Two years ago…

"Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous." Marinette said, fanning her overheated face with her hand as Alya fussed with her hair. "I wish you were coming with me tonight."

Alya chuckled. "Maybe I could wear one of your dresses and just sneak in."

Marinette turned around excitedly grabbing both her hands, including the hand rush she was holding. "You think you could?"

"No!" Alya laughed out. "I don't think it's usual practice for a ladies maid to go to a ball at the King's Palace."

Marinette slumped her shoulders. "But you're my best friend Alya, there should be an exception for that."

Alya finished placing the flowers in Marinette's hair and picked up the red mask to match her dress, placing it carefully on her face and tying the red ribbon at the back. "I'm just excited to be here with you at the Capital. It's so different to being in the country with so many buildings and people and just everything." Alya gushed, looking out the window at the township below. A lamplighter was walking along the street below turning on the gas street lights as shopkeepers began closing their doors.

"I know what you mean." Marinette agreed. It had been quite a journey from her grandfather's country estate in the south to the Capital in the north, but it was her first time attending the court of the King and Marinette was a bundle of nerves and excitement. "Oh Alya, what if I trip and fall when I curtsy to the King? I think I would die of embarrassment!"

"You'll be fine." Alya assured her. "And your cousin will be with you."

"Speaking of which…" Lady Fei said from the bedroom door with a wide smile. "Are you ready Marinette, we'll be late."

"Yes I'm ready." Marinette replied, jumping up and smoothing down her red dress. "Let's go."

"Wait, before we go." Fei said, opening up her small purse. "I have a present for you to celebrate your debut tonight."

Opening her hand, Marinette saw a beautiful pair of black and ruby earrings. "Fei, they are beautiful." She said, picking the earrings out of her cousin's hand and admiring them in the light. "Look Alya. They look like little ladybugs."

"Well I thought they matched your dress." Fei added. "Besides, you're seventeen now Marinette, and it's time you were presented as a young Lady. These are from your mother's family in Shanghai and they are said to bring good luck."

Marinette took out her plain Pearl earrings and put in her new ones. They did indeed match her dress and made Marinette feel quite grown up. Following Fei out to the carriage, they were finally off to the ball.

As the carriage bumped along the road in the twilight, Marinette wished her mother could have been here to see her. Both her parents had died the previous year from plague. Sabine, being the selfless woman she was, had tried to care for the less privileged that were sick. She had sent Marinette away to stay with her Grandfather in the country to protect her from catching it, but sadly both her and her husband Tom contracted the illness, dying within days of each other. Her Uncle, Lord Rolland the 7th Earl of Dupain, wasn't really sure what to do with a young woman in his household and so he sent her to spend the summer with Sabine's cousin Fei at the Capital. Fei was delighted to have Marinette come and stay and promised Rolland that she would help Marinette become a proper Lady.

When they arrived at the palace, Marinette stood in awe of the spacious gardens and grand architecture. All around her was a swirl of beautiful ball gown and glittering masks as the guests made their way up the grand staircase. Marinette subconsciously adjusted the mask on her face. The fabric was soft, but it was strange having it on. Fei opened her fan.

"What a balmy night." She commented, seeking the coolness of the breeze she was making for herself. "The air is so still. Hopefully it will cool down now that the sun is setting."

Marinette picked up her voluminous skirt and followed Fei up the grand staircase. As they entered a man at the door took their names and announced them. "Lady Fei Cheng and Lady Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

The two women crossed the foyer and joined the queue to greet the King. Gabriel was sitting on his throne, nodding to the gentry that bowed and curtseyed as they passed. Marinette mentally ran over how to curtsy without falling. "Cross right leg behind left. Bend the knees and lower hips. Keep your shoulders straight…" She whispered to herself.

Fei raised her open fan over her face. "You're doing find Marinette. Don't overthink it." She said reassuringly. "Remember, you are a lady of both Dupain and Cheng. You have every right to be here tonight."

