A/N: At long last, an update! Phew!

Chapter 5

"So what was that in there?" Nino asked slyly, referring to how Adrien briefly flirted with the bakery girl before they left.

"What was what?" the blond returned, getting ready to mount his horse, acting indifferent.

"You know what," Nino teased. "You just semi-flirted with a girl. I never knew you had it in you."

Since Adrien's back was turned, Nino didn't see the way his eyes rolled to the blue skies above.

"Oh, yeah? And what about you? Why did you freeze up so suddenly?" the nobleman countered, turning his head back to give him a smug grin. "You were fine up until seeing Marinette's friend."

Nino visibly gulped as his cheeks seemed to redden. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you?" Adrien arched an eyebrow, eyes glinting in mischief. "I have to admit, it's funny how you make fun of me for the lack of women in my life, while saying that you yourself are some ladies' man. But you just froze up in front of a woman, what does that say about you?"

"I-I don't know!" he spluttered, bringing a hand up to run it through his hair in frustration but also confusion. "I've never frozen like that because of a girl. She was just so...pretty, and-and there was just something about her that drew me in..."

The golden-haired man smiled and clapped a hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Nino. You'll figure it out some day."

He dodged a swift smack on the head from Nino, laughing as he sprang away and hopped atop his horse. Seconds later Captain Theo returned, still looking rather bitter despite returning from such a sweet place.

"Ah, Captain! So good of you to join us!" Adrien shouted jovially, knowing the phrase 'kill them with kindness' would work best for his foe when not in his black attire. "Come, we shall ride to the castle together!"

Theo let out an non-committal grunt but leapt atop his horse anyway, Nino following suit with a puzzled expression. As Theo led the entourage, he leaned over to whisper in the blond's ear.

"Why are you being so nice? Don't you hate this man for trying to steal Marinette away?"

Adrien countered his question with a grin. "Maybe. But it wouldn't do any good to start any fights now, would it?"

Nino had to agree, although he mentally questioned what his friend's plans entailed. He had that calculating look in those green eyes, his mouth was curved into that plotting smirk. He had no idea what would happen at the castle or afterwards, but he knew it was going to be a wild time that he could never imagine back in Spain.

...

The Palace looked a lot more...fuller than when Adrien remembered it to be in the occasional times he had been there growing up. There were a lot more paintings and furniture, gold lined many tables and chairs, further displaying the newly-acquired wealth that Prince Matheo possessed.

A servant offered to show them to where the Prince and Lady Chloe were, but Captain Theo dismissed him with a careless wave of the hand and led Adrien and Nino by himself. Surely the Captain had been there enough times to know where Matheo would be.

The three men came upon a comfortable sitting room. It was rather small, but housed a few plush couches and a fireplace that was devoid of any flame. Matheo and Chloe were seated on a couch pressed oddly closely together, her head was awfully close to his shoulder when the three came in the room.

Chloe quickly backed away and sat up straight, her eyes going wide at the sight of the man she had wanted so long ago.

Her painted lips curled into a predatory smirk, for Adrien had grown into a man more handsome than she could imagine. Yes, Matheo had wealth, but he was no match against the blond's looks.

Perhaps if she married the Prince, she could have Adrien as a lover on the side. Although last she saw him he didn't seem too eager to want to have anything to do with her. But she's grown too, and she knew that no man could resist her beauty. Adrien would no doubt be the same way.

"Why, Adrikins, it's been so long! I've missed you," Chloe gushed, clasping her gloved hands together and fluttering her eyelashes.

Nino coughed to cover up the laugh that almost escaped him. Adrikins?! He knew he'd have to have a talk with his best friend about that nickname later.

Meanwhile Adrien knew Nino's 'cough to hide laughter' trick and shot him a harsh glare before he politely replied to the Lady. Theo blinked in confusion, while Matheo tilted his head and narrowed his brown eyes as he observed the young Agreste.

"So this is the Adrien Agreste I've heard so much about," the Prince mused, offering a smile that looked anything other than friendly. "I'm so glad that you could join us for tea. Tell me, who is your friend?"

"This is Nino Lahiffe." The blond gestured to his friend with his arm, the man responded with a nod and a smile. "He's my best friend, we met while I studied in Spain and he's staying at my home."

"How wonderful," Matheo said, smiling. "Come, let's all sit for tea. Adrien, why don't you tell us about your escapades in Spain?"

"I'd hardly call them 'escapades'," the nobleman chuckled, taking a seat on the couch opposite the Prince and Chloe with Nino following suit. Theo sat next to his friend, trying to look the picuture of friendly and inviting, but his mouth still looked to be in a grimace. There wasn't a doubt in Adrien's mind that he was still thinking of what happened in the bakery.

"Oh, come now." Matheo grinned. "Surely you're just being modest. In a passionate country like Spain, there has to be things to do other than study."

Adrien forced out a laugh and replied that his schoolwork was the main thing he focused on. Secretly he was observing the man's personality, trying to see what this merciless prince was all about. So far he knew that Chloe was playing him like a fiddle, if their position when they walked in was anything to think about.

He also knew that the man also seemed to have his mind clouded with women, as he didn't bother to ask Adrien how the weather was in Spain or how his schooling went. He automatically referred to the Spanish females.

He also seemed to have a honeyed tongue; his words were smooth but held an underlying cunning. The Prince was trying to figure him out just as Adrien was trying to with him.

