Lunch was boring as usual. And after her self-defense, foreign language, and manners lessons, Marinette was just in time for dinner.

Dinner was just as boring. She ate alone silently as two guards - one being Luka - stood by the door. The silence was only interrupted as severs came in to take a plate, refill her water, or help her wash her hands before she put the gloves back on.

It was weird for Marinette in those first few months to have someone wait on her like that. She still wasn't used to it. Marinette had always reveled in her alone time, and she took a moment to be grateful today was Sunday, and the rest of her afternoon, she was left to herself. At home, she spent her time doing art projects, playing games, and doing what she had always dreamed of: practicing being a seamstress. Hours and pages she'd spend practicing, drawing, building, sewing, everything, just to make the perfect dress or outfit.

She wished she still had those drawings, at least. But no, they were gone now. Just like her solitude. She couldn't begrudge the servants, of course. They were kind, and she tried to connect with most of them in some form or another, but usually they stuck to a formal attitude, which at first hurt her feelings until Plagg taught her about a servant's place, as he put it. After arguing with Plagg for days about her place being no better than theirs, he eventually put his foot down, teaching her that she had to accept her role, and denial didn't look pretty on her. So Marinette accepted things as they were, and ate in silence, except for a "Thank you" or "Yes, please" when warranted.

In other words, she just had a normal, boring dinner.

Until, that is, she pushed her chair aside, and a messenger practically sprinted straight into the room and handed her a letter. Marinette had briefly seen the messenger before and decided that if speed-walking was a sport, he would win it.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, surprised by the sudden movement. Marinette gently took the letter from the short, thin man's dark hands, and opened the letter with her gloved ones. "What's this?" she asked.

The messenger bowed. "A letter from the Queen and King. They asked me to deliver it to you after the wedding. Please forgive me for my tardiness." He lowered his face, blush barely seen under the ebony skin, looking ashamed.

Marinette waved her hand. "I mean, it technically is still after the wedding, so don't worry about it." She smiled brightly before opening the letter.

She was not ready for what was inside.

Princess Marinette,

As we are not currently available to meet with you in person to inform you of this, you will be meeting with several people on Monday morning.

Firstly, as we will be gone for the next month, and then things will be different from now on, it is important that you have an advisor with you, someone who will guide you through your schedule, help you practice what you learn in Tutor Plagg's classroom. At 9:00 AM Monday morning, your advisor will come. Her name is Ms. Tikki. You will still have the time after dinner to yourself. Ms. Tikki will arrive at 8:00 AM every morning and leave at 5:00 PM, half an hour before dinner.

Just as importantly, at 11:00 AM, you must be ready for brunch in the dining room. An important guest will be coming. His name is Adrien Agreste (as you well know, hehe. This is dad, by the way. I miss you already. Okay, back to the serious letter). Together, you will begin a courtship that Tutor Plagg and Ms. Tikki will oversee. He will also assist you in courses, as he has useful skills you should learn. Courses will be strictly academic, and courtship will not occur in those times. Ms. Tikki will describe your courtship in more detail on Monday.

We know you will overcome the struggle of these changes. You are talented, beautiful, and intelligent. Feel free to write to us.

Queen Elena & King Tom

P.S. We love you.

Marinette reread the letter twice before the words fully settled.

"Monday?" asked Marinette out loud, speaking directly to the man eye-to-eye with her. "But that's tomorrow!"

He nodded his head again. "Yes, ma'am," he confirmed. "Tikki Toussaint and Adrien Agreste will be precisely on time, too."

Marinette blushed. She couldn't help that she lost track of time and was late to most meetings. Things got better when people were around to remind her constantly.

But then she remembered why they were coming. Tikki, she could understand. But a courtship?!

Every word Marinette had ever heard, read, or even thought left her brain in an instant.

Courtship. Oh, absolutely not. Marinette knew who Adrien Agreste was. The richest, handsomest boy in the country, according to teen magazines. There had been a time when Marinette was younger and she was head over heels for him. Well, she was head over heels for the idea of him. But that was a whole lifetime ago, and now the last thing Marinette wanted to think about was having to be courted by someone just because who they were. They had never even met.

Besides, if there was one thing that Marinette could imagine Adrien Agreste being, it was arrogant. He was too... shiny to not be. And she knew he had been invited to her father's wedding, and he hadn't come. It was rather rude of him, actually, now that she thought about it. To dismiss an invite to the King and Queen's wedding? She knew they were just people, but you just don't do that, no matter how rich you are.

Marinette handed the letter back to the messenger, reminding herself to remain calm. At least she had the rest of the afternoon to herself to process it all.

"Thank you for relaying the message. You're wonderful," she complimented. "I'm going to go to my room now." She nodded her head at the messenger, who understood the dismissal and then ran out of the room.

With as much strength as she could muster, Marinette walked steadily across the hallways, Luka following a few feet behind her, and she made her way to the room.

"So," she whispered as they walked, and she glanced back. "That was unexpected."

Luka's face remained stoic, truly the perfect guard. "Yes, Your Highness?"

Marinette sighed at the formal name. Then, she understood that Luka didn't know about Adrien's courtship. She briefly snuck a peek again at him, and his kind, blue eyes met hers, making her heart jump a second. He looked so much older and handsomer, and she knew they both changed so much, but he still held that soft look. And that was when she realized. She didn't want him to know about Adrien.

"Do you still play guitar?" she asked randomly.

Luka let out a short chuckle, the air reaching the back of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. She turned quickly away.

"I do," he said, "but I don't have much time for it right now. I spend a lot of my free time training."

"Do you miss it?"

"... I do."

"You should play sometime. In your free time, I mean." Marinette let out a giggle. "I don't want you to get in trouble for finding someone's melody."

Luka groaned, and Marinette imagined him slapping his own face, which he would have done out of uniform. She giggle as he said, "I forgot I used to do that."

"How could you!" Marinette teased. "I remember when you said Marc was like a rainbow. Interesting, now that we know more about them, huh?"

They laughed. Luka replied, "Maybe I knew what I was talking about, then, huh."

"Guess so," Marinette joked, smiling at the polished floors. She looked up as they turned the corner to her room. "So, I got two new guards. That's new. Usually I have one, just at night... I wonder what's up with that change." Marinette gave Luka a questioning look.

Luka stopped and stood in front of the door like he was supposed to. He gave a small nod, but any trace of happiness was now out of his face. Marinette wondered if this extra guarding had anything to do with the Akumas, but she was also afraid to ask specifics. Something told her she wasn't supposed to know about them, but she wasn't sure why.

Marinette waited for a response from Luka. He nodded, looking her in the eyes, but said nothing further.

Marinette looked away, disappointed. Her hand on the fake crystal doorknob, she said, "Well, since I have some time, do you want to do something fun? I have cards in my room."

His gaze became soft, and Marinette realized that although he was, what, 19? 20? now, he was still too young to look so serious. He gave her a small smile and said, "I'm on the clock, so I have to stand here and stare at the wall in front of me, just in case. Maybe at some point, but for now, I could get in a long of trouble."

She sighed, quietly swung the door open, and said before gently closing it, "Okay. I'll go to sleep, then. If my maids come, let them know I am asleep and do not wish to be disturbed until the morning."

But Marinette did not go to sleep.

Marinette had other plans.