"I love you."

The words passed his lips before he could stop them.

Adrien shut his eyes tight, afraid of what Marinette's reaction would be. He was afraid of what she would say. He didn't want her to walk away from him and not talk to him again throughout their entire marriage.

He flinched when her soft hands cupped his cheeks, but he didn't move away. He let her pull him down to her level. He let her kiss him. Hell, he even kissed her back.

When they pulled away, Adrien rested his forehead on hers. "You don't have to think about what I just said. Right now you have bigger things to worry about. We'll talk about it later," Adrien said, cupping her cheeks in his hands and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Let's go get you a snack and something to drink."

Marinette nodded and allowed him to pull her to the refreshment room, but she couldn't forget what he had said.

He loved her?

She was without doubt shocked. Adrien loved her. Yes, they were already married, but it was forced and arranged by their parents. She didn't expect him of all people to develop feelings for her.

She then felt holes burning into the side of her head, interrupting her raging thoughts. She turned her head and her eyes made four with Nathaniel's. Her body went rigid. She clutched Adrien's hand tighter, causing him to look at her.

When Adrien saw fear and pain in her beautiful, blue eyes, anger came over him, but he tried to mask it. He hated seeing her anything but happy.

"What's wrong, Mari?" He asked though he felt he knew what was causing her pain.

"He won't stop staring at me menacingly," She whispered in reply.

Adrien looked at Nathaniel and the redhead had the nerve to smirk. He then mouthed 'mine' and pointed to where he carved his initials into Marinette.

All Adrien saw was red.

He didn't listen to Marinette telling him to let it go.

He didn't care how Nathaniel's eyes watered when his hands were around his neck.

He didn't care about his knuckles being bruised.

He didn't care about the blood coating the floor as he bashed Nathaniel's face into the concrete.

He only realised what he did when Marinette shouted his name and told him to stop along with two guards pulling him off the barely conscious redheaded Prince.

Adrien saw Gabriel pinching the bridge of the nose and shaking his head, but honestly he didn't care. Nathaniel had done horrible things to Marinette and everyone was acting like it was okay. They were acting as if she'd just go back to normal because she's back home.

No, she won't just be back to her usual self with the snap of some fingers. She was broken and Nathaniel had caused that. No one was seeing that Marinette was not fine and it made him angry.

He didn't care what kind of punishment he would receive from the Council. All he cared about was Marinette.

He felt her small hands wrap around his bicep as she pulled him towards her.

Marinette wanted to slap him. How can he be so stupid?

Now he'd just be in more trouble with the Council. They won't overlook the fact that he almost gave Nathaniel a concussion.

"Are you stupid?!" She yelled at him once they were away from the crowd gathering around Nathaniel and his mother.

"I think so."

"Right now isn't the time to be snarky, Adrien," Marinette glared at him. "You're going to get into trouble with the Council and you're already walking on thin ice! Only God knows what punishment they will give you for that stunt you pulled. You broke rule number three, Adrien! Never attack another royal unless necessary! You need to control your anger!"

It wasn't nice to see Marinette angry, Adrien knew that. He also didn't mean to make her angry. "I don't regret what I did to that as-" the look he got from Marinette told him not to finish saying that word, "-that wicked man! I don't care what the Council have in store for me. He deserved what he got, Mari. I should've done worst."

"Adrien," Marinette sighed. There was just no winning with him.

"The trial will start in about four minutes. Let's head back inside," Adrien took her hand in his and they started to make their way back to the room.

Sensing her uneasiness, Adrien pulled her in for a short kiss, shocking her completely.

He pulled away and she strangely felt at ease.

* * *

A guard stood by the Council members' table, speaking to them in a hushed voice.

After some time, he stood tall and made his way to the door on their left.

Tikki sighed. "We were just notified of something that took place in the twenty minute break."

"We will be addressing this matter after we have finished dealing with the task at hand," Plagg spoke, running a hand through his hair. He looked the most upset out of all the other members.

"Now, in the brief report, it said that there were several witnesses. Hearing their statements will help us to come to a decision on what to do about this problem," Pollen stated, looking through the papers again. "First we will speak to Ms Chloe Bourgeois."

Chloe rose from her seat and walked to the front of the room.

"Ms Bourgeois, it says here that you were also kidnapped by Nathaniel, but it was for a different reason than the Princess's," Pollen said, looking at the nervous blonde that stood before her. "What exactly was the reason?"

"I knew about the plan that Prince Nathaniel and Lila Rossi had to kidnap the Princess, but I told them that it was stupid and that they should not do it. When I realized that they actually went through with the plan I threatened to reveal that they took the Princess. They didn't like that, so Ms Rossi had me sedated and before I knew I was in Nathaniel's clutches," Chloe explained shakily.

"So you were aware of Nathaniel wanting to take the Princess before he took her?" Tikki asked, eyes filled with silent rage but her voice was calm.

