Hey everyone! Clippy here with another chapter. So, we have just seen Hugo get akumatized, and now we have to see what happens from there! Will Lady Rouge be able to manage? I mean I hope so-

Anyway, enjoy!

Her majesty was safe, and that's what Lady Rouge was thankful for. She had to conquer this akuma solo. Part of her wondered if Monsieur Noir was testing her. He better not be, she'd be furious.

The only sound she heard was the pat sound her feet made. It was like running on soft snow. Quiet and subtle. She was still deathly terrified of the storm waiting for her.

She heard a small crunch. She leaped out of the way as Night Hunt looked up. "So," Lady Rouge cuts herself off. She didn't want to get into a whole conversation with him.

Night Hunt was silent. Quieter than snow. Snow came out with a scream and landed silently on the pavement. Night Hunt yelled in rage, and Lady Rouge jumped out of the way.

She was shaking. The time in between start and run was too short. He still didn't speak a single word. The silence was deadly.

"What a pity," he finally says. Lady Rouge had her cold glare set on him. She didn't flinch. "You're not going to make this easy, are you."

Lady Rouge stood still. He chuckled darkly. "Not so talkative are we," Night Hunt says. His laugh was sick. He wrapped his hand around her throat. He moved quicker than light.

She pried herself out of his grip. "I'm not talking to you." She says. "I'm not talking to someone without a soul."

She jumped up. She used her yo-yo and swung herself back onto the ground. She still couldn't see anything. Just the faint glow of his white, blind eyes.

Night Hunt scoffed. "Why would I be surprised, you're lying as well."

"I wonder who you are beneath that silicone suit. I'm sure you'd be a whole different person."

He continued on. Lady Rouge didn't reