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Marinette's P.O.V
"You look like you are in a better mood today," mother commented.
I hum with hardly any acknowledgment and continue to write one of many blasted apology letters. Yet, it did nothing to damper my joy. Chat Noir is going to teach me how to sword fight! I am absolutely thrilled and have to continually remind myself to hold still.
My wrist begins to ache from writing so much and place my writing utensil aside to take a break.
"What is the reason for it?" She asked, sitting on the chair in front of my desk and smiling. Her question catches me off-guard for a moment. I narrow my eyes suspiciously toward her. Why in the world would she care? Is she trying to keep tabs on me and make sure I am not causing more mischief?
The nerve of this woman...
I look away from mother and sarcastically retorted, "Why would you want to know? So you can make me feel miserable again."
I glance over at her, seeing a look of hurt etched on her face. Brilliant. I know she is faking it to make me feel guilty but I will not fall for such trivial tricks. If she thinks I will obey her every command better by pretending to be nice, she is gravely mistaken. She cannot control me. I would rather be kicked into the poor section than letting her wrap a finger around me.
"Of course not, dear," mother spoke, "I am just glad to see you happy. It seems like it has been ages since I have seen that beautiful smile."
"I wonder why," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes. I return to writing apology letters, clearly giving mother the signal that I do not want to continue this conversation with her anymore. Mother did not receive the message.
"What did you have for breakfast this morning? My duties kept me too busy to join you. Oh, I hope I did not miss out on french toast! It is my favorite breakfast meal," mother chirped, smiling. I can feel my aggravation scrunch on my face and my hand tightening around the pencil.
"Mother," I started in a cold and steady voice, "I would like to finish my apology letters in peace. Do you mind letting me do so?"
This time, mother understood. It looks like she wanted to say something else but I shot a heated glare at her. She closed her slightly open mouth and nods. Mother stands from her chair and silently left me alone in the room. I scoff, shaking my head at the complete nonsense of my mother. She thinks that if she plays her cards right with me, I will willingly heed her every command.
I say boulder dash to that!
"Do you not think that was a little bit too cruel?" Tikki questioned, appearing from out of my gown's pocket.
"Cruel is an understatement for how she has treated me nearly my entire life," I seethed, placing aside the pencil again, "The maids were there for me more than my own parents were in my early years. Once I began to grow, mother finally took notice of me but mainly, what I was lacking—lady qualities."
"It seemed like she was trying to make small talk with you. Maybe, she is changing her ways," the red bug stated.
I scoffed, "I bet it was a trick. Right now, she is acting nice but once I start cooperating, she will use it against me. As much as I hate to admit it, my mother is clever and will do anything to get what she wants."
Tikki's antennas drooped in sadness and frowned. She seems unable to respond. I feel my body relax, shoulders slacking. Still, I do not need to take out my grumpiness on the Kwami. She is merely trying to help, which is sweet. I give her a tiny smile and gently pet the top of her head.
"I apologize for taking out my frustration on you. It is simply difficult to imagine my mother actually trying to change her ways after years of knowing her. I understand you want to believe she has good intentions but I just...I just cannot," I softly explained. Tikki's form perks up and nods her head.
"I understand, Marinette. She might need time or she may never change," she said, "I have noticed that most humans are like that. They either change for the better or worse or are neutral."
"Indeed," I agreed. A rapping on the door causes Tikki to zoom away and hide. I return to writing letters and allowed whoever is on the other side to enter. The door groans open and clacking steps cross the floor. I switch my gaze from the splays papers to the maid. She gives me a sweet smile.
"Good morning, Lady Dupain-Cheng. How are your letters coming along?" she asked, placing a cup of water on my desk.
"Tremendously," I sarcastically answered. Her cheery smile turned into a sympathetic one.
"Thank you for the water," I added. The maid curtsied, making me awkwardly wince, "There is no need for that."
"Oh, but I must! Your gratitude is always a blessing to someone of my status," she insisted. I grimace and shake my head in displeasure at hearing such an absurd thing. No one is below or above me. I will never stand by the stupid status rankings!
"No," I stated, startling the maid, "I do not care for status. You are neither lower nor higher than me. We are equals no matter what ground we stand on. So, you may treat me like you treat other people. I do not mind in the slightest."
The maid looks at me in befuddlement and confusion. She is having a hard time comprehending my words. Yet, she still is hesitant.
"I do not understand, my lady. Is this a trial?" The maid asked in hesitation. Disbelief shrouds the maid, trying to solve whatever puzzling riddle she believes I bestowed.
"I promise you this is no trial. I am being completely honest," I genuinely said, giving her a friendly smile. The maid relaxed her tense muscles and returned the smile.
"Are you a new servant?" I asked, thoughtfully narrowing my eyes, "I have seen you many times but only recently this past month. Somehow, you seem familiar yet I cannot remember your name."