"Yes, your grace," The blonde hung her head in shame. She still felt terrible about not saying anything sooner.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms Bourgeois. You may head back to your seat," Trixx spoke and Chloe nodded before heading back to her seat.

Adrien watched her with disappointment in his eyes. He was disappointed in Chloe, as well as angry at her. She could have done something, anything, but she didn't and that made him angry.

"The next person we would like to speak to is Juleka Couffaine," Trixx stated and Juleka headed to the front of the room.

It wasn't very common that you see civilians in the trial house since they are seen as less important unless they are hurt or are witnesses to a crime.

"Were you present during the period Prince Nathaniel held Princess Marinette?" Trixx inquired, taking a sip of water.

"Yes, your Grace," Juleka answered in a small voice. Having the Council members stare her down made her overly nervous.

"What were you doing while you were there?"

"I-I was merely there t-to provide food for the Princess and Ms Bourgeois, a-and-" Juleka stopped taking when she felt Nathaniel's eyes boring into the back of her head.

"And?" Tikki pressed. She then caught Nathaniel's eyes. A sigh passed her lips and in a low voice, she said, "Do not worry, Juleka. He can not do anything to you here."

Though she barely believed the Council member's word, she continued to speak. "And to clean their wounds, especially the Princess', your grace."

"Thank you, Juleka. Head back to your seat."

Juleka bowed before stiffly walking back to her seat. On her way, Nathaniel gave her look that definitely said, "you're dead."

"We need a few minutes to come up with the verdict," Plagg spoke before huddling up with the other members.

Marinette sat anxiously in her seat. The Council was taking too long to get this out of the way.

"We see Prince Nathaniel as guilty," Pollen stating, running her fingers through her hair.

Marinette felt a weight lift off of her chest. He was guilty....

"Usually we would be the ones to come up with punishments for crimes, but today it isn't quite so," Nooroo stated and Nathaniel's eyes practically bulged out of his head. What on this earth were they talking about?

"King Gabriel requested earlier that we give the privilege to his son, Prince Adrien. Since they are the ones to call for this trial, we agreed," Plagg said, shoving a piece of cheese into his mouth only to be slapped and scolded by Tikki.

"No!" Nathaniel shouted, catching everyone's attention. "That can not be allowed. It has to be illegal!"

"You should refrain from speaking unless you are spoken to, Nathaniel. You are already walking on thin ice," Nooroo scolded, casting him a glare. "Also, we are the ones to make the rules, so we would know what is legal and what is not."

"Prince Adrien?" Trixx called and mischievous, green eyes met hers.

"Yes, your grace?"

"Asking for him to be killed is not allowed."

Adrien sighed, "I thought so and that is why I no longer considered it."

Marinette glanced at him curiously. What was he planning?

"State your punishment," Nooroo ordered and Adrien smiled. That smile sent a shiver down Nathaniel's spine.

"One hundred lashes," Adrien said without hesitation. "Along with that he should be stripped of his position for three years. Also, if he so much as looks at the Princess and she doesn't like it, he will be killed without any questions asked. Am I allowed to add more to the punishment later on?"

"Yes you are," Plagg stated.

"I shall add more once I calm down," The blond Prince grinned.

"The trial has ended," Tikki stated, signalling two guards over to a pale looking Nathaniel. "All of you, except Prince Adrien, may leave."

"Pardon my speaking out of turn, but why must I remain here?" Adrien asked as everyone rose to leave.

"Have you forgotten already?" Pollen asked. "We must give you your punishment for that stunt you pulled during the break."

‘crap,’ Adrien thought, clenching his fists. "I understand."

The room was almost empty, only Adrien and Marinette remained.

Tikki saw this and rose a brow. "Why are you still here, Princess? You may leave."

"I would like to stay here with Adrien as you state his punishment for his foolish actions earlier," Marinette said and Adrien winced.

"As you wish," Wayzz smiled.

"Tell me my punishment so I can leave this place," Adrien said, shocking Marinette. Why did he talk to them like that?!

"Shut up and wait," Plagg retorted, glaring. "I honestly cannot believe you did that, Adrien!"

In return, the Prince shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't really care. He deserved it."

Plagg clenched his jaw.

"You know your punishment will be severe, right Adrien?" Nooroo inquired and Adrien nodded.

"You will spend three months at level ten boot camp in Australia," Tikki stated quickly and Marinette's heart stopped.

With a deep sigh, Adrien replied, "I understand. Can we go now?" All the Council members nodded in response. "It was nice seeing you all again."

With that said, he took Marinette's hand and lead the silent Princess out of the room.

They sat both sat into the car, in which they came, in silence. Even after the car started and they were on their way, they refused to speak.

"Mari..." Adrien started, but stopped when he saw tears in her eyes.

"Level ten boot camp in Australia, Adrien?" She muttered, forcing her tears to stay at bay.

"It's not as bad as it sounds, Marinette," Adrien tried to reassure her, but it didn't work because her tears were already falling.

"It is as bad as it sounds!" She suddenly yelled.

For royals, there were ten different kinds of boot camps in which they would be disciplined. There were boot ten boot camps in each and every country that royals had occupied and each boot camp were of a certain level. Level ten boot camp was the worst of them all. That was where royals were pushed to their limits and were treated horribly. They were whipped into shape there, literally. Royals were usually sent there if they broke one of the top ten rules enforced by the Council.

Adrien reached for her, but she pulled away.

"No, Adrien," She shook her head and hugged her body. "You knew the consequences of your actions today. You freaking knew, so why did you do what you did?"

She got silence in return.

"I'll have to spend three months on my own while knowing you're there being treated as if you're practically dirt and, unlike you, I actually can't do anything about it. I was kidnapped and I was treated terribly, but at least you saved me. I can't save you like you did me, Adrien. What you will experience there will be worse than what I experienced with Nathaniel."

Hearing how heartbroken she sounded, broke something inside of Adrien. He didn't know what it was.

"It'll only be for three months, Marinette," He said softly as she sniffled. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Three months is too long, Adrien," The blunette bawled.

This time when Adrien reached for her, she let him pull her closer to his body. She rested her head on his chest and let him run his fingers through her hair to calm her down.

After a while she spoke.

"I just want you to be okay."

"I will be okay, Mari," He kissed her head. "I promise."

* * *

Marinette covered her naked body with Adrien's royal blue sheets, a blush coating her cheeks. Adrien was packing his suitcase since he was leaving for boot camp tomorrow.

"Oh my God," She whispered to herself, but Adrien heard and a shall smirk rose to his lips.

"What's the matter, Princess?" He asked, turning around to run his eyes over her. "And what are you hiding? I think I saw it all last night."

A pillow hit his head and a laugh erupted from him.

"SHUT UP!" The little blunette yelled, her entire face red. "And nothing's the matter. I'm just surprised."

Before Adrien could speak, a knock sounded on his door causing him to sigh. Standing, he made his way to the door.

When the door opened, Natalie was standing there with her tablet in her hands. Marinette quickly covered her head to hide.

"Good Morning, Adrien," She greeted, before glancing behind him. A small smile grazed her lips. "Good morning, Princess."

Marinette squirmed and groaned before pushing her head above the covers. "Good Morning, Ms Natalie."

"I am actually here to speak to you," She stated, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Your mother told me to inform you that you will begin therapy once Adrien leaves for camp tomorrow."

Adrien saw Marinette's smile dropped.

"I already told her that I did not want to go through any therapy," Marinette muttered, slight anger flashing through her eyes.

"I am sorry, Princess," Natalie bowed before walking away.

After closing the door, Adrien climbed into the bed and pulled Marinette close to him.

"I don't want to go through therapy, Adrien. Why won't she understand that?"

"As your mother she only wants the best for you, Marinette," Adrien said, watching as she laid her head on his naked chest. "To her, therapy is the best option. It may not be what you want, but maybe it'll help you out a bit."

Marinette stayed silent though she understand what he meant. She knew she wasn't the same as before and she wanted to change that. Maybe therapy wasn't her top choice, but she had to make it work.

"Aren't you going to finish packing?" She asked, shifting to look up at him.

"I like this better," He replied. Suddenly he flipped her over to lay on her and pinned her hands down beside her head.

"What are you doing, Adrien?" She asked, a nervous smile on her lips.

"How about a replay of last night, Princess?" He said and after seeing her nod, he placed his lips on hers.

* * *

"I don't want you to go," Marinette muttered, wiping her eyes. They were standing in King Gabriel's private airport where Adrien would leave to go to Australia.

"I have to, Mari. I don't want to get into more trouble with the Council," He replied, cupping her cheeks into his hands. "I promise I'll be back before you know it."

Adrien used his thumbs to wipe the tears falling from her eyes.

"I just got back and you're leaving," She sobbed, putting on of her hands over one of his.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and smiled. "It isn't the end of the world, Mari. I'll come back in three months."

Marinette nodded and pressed her head to his chest.

"We are ready to leave, your highness," A guard spoke, interrupting their moment.

"I'll be right there, Conrad," Adrien replied before turning back to his very upset wife. "Marinette?"

In a small voice, she answered, "Yes, Adrien?"

"I love you."

Her heartbeat sped up and a small brightened up her face.

"I-I love you too."

*****

Word Count: 2924

Almost 3000 y'all 🤧.

Well, only one chapter left, guys. I'm sad and happy at the same time.

How was this chapter?

I actually never expected to write some of the stuff that I wrote.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, guys. Until next time,

Bye bye little butterflies🦋🦋🦋.