. "And it isn't as though they could find this place on their own! As long as Nino takes them here and back, they'll have no way of knowing where we actually are!"

She stared into her husband's eyes, silently pleading for him to grant her this request. Although the worry and fear never truly left his eyes, Chat eventually sighed.

"Alright, they can come." Marinette was about to wrap him in her joyous embrace, but he interrupted. "But only on several conditions."

Marinette nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. Whatever you want."

Chat looked her dead in the eyes. "They may come to visit, but they can only stay for a few hours. And while they are here, you must be careful not to mention too much about me. Tell them I am a wealthy merchant, nothing more. And lastly…" He gulped, the gravity of his mistake finally dawning on him. "You must promise me that you will be wary of what your sisters say to you."

He looked at his wife, dead serious. However, Marinette just looked confused. "Why?"

"Because when they see our home and everything I have given you, I fear… No. I know they will be jealous. They will probably try to trick you and make you doubt me. Please, don't listen to them. You'll be ruining our future." He looked longingly into her bluebell eyes, worry swimming through his gut.

Although she was still confused, Marinette knew it was best not to question her husband. He seemed to have an uncanny way of knowing things. She nodded. "I promise I'll be careful." She then wrapped her arms around him, forcing him into her greatful embrace. "You'll have nothing to worry about. I love you too much to let any petty thing my sisters say get between us."

It took a while, but eventually Chat returned his wife's gesture. "I really hope that's true." He said, the terrible feeling inside of him only growing larger.


The next day, Chat fulfilled his promise, and Chloe and Lila fell out of the sky and onto the grassy hill, where Marinette was waiting for them.

However, while the wind had gingerly placed Marinette down, her sisters were not so fortunate. Nino's winds blew everywhere, and he heard many secrets. He definitely knew enough to know that these two girls were nothing but trouble. So he did what any sensible person would do, and dropped them while they still hung a fair distance from the ground.

While Chloe and Lila were moaning and yelling in discomfort, Marinette just smiled. However, when her sisters saw her, looking better than ever in the fine clothes her husband brought for her, there was nothing but contempt in their glassy eyes.

Marinette walked over to her sisters, not noticing their malice. "Sisters! It is great to see you! I've missed you."

Chloe looked over at Lila for a mere second, and nodded. Lila nodded back in understanding, and walked over to where their sister stood. "Oh Marinette! We thought you were dead! Where have you been all this time, dear sister?" She leaned forward and embraced her sister, her sickly-sweet words seeping into Marinette's ears.

The young girl smiled wider. "I am so sorry! I never meant to make you worry!" She pulled her sister closer, welcoming the warmth of someone else besides her husband. "But I wanted to let you know that I was alive all the while, but my husband wouldn't have it. He can be a bit…" She paused for a moment, being careful not to give too much away. "Protective, sometimes."

"Your husband?" Chloe asked, trying her hardest to keep her spite out of her tone. "Is he here?"

Marinette pulled out of the embrace and shook her head. "No, he's away on business. He is a very wealthy merchant." She lied, remembering the excuse Chat told her.

Although Chloe seemed to have bought the shaky lie, Lila wasn't convinced. If there was one thing Lila knew, it was lying, and she could immediately sense her sister's hesitation. However, she didn't let her suspicion show, and instead put on her best disappointed look.

"But I was so looking forward to meeting my new brother-in-law." She gave Marinette a small, puppy-eyed glance, before she quickly brought her smile back. "But I suppose it can't be helped. You simply must give us all the details! We haven't seen you in a year you know. We have a lot to catch up on!" Lila grabbed her younger sister's hand. "So then, you do have some sort of house don't you? No respectable husband would expect you to live out in this field. You will take us there, yes?"

Marinette nodded, believing she had fooled her sister. "Of course, right this way." She turned, gesturing for her sisters to follow, and walked over the hill.


If Marinette had been impressed by her palace at first glance, her sisters were awestruck. The gardens, the crystal fountains, the beautiful grounds… And that wasn't even mentioning the palace itself. It was larger, more beautiful, and better crafted than theirs had been growing up, and the whole place just had this air of… magic to it that the two sisters couldn't help but notice.

Though at first they could think of nothing, for their small brains could not fathom what they were seeing, one emotion starting bubbling up inside. As Marinette took them on a tour of her new home, with its vast collections of jewels and clothes and finery, and its magical servants who doted on their mistress, the sisters could feel nothing but a little green monster eating its way through their icy hearts.

Eventually, Marinette left the two alone to wash up before dinner, when their visit would end.

"Can you believe Marinette gets to live in a place like this?" Chloe asked as soon as the girl was out of earshot.

Lyla huffed. "I can barely believe a place like this exists." She crossed her arms, glaring at the building around her. "Why does she get everything? She doesn't deserve it!"

Chloe nodded. "I know, right?" The two sat in silence for while, giving their jealousy time to stew. Suddenly, however, Chloe perked up. "You know, we can't just leave Marinette here." She said, a smirk growing on her face.

