The Adrien POV - Chapter 1: Adrien The Pitiful "Prince"
A servant had just opened the curtains, and there came the immediate feeling of light, burning through my eyelids. My father had said it should give me strength.
Get up, make your family name proud, playing endlessly in my brain.
Interestingly, it only gave me the urge to close it all up again and go back to sleep. Would the servants ever so loyal to my father be more frightened of disobeying his strict rules or annoyed at my sudden revolt?
Imagine the scene, a constant exchange in a loop, me closing the curtains only a second later for it to be opened again.
It seemed my pillow had fallen somewhere, but attempting to find it would mean opening my eyes, revealing I was indeed awake. Sometimes, depending on the day, the maid they had sent would think I was sound asleep, slipping away to get a little bit of rest, and I too would have time to scurry away from the morning schedule they had for me that day. Certainly, I can repeat the feat.
"Young Master, I have seen you do better. Who are you fooling with that act?" Unless it is Natalie Sancoeur, of course. My late mother's best friend, when the house was well… left without a lady. As it happened my father had never remarried, Lady Sancoeur had offered her services as a governess. Yet I had always known her more as a mother figure. An annoying and all-knowing one.
"Obviously not you!" I buried myself further in my covers, dreading the day ahead.
"Where are my manners," she whipped out THE notebook, where she kept my entire life in check. 26 of July one year from now? Probably already booked. "Here I will read it out loud." If I did not know Lady Natalie well enough, I would think she had a smile on her face. It was almost as if she was hiding something.
My suspicion was confirmed when I heard a familiar chuckle from out of the door.
"Get up, dear. You are going to the market!" She opened up the double door to my room, revealing the only person who would visit me.
"Adrien!" Nino Lahiffe greeted enthusiastically, bowing in a joking manner.
"Why do I feel like this means trouble?" He carried a wooden box, neatly tied with ribbon.
"Not this time, my friend," He put the box down on the bed. "This is Natalie approved."
"That does not always mean Gabriel Agreste approved." My father would surely not find any of this amusing. "Okay! Then we are going. Do we have a plan?"
"He is away, so let us live for once!" he pointed to where the box laid "Open it."
"A costume?" and there laid a carnival costume, black and leathery with seemingly cat-like ears on the mask.
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"So you are just here to watch over me?" While I had been made to wear this kind of garment, Nino sported a high fashion suit, unlike what I had ever seen him wear.
"No, They are!" he pointed to the knights pretending to mingle in the background. "Attempt" is the word, because I still saw them, but most people were not trained like a soldier about to go into war.
"Seriously, Nino. Why do you get to be all dressed up?" Had he tricked me? I would not put it past him, since we were children he had done pranks now and there. When I least expect it he would attack. "Will the people not think I am weird?"
"Contrary to your expectations, people out of the Agreste Manor have fun." But so far I have not been taking part in such fun.
"This is an annual fest, which means people dress in all kinds of ways. I even heard they overlook fae folk!" Now that was shocking, I had only ever seen the most human-like versions, high ranking of their people who did business with my father.
"They do dress unusually." I remember once seeing businessmen of the demon realm, one creature proudly showed its horns, another had a coat made in order to show their goat legs.
"I swear no one will notice a random -" and then all of sudden he looked ahead to an approaching lady. Both of their eyes gleamed as they looked at each other, and I knew enough to assess what was happening.
"Lord Lahiffe" the brunette girl turned "Lord-who-bought-the-costume!" She was momentarily more interested in me… which was quite peculiar. So that was where he had acquired this ensemble.
"Indeed it is he… Meet, Lord Ag- Aguste, this is Lady Alya Césaire." he smiled, proud of not having slipped up about my identity. One day it was bound to happen, as long as he did not reveal it to a criminal, it would be fine.
"Lord Aguste, may I borrow this gentleman for a little while?" said the lady, more affirming than properly asking.
"There is a chance I will wind up ill spoken if I do not concede. He is all yours Lady Césaire." none of them heard that as they were soon gone in their little world.
And I had ended up alone with my knights. How romantic would one of them go on a date with their master? Just like the corny novel my mother left in the library back home. As if, they were way too boring to even smile at me.
What would be more fun would be for them to lose me in the crowd, that would be certainly closest to a date, a little game of hide and seek. Although they would not know they are playing.
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Soon I found myself alone, my prank had worked too well. I could go back and meet Nino, but I had a feeling he was worried about something else. Even more important than his best friends since the cradle.
What a curious history their parents had forged before them. Nino's father was responsible for the mythical sword, so strong it slayed a Golem, which naturally caught the attention of my father.