"I am sure you cannot remember every servant's name in this household. There are quite a multitudinous of us," the maid explained.
"Actually," I started, "I know all of their names. I have known a various of them my entire life and learned of the others through the years. Yet, I do not know your name but I feel as if I know you from somewhere. Would you care to share your name with me?"
The maid's smile straightens out and she drifts off to another world. She bows her head, looking at the wooden flooring. The room went silent for a few seconds without a response until she returns her gaze to mine. A sunny smile blossoms on her rosy cheeks.
"My name is...Ella," she answered. I can hear something off in her voice. The pause before revealing her "name" is very suspicious as well. I will need to keep an eye on this...Ella character. There are many hints screaming both "suspicious" and "familiar" into my ears. Yet, I cannot seem to figure it out.
She is recently new but I feel like I have seen her somewhere else. She has made mistakes that would have surely fired her and sent her back to the poor section. How is she still here? Now, I believe she is lying to me.
Who is this maid?
What are her true intentions?
Could she be...the intruder?
"Is it that simple? It seems too obvious or maybe, I am overthinking it?" I thought. I nod my head and kept smiling.
"That is a beautiful name. I hope we can become closer for however long you are here for," I said, skeptically watching the maid.
"As do I," she responded before quickly adding, "I must return to my duties. Have a lovely rest of your day, Lady Dupain-Cheng"
Ella curtsies a farewell before scrambling out the door. My curiosity grows deeper, needing to scratch an annoying itch. I will dig into this case and solve whatever that mysterious girl is hiding. For now, I need to get some more of these atrocious letters finished.
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Ladybug's P.O.V
"You are doing phenomenally better. You are quite a fast learner," Rena Rouge complimented, sitting on a training bench, "But you still need to build some muscle on those chicken bones."
Rena and I have been training together (since Chat Noir is already training me to sword fight). She has been teaching me hand to hand combat and how to control my heightened abilities. The basics are easy to master but defeating my opponent is still lacking do to my wimpy stature.
"Indeed, my arms are like the bone of a chicken," I repeated in agreement. It is a weird analogy but I have no room to judge. In this part of Paris, the heroes probably have adjusted themselves to the poor people's way of talking to fit in. I still have much to learn about being a superhero and the people who they protect.
Rena smiles at me, "We will concoct an exercise routine for you when you are here and your free time at home."
I frown upon the last place she mentioned, knowing that it will not be possible to fit anything into my suffocating schedule during the day. The only reason I have time right now is because most of the household is still asleep. It is around six o'clock in the morning.
Yet, I do need to become a proper warrior. Learning to fight is one thing but I need the strength to do so.
"Of course," I agreed, hoping I am not making a mistake, "an exercise routine would be lovely."
Rena's facial features shifts for a split moment to suspicion. I stiffen, wondering why she looks at me like something is off about my character. Did she happen to hear a nervous waver in my voice or a change of tone? Her power does allow her to pick out even the smallest, half-baked lies or nervousness.
Rena turns away from me and looks over at the turtle hero.
"Carapace, would you be a dear and make a workout routine for Ladybug?" she asked.
"Sure thing," Carapace answered then walks out of the training room to do just that. I did not have time to relax when Rena spoke up again.
"Be careful what you say around some people," the holder of the fox miraculous said, "There are very few who do not have a grudge against the rich."
My eyes widen, gaping at Rena Rouge. I feel my heart stop in a moment of panic and stumble on my feet, away from her. Rena seems like she is in a calm state with no vile intentions. Yet, she has the power to deceive people so there is no way of telling.
"What on earth are you talking about? Why would you think I am a part of the rich? That is such an absurd thought," I said, honestly not knowing why I am still talking. Rena has the power to see through lies! Plus, I am terrible at lying!
"You seem very hesitant at agreeing with the exercise routine. You will have no problems doing it here so that only leaves home as the problem. I theorize you must be out-worldly busy and have no time to perform," Rena explained, "The last clue that gave you away, nobody in the poor section says "lovely" unless they were formally from the wealthy side."
I mentally clap inside my head, astound by how Rena figured out I am from the rich with such small details. She is very clever. I am surprised she was not chosen to be the new Ladybug.
"So...it was probably not wise of me to give settle hints like that in front of Carapace," I said, assuming the protector has a grudge against the rich.
"Well, while he has nothing against the rich, we do not need to let anyone else know something about your secret identity," Rena explained, "You may get narrowed down and figured out. So, we will need you to act like a poor civilian."
"How will we do that? We barely have time to train in the morning nor is anyone crazy enough to be up at this hour," I replied.
"We can skip training one time in the morning" Rena assures, earning a nod from me, "You may come here and we will show you around town. That is how most of the rich people learn about this society."
I did not know what to say after that. The lengths these heroes are going for me to become the new Ladybug is something of inspirational. They could have chosen someone who already knows how to fight and blend in. Yet, they choose me?
What makes me so special to deserve all of this?
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