MARINETTE'S POV:

I finished writing down the situation. Hopefully this would answer his questions, and I had a few of my own. Then we'd find a way to get back home.
I wondered if Alya was alright, what if she had been sucked into one of those other books?
And then there was the issue of Tikki. Before I thought that the red fish had looked vaguely like her, but more importantly even if I looked slightly different, I wasn't in Ladybug form.
I didn't even have my miraculous earrings. So then where was Tikki? Did she disappear into the book as well. That also meant that I couldn't transform into Ladybug form if required. I would have to ask Chat what he thought. I jotted it down on the paper, asking him he knew where his miraculous was.

Just as I had put the ink to the paper, Chat walked back inside from the balcony.
I turned around, swivelling on the chair and extended the piece of parchment out for him to read.
He just kept walking. The paper wilted down. Without a second glance he opened the door and left. He had walked as though sleep-walking with his eyes open.
'What was that about?' I mouthed.
I sat there for a few seconds, unsure as to whether or not he was coming back.
My brow furrowed in confusion. Then I felt a nagging sense that I was forgetting something. How did the story of the little mermaid go again?

When five minutes had passed I thought it best to go find Chat. Just as I rose from the chair a young maid knocked on the door frame.
"I'm sorry Lady Scarlett but it has been ordered that you must be placed into a gown more... appropriate for one such as yourself before supper." the maid glared down at my make-shift dress.
Hey! I didn't think it looked bad, sure it might be a bit different to the fashion around here, but I liked what I was wearing considering it was made from ship-scraps.
Begrudgingly I nodded.

Before I knew it I had been squeezed into a corset. On top of that was a was ruby coloured ball gown made of satin. The bottom of the skirt was ruffled into layers that were seamlessly joined resembling curtain drapes. At the front of the bodice was a black lace that travelled down to the bottom of the dress, growing wider the further down it ranged. The top of the gown was off the shoulder with sleeves that proofed at the top of the arm. The sleeves went all the way to the hands and had cuffs of more black lace.
My hair was wavy and curled at the tips. A red gem clipped black a section of top my hair, while the rest of it hang out the front in a fringe.
This was an outfit for dinner? Usually I just wore jeans and a shirt or pyjamas.

Being the most glamoured up I have even been in my life, I followed the castle staff into the main hall. Just as I was walking down the stairs, I saw the shadow of Chat standing inside. As I traveled further down the steps I paused in surprise, beside him I saw a woman's arm linked with Chats, standing and conversing with Grimsby.
Walking into the room I felt uneasy. There was some kind of unsettling atmosphere that I couldn't quite pin.

I nearly tripped over when the two turned to me and I saw the woman in full. A brunette with fern green eyes, dressed in an orange gown stood smiling along side Chat. She wore a few pieces of jewellery like a ring and necklace with a familiar charm. Her hair was cut in bangs with two long strands of hair both sides of her face, covering her ears. I knew that face.
Lila?
The girl I had known to be as the fake-fox miraculous glared at me with a knowing glance. This wasn't right. What was she doing here? I looked at Chat, hoping for an explanation or acknowledgement of what I thought I was seeing.
He just stared in the distance blankly. The way their arms were joined together was too close for my liking. I knew that this was not a good thing.
What's going on?!

"Ah Lady Scarlett I see you've arrived. I'm afraid that I made a mistake before in assuming you were the woman that Prince Eric had fallen for. I deeply apologise. He has just finished explaining to me that this brave young woman here saw him drop into the water and managed to save his life! Astounding isn't it?" Grimsby clapped his hands together.
It took me a while to process all the information that he had just given me.
He called Chat 'Prince Eric'.
He said that Lila, not me, had been the one to save him from drowning.
And it was Chat who had corrected him on the matter.

Panic spread in my chest. All I got from Chat was an infatuated expression as he glanced at Lila. Something was wrong. This isn't right. I scowled at Lila, heavily suspicious.
When she opened her mouth I nearly passed out.
"Oh I am so glad that I had been there in time to save Eric-kins here" it was Lila speaking, but her voice…No not 'her voice' the voice she spoke with...it was mine.
She was talking and my voice was coming from her mouth.

"Oh dear she doesn't look too good" I..she spoke with over the top concern. I paled in the face, everything becoming overwhelming.
"My lady, are you feeling ok?" Grimsby asked me, coming to my side as I began to waver.
I couldn't reply.
"What's the matter? Can't talk? Is there something wrong with you're voice?" Lila said smiling at me with a smug grin as Grimsby's back was turned to focus on my unstable condition. Fury flared up in my disorientated state.

