The throne room walls of the Parisian royal palace were decorated extensively with gold pillars. It was like a fairytale castle, just without the magical sense of happiness.
"Marin Cheng. You are aware of what is required of you whilst you are in this position, are you not?"
"Yes, your Majesty. I will fulfil my duties to the best of my abilities and beyond."
"Good. You are hereby appointed the personal soldier and bodyguard of my son, Prince Adrien. Miss Sancoeur, take him to his room."
A smartly dressed woman with a monotone set of both eyes and walk lead Marinette out of the door. The two walked through corridor after staircase after corridor, until they reached a large, wooden and engraved door.
"This is the prince's bedroom, and where he spends most of his time. You will enter at 7:00 sharp and remain by his side until 9:00 in the evening, when you will report to us with everything worth noting."
She pointed to a small corridor to the right of the prince's door.
"Your room is down there. There's only one door, so you can't miss it. Your luggage is already there. Once you are finished settling in, which will take you no more than twenty minutes, you will report to prince Adrien in his room. Understood?"
"Understood. Thank you."
Miss Sancoeur turned abruptly and walked away, not looking back once.
Marinette watched her leave.
'She's going to be a problem' Mari thought. 'Well, I knew this wouldn't be easy.'
Mentally shrugging to herself, she turned down her corridor and entered her room.
Everything was decorated lavishly. Completely over the top unnecessary in her opinion.
With a groan she pulled the hair tie out of her hair and let it fall loosely around her shoulders. It looked masculine if she tied it back correctly, but she wasn't exactly the manliest of women in their early twenties. Oh well. She'd gotten this far, the only way she could be revealed would be an unfortunate accident. But, in that scenario, there would be another 'unfortunate accident' soon after, and her secret would be safe.
Marinette's twenty minutes to herself were drawing to an end, so she reshuffled her hair, straightened her suit and backed out the door, locking it behind her.
She knocked once. Twice. Three times.
No answer.
"Your highness, may I come in?"
…
Sighing in frustration, Mari shoved the door open.
There was nobody there. Nobody there that wanted to be seen.
In a split second, a green and yellow blur twirled above her. Instinctively, she flipped around and dodged the mysterious figure, planting a kick in the stomach before she pinned her attacker to the ground, locking what she confirmed to be a he by the thickness of his arms under her leg. She was stronger than she appeared.
"Who are you? Are you looking for the-Wait…"
She inspected his face. He was struggling and squirming in her hold.
"You naughty little boy… I'm your bodyguard, not your personal target practice. Just what do you think you're doing?"
She released the prince from her arm lock.
"Well? Go on, do elaborate…"
"I normally test the new guys… The position's always open cuz I always fire them for being weaker than me. I mean, what's the point in a personal soldier if I can fight better than them? I don't like being stalked all day everyday by a meatshield."
…
"Well, lucky you. Now you get to be stalked by someone who can totally kick your butt anytime they want and you'd be totally at their mercy. Isn't that a million times better?" She asks sarcastically.
"Well, actually, I'd prefer that. Shame that'll never happen… I mean come on, what was your name again, Marinette or something?"
She froze up. How!? How did he catch her already?!
"Wow dude you okay? Sorry, I didn't know you'd take a joke like so seriously! Marin, was it?"
Oh. He was joking, because she's so short and skinny, he made her name into a girls name. He doesn't know. She was safe. If there was one person that an 'unfortunate accident' couldn't happen to, it was him. Not yet.
"So, you're saying that total obliteration right there was a fluke, if I understand correctly. Trust me, kiddo, you'll probably beat me in sword fight, but unarmed hand to hand, no way in hell. I could never lose to the beautiful princess Adrienna of the east tower, now could I?"
She giggled a girly laugh, stopping herself midway, realising her mistake. She let her guard down, around him of all people! Something about him made her feel at ease…
"Well, maybe that is what I was saying."
Wait. It sounding like he was FLIRTING. Oh god, this was gonna be so awkward… Better fire this one quick…
"So, what does his royal highness have on his schedule today that his new 'hire-a-friend-cuz-I-can't-make-any-legitimately' can help him with?" Mari teases.
"Well, as a matter of fact… I have a sword combat lesson in about…" he looked across at a clock on his bedside table, "minus seven minutes let's go let's go let's go!"
He bolted for the door, grabbing her wrist as he went, expecting her to fall behind and have to drag her along (or him in his mind). Surprisingly (and to Adrien's slight annoyance) she was quick on those small, thin legs of hers. Enough so to even tease him by overtaking him slightly, before she realised it looked like they were running along hand in hand, so she pulled away her wrist and fell back a little. She was a professional! Why was she getting so carried away?!
It wasn't long before they reached the courtyard where Marinette was selected for her job. Adrien was panting on his hands and knees. Marinette was breathing slightly above average.
"Seriously?! He's not HERE YET!? Ugh… Well, as you were saying earlier, about that sword fight? Wanna try that now?" He challenged.
"Wow, who's an eager little kitten? Challenge accepted!" She motioned towards her sword.
"On three. One… Two… TREE!" He yelled, causing her to draw her sword and leap towards him.
"Huh?"
"Three." He muttered, under his breath.
He drew his sword in less than a second and plunged it at her, completely forgetting it was a lethal murder weapon.
She dodged with not a millisecond to spare, and blocked his next swing with her own sword. But he was strong. In terms of brute strength, he was a tall man, and she was a fairly small woman.
Whilst they pushed against each other with all their might, they never broke eye contact once, Mari noticing how handsome and perfect he was, the prince realising how delicate and feminine Marin appeared. The truth was, he completely realised that Marin was much stronger in hand to hand than he will ever be, but something about her… Made him feel, wanted. He'd only known Marin for a short while, but after you fight someone, you instantly feel closer to them. He'd spent most of his days alone in his fairytale tower, with some lame bodyguard in it for the money and status, who treated him like an underling, and the son of their employer. But Marin was different. Actually, that was the first funny conversation since the death of his mother. The first sound of laughter to echo through the walls of his silent, death stained castle.