(I'm thinking this is about a week after the coronation)
"But Tikki! Why not?"
The raven haired monarch was laying across the foot of her bed, her hands moving agitatedly around the hem of her nightgown.
Her redheaded friend shook her head affectionately as she fingered through the new queen's wardrobe.
"Because." she said, dragging out the vowels to mimic her charge. "It's dangerous and it's my job to keep you out of dangerous situations."
"How am I supposed to properly do my job if I don't get out literally ever?!"
"You're being horribly dramatic about this, your Majesty."
Tikki came to sit beside Marinette on her bed, a teasing smile gracing her lips. The queen rolled onto her back to glare at her for a moment before sitting up. She huffed, crossed her arms, and looked away.
"C'mon, little bug. Let's get you ready for today."
"If I do, will you let me stretch my wings?"
Tikki should've seen that coming.
She sighed. "If I humor you today, will you promise not to bother me with it tomorrow?"
"Yes!"
Narrowed blue eyes met wide, hopeful ones before relenting.
"Fine."
"YES!"
Marinette lept from the bed and darted to the wardrobe Tikki had abandoned moments prior.
~ MLB ~
Half an hour later, both were walking the streets of Lillac. The midsummer air was crisp and glorious as they approached the local market. While Marinette had hoped to simply sneak out to the city with her head maid, said maid had decided at least a couple guards were to come with them. Despite the complaints she groaned aloud earlier, even Mariette had to admit that knowing Sir Nathanaël and Sir Ivan were nearby was comforting.
It took everything in the young monarch not to stand in open awe at just how busy the city was. The girl in her wanted to rush from booth to booth and weave through the crowd as if she hadn't a care in the world. The royalty in her knew she didn't have such a luxury.
The girl in her never did win those arguments.
Instead she managed to work her way down the street at a reasonable pace, Tikki always right beside her.
Tikki nudged her, nodding towards a booth full of fabrics of all kinds, laughing softly as Marinette's eyes lit up. She paused, however, watching as a young girl, maybe eleven or twelve in age, darted over to it. Behind her lagged a familiar blonde teen, grinning wildly at whatever it was the child before him was saying.
Marinette grabbed Tikki's hand and pulled her across the road to where they could hear.
"-was saying that she'd make me a new dress for my birthday! And she'll let me choose the color too! I was thinking blue, but blue's expensive. What do you think, Adrien?"
"I think you'd look lovely in blue. It'd help bring out your eyes. How is your mother recently?"
The girl brightened at his inquiry.
"She's much better! Thank you for helping. Skylar didn't think you would, but I told him you always keep your promises and I was right. Now, what color dress do you think I should ask for?"
"You said you wanted blue, didn't you?"
"Well, yes. But I also mentioned it was expensive. Weren't you listening?"
A mischievous smile crept onto the younger Agreste's face and the girl glared at him.
"You are not allowed to buy it for me. You've done enough recently."
"What if I make it your birthday gift? What will you do then Isabel?"
"You are a foul chicken, you know that? However, I cannot argue with a birthday gift. If you insist."
His laughter was like the soft twinkling of bells as he waved a hand over the fabric before them, indicating for Isabel to choose her favorite. She took her time making her decision, looking over each one carefully and feeling it as if to check how comfortable it would be. (The designer in Marinette approved wholeheartedly with such intense decision making.) Finally, she made her choice, he made his purchase and was then unceremoniously dragged off yet again by Isabel.
"Marinette!" Tikki hissed as the girl dashed after them. Rolling her eyes, she followed. She was so going to hold this against her later.
Marinette ignored her, solely focused on investigating as much as possible into The Life of Adrien Agreste™.
Maybe the girl in her won after all.
This unannounced game of cat and mouse led them all to a small, secluded area of town, hidden by back alleys and children's attempts at a secret hideout.
It took Marinette a moment to realize it was a backyard as she watched Isabel drop Adrien's hand and run over to a boy, probably her brother, based on his dirty blonde hair and lightly colored eyes. If Marinette didn't already know better, she could almost believe it was Adrien's family.
A woman appeared quickly from within the house. She made her way to the children first, talking with them quietly as her fingers combed through Isabel's hair. Then her eyes wandered to Adrien and she smiled. It was a lovely smile, one that showed she'd had much beauty in her youth and that a good amount of it remained now. Adrien moved to her, putting an arm around her waist as if to help steady her.
Marinette watched for a moment, wondering if perhaps this woman was Isabel's mother and if perhaps she had recently been ill.
Adrien gently led the woman back towards the house and the group all disappeared inside for a moment before the boy once again emerged. Then Adrien did and then Isabel.
It was clear Isabel was in charge this morning as she grabbed the boys' hands and dragged them away, humming loudly to herself.
Marinette turned and almost ran into Tikki. An apologetic smile formed with an apology on her lips but Tikki cut her off before she could start.
"I think I know where they're going, c'mon."
And in what appeared to be typical Isabel fashion, she grabbed Marinette's hand and pulled her off into the city.
