The music floated around Marinette, but the young Princess wasn't dancing. She was searching. Searching for Prince Adrien, for he had whispered during dinner he had a surprise for her and the ball had begin.
"Marinette?" Marinette turned, finding Prince Adrien standing behind her. "Your as sneaky as a cat," Marinette grinned, then bowed. "I've been told that," he bowed slightly to kiss her gloved hand. "And now I believe I owe you a dance. Follow me."
Marinette was sure he'd lead her into the swirl of dancers, but she sighed in relief when he led her onto onto an abandoned balcony, the scent of roses in the air, the stars sharp and twinkling as if their light shone on the young couple.
"May I have this dance?" Adrien asked. "You may," Marinette curtsied back, loving her red dress. It would be back to rags by midnight, but she didn't care. She was with the one she loved.
"Tomorrow I head back to the village," she said. Back to the bakery to be covered with eggs and flour, and demanding customers and the like. "I promise to come every day," Prince Adrien told her.
Tears pricked her eyes. "Marinette, your upset. Tell me what's wrong," Adrien led her to a small bench. "You shouldn't promise things you can't keep," Marinette dashed her tears away. "Plus, I'd understand. You lead a busy life."
"And if you could have anything, what would you wish for?" Marinette peeked up at him with her bluebell eyes. "You want the truth?" Adrien nodded. "You," she said, simply. "Let's run away to an island and live off the land, though we'd have to wed first, have children and a hamster…"
"Yes," came the response. Marinette placed a hand upon his chest. "Don't play with me like that! My dress will be in rags by midnight, my carriage a pumpkin. It was only because the Knitting Fairy took pity on me." "Or because you deserve a better life, and have always helped others."
Marinette felt trapped at home with her wicked mother, no rest, only work. And when she received or made something beautiful it was either snatched away or destroyed.
"We can marry here, before midnight, and even when your dress turns back into rags, I'll still love you. Its not the dress that matters, its you, Marinette."
Oh, how a simple shoe fitting could change her world, and they kept meeting at events, knowing after just one meeting, they were in love.
"You'd really give all this up, for me?" Marinette waved her had at the palace. "My cousin will make a much better King then I. Come, let's get ready for the rest night of our new lives."
So, they went and married, escaping under the cover the darkness, where in the light they could be free and happy, though what happened to the Prince and Princess that night remains a mystery to this day.