"The cold can sometimes be the most comforting thing to hold on to, because it's the only thing that can numb everything."

— Forbidden Love

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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The thought of having to attend Sir Nathaniel's ball, on such a wonderful evening, was such a disappointment to Marinette. She'd only met the man once, and already he was trying to suck Aunt into his gentleman act.

But little did Aunt know that every man was just the same. Using charms and gifts to a lure a woman in so he could simply use her for his pleasure and his pleasure only. What else was a woman used for in this century other than to please a man's sexual needs?

Marinette would not allow a man to use her in such a way.

However, it always started with a ball. Any man that had ever been introduced into the family and was interested in a woman tried to win her over by inviting her and the woman's family to a lovely ball. How lovely was the ball? Well, in Marinette's opinion, it was never lovely at all.

If the woman enjoyed the ball, usually the man would request to see her again. Usually he would invite her to have tea with him, attend an event with him, or simply take a stroll with him. If the two spent much time together, he would eventually propose with a gorgeous diamond ring.

Of course, most women dreamed of the day she would find her true love. What girl didn't?

Well, Marinette for one.

At first, the man seems like he wants to treat his woman like a queen. But once that woman agrees to marry him, and the wedding has been played through, the man is not so kind and loving as he had been in the beginning.

Marinette had painfully watched before as a woman who had married a man had the happiest courting– until they were married and he got what he wanted.

Then, she no longer mattered to him.

It truly was a disturbing thought.

"How is that drink?" Krissy's curious voice quickly pierced through Marinette's thoughts. She looked up, soon realizing that her younger sister had stood next to her sometime ago. The ravenette had been too preoccupied thinking about how disgusting the masculine population was, that she had totally disregarded Krissy's presence.

As a matter of fact, the drink Marinette was sipping was fretfully awful. Why she was even consuming such a horribly flavored drink?

Marinette pulled the cup away from her lips to peer one eye into it, observing the red liquid with disgust. "Actually, this drink is quite awful. I would not drink this if I were you."

Krissy chuckled lightly, "Well, that is because what you are drinking is wine, dear sister."

"Wine? That sounds... yummy."

"I suppose," Krissy shrugged, "Except that you are not supposed to be drinking it. And yet here you are, sipping away without any care in the world."

Marinette tilted her head, smiling widely as she extended her arm out towards her sister– the same hand which was holding her beverage. "Would you like a taste?"

Krissy shook her head and scrunched her nose in disgust. "No thank you."

"Well, your loss."

Krissy could only watch with a disgusted look on her face as Marinette brought the cup back up to her lips, taking another long sip.

"Instead of trying to drunken yourself, why do you not search for Sir Nathaniel and ask him for a dance?" Krissy asked timidly.

"I do not wish to dance with that red- headed douche!" Marinette practically slurred, lifting the cup once again to her lips to consume more of the addicting drink.

"Marinette," Krissy voice quickly turned stern. "I think you have had enough of this drink."

However, when Krissy went to reach for the glass, Marinette pulled her hand away and childishly stuck out her tongue.

Krissy sighed heavily.

In front of the two sisters, though a fair distance away, a wild crowd of men and women danced excitedly with each other to the music being played. Sir Nathaniel was no where to be seen, and he hadn't made an appearance so far, not even to greet the family of women he'd invited. Not only did it bother Aunt greatly, but that stubborn woman had been looking for the red-head all evening, and was determined to have him and her niece have at least one dance together.

Krissy knew this because Aunt wouldn't stop complaining about it.

"Marinette, would you please set down your glass? You have had enough."

"But this is the first time I am actually enjoying myself at a ball." Marinette pouted, not because of her sister's persistence, but because her glass was now empty. Quickly, she moved to set it underneath the fountain to be refilled, ignoring the way her sister's frowned deepened at the sight.

"You are drunk, Marinette." Krissy said bluntly, "Women are not supposed to get drunk. It is very..." She paused, as if searching for the correct word. "...unladylike."

"What if I do not want to be ladylike?" Marinette slurred, giggling at her sister as she took another large gulp of her addicting drink. "What if I wanted to be... hmmm... manlike?"

Marinette laughed at her own words, as if she thought they were funny, and the sight is quite embarrassing for her sister. Krissy couldn't help but frown. She did not like the state her sister was currently in. Aunt would be furious if she found out that one of her nieces was drunk and acting so obnoxious.

Which is why Krissy couldn't let Aunt Lillian find out.

"Marinette, listen to me," Krissy grabbed ahold of her sister's shoulders to keep her body in place. "You cannot let Aunt catch you in such a state. Do you know how much trouble you would be in if she found out? God, I can only imagine it." Krissy rolled her eyes, only to lock eyes again with Marinette's groggily ones. "We must find you a place to hide until it wears off. No one must see you like this." And then, Krissy shook her sister's shoulders. "Do you hear me?"

The only response she received was a lazy nod in return.

Krissy sighed in slight relief. Keeping a tight grip on Marinette's shoulders, she carefully maneuvered her sister though the large crowd without looking suspicious. Marinette looked anything but normal, and some of the men around them even began to notice her strange behavior. The odd looks they had to offer were enough proof of that.

Krissy smiled timidly at the staring men, hoping they would all turn their eyes somewhere else. Her plan seemed to work splendidly when the small group of men staring her way acknowledged her presence with a slight nod, each returning her smile with one of their own. Then, each man turned away, retreating back to the dance floor in hopes to find a woman to dance with.

Thank the gods they hadn't stayed any longer.

Suddenly, a balcony came clear into view, and from behind the glass doors, Krissy saw no man (or woman for that matter) standing outside, admiring the night sky. She grinned at the sight and steered her sister sharply towards that direction, avoiding any person that seemed to block her path.

Upon reaching the glass doors, Krissy removed one hand from her sister to pull the handle of the door with all her might. It opened quickly, and a bit harshly, and for a moment, Krissy was concerned that the glass might shatter.

Thankfully, it didn't , and she was extremely grateful for that. She could only imagine what would've happened had she broken something in Sir Nathaniel's manor.

Accidental or not, what a tragedy that would have been.

"Now, you will be staying out here until you can think properly." Krissy scolded as she pushed her sister through the door and onto the balcony. Marinette stumbled forward, but caught herself against the railing. "I will come back for you." Krissy said as she made her way back towards the glass doors. "Do not leave here. Do you understand?"

Marinette's back is faced towards her younger sister, but the ravenette nodded nonetheless, acknowledging that she had been spoken to. Marinette kept her gaze focused on the view before her, and the last thing she heard from all the noise in the ballroom was the sound a glass door clicking closed.

Then, silence greeted her.

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Marinette had never felt such a great amount of pain in her head before, until now. The uncomfort was so great, that the she'd removed her own pigtails and allowed her hair to flow free in the cold wind, just to relieve some of the ache. But it didn't fully rid of her pounding headache, and their was nothing that would relieve the pain fully.

It was completely dark now, and Marinette had long ago regained her conscience. The breeze was brushing against her skin rapidly, bringing along the cold weather from the east.

It was freezing outside, and Marinette had absolutely nothing to cover herself with.

But the only words she had remembered from her sister after regaining herself had been, do not leave here. And she had supposed it was important not to leave the balcony. Even if she was possibly freezing to death.

Marinette had eventually found a small glass table with two small chairs seated on the far side of the balcony. It was a pretty large balcony, and in the darkness of the night, difficult to see. Marinette had rushed to the chairs, immediately curling herself into one and hoping she could warm herself up.

But to no avail, it barely did her any good. The freezing breeze continued to prick her skin, reminding of how much power it held over her head.

Marinette was certain it was so cold that icicles could've grown out from the nostrils of her nose.

And even though she was in a desperate situation, Marinette waited patiently for her sister to return, or for someone to come and find her there.

Anyone for that matter.

But even though she was freezing, she waited. It almost seemed as if hours had passed by and no one would find her in time.

She'd turn into a frozen mummy before anyone got there.

And, of course, the doors to the balcony were somehow locked. Or jammed.

Either way, she'd tried to escape when it'd gotten too cold.

The doors wouldn't budge.

She was stuck.

So, Marinette unwillingly began to drift off into sleep. As much as she knew of the dangers for falling asleep in such a dangerous predicament, her eyes felt extremely heavy. Too heavy to keep open any longer. And just as her eyes were almost sealed completely shut (with a layer of frost over her lids, she assumed), she could have sworn she heard the glass door slide open again, and footsteps were headed her way.

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