Lyla looked at her sister, ad after one small glance at her expression, she immediately smirked back. "Of course not. The prophecy did say our sister would be married to a monster, right? And why would she be so reluctant to have us meet him if that wasn't true?"

"Exactly. Getting her out of here, and finding her a nice, human husband… It's the only sisterly thing to do." The blonde girl's smile widened, her eyes glistening with a cruel excitement.

Lyla smiled, a plan already working itself out in her mind. "Exactly. It's our job…" She chuckled. "As her sisters."


That evening, the servants reluctantly brought the two guests the finest dishes they could prepare. Their master had warned them to be wary of the two, but Marinette had requested that they be treated with the utmost respect. So despite their better judgement, they brought the girls whatever they desired, all the while shooting them dirty looks from hidden locations.

Marinette, however, didn't notice a thing. She was far too happy to have people other than Chat to talk to. Sure Nino would show up on occasion for a quick chat, and Marinette could occasionally even found herself conversing with the servants, but it wasn't' the same as seeing your family.

Chloe and Lyla gorged themselves on the food, inhaling every bite laid before them.

But once they had eaten their fill, the two sisters began their plan.

"So, Mari, what exactly is your husband like?" Chloe asked, feigning interest.

Marinette smiled, thinking of the kind man she called her husband. "At first I didn't know what to think, but…" Her cheeks began to redden. "He's actually really kind and generous. He always hears my opinions, and he's not once raised his voice or gotten angry. He may make dumb jokes, and he can be a little odd at times, but…" She sighed, staring at the beautiful ceiling in the room, thinking about Chat.

Both Lyla and Chloe struggled to keep from rolling their eyes. "Oh he sounds wonderful!" Lyla lied, careful not to grit her teeth. "I do so wish we could meet him."

Marinette smiled. "I wish you could meet him too, but he's never around during the day…" She looked longingly into her cup, thinking of her beloved husband.

Lyla immediately perked up. "I thought you said he was merely away on business." She said, having finally caught Marinette's lie.

"What kind of business keeps him away all day every day?"Chloe asked, clueless to how jobs actually work.

"Well if he will come home this evening, then I see no reason why we can't stay to meet him.' Lyla smirked. "I mean, he is our brother in law, isn't he? He's family." She took one look at Marinette's face, and she knew she had her sister cornered. Whatever Marinete was hiding, she'd have to spill it now.

"Well, the thing is..." Marinette started, trying to think of something to say. She knew she had promised Chat that she wouldn't tell her sisters anything, but they were her sisters. They were family. And a family was something that Chat had never really had. Maybe he just didn't understand…She could trust them, couldn't she?

Chloe looked her sister in the eye. "Please sister, tell us the truth." She said, trying her best to sound concerned. "We want to know everything about your life here."

Marinette looked her sisters in the eye, seeing what he believed was true concern. She then made her decision. "Well, you see, my husband isn't really a merchant…" She started, although she soon realized that she didn't really know where to start. "Actually though, he could be. I really don't know what he does during the day…"


That night, when Chat showed up, Marinette seemed distracted. He worried what was going through her head, and hoped desperately that her sisters had not said anything to permanently damage her opinion of him, or even of herself. He knew how cruel they could be.

However, when he asked about her day, she just smiled and said she had a wonderful time. No matter how much he pressed for details, asking her what they did or talked about, she would just dismiss him. Chat was very worried, but he trusted his wife, and hoped that she would trust him in return.

However, the entire night, the only thoughts that went through her head were of her sisters' words.

"He's a beast! A horrible monster!"

"You remember the prophecy!"

"He's just trying to fatten you up to eat you!"

"You have to put an end to it!"

She looked into her husband's eyes, and she found it nearly impossible to believe them. There was such kindness, such compassion such... genuine love in them, he couldn't really be monster…

But those voices refused to leave Marinete alone. She couldn't deny that there was some logic to their words. Why couldn't she look at him? Why couldn't she leave?

She decided that tonight would be the night. She knew her husband wouldn't like it, but she had to know. She had to see beneath the mask.


When Chat had finally gone to sleep, Marinette got to work. She found an old oil lamp, and stole some oil from the kitchen. While she was there, she even grabbed a knife, in case her sisters had indeed spoken the truth. However, she hoped that she would never have to use it. She hoped hat under that mask, she'd find a caring person who was just embarrassed of his face, or something to that avail. She'd be satisfied no matter what her husband turned out to look like, as long as he wasn't a monster.

She slowly walked through the halls, careful not to make a sound. Darkness surrounded her, and though her heart screamed at her, telling her to stop, her curiosity kept her going. When she finally reached her room, she lit the lamp, and opened the door.

What she saw on the other side was much more shocking than a monster.


Sorry for the late update, but school has consumed my life these past few months. Now that it's summer I should be able to go back to regular updates, so thank you all so much for waiting!