Hooves clicked on the stone paths as horses drew near. A young woman dismounted with the help of her escort.

Knights at the castle exchanged looks but opened the entrance doors for the girl.

King Gabriel stood nearby- waiting for the visitor. Once the girl had caught his sight, he made his way to her.

"Welcome!" He greeted.

"A pleasure," the woman said flatly. "Where am I staying?"

The king hadn't gotten that far. He was still staying with the Dupain-Chengs; and technically, it was rude for him to bring a visitor to the castle- without any notice.

"Princess Bourgeois, we head to my castle in a few hours. Adrien is still packing."

With a cocky grunt, Chloe followed a maid to the guest room.

----

"Marinette!" Adrien called.

The princess sat up in the bundle of bedsheets and pillows that Adrien set up for them. The prince was fully dressed and kneeling next to Marinette.

"Adrien, what's wrong?" Marinette asked. She noticed a small frustrated and betrayed look on her kitten's face.

"Did you know Chloe was here?" Adrien said- trying to stay calm.

Marinette filled with shock and anger. Who brought her here?! Without my permission? she thought.

She quickly dressed and fast-walked down the hall. Her heels clicking on the marble floor as she angrily made her way towards the guest room.

When the guest room came into sight- Marinette opened the doors quickly before the knights could.

Blonde hair caught her eyes- and then blue eyes with black eyeliner and blue eyeshadow.

"Princess Bourgeois," Marinette spoke calmly. She struggled to keep herself from shouting. "We weren't expecting you."

"Ew. What are you doing here pea-brain? Where's my Adrikens?" Chloe spat- enraging Marinette even more.

"Princesses shouldn't talk like that," Marinette spoke ostentatiously. Now, Chloe grew annoyed.

"Uhhh... why are you here?" She spat, getting up from her seat. "Where is the queen of this kingdom?"

The princess didn't know what to say, she wasn't the queen yet, but wasn't she close enough?

"You're looking at her," Adrien's voice came from the guest room doors. The blonde prince drew closer and wrapped an arm around the bluenette. "And you're also looking at her prince consort," said Adrien with a smirk.

Chloe laughed, "Ha! This is funny. Marinette- you'd only dream that this is real."

"Je suis désolé mademoiselle. I am sorry. But you'd only dream this was real," Adrien countered.

"What is going on in here?" Sabine asked. Gabriel came in after- followed by Tom.

Nobody knew what to say- without offending someone else. Marinette took her chances anyway:

"Princess Bourgeois- please, tell us why you are here," Marinette asked.

"King Gabriel wants me wed to the prince. I'm here to spend some time in the carriage on the way to the Agreste kingdom with Adrien."

"Father, I'm not marrying Chloe. I love Marinette!" Adrien defended. His words bringing Marinette's cheeks to a small blush.

"Adrien, this is not up for discussion."

"You're majesty, maybe we can decide this together," Sabine spoke.

"Marinette is not ready to be queen! And I am not uniting our kingdoms!" Gabriel shouted.

"I beg your pardon monsieur! I am capable of handling my kingdom just as well as yours!" Marinette defended herself.

"Hold up! No you are not!" Chloe shouted.

"Leave my daughter alone!"

"Everyone stop!" A new voice pitched in.

Everyone looked to find Alya standing with her arms crossed.

"First of all! Adrienette will live on! Anyone who opposes can fight me!" The duchess threatened.

"Preach!" Sabine called to her.

Marinette grew embarrassed at her mothers attitude. While Adrien felt grateful to have people supporting him and Marinette. However, both Gabriel and Chloe were upset- but they didn't speak since they were outnumbered.

"D-do you know who my father is?!" Chloe stuttered. "He-"

"-don't care~!" Alya finished.

"Sorry for my wife!" Nino apologized as he stumbled in the room.

"Is anybody else coming?" Gabriel muttered.

"Um-no sir!" Nino replied shyly. He hoped his wife's outburst wouldn't get her in trouble.

"Enough chitchat! Adrien and I are getting married and that's that." Chloe interrupted.

"No. You are not! At least not without Adrien's consent," Marinette told her.

"She has my consent! I know what's best for my son-"

"You!" Marinette hissed at Gabriel, everyone stopped and stared at the young princess. She took a breath and continued. "You let power blind you, so much that you discard your son as a toy you can toss around as you please! He's your son, and it's a little disquieting that you let money come in between you two."

"Yes. He's my son, and I love him."

"Then show it!" Marinette shouted. "I won't force you to let me marry him. But I won't stop fighting for his happiness."

"For the last time, you won't marry my son!" Gabriel responded.

His words cut knives in the young girl's heart. Tears threatened to spill yet Marinette forced them back. She tried to stay strong as the king's eyes peered into her own. Adrien's arms wrapped around her from behind and pulled her into an embrace.

Her eyes were glossy, her hands trembling, thoughts raced in her head. What would happen? She asked herself. Living without her kitten was a world she wouldn't want to live in. A world she couldn't live in.

Yet she stayed strong- for him.

In Adrien's arms, she turned to face him. His eyes shined and his eyebrows creased. His lips were tight as he tried his best not to cry. His display tugged at the princess's heart.

"Kitty no." Marinette whispered. A rebel tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek. Another followed. "Please don't cry."

"M'lady. We've come so far together, we can't be separated now."

"I won't lose you!" She cried. "Chaton- we'll think of something, we always do."

Adrien nodded in reply. Marinette wiped tears off his face and placed a kiss on his cheek. Adrien pulled her close and buried his face in her hair.

"Monsieur! You can't do this!" Alya argued. "They belong together. They're happy!"

"Happiness doesn't matter! Marinette isn't strong enough to rule!"

"Excusez-moi? Our daughter is perfectly capable. Watch your words," Sabine spoke.

"King Gabriel, surely we can talk about this calmly!" Tom reasoned.

"There is no 'calmly' when someone is in the way of Adrienette," Alya piped in. Nino knew there was no stopping his wife- not when she had something to say.

"Alya's right father! I won't live without Marinette. You don't know what's best for me, I do," Adrien followed.

"Adrien.." Gabriel started. "If you dare to fight with me then you will never see your friends again. You will surround yourself will friend that I choose."

"I won't stop fighting for my freedom! I will fight until you stop controlling me. Until you let me be happy. Until you let me make my own decisions."

"Really? I will punish you and this kingdom if you continue to disobey Adrien. I stand by what I said- Marinette is not a queen. This kingdom is too weak to fight my army, we don't need an alliance with them," Gabriel stated. "Pack your bags Adrien, we're done."

"And what if we already eloped secretly?!" Adrien shouted after him.

His words shocked everyone. It left Marinette silently screaming. What is he thinking?! She thought. This news could ruin her reputation. She squeezed Adrien's hand and shook her head.

"Marinette?" Sabine called worriedly.

"No. It's not true." She wanted to say. But she decided to take chances. "Yes. It is," She blurted with a tiny ounce of regret.

Adrien seemed shocked that she went with it. But anything to keep him out of trouble for lying.

"I'm sorry, but I love him too much," Marinette spoke.

"You've ruined us! Your marriage is fake. I'll pay the priest or whoever saw to stay quiet and it'll be fine." Gabriel said.

The angry king grabbed at Adrien and caught his arm.

"We're going home," the king hissed. He pulled the blonde teenage boy out of the room forcefully. The stuck-up princess trailed behind them. Alya raced towards Marinette and bombarded the girl with questions. But the princess filled herself with regret and guilt. She wondered what would have happened if she told the truth?

"Alya... what have I done?"