A/N: Chapter title from the song "Dynasty" by MIIA. I thought the song was rather fitting for this story.

HeartAngel1796 - Very nice guess ;)

Ten Years Ago

"Oh! Good morning, Your Majesty." Sabine bowed her head as the monarch entered the bakery.

Emilie shook her head. "Sabine, please, call me Emilie."

This was a typical interaction between the two mothers whenever Emilie and Adrien came to visit. Adding to the normalcy, Tom exited the kitchen with the same greeting. Emilie just sighed.

Tom grinned and turned to the young Prince. "Good morning, Adrien! Are you up for some taste testing today?" Tom asked.

Adrien beamed up at him. "Always!"

He followed Tom back into the kitchen. Various containers and pans scattered the counter where Marinette sat with flour dusting her face and clothes.

"Hey, Princess!" he greeted.

Marinette rolled her eyes. Ever since she pretended to be 'Princess Marinette' a few weeks ago, he continued to address her as such. She acted mildly annoyed by it, but she actually found it quite endearing.

He hopped up onto the counter beside her and waited for Tom to gather up the treats he prepared for them to taste.

All of the pastries were delicious; nothing his personal chefs baked at the castle could ever top Tom Dupain's signature croissants. Adrien wasn't exactly helpful when it came to the taste testings ‒he devoured anything given to him and said it was amazing‒ but it warmed his heart that they waited for him anyway. Marinette gave helpful feedback concerning the sweetness and texture of the pastries, which Tom accepted gratefully.

'You know, if you two feel up to it," Tom said as he finished jotting down corrections to his recipes, "you could stop by the market and get a few things for me. I'll give you a few Francs, and you can use the change to buy whatever you'd like."

Ten minutes later, Marinette and Adrien exited the bakery with a basket and a pocketful of money. The market was a bit of a walk, but it was worth it. They loved the local merchants with all their hearts, but there was something special about the market. It had an abundance of clothes and jewelry and trinkets that were all unique and handmade, pretty much all indulgences rather than the usual necessities sold at the local shops.

"Woah!" Adrien exclaimed the moment they stepped foot in the field, tents and merchant stands arranged in rows all around them. The nearest tent had a magic show going on, where the magician was manipulating fire. Marinette had to drag Adrien away, not for the first time, before he got too engrossed in one of the more charming aspects of the market.

"Don't get too distracted. Let's finish my dad's list first, then we can go walk around."

Easier said than done. Marinette had a hard time finding some of the items on the list, and every time she stopped at a tent to ask for directions, Adrien would get entranced by another performance nearby. After a while, Marinette stopped fighting him. She could come to the market whenever she pleased ‒and she did‒ but Adrien didn't get to experience this place as often, so for now she let him roam.

"Ooo, Marinette, what are those?" he asked, pointing at a group of small cages.

"Those are hamsters." She watched him crouch down and stick a finger in a cage. "You know, I've always wanted to get a pet hamster, but Maman and Papa said I have to wait until I'm older."

Adrien turned his head back in her direction. "You're older now, right? Than the last time they told you no? So you should get one, and then I can come play with it whenever I come over." He looked proud of his reasoning.

"Well, considering they told me last week, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer, pal." She patted him on the shoulder, and he let out a small disappointed sigh.

As they made their way past a jewelry stand, a pair of glittering earrings caught Marinette's eye. She slowed down a bit to get a better look. Adrien turned around when he noticed her not walking beside him. He followed her gaze to the earrings.

"Do you want them?" he asked, startling her.

"What? Oh, well... " She glanced at the price tag. 20 Francs. Her Papa had given her 6 Francs, and that was to include the items he needed as well. She sighed. "It's okay, I don't need-"

"Excuse me, ma'am," Adrien called out to the merchant. "I'd like to buy those red earrings right there."

"Of course. That'll be 20 Francs, please."

Marinette watched in shock as Adrien pulled exactly 20 Francs out from his pocket. As he went to hand them over, she grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Adrien, you don't have to. That's a lot of money… Besides, I can just save up-"

"It's okay, Marinette." He gave her a small smile. "I want to."

She wanted to protest more, but he already handed the money over to the woman. She placed the earrings in a small box and gave it to Adrien. "Have a nice day, young man."

"Thank you." Adrien walked Marinette a few feet away before putting the box behind his back and turning to face her. "I have a surprise for you, Princess."

Marinette huffed at his antics, but she played along anyway. "Oh really?"

"Mhm." He grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Close your eyes."

Now this was ridiculous. She raised her eyebrows at him, and he rocked back and forth on his feet, waiting for her to comply. With another huff, she closed her eyes. After a moment, he said, "Okay, open them."

She did. He held the box out, lid off. She couldn't help but gasp quietly at how much more beautiful the earrings were up close. They were a pair of ruby red studs that glinted and sparkled underneath the sun, and the shadow and dimension of the jewels created the illusion of black spots. They were gorgeous.

She took the earrings, speechless. She stared at her best friend for a moment, trying to think of something to say that would convey how thankful she was. She surprised him by pulling him into a tight hug.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He froze for a moment before reciprocating it in full. He didn't receive hugs all that often, only from his mother, so hugging Marinette made him feel warm inside. A soft smile tugged at his lips. "Anything for you, Princess."

Adrien half skipped down the echoey halls of the castle with no destination in mind. The guards watched him pass once, twice, three times, but they did nothing more than nod their heads at the young Prince every time he went by.

As Adrien rounded the corner, he nearly collided face first with another person. He went to apologize, but halted when he saw who it was.

"What's got you so chipper?" Felix asked, though his tone suggested he didn't care in the slightest.

"Oh, um… nothing really. I just slept well, that's all," Adrien deflected. The truth was, he was going to see Marinette today. He hadn't visited her since they went to the market together three weeks ago, which was the longest period of time he'd gone without seeing her since the beginning of their friendship. Felix didn't exactly know about Marinette, and Adrien didn't plan on telling him.

There was something about Felix that just felt… off.

Adrien couldn't put his finger on it, but his cousin always seemed to rub him the wrong way. As kids Adrien tried to befriend Felix, but they never really got along. Felix was always cold to Adrien no matter what he did, and he liked to make snide remarks criticizing Emilie's policies and performance as a monarch without realizing that Adrien might be offended by them.

Or maybe he did realize it, but he just didn't care how Adrien would feel.

Either way, Adrien started avoiding him once he found a friend in Marinette. Felix wasn't oblivious to this, and the obvious improvement in Adrien's overall mood made him suspicious.

Felix narrowed his eyes slightly. "Ah, I see. You and Aunt Emilie are skipping again, aren't you?"

Adrien blinked a couple of times. "What?"

"I've seen you two. You guys leave all the time and go to the slums. I guess you convinced the guards at the door to let you go alone?" Felix scoffed. "I can't believe the Queen is allowed to opt out of her duties and roam around among the peasants like that, must say a lot about how pathetic the monarchy has become," Felix sneered.

Adrien felt a bubble of irritation rise inside of him, not only because of the jab at his mother, but also the jab at the people of Paris. "Don't call them peasants. They're actually really amazing, and my mom says it's important for a monarch to get to know their people. I mean, she has to make decisions regarding their livelihood, so shouldn't she be as educated about them as possible?" Adrien said politely, even though he felt the urge to punch Felix in his smug face.

Felix raised an eyebrow, surveying Adrien as if he was an idiot. "You don't need to cozy up to the beggars like that. They're already convinced of that stupid myth about your eyes, they'll follow you blindly, whatever you do. Why would you still waste your time trying to win them over?"

Adrien let out a small huff of annoyance. "It doesn't matter if they love me or not, what matters is if I can make their lives as safe and happy as possible, and I won't know how to do that unless I see them firsthand. The monarch is a servant to the people, not the other way around."

Felix scoffed. "Oh? Well if they're all so important to you, why do you only go to the same place every time you leave?"

Adrien froze. What? How did he-

"I knew it." Felix grinned triumphantly. "You go see someone, don't you?"

Adrien opened his mouth to deny it, but he couldn't think of anything to say that sounded believable.

"You don't actually expect that to last, right?" Felix chuckled. "You've noticed how busy things are getting around here, that's why you and mommy haven't gone out in a while. It already takes up enough time to go out and," he raised his fingers in air quotes, "visit your beloved people, but what good of a King will you be if you spend all that time canoodling with a single commoner? I thought you cared about all of them. Sounds to me like that's just an excuse." He took a step forward. "Admit it. You're too weak to handle all of this, so you're running away, trying to pretend like you're normal. Well guess what," they were practically nose to nose, "as long as you've got those stupid green eyes of yours, you'll never be normal."

With that, he was gone, leaving Adrien alone with Felix's words echoing in his mind.

A cool breeze drifted through the orchard, rustling the leaves and blowing Marinette's hair into her face once more. She swiped at it, trying to gather enough to tuck behind her ear again. She blew out an annoyed puff of air and glanced to her side.