And both were aware of it.

"But I'm sure there was at least one female you had your eye on? You're quite old enough to begin thinking of marriage, am I right?"

Adrien almost laughed, this single man was only older than him by a couple years yet he had the gall to indirectly chide him for his lack of a wife?

Well, he might as well answer truthfully.

"Not there, no," he replied carefully. "But I've found a very lovely girl since I've been back."

He pointedly looked at Theo, who at first looked affronted, but then narrowed his eyes at the silent challenge being presented.

Chloe glared at the unsuspecting blond, whose eyes were trained on the Captain's. Who was this girl that her Adrien fancied? Probably some peasant wench.

"So," Adrien spoke, pausing to clear his throat. "Let's not get into detail about Spain, that's over and done with. How about we talk of what is new around here? In fact," he stopped to hold the teacup to his lips, "I heard of a new outlaw around here. He thinks of himself as some sort of black cat."

Theo's lips instantly curled up in a snarl while Nino nervously shifted his eyes to his friend, mentally inquiring about his motives for asking such a risky question. Matheo simply scoffed.

"He's only a petty thief, I have no worry of him. He'll be caught soon enough."

"It better be really soon," Chloe growled, icy eyes piercing through the Prince. "He stole from me and my father!"

"Which will earn him a swift beheading, my Lady," Matheo promised, reaching to kiss the blonde's hand.

"No, I do not want a 'swift' death for him," Chloe sweetly retorted with a smirk of pure evil. "I want him to hang, let him dangle and suffer for what he did."

Adrien's green eyes were blown wide, stunned by his old sort-of friend's cruelty. Nino nearly choked, the idea of a death like that for his friend made him want to vomit. His skin had already begun to pale.

Meanwhile Theo nodded and agreed, promising that his soldiers would be quick to capture the elusive feline.

Adrien cleared his throat, catching the attention of the others in the room.

"Forgive me, but Chat Noir seems rather difficult to catch. What makes you think you'll be able to capture him so easily, Captain?"

"Like the Prince has said, he's only a petty thief." A corner of Theo's mouth lifted in a grin. "And once I capture him, I plan to propose to a certain lucky lady. For I cannot propose when I still have something left unfinished."

Adrien's grip tightened on the teacup in his hands. Nino bit his lip, taking note of the way the nobleman's whole body tensed. He looked about ready to pounce on the arrogant Captain.

Matheo's eyes glanced back and forth between the two bristling males, and it soon became apparent of what was going on.

"Gentlemen," Matheo spoke, smirking in delight. This was some excitement he wasn't witness to, too often. "Am I to understand that the girl Adrien was talking of and the one Theo plans to propose to are in fact one in the same?"

Both men didn't remove their glares from the other.

"Yes," they replied in unison.

Chloe huffed and crossed her arms together. Who was this girl that could get two handsome men to fight for her like this? No matter, she was having an affair with the Prince, so she automatically won in the end.

Nino gulped, not at all liking where this tea party was heading. He thought it was dangerous to let Adrien's interest in Marinette be known, and he thought Adrien thought the same, but the situation seemingly got carried away.

"Oh, how interesting!" Matheo exclaimed. "Who is this girl that has charmed you both?"

Adrien's lips remained in the tight line he had adopted, refusing to answer. He was already regretting letting his feelings for Marinette be known, this could be dangerous for her. However, Theo answered, providing the maiden's full name to the curious prince.

"And who is this Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" Matheo inquired, resting a finger against his chin.

"She's a baker's daughter," Theo answered stiffly, still not relenting his glare on Adrien. "She may not have a high rank, but she's the most beautiful girl in the land."

Chloe scoffed at that claim and flipped her long, blonde hair. As far as she was concerned, she was the most beautiful girl in all the land. It was obvious that Theo had bad eyesight.

Adrien wanted so badly to engage Theo in an argument of how it was clear he didn't care about Marinette other than her looks and was oblivious to her dislike of him. But he already screwed up enough today, he wasn't too keen on making things any worse.

"And when I catch Chat Noir, Marinette will be my wife," Theo pronounced confidently.

Adrien's emerald eyes narrowed to thin slits.

If he didn't have any incentive to not get caught before, he had one now.

...

"What was that?!" Nino yelled as the two men rode away from the castle. "Why would you let them know you like Marinette? You know they could somehow use that against you!"

"I know!" Adrien growled, not at all liking how he had acted either. "It's just...he...he's just such a-" He couldn't even begin to speak of how Theo had angered him.

"Adrien," Nino sighed, shaking his head. "You're too passionate. You need to get in control of your emotions."

"I'm fine," the blond bit out, holding onto his horse's reins tighter.

"No, you're not," Nino retorted, glaring at the stubborn male. "You need to learn something called 'secrecy'. Don't display your personal life out in the open."

"You're acting as if I outed my biggest secret!"

"Which you will, if you're not careful."

Adrien rolled his eyes.

"I'll be careful. Now let's get back, they're collecting taxes tonight and I can't be late to the party."

Nino barked out a laugh. "Only you would think ruining a tax collection to be a party. For there to be a party, there obviously must be music. And I think music doesn't play during tax collections."

"Don't worry," Adrien replied with a teasing grin. "You'll have your music. For tomorrow you shall hear the ballad of Chat Noir."