Chapter 2: The Old Lady of Cheng Family Part 1(Unedited)
"She loves you more than anything in this world."
Marinette still remembers what her maman told her during breakfast. She doesn't know if those presents and money given to her at every occasion of her life was part of her grandmother's love for her. Her memories with her were vague and foggy.
Towards the bakery is a luxury car pulling over the front. In the front of the car is decorated with a small flag which Marinette presumes as the flag of China. The luxury car looks flawless and silvery, the sun makes it shimmering and clean looking. The door of the car opened in which an old asian man wearing a british butler style clothing appeared out of it.
The old asian man looks gentle yet his eyes feel like there's a hidden glint of intellectual knowledge of years of experience. The man politely bowed to the mother and child and ignored Marinette's father in his small actions which Marinette noticed confusing her.
"Good morning, young madam. I'm here to take the young lady to meet her," The old man said. "It would be lovely to arrive earlier since she got a schedule with the French President and his wife this evening. She wants more time to get to know the young lady since you left China years ago before she attends to her duties."
Fortunately, there's not many people outside at this time. Most of them are either at work or at school, doing their chores, or sleeping by their beds. Marinette was more surprised hearing such unusual information about her grandmother. Even Andre Bourgeois, who was the mayor of Paris, can't meet the President of France unless there's an emergency or even an appointment to meet him or government matters to attend to.
"Maman, Papa, I'll be leaving now."
"Take care, sweetie," Sabine kissed her daughter's forehead. After letting her daughter go, Sabine looked at the old butler with a glare. Her aura exuding elegance and power. Marinette didn't even know her own mother got this side of her until now. "Take care of my daughter and keep her safe, Old Butler Zhen."
"Yes, young madam. I will do my best to keep her safe and sound. I'll bring her back to you after their meeting."
"Papa-"
"It will be alright, Marinette. If you need something, just contact us," Her father patted her head lightly. "We will do our best to bring you home if necessary, okay?"
"Mr. Dupain, we will not harm the young lady," Old butler Zhen told her Father in a serious tone with a slight disdain.
"Old Butler Zhen, my husband doesn't mean anything harmful. Please understand as he is just worried for our daughter."
"Alright, young madam, I'll take your words. But Mr. Dupain, please, you remember how this is all your fa-"
"Old Butler Zhen!" The old butler choked on his words as Sabine shouted to stop him from continuing his sentence."Marinette is here. Old Butler Zhen… If you have respect for Marinette and I, stop the nonsense and do your job. Mother wouldn't like hearing how you sullied her reputation by making a ruckus here. I also hope you understand your position."
"Fine… Duì bù qǐ, young madam, the young lady, and young madam's… husband," The old butler sneered lightly while glaring at Tom. The French husband of the young madam is lucky today or else... "It's best we leave now. Her Majesty can't wait to meet her precious granddaughter."
Tom sighed. He knew how his wife's family disliked him even before they secretly married and came back to her family for blessings. But… It didn't turn out well.
"See you, Maman and Papa," Marinette bid her farewell and went inside the car. The old butler closed the car door and bowed one last time before entering the car as well. They went away in a smooth manner and two parents were left worried for their daughter.
What was that? Why does the butler of my grandmother don't seem to like her father that much?
"Old Butler?"
"Yes, young lady?" The old butler politely smiled. The little lady grew up beautiful just like her Majesty. Except for the color of her eyes that resembles the western blood flowing in her veins.
"Why do you dislike my Papa? He is nice and didn't do anything wrong."
The old butler frowned and looked away. "I'm not in the position to tell you about the issue between your parents and her Majesty. You should ask this personally to her Majesty."
"Majesty?" She mumbled curiously. "You call my grandmother 'majesty'?"
The old butler smiled back at the young lady. "Of course, it's her title by marriage. Everyone back in China and the people who know her calls her that."
Everyone calls her that? "Title by marriage?"
"Yes," The old butler said. "It's better for her majesty to elaborate more on the identity of Cheng Family and how it evolves to your life as well. Is there anything you want for your lunch with her majesty later? We can serve anything. From caviar to foie gras to a selection of great quality seafood, meats, and vegetables."