Adrien was stretched out on his back beside her. They were watching the grey clouds roll by in the sky. Neither said anything. Usually, they couldn't stop talking to each other. Adrien's visits were never more than a couple of hours. He was the Prince of France; he had obligations and responsibilities, even at his young age. Although he wasn't essential for legal meetings and decisions, he was a King in training, and he needed to build up as much knowledge and experience as he could through observations. However, that took away from his time with her.

When they were first getting to know each other, it didn't take long for her to notice just how little he talked about himself and the fact that he was literal royalty. He dodged the subject skillfully, so she tried not to bring it up. The only instances where it would come up were when he was stressing out about an event at the palace or when his cousin was pissing him off.

Marinette could tell how much he valued their visits together. His time with her was limited, but it was his only chance to forget himself and who he was. Because this time was so precious, they never wasted it. They would tell stories, play games, pick apples; they were always doing something.

Today was different. She didn't know why, but neither had anything to say or anything they wanted to do. In three years, today was their first lazy day. Marinette didn't mind. The silence felt comfortable. Looking at Adrien, she could tell he was lost in thought. She contemplated asking him what was on his mind, but she didn't have to.

He opened his mouth to say something, but let out a deep sigh instead. He watched the sky for a few moments, his face wistful. "Do you think…" he started slowly, "I'll ever be able to live like this?" His eyes followed a small bird as it flew overhead. Marinette turned back to the sky, watching it too.

He continued. "Do you think I could ever be… normal?" His expression was full of yearning as he imagined what his life could be, without the pressure, without the responsibilities. For a moment a small smile graced his lips at the image forming in his mind's eye: living in a small cottage near the orchard, where he picked apples and roamed wherever and whenever he felt like it; baking with Marinette and helping her stock shelves every day, just like when they first met; walking through the town without a hat covering his face, chatting freely to the merchants; not constantly watching his language register, not having to remain poised and proper, not having to be perfect.

As soon as the smile appeared, it disappeared. His expression became sorrowful and forlorn. His gaze dropped as reality sank in again.

Marinette had nothing to say. There was nothing for her to say. She watched her best friend lie there on the grass, one hand pillowing his head. He was such a sweet boy. Emilie had done an amazing job raising him to become one of the best people she's ever known, but there was nothing she could've done to lessen the pressure put on him. Being King one day, ruling an entire country, it was daunting.

She knew no matter what he did, though, the country would love him anyway, but she couldn't tell him that. As long as an Emerald was on the throne, the people were as forgiving as they come. Although they never discussed it, being dubbed as an Emerald bothered him. He hated the fact that the people expected such great things from him, would love him, solely based on his eye color. He wanted to become a great leader for his country, and he wanted it to be because of him, because he was a good King, not because of his genetics. He hadn't made many public appearances yet, nobody really knew him, yet he already had the people's love.

"I wish I could stay here forever," he whispered softly.

She knew what he was referring to. Another topic they avoided. Adrien's duties as the Prince were becoming more pronounced as he got older. They both knew these visits wouldn't last much longer, but neither wanted to think that way. This was the first time he addressed it out loud.

He turned his head and met her gaze. She stared into his emerald eyes. They were so beautiful, but her heart broke at all the pain and sadness hidden behind them.

She gave him a sad smile. "Me too," she whispered, but then she reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a small squeeze. "But for now, let's make the most of the time we have, okay?"

He looked at her for a long moment, some of the sorrow in his eyes leaking away, replaced by something else: adoration. He scarcely remembered his life before her, and he was fine with that. No matter what mood he was in, whether it be overly optimistic as usual or depressed as he was now, she was always there to match him, to comfort him. She was an incredible person, even at the young age of eleven, and he wanted her in his life forever. If he couldn't have that, he'd make sure she lived on in his memories.

"Okay," he whispered.

Adrien and Marinette walked up the slope leading back to the bakery. Their moods were significantly lighter as they had joked and laughed together the whole walk from the orchard. Even though they didn't say much earlier, Marinette felt like she connected with Adrien a little more. Seeing him when he was vulnerable made her feel much closer to him; now she knew he was a friend she could both laugh and cry with if needed. She'd be there for him through anything, and she knew he'd do the same.

She couldn't fight the small smile that appeared on her face after he cracked another apple joke. She shoved him playfully. "Where on earth are you getting all these from? Do you spend all your time brainstorming as many apple-related puns as you can?"

"What can I say, Princess? I'm pretty hard-core." Marinette shoved him again, for the pun and the nickname.

"I'm still waiting for that to die out."

Adrien bumped her with his shoulder. "Never."