When it was their turn, Marinette kept her eyes on the ground, trying not to wobble too much as she curtsied. Despite herself she lifted her eyes up towards the throne and saw a steely looking pair of gray eyes looking back down at her over his nose. For some reason Marinette pictured the King would be wearing a crown. She supposed that was just something one found in fairy tales like meeting Prince Charming and fairy godmothers. Marinette quickly looked away and back at the ground. She wasn't sure she had ever seen a more unpleasant looking person. She also wondered where the Prince was as the King was alone. Wouldn't it be usual practice for him to be beside his father as the guests are presented?

"Good job dear." Fei said as they proceeded into the ballroom. "Now be sure you dance with any young gentleman that asks you. I'm sure we can find you a suitable husband tonight if we play your cards right."

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Oh Fei, I'm not looking for a husband. I just want to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy myself."

Marinette watched on as the room burst with colour as couples swirled around the dancefloor. It didn't take long before young men started to ask her for a dance. Fei watched on, pleased to see Marinette enjoying herself, but behind her fan she was worried. When Rolland sent Marinette to her he was at pains to point out that he needed to get her married off as quickly as possible. It wasn't what Fei wanted for her, nor would it have been Sabine's wishes either, but Fei knew that as women they didn't always have much of a choice in the matter. She only hoped that whoever he might be would be someone honorable and kind and would truly love Marinette for the gentle soul she was.

As yet another song finished, Marinette curtsied to the young man she had been dancing with. She was hoping to find Fei and maybe sit down for a while, but she was approached by a new suitor.

"May I have this next dance Lady Marinette?" A deep voice asked. Marinette was a little taken aback by the fact the man knew her name. He was quite tall with dark hair and a small goatee on his chin.

Remembering her manners, Marinette nodded her head and took the outstretched hand offered to her. Something about his presence made her feel uneasy. She suspected he must have been thirty if he was a day, even under the black and gold mask that he wore.

"I'm not surprised you wouldn't remember me." The man said, sounding amused. "I am Marquis Thèo Barbot, at your service. I know your Grandfather Sit Rolland quite well. We trade in business you see, and I visit his Estate often. Dupain lands have always been the most fertile and yield some of the best harvests." He said in a long drawl. "I used to watch you riding your horse on the Dupain Estate grounds when you were younger. You have indeed blossomed into a beautiful young woman. So grown up now."

Marinette felt a knot forming in her stomach. Now she remembered who he was. Lord Barbot owned lands not that far from her grandfather's estate. Dupain wheat was sent to the Barbot owned mill before being exported. What she remembered him most for though, was the way he always seemed to have been watching her. The looks he gave were not the kind that an older man should have been giving such a young girl. All she wanted to do was get away from this creep, but she couldn't depart from their dance without attracting attention, and that would bring shame onto Fei and by extension her grandfather. She couldn't do that no matter how much she internally screamed.

Thèo seemed fully aware of her discomfort, but was undeterred by it. "Not the most talkative are you?" He quipped, noting how stiff Marinette had become and she was avoiding looking at him. "But that's to be expected. This is your first time here, is it not? I can only imagine how a room full of strangers would be overwhelming for a country girl like yourself. I have been lacking in my neighbourly duties of late. I think I might go and visit your grandfather soon. It's about time we were on more friendly terms, don't you think?"

Marinette felt numb, following the motions of the dance and she didn't appreciate how far south his hand felt on her back. "I'm sure my Grandfather will enjoy your reacquaintance." She replied, still looking away from him. Marinette gasped when he took her chin in his hand and turned her face to look at him. His dark eyes bored into her blue ones and his intentions were very clear.

"So innocent aren't you?" He smirked. "Then let me be clearer Marinette. It's your acquaintance that I wish to know better my dear. I know your Grandfather needs to find you a husband, and I find myself in need a wife. I'm sure he and I will be able to make a suitable arrangement for such a delicate flower."

The music finally stopped and Marinette took a step back, dropping to a curtsy. "If you will excuse me my Lord." She said, quickly getting herself as far away from Lord Barbot as she could.