Duke Agreste had been an established entrepreneur. Mother on the other hand, before being a beloved Duchess had been much more, the first woman who dared to defy gender norms. Her smart business moves had ultimately led to a rivalry for Mister Lahiffe's exclusive work. The conclusion? They married each other after falling madly in love.
Sadly all was long gone, I had grown up without my mother's brilliant existence and with a strict and absent father, a shell from what he once was. Lady Natalie and Nino helped me grow into a half decent person. However, I refused to be kept as a memory of my mother, there had to be something more. Or else what was worth this damage?
"Child, understand there are matters in life without meaning." Softly whispered a creature, his voice directly into my ears. A strange fellow, sitting calmly in its booth, certainly hiding the more supernatural characteristics of its body.
"Pardon me?" Maybe it had mind reading powers, which was fine, although you ought to be careful to not be caught up with demons and faes. Those were often ill intended.
"See, when a bead of water gets stuck on a leaf, does that make it have purpose or was it just a consequence of a passing shower?" It inquired as if this situation was natural, unlike strangers. His tone seemed more like an old pal.
"That is obvious, the water will help the soil, it will provide for the animals and that is what makes it alive." The question seemed harmless so I answered.
"A water bead has no agency, you give it meaning. Poetry even, but in the end it is water." Said the being, and if I could see its face, they were probably grinning. Foolish mortal was probably dancing around in their brain.
Yeah I was finite, so what?
"Sir, are you saying life has no meaning? The creature might have been born, centuries before me, but I still had pride in my humanity.
"Not at all. Understand this, you give it meaning." The ambiguous and all knowing statements were getting on my last nerve. What did he know about giving meaning to a life? His life was eternal, so how could he know how worrying about leaving a mark in the world felt?
"Then in the chance I can not give meaning to an existence. How can that be?" I inquired, wondering if it would know the answer.
"Oh sweet droplet, what if someone else gives meaning to your life." The creature carefully placed a shiny object on the table .
"I have no such person, and besides would it not be tragic constantly depending on someone else to be?" I should leave this poor old soul and its ramblings.
"Not in such a way. I will hand you a mystery and uncovering it will give you the answers you need. Or maybe not, it all depends on you." He pointed at the object. Upon further inspection it was a ring, not what you would expect from a magic artefact, it seemed like a usual piece of metal.
But what if…
"Alright, on the slim possibility this will change my life for good. How much do you need, kind vendor?" As long as it didn't ask for something I could not give, such as something unearthly or my soul after I die.
"No such thing. A girl also asked me if I wanted her soul. None of that. Just be sure to be at the Grand Ball, your debutante will surely be worth your time." The being started to seemingly pack up its goods. Not speaking any more words.
The ring was strong, so I made a mental note to ask Mister Lahiffe about the kind of metal used. Plus, I should nonchalantly ask Natalie to inspect it for wicked magic, saying I bought it off the market. However, in any sort of way if this meant I would find the answers I searched for. Even a light evil spell would be interesting.
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Night had fallen, I had hidden myself well so far. It seemed Nino was right, people out here have fun, even with the moon in the sky, the fair stalls flooded with families, couples and friends. Usually the day ended with dinner, before the sun set, when my father was home. We had a sombre dinner, where I struggled to finish the plate, then my father would dryly wish me a good night. Not good dreams, because it was out of his control.
But these people seemed truly alight, they would certainly party and smile until their cheeks hurt. Some would wake only next afternoon, but even if they had to go to work tomorrow, they lived it all today. Unlike me, when the knights caught up my life would go back to the same monotone symphony.
Oh no.
From the corner of my eyes I could see the knights. Passing in front of me, at that moment a Lady with a peculiar hairdo, seemingly lost in her own world.
"Lady, can you help me for a few seconds?" She stared at me with a look that could only be explained as distrust. Great, I had just made a Lady uncomfortable.
"Lord, with all due respect I would prefer to know what it is you want first." On a usual day, where I was not on the run I would have been delighted to explain, but I didn't want to go home. Would my father have come back from the trip? I don't want to face him. Surely, if my father was there I would never be allowed to go out again in my life. Natalie, how could I forget? Father would certainly not be pleased with her.
As they approached, passing through the crowd, panic set in.
"I am sorry in advance." I approached my hand covering her mouth and lowered my face to that level, mimicking a scene I had read in classical literature. Would they think we were fated lovers hiding into the dark? She didn't complain, simply looked confused.
Peeking through her shoulder, I could see their movements. As soon as they passed by, I would walk off "Once again I am sorry… and deeply grateful! I hope if we meet again I can thank you in a better manner." I thought that would be the end of it but she proclaimed as she reached for my arm, not letting go as I walked
"Come, I can help you! It is time for you to be deeply grateful, so much so that you can only pay with diamonds." Audacious, not befitting for a Lady. Father would disapprove. Seems like a delightful time.