As they approached the buildings and merchant stands, Adrien pulled out the enormous hat he wore to hide his face and carefully positioned it on his head. They walked towards the stand across from the bakery. Marinette warmly greeted the middle-aged fruit merchant as she handed him the basket of apples.

"Afternoon, Paul. Here are those apples you needed."

"Thank you, Marinette." He poured the apples into a box in his stand. He motioned to the rest of the fruit. "Take whatever you'd like. I heard your father wanted to try his hand at a peach cobbler, so be sure to take some of these peaches back to him." Paul handed the empty basket back to Marinette, and she began filling it with peaches and an assortment of other fruits she wanted to try.

Adrien waited patiently behind her. He turned around and peered into the windows of the bakery. He saw Sabine at the counter and Tom clearing some old unsold pastries from the displays, but there was no sign of his mother.

This wasn't abnormal. Sometimes she stuck around the bakery while Adrien and Marinette ran off, but she was usually wandering around Paris and talking to as many people as possible. Adrien figured that was where she was now.

He heard a small pattering on his hat and looked up. The clouds were thick and grey, swirling around overhead. A water droplet hit his cheek. He sighed. Him and his mother would have to walk home in the rain. The royal guards would be worried if they stayed out any longer. The merchants and townsfolk bustling about began pulling up their hoods and seeking cover before the rain started to come down too hard.

He glanced around the street and spotted Emilie walking from the direction opposite of where he'd just returned. She was pretty far away from him, but he could see her give him a warm smile.

When she was some thirty feet away from him, a hooded townsperson bumped straight into her, spilling the basket they were carrying and knocking off Emilie's sunhat. He couldn't hear what was said, but it appeared they were both apologizing and crouching down to pick up the scattered items.

Adrien saw his mother's kind face appear over the person's shoulder as she looked up to apologize to them directly, but her face morphed from apologetic to slightly surprised and confused. Her brows furrowed and she opened her mouth to say something.

It all happened so fast.

The person shifted forward abruptly. Emilie's emerald eyes went wide with shock, her mouth gaping. The figure took off, but Adrien didn't see where they went.

He didn't see anything other than the crimson stain spreading in his mother's abdomen.

No...

An icy chill shot through his body, reaching every nerve and gripping his heart, squeezing tight.

No...

The moment stretched on for an eternity. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. Emilie placed a hand to her stomach before glancing down at the blood coating her palm. She looked up, meeting his eyes.

That was all it took to spur him into action.

He stumbled forward, letting the hat slip off his head. Nothing else mattered to him other than reaching her, holding her. Once he got there, he'd see she was fine. That he was too far away and he'd seen it wrong. She was fine.

But she wasn't.

She started tipping, and he finally found his voice. "No!" he skidded into a kneeling position next to her, catching her shoulders before they hit the ground. His hands trembled as he lowered her head into his lap, hesitantly reaching out to the large bloodstain on her shirt.

Adrien's mind raced. He pressed down on the injury, trying to stop the blood flowing rapidly from the wound. His whole body shook as he tried to process what was happening. "M-Mom?" His voice cracked on the word.

She gasped for air, coughing weakly. There was so much blood. Adrien stared down at her with wide eyes.

This isn't happening…

The shock on Emilie's face slowly turned to sorrow as she gazed at her young son above her.

My baby boy…

She was growing tired, but she fought to stay awake, refusing to look anywhere but at him.

My sweet baby boy…

"M-M-Mom?! Y-You're... be alright… get help…" She vaguely understood what he was saying, but it was a comfort just to hear his voice as her consciousness ebbed away.

I'm sorry…

Emilie smiled softly at her son as the light slowly left her eyes, leaving her staring unseeingly at the young boy barely holding onto his sanity.

Adrien let out a shuddering breath. Tears swam in his eyes, blurring his vision. A rushing sound filled his ears. He blinked rapidly, tears finally falling down his cheeks.

"H-Hey… Mom…" He shook her slightly. "Mom… wake up...!" His voice cracked again, but she continued to lay limply in his arms, the ghost of a smile still etched on her face. His throat started closing up, something rising deep down inside of him. "Please!" he half sobbed. He leaned forward, clutching her to his chest, rocking back and forth.

This was a dream.

This had to be a dream.

She couldn't be-

An unbearable pain built in his chest, growing until he finally let out a grief-stricken wail. He couldn't stop the cries tearing their way from his throat. He'd never felt anything like this before.

Pure agony.

He barely registered the gasps and yells, the arms wrapping around him, the rain pouring down in sheets. He was surrounded by people, but he didn't care.

Nothing could soothe his soul as it was shredded to pieces.

A/N: Poor Adrien :(