"You have got to be joking." She said, fairly taken aback. "You are joking, aren't you? That's not funny, Adrien. Adrien?"
"Yeah. I didn't think you'd accept. Well, looks like I'm actually gonna have to pick some random lady… Anything's better than Chloe, right?" He asked weakly. He knew she wouldn't. But he didn't know that saying he'd have to marry someone else stung her somewhere.
"You realise if we do this I'm going have to stop being your retainer. Plus if Chloe finds out that you want to marry Marin's cousin she's going to think that Marin influenced you, right?"
His eyes flew open. She was considering helping him?!
"Chloe can't take revenge on Marin. Marin doesn't exist!"
"Yeah, but she's from the second most influential family in Paris. She could destroy my family, even if it does contain royal blood. We're foreign, she'll tear us down…"
"You said second, right? Well guess who's the first? The family you'd be marrying into! I can protect you from her, no problem." He said, confidently.
…
"I understand your situation, but I don't appreciate being asked to marry someone as a get-out-of-jail card!" She said angrily, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She turned on her heel, and began to storm away. He caught her wrist, almost crushing her delicate bones.
"Ow!"
"S-Sorry, Mari. I know I'm a jerk for even proposing an idea this ridiculous and stupid. (You see the pun) But I ask only that we go along with it for now, but you can pull out anytime. Give me a chance to make you love me, and let me get to know the civilian side of you, and if you're still feeling generous enough to look after a stray kitten, then I'll ask you properly. But for now, I just need to ask you, not Ladybug, not as Chat Noir, not as a prince, but as a guy in a tight spot. That's all I have to ask. And if you leave, it'll hurt me a lot, but I respect your decision…"
…
"Fine. We'll do that for now. Just, remember I don't take this as lightly as you do. I am a girl, under all this, so it matters to me… I'm gonna grab some lunch." She said, softly.
He should be happy.
Why isn't he happy?
He knows why he isn't happy.
He feels terrible.
Someone he loved who he betrayed and very nearly killed has come back to find him. He told her to give him some time. She did.
But then he asked her to give him her freedom, way beyond a simple helping hand, to save his own skin. He was awful. And he felt it.
*three years ago*
Adrien POV
Where am I? It's dark. My head hurts. I'm sat on a chair and there's a spotlight on me? Hold up, have I been kidnapped?
"Oh, he's awake! Master, the kitty has finished his catnap!"
A young lady emerged from the shadows. Her hair was dark and long, it came down to her waist in a high ponytail. She had red ribbons on her arms, her hair and her dress. Her dress was a shocking red, slim, but floor length.
But most elegant of all, was a red and black spotted mask, befitting of that of a Ladybug. It rested over two mysterious, alluring blue eyes that I couldn't look away from. Wait, why was she making cat puns?
The lights came on around me. I was in an oriental themed room, with pillars and decorations, and a wise looking old man sat on a large chair.
"Chat Noir. You ignored my message?"
I think back. No way, was this about the creepy note in that box?! The jewellery box, with the ring in it, and the note telling him to go somewhere.
"This old thing? Here, have it." Said the old man.
The woman in red stepped forward, and presented him the box from his room.
"Hey! How did you-"
"Don't worry. I don't know your identity. Master brought you here. I'm just here in case you try anything…" she said sternly. "While you are here, you are Chat Noir, and nothing will be held against your true identity, unless you are revealed. So that we can act bravely, we hide out names, not allowing our families to be tarnished. Oh, and put on the ring. It's cursed."
"What?! You're telling me to put on a cursed item?! Are you crazy?!"
"Well, it's not gonna hurt you. It's just cursed. There's a spirit inside by the name of Plagg. He is a dark cat spirit of destruction. And he's chosen you to wield his power. Plus, you get to work with me and escape your everyday life. Starting to sound good yet?" She asked.
"Totally! When do I start?" He said enthusiastically, hoping he wasn't dreaming.
"Wow! That's the attitude. We'll do all your pledges and stuff later. First things first, I've been told you're capable, so welcome to team Ladybug and Chat Noir!" The girl smiled sweetly, holding out a slender hand and a new life. He was free.
*end of flashback*
He was going to follow her to get some food, but he wasn't hungry. He roamed the palace aimlessly, until he ran into Nathalie.
"Sir, I heard about your arrangement. Are you sure you know what you're doing? That Chloe is a tricky girl… I somewhat pity who ever you have in mind. Well, as long as they're on the list of potential wives prepared by your father, then I guess we should play it out well." Nathalie was cold, but she showed him kindness when the king was not around. "But for the sake of whoever you choose, you might wanna make appear so that the girl you end up choosing was not the one you had in mind, oh and make sure it looks like you chose her at the ball, because things could get sticky. Speak of the ball, we are planning to have it next week at the latest. Is that okay?"
"Wow, that's quite soon isn't it. Well, if that's the best deal you can haggle me Nathalie, then I appreciate it. I'm assuming that's the list in your hand and you were coming to show me?"
"Yes, Adrien. Here." She passed him the file. "You're not really supposed to see it until the ball, but…"
"I understand."
That was one long list.
He skimmed it.
Dupain-Cheng, Dupain-Cheng, Dupain-Cheng… Ah! There we are! Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Perfect.
"She's there! You had me worried for a minute there…" Adrien sighed in relief. He didn't know what he'd do if her name wasn't listed. His father was not a generous man, at least not when it came to parenting…
Nathalie leaned over to see where his finger was resting.
"Marinette, huh? Sounds familiar… Wait a minute! Your new retainer is Marinette's cousin, isn't it? Chloe's going to have a fit-"
"That's not a problem. Marin is safe. Nobody can touch him." He said, sincerely.
"I know he's strong but that can't solve-"
"I can trust you, right Nathalie? You want me to be happy more than you want to do your job properly, right? You won't tell my father if I tell you, right?"
Nathalie sighed. He always made this hard for her. But she cared for him like a son, especially after the passing of his mother. She could t bring herself to betray him.
"Fine. But this better be good."
"Nobody can know this, but Marin does not exist. Don't react! She's not a conman! Well, she is, but-"
"She?! Wait, Marin is Marinette?! But that could've been someone who wanted to kill you, or worse-"
"Calm down, Nathalie. It's fine. Just before the ball, I'm going to fire her and I need your help putting that through my father. I also don't think she wants to marry me, buuuuuuuut we'll cross that bridge when we come to it…"
Nathalie burst out laughing. He was so cute, the little prince. And what a mess he was in…