"I don't have anything in particular. But I would like to experience another traditional Chinese cuisine later."
The old butler felt happy hearing this from the young lady. He quickly tapped on his phone and gave instructions for Marinette's lunch for later to the kitchen. "I've given them instructions. Anything for dessert?"
Marinette was shocked to hear how fast the old butler gave instructions to the kitchen while they were driving to her grandmother's residence. "Can you recommend any dessert?"
"How about steamed pea flour cake? It's a great delicacy you enjoyed when you were young. Or Osthmanthus cake? Her majesty's favorite at tea time and after a meal. How about mooncakes? It's a great addition since it can be shared to celebrate the reunion between her majesty and the young lady after many years?" The old butler began elaborating while scrolling to the list in his tablet. "To make things easier, I should hand the menu to you, young lady. Take your pick out of the choices."
The old butler gave her the tablet he was holding. After handing it over, Marinette noticed that the tablet is the newest model from a certain brand that was supposed to be released by the end of the month. She really can't measure how rich her grandmother is.
She scrolled down to the menu and saw a lot of choices of desserts: from chinese delicacies to other western and asian desserts around the world are also available. They even have pictures on the side and a small description to them as well. How could such great details about food make someone drool right now?
Is her grandmother's home a restaurant and not a residence in Paris? She would believe it considering her great uncle owns a restaurant himself in Shanghai.
After picking the desserts she wanted later for lunch, she gave back the tablet to the old butler and looked out the window. She saw the passage they went through was full of trees and no neighborhood around. In the distance, there was a beautiful white chateau waiting for them with huge gates and a beautiful garden.
"Woah," Marinette gasped as she stared at the long line of beautifully trimmed pine trees and bushes. She saw the huge white chateau resting by the end of the road. There was an antique looking fountain with a perfectly carved angel with the body of a goddess in the middle of it. Was that even gold in her details?
In each second the car drove by, Marinette savored the details and art in the architectural and biological design of the chateau.
"This is owned by my grandmother?"
The old butler is amused by the young lady's reaction to the chateau. If her lady can go back with them to China, this chateau in Paris is nothing to the seamless and enormous traditional mansion in Beijing. The size of the Chateau can't compare to the residence of the Cheng Family that made all elites and nobles in China and all over Asia cry in envy.
"Yes, young lady. This is only part of the Cheng Family's properties outside of China."
"How rich is my maternal family to afford this Chateau?" Marinette mumbled loudly. She realized quickly that she spoke her thoughts out loud. "It's just that- I can't believe that my maternal family is this rich. I only know the rich people I met at school like Adrien and Chloe."
The old butler scoffed at hearing at the nouveau riche people the young lady enlisted as rich. The young lady is worth more than those fake rich families. "You are also a rich, young lady. All of this is also yours… The people you say are rich like Agreste and Bourgeois? They can't compare to the Cheng Family's long history of wealth, honor, and fame."
"A long history?"
"Her majesty will explain to you everything later on. We will take a step out of the car soon," The butler reminded Marinette as the luxury car pulled up to the front of the Chateau. Marinette can't believe what she's seeing…
Mon dieu, that's a lot of maids and butlers lining up to meet her… and in the center of them all was an elegant noble old woman wearing a traditional chinese dress, embroidered in gold and silver threads. Her dress is made out of pure silk and carefully created from top to bottom that made the dress fit the old woman perfectly.
She held a fan on her right hand while another middle aged butler who looked like Old Butler Zhen was holding an umbrella for her.
What made her shocked even more is the crown sitting on top of her, laid with diamonds and carefully selected gems. She did all her best not to embarrass herself with her clumsiness in front of the noble old lady as she got out of the car.
"Uh-uhm…"
"Her Majesty, the young lady arrived safely as instructed."
Marinette's eyes enlarged as she couldn't believe that the noble old lady in front of her was her grandmother. Who can tell her that her grandmother looks so young in her 70's? Who can tell her why her grandmother is wearing a crown in the first place?!
"We welcome the young lady's visit!" Every maid and butler greeted her and respectfully bowed to her.