Weaving her way through the crowd, Marinette had lost sight of where Fei had gone. Fighting off her tears, she found an open doorway and went outside seeking the night air. The courtyard was thankfully empty. Marinette wandered along one of the pathways into the gardens and found a stone bench against a tall hedge. Taking a seat there, she fanned her overheated face with her hand. Surely, surely her grandfather wouldn't arrange a marriage with such a horrible man. Yet deep down she knew that it was a high probability. Lord Barbot was a business partner to her grandfather, and a man of high status and he was close to the King's inner circle. It would be considered an honour to everyone else, but it was far from a blessing as far as Marinette was concerned.

She fisted her dress in her hands, struggling to hold back her tears. It was her fate as an only child, and as a girl, that a marriage of position would be expected of her. It was too much to hope that marriage could be for love no matter how much she had dreamed of it. All the stories she had read as a child, all the fairytales of meeting that handsome Prince that would sweep you off your feet and carry you into the sunset. It was all just a clichè, it was all just a foolish dream. Lost in her thoughts, she was abruptly shaken from them by stern voices coming from the other side of the hedge.

"Where the hell have you been? You have a duty as my son to be present when guests are arriving at an official event."

"And what about my duty as a Prince of DuPont? There are still people dying of plague in the city, father. Women and children are being left to fend for themselves with no one to help them. Do you really expect me to ignore all that and come and sit here at a gathering of frivolous and wasteful…"

"That is enough." The stern voice interrupted. "You will remember your place, Adrien. Our society is built on the allegiance of the nobles. Without them you will have no one in times of conflict. Your duty as Prince of DuPont is to take a wife that will fortify our borders, protect our interests and produce an heir that will continue our line."

Marinette smothered a gasp when she realised the stern voice must have been the voice of the King and she was eavesdropping on a private conversation. She considered getting up and leaving, but the gravel pathway out of the garden would have crunched under her feet, given her away. Frozen on the bench, she decided it was best to stay as quiet as possible.

"I'm well aware that I will have no choice on that matter." Adrien said with a heavy sigh. "And I know you have been in talks with the Bourgeois family. I suppose you will be announcing my betrothal to Lady Chloé soon."

"No." Gabriel replied flatly. "No it won't be Lady Bourgeois. I have already decided that you will be marrying Princess Kagami of Tsurugi."

"Won't that create even more of a diplomatic stouch? The House of Bourgeois is not on friendly terms with the Kingdom of Tsurugi. Also Bourgeois land backs literally onto our border. If they got it into their heads to do so they could easily block the harbour to trade ships and cut off all our supplies. It's a risky move."

"You would prefer to marry Lady Bourgeois?"

"No I would not." Adrien snapped back. "But since I won't have a choice in the matter anyway, wouldn't avoiding a conflict with Bourgeois be the more diplomatic avenue?"

"Not in this case." Gabriel replied with a mysterious undertone. "You like Princess Kagami don't you?" Marinette was having a hard time reading the King's tone in all this. Did he just dislike the Bourgeois or was there something else going on? She didn't know much about the Tsurugi family except that they were a foreign kingdom that DuPont had trade relations with. So why is an alliance with them so important?

There was a pause before Adrien replied. "She has many qualities that I find amiable, but you know my feelings have only ever extended to friendship. Besides, things are more complicated than that."

"It's a place to start." Gabriel said, not unkindly. "I was in your place once, Adrien. I had to make a choice for the good of our kingdom and in the end I'm sure my choice was the right one. I can only hope that when Tsurugi and I make our agreement, the Bourgeois' will accept the news with dignity and we can negotiate a new agreement based on mutual respect. For old times sake."

There was something longing in the way he said that, almost like a regret. "For now however, it's time you went inside and greeted your guests."

Marinette heard heavy footsteps moving away into the distance back towards the palace. She felt very sorry for the Prince and the way his life wasn't his own. She understood it though. As a woman she knew that she may be forced to marry for reasons other than love too. She couldn't inherit her family estate according to the law. The only hope she would have in that regard would be if her grandfather transferred the title to her husband. For the Prince, it was a sacrifice for the good of his whole Kingdom. It must have been a heavy burden to bare.

Suddenly she heard footsteps approaching closer to where she was. 'Oh no, it must be the Prince.' Marinette realised with panic. Not wanting to be discovered she got up quickly intending to hide, but as she did so she caught her feet around the bottom of her dress and fell over onto the gravel path, landing heavily on her hand. A gasp of pain escaped from her lips.

"Are you alright?" A kind and concerned voice asked, scurrying over to her. Marinette looked up to be met with a pair of beautiful emerald eyes looking down at her. "You didn't hurt yourself did you?"

Marinette recognised the voice as that of the Prince. He had his black mask pushed up onto his head making it almost look like a set of ears sitting amongst his blond hair. He held out his hand to her with a kind smile.

"I um… I think I'm okay." Marinette replied, placing her hand in his. Adrien helped her up, steading her with his other hand on her arm.

"You've grazed your hand." Adrien said, looking at her palm. "Please, allow me."

Taking out a white handkerchief from his pocket, Adrien carefully wrapped it around Marinette's grazed palm. In the background, she could hear the orchestra playing a familiar waltz and she could scarcely believe what was happening. Here she was being attended to by the Prince himself, his own personal handkerchief wrapped around her hand and under moonlight no less to music. Dare she say it almost felt romantic.

As she watched him tie the ends of the handkerchief together, she saw a ring on his finger with a paw print insignia engraved on it. It was rather unusual, but she was too nervous to ask him about it.

"You know, you have lovely earrings." Adrien said. Marinette looked up to find him looking at her with that same soft expression. "My mother loved Ladybugs. We used to go looking for them in the garden when I was little because she said they were lucky. Are they a family heirloom?"

"Yes." She replied with a squeak. Marinette could feel her cheeks heating up with embarrassment. She then cleared her throat. "Yes they are a family heirloom and they do say Ladybugs are supposed to be lucky, I mean, it's just a superstition and I'm not sure if it's even true or not." She said at a hundred miles per hour, waving her hands around. "I only received them tonight and I'm wearing them for the first time so I can't say for sure whether their luck is inherent or whether they actually help with being lucky in any way… so I…um…"

Marinette stopped her babbling so see the Prince chuckling softly at her. "I'm sorry." He apologised. "I shouldn't be laughing but I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone talk so fast before."

Marinette felt like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Some lady she was turning out to be. "No, I'm the one who should apologise to you for running off at the mouth. I do that sometimes when I'm nervous. I guess I'm not feeling very lucky tonight." She held up her now wrapped up hand and to her surprise he took it between his.

"Maybe I'm the lucky one then." Adrien smiled at her. "Because if you hadn't fallen over, I might never have met you tonight."

Marinette was sure her heart was going to beat out of her chest. Unlike the other young men paying her attention and compliments tonight, there was something genuinely sincere in Adrien's eyes.

"May I escort you back to the ball?" He asked, letting go of her hand and offering his arm out towards her.

Marinette could feel her hand shaking as she took his arm. It wasn't nerves, more like a whole rush of emotions she didn't quite understand. Something that made her heart race in a way it never had before. Adrien noticed her hand tremor and he placed his other hand over hers. "I take it it's your first time at one of these events."

"Am I that out of place?" Marinette asked, feeling somewhat deflated. Not only does she fall over and have to be helped up by the Prince, but now it's painfully obvious even to him that she doesn't belong here.

"Not out of place." The Prince continued reflectively. "You just seem to be untainted by this place or the people in it." He pulled down his mask over his face as they approached back towards the ballroom. "Perhaps one day I can get a chance to see the girl behind the mask and thank her properly."

"Thank me?" Marinette asked, looking up at him confused. "But your highness, why would you want to thank me? I haven't done anything but fall over and babble at you."

They stopped at the doorway that led back inside to the ballroom. He was watching the guests as they continued to dance across the ballroom floor. Marinette could see sadness in those beautiful eyes. A sadness he tried to hide from the rest of the world.

"I came outside to get some fresh air before having to come into this stuffy room full of stuffy people I don't even want to talk to. I had just come from the village you see, trying to do what I could to help ease their suffering, something most of those here tonight never see nor will ever understand. What I found instead though was that breath of fresh air in you. So thank you for that. It gives me some hope that not everyone here is as shallow and superficial as I took them for and that gives me some consolation and also hope."

He turned his head back to her and was soon becoming lost in those beautiful bluebell eyes shining out of the red mask she wore, her raven hair framing her face. Maybe it was wrong wanting to stay by her side a little longer. He didn't even know her name and yet if he could have stayed by her side all night he would have, gladly.

"How rude of me. I never introduced myself properly. My name is Adrien. It's been a pleasure to meet you. Before we go inside, could you bestow upon me the honour of your name?"

"Oh, yes of course. It's ma…"

"You're highness."

Adrien looked over to the source of the voice as a man in formal uniform approached him.

"What is it, Nino? Something wrong?"

Nino looked flustered when he saw the Prince standing with a woman. "Oh, um… I think you better come and rescue your cousin."

Adrien chuckled. "What's that idiot gone and done this time?"

Nino looked at the masked woman and then back at the Prince. "I'd rather not say specifically in front of a lady, but suffice to say he has had a few choice words to say to your father and things are getting a little testy. Luka is doing his best to calm the situation but…"

"It's alright Nino. I'll come." Adrien sighed. He then took Marinette's hand in his. "Forgive me m'lady. Unfortunately my cousin can be a little too honest with his opinions when he has had too much to drink and he and my father rarely see eye to eye. I hope I can see you again before the night is over."

Bringing her hand up to his lips, he softly kissed the back of it before letting her hand slip through his fingers and following Nino back into the ballroom.

Marinette stood there for a while, watching where the Prince, Adrien, had left from. She held her injured hand closer to her chest, a gentle breeze blowing through her hair.

"There you are." She heard Fei say as she approached her. "I've been looking everywhere for you. What happened to your hand? Are you hurt?"

"No, it's fine." Marinette assured her. "I went for a walk in the garden and tripped, but a gentleman offered me his handkerchief."

She didn't want to tell Fei she had been helped up by the Prince himself. Not because she was embarrassed anymore, but because it felt like a precious memory and she wanted to keep it to herself for now. Marinette wasn't surprised when she didn't see the Prince again that night. No doubt there must have been many important people he needed to speak to and socialise with. She felt grateful to have had the opportunity to meet him and she couldn't erase the way her heart leapt when she thought about him.

Alya only chuckled at her what she described as Marinette's love struck face the next morning. Marinette told Alya about the mysterious stranger that helped her up, but never said she knew who he was. Alya made up her own theories when she washed the handkerchief and found an A embroidered on it. "Andrew? Alfred? Alphonsus? Augustus?" Alya muse, but Marinette would only smile, tucking the handkerchief into her pocket for safe keeping.

That sweet summer though soon soured into a blustery autumn and later a harsh winter. The House of Bourgeois declared war on DuPont, the King announced that Prince Adrien was to be betrothed to Princess Kagami of Tsurugi and Marinette's grandfather made plans to give her hand in marriage to Lord Bardot as soon as she turned eighteen.

Sitting in her room late one night, Marinette clutched Adrien's handkerchief to her heart and shed a tear. His eyes, his smile, his genuine kindness… everything she knew Lord Bardot was not. Of course, the Prince would be out of her reach. It wasn't about that. It was Marinette knowing that she wanted something more. She deserved something more than a marriage of convenience no matter how powerful her grandfather though Bardot was. She refused to be subjected to it, regardless of whatever agreement they had made.

Calling Alya to her room, they together hatched a plan to join the nursing corp that was recruiting in the next town. Marinette was supposed to leave for Bardot's estate in a week, but by the next morning, she and Alya had packed a single bag each and were gone.