Lila had my voice. No, not Lila, that's just simply the guise she wore…The Sea Witch Ursula.
It had to be!
Of course how could I have not noticed? The necklace, the charm at the end was the same spiral shell that she had been wearing when I signed the deal. Somehow that was the key. My voice had to be in there.
Chat showed some concern as he looked at me, but there was no familiarity in his eyes. He was staring at me the way in which a strangers concern.
Worry, but out of sympathy, not because he was actually worried about 'me'.
To have him not know me was the most upsetting thing to happen from this whole thing.
"Grimsby why don't you see to it that the poor dear gets some rest. She looks awfully tired" Fake Lila implored. The older man seemed to agree with the suggestion and led me back to my room, despite my silent protests. I was not enjoying this whole 'not being able to talk' thing.

The way Chat had been in such a weirdly smitten trance made me certain that the witch had put some kind of spell on him. I had been handed a night gown, a glass of water and was told to get some sleep. Every time I would try to get out of bed, a maid acting as a nurse would just push me back in.
This continued for an hour until I convincingly pretended to be asleep for thirty minutes before the maid looked satisfied and left me alone.

I waited another fifteen just to be sure before attempting to escape, but just as I placed my hand on the door knob, I heard something lock.
I looked down and saw the the lock was on my side of the door and yet.
Rattling the knob it didn't budge. It wouldn't open, somehow the door had locked from the inside…magic?
Ursula! She must have locked me in here!
I needed to get out of this place and get Chat and myself out of here, even if I had to drag his love-potioned butt with me. In a huff I plonked onto the bed.
Hm, I suppose I was pretty tired…and this bed was really comfy…and the pillows were soft…mm feathers.

"Good morning young miss!" A maid declared drawing open the curtain windows.
"Breakfast is waiting for you in the dining room"
I rubbed my eyes… then remembered everything that had happened. The door…it was open.
Whether it was Ursula that locked me in here or not, I was going to get out of here.
I raced downstairs to breakfast, hoping that Chat would be there. No such luck.
Where are you kitty?

Just as I was about to search the next room I heard a scream.
"MY JEWELS! SOMEONE COME QUICKLY"
I had a horrible feeling about this, but regardless I ran to the scream instead.
"THEY'RE GONE! ALL GONE" I arrived at the same time as a crowd of servants appeared at Lila's side. She began to sob.

"They must have been stolen"
"Who took them?"
"This is horrible" the servants began to mutter amongst themselves.

"WAIT I REMEMBER!… YOU!" she stopped crying to look at me through teary eyes, glaring daggers at me, she pointed a pencil thin finger at my face.
"Last night while I went to grab some fresh air outside, I saw you sneak into my room!" she accused.
All of the servants began to turn on me. Staring at me with suspicious eyes, stepping forward ready to grab me.

"What is going on here!?" Grimsby yelled angrily breaking the servants growing blood-thirst.
"Oh Grimsby thank goodness you're here! I hate to say it, but I believe Lady Scarlett has stolen my precious jewels!" she sobbed burying her face in his cravat.
"Is this true?" he urged, an eyebrow raised, but I could see in his eyes that he didn't quite believe her story.
I furiously shook my head. Please believe me! You're my last hope Grimsby.

"She can't even give a proper answer"
"Maybe she's mute"
"She must be guilty"
"What a scandal"
"Check her room!" the servants were becoming restless. They were ready to string me up with one accusation from the witch.

"I'm very sorry Lady Scarlett… but with these accusations, I'm afraid we must search your room." he sighed. I knew that as the head of the servants, that he couldn't afford to lose control, even if he didn't believe the story himself, he would have to take action. Even so, a small part of me felt hurt. I wanted to say search my room then! But when I looked across at Lila, she had an expression telling me that she knew she had won… the locked door…the anti-alibi. She had set up the whole thing and I was willing to bet that I knew exactly where all of her jewels were.

Like I had suspected, when we all arrived in my room, it took less than a minute before the cupboard had been opened to reveal piles of rings, stones and all other kinds of precious jewels laying in the corners.
"Thief!"
"Wasn't she found on a beach? She must have been a peasant that tricked her way inside the castle"
"Lock her up!"
"Punishment!"
"Oh this is just horrible! To think you could do such a thing. What have I done to you to make you want to steal from me?" Lila cried out, crocodile tears flowing like a tap. I couldn't reply.

"It seems that you have stolen the valuables from the future King's bride. I'm afraid that you will be placed in the castles prison cellars until further decisions are made for your final punishment" Grimsby declared with a dispirited tone.
"Guards! Please take Lady Scarlett to a cell."
With no way to defend myself, I was roughly pulled out of the room, the servants turning me into a spectacle.
'CHAT!' I silently screamed.