~ MLB ~
Tikki couldn't say just what had made her decide to aid Marinette in her chase, honestly. Maybe she just wanted to let the girl have some fun for once. Maybe she wanted to know more about the boy Plagg had chosen. Maybe she herself was bored. Maybe it was even a combination of the three. No matter the reason, she had and so the two ran because it turns out that even when dragging two wary boys behind her, Isabel made pretty incredible time.
It was a small park, significantly larger than the backyard, that they came too. Located just at the south end of the market, it was clearly a place for children to stay while their parents shopped.
And Adrien was obviously a regular visitor too.
At least if the children climbing all over him and tugging at any part of him they could was an indicator. Not to mention the wild grin plastered over his face as he tried to focus on anything any of them were saying.
Isabel was seated beside the one boy on the grass a couple feet away, smirking at the madness. Her expression only got more devious with the helpless look Adrien sent her a minute later, a clear sign of distress.
Finally, Isabel's brother(?) got sick of it and stood up. By some unspoken code, every other child peeled away from the poor blonde noble and assembled themselves into a line, in what appeared to be age order.
It was now Isabel decided to rise, her voice full of authority as she yelled, "Roll call!"
A sigh escaped Adrien and he moved to the end of the line. He was the oldest present after all.
"Begin!"
"Adrien Agreste, age seventeen!"
"Isabel Amore, age twelve!"
"Robert Nelson, age twelve!"
"Charles Brooke, age ten!"
"Skylar Amore, age seven!"
"Crystal Bluewood, age six, and Rylie Bluewood, age three!"
Isabel surveyed the group with a motherly sense of pride. Her blue eyes landed on Adrien again and she grinned wickedly.
"Good to have you back, Agent Emerald."
Adrien nodded, fighting a grin off his face.
"Alright, my lovely coven, now that our final gem has returned, we can begin the ceremony."
Marinette smiled subconsciously. She looked back at Tikki, who had tapped her on the shoulder. The redhead nodded towards a pair of women across the walkway as she leaned in to whisper, "They're talking about him."
What better way to learn a person's character than to eavesdrop on those who knew them?
"My girls just love him. Crystal was telling me about a game they played the other day and I just sat there and marveled at how incredible it is that a seventeen year old feels no shame or embarrassment in messing around with them. Especially one of his class! It truly is special."
"Absolutely, absolutely. Robert is always talking about how exciting it is when Adrien's able to make it. They all adore him."
"All of the kingdom does-or should. He just gives and gives to the community."
"Not just money though! He offers a hand, a meal, a smile. He understands you can't just throw money at problems and it's really quite refreshing."
The sound of a carriage broke through the noise of the market and sent people scrambling out of the way. The two women grimaced as they noticed it and Marinette's eyes darkened as the crest on the side came into view.
The air had chilled considerably, not quite literally, but close enough that everyone felt its effect. Adrien was suddenly standing straight as a rod, the most neutral expression possible on his face.
Marinette's blood boiled.
The door to the carriage swung open, a tall figure emerging from to pin icey eyes on his son. Words were not spoken, sound itself seemed to be holding its breath before Adrien's eyes dropped and he moved to join his father.
Sound didn't return to the market until the carriage had once again vanished from view, taking both father and son with it. Angry whispers could be heard as neighbors hissed and seethed to each other.
Isabel looked close to murder. Marinette felt ready to join her.
Catching Tikki's eye, she mouthed "I'm done, let's go," before she strode back through the market, looking every part the royal she was.
~ MLB ~
Libraries are rooms of answers, shelves of questions, and pages of emotion. They are, without a doubt, one of the most vital rooms in any household, be it a castle or a farmhouse.
It was to one of these rooms Marinette had originally planned on going the second she set foot back inside the house of stone she resided in. A voice stopped her; a voice she hadn't heard in years.
"Rin!"
The young monarch barely had time to turn before she was wrapped in the arms of her aunt.
Bridgette Cheng was Marinette's age, born only a month or so before her. They'd grown up together, behaving more like sisters than an aunt and her niece. Roughly three years before, Bridgette had decided she wanted to travel. She was gone before the month was up.
And now she was here.
Marinette pulled back, though she kept their hands interlocked. Her eyes roamed the woman in front of her, as if trying to memorize the differences.
Finally, her eyes traveled back to the identical blue ones watching her.
"You're actually here." It came out a hushed whisper.
"In the flesh. And you were clearly on a mission, mind if I join?"
"Not in the slightest."
The two girls headed off towards the library and Marinette explained what had just happened in town.
"I wanted to go over what I knew of the Agrestes and Clëvare as a whole. Just double check I actually know my kingdom's history and all."
"Smart. I thought you didn't like the Agrestes though…why'd you follow him, Rin?"
Marinette stared at her, trying to come up with some logical answer. Nothing came to her. Shaking her head, she sighed, "I don't know."
Bri regarded her closely for a moment, eyes slightly narrowed. Finally she just shrugged, hooked her arm though Marinette's, and dragged her off to the library.
What's a royalty AU without the monarch-sneaking-into-the-city scene?
I've had the idea for this chapter since before chapter 3, guys it's been killing me!
Thank you to everyone that chose to read this and double thanks to everyone who followed it too. It feels really surreal everytime I get another message telling me someone like this or followed it, so thank you so much. It's awesome hearing from y'all.
Anyway, enjoy!