Tikki was staring at her now, so she peeked over to make eye contact with her intense eyes.

Marinette decided to fill the silence.

"Um, what's next on the agenda?" She asked quietly.

Tikki grinned widely. Marinette worried for her guardians sanity and for the coming month until her father got back.

"Great question, your highness!" she said loudly. "We still have an hour until we leave. Why don't you take a walk around the garden? But first, let's go over quickly the rules for touching."

Marinette blushed, and with a surprised look at Adrien, he was too.

"I don't—"

"You guys are not allowed to kiss until the courtship is official, and you can only do so in public settings when others can see. That includes when either me or Professor Plagg is around. But, it's important that you are able to get comfortable with each other. So hand on arm contact is approved, AND encouraged. Here..." She pulled Plagg from his book, who groaned, and then said, "Plagg here is going to show you, Adrien, the proper form."

Adrien's eyes glassed over as he nodded. He'd probably heard this schpiel plenty of times.

Plagg held out his right arm in a perfect 90° angle for Tikki to take. She grinned up at him, without teeth, somehow seeming more genuine. Then she said, "you put your hands together like this—one on top of the other—on his bicep. You don't ever want to tug on it, alright? Just gently place it there. Now you try it."

Adrien stood immediately, standing in front of Marinette in an instant. She looked up at him, the sky above them seeming very grey all of a sudden, as clouds covered the sun, and marinette realized it would soon rain. She didn't know how she hadn't realized it before. It seems like something that Tikki would have made note of.

But although the sky was grey, it seems to brighten Adrien's colors. His blonde hair looked like the sun, and his eyes were like watered vines. He was brighter than her surroundings, and for a moment, Marinette's heart gave a flutter.

Until, that is, Adrien gave a little chuckle, his eyes filling with humor the way it had during the first bow. Was he laughing at her?

Marinette stood slowly, lifting her head high as she tried to hide her pride. She stood on his right side as he held his arm out to her, perfectly mimicking Plagg's perfect stance.

She hated perfect.

But, being the perfectly perfect princess that she was, Marinette perfectly mimicked Tikki's movements, and enjoyed the way Tikki smiled and complimented her perfect form.

Suddenly Tikki gasped dramatically. "It's about to rain! Oh my goodness!" She waved her arms around and then said, "quickly, inside, the both of you!" Her cloppy heels followed.

"Does that include me?" Plagg asked in a monotone voice to her referring form.

Marinette and Adrien followed her, with Plagg behind them. Marinette held his arm, but it was awkward as they sped walk to keep up with Tikki, made worse by the imbalance from his missing limb. Obviously, this position was just meant for a leisurely stroll.

Adrien's driver—a tall, burly man who slightly resembled a gorilla—was waiting for them when they came back through the doors. He nodded to Adrien, who deflated slightly. They saw Tikki conversing with a taller woman in glasses who had a red streak in her hair. Tikki seemed distraught, but the taller woman was stoically standing her ground.

Adrien glanced down at Marinette's hands on his arm with a serious look on his face. Any light that he'd been emitting minutes before left him entirely. She wished he was easier to read as he stated, "I'm sorry, your highness, but it's time for me to leave."

Marinette was confused. "Don't we have half an hour more?"

"Guess not," he said as he shook his arm slightly.

Her grip tightened. "But—" and then she realized she'd be arguing for no reason. He didn't want to be there. She didn't want him to be there. They see each other the next day.

Letting go, Marinette took a step back and gave Adrien a slight nod as he bowed deeply.

"It has been a pleasure meeting you, your highness," he stated as he stood straight, the wall clear behind his eyes. Marinette checked her posture again and smiled politely.

"You as well."

Adrien followed his driver out the door, as a guard went with them (was that Chloe?). Tikki noticed just as the door closed and then slumped forward, letting the other woman leave, with Chloe waiting for her with the other two outside. Luka switched her spots as he came into the room and stood erect against the wall.

A tension assisted the silence as Tikki stared at the door for a long, long time.

"Are you—" started Marinette, but before she could say okay, Tikki twirled around with a large grin on her face, too tight.

"Well! That was a success! Can't wait until tomorrow!"

Marinette frowned and then repeated, "Are you ok?"

Tikki giggled. "Of course! I look forward to tomorrow. Let's get you to lunch okay?"

Marinette checked the time. It was not even noon. "But it's—"

"Lunch time!" She turned to Luka. "Guard, take her to lunch."

Marinette stepped back as Luka. She could go for some food. Maybe she could convince Luka to bring her to the sewing machine. And if there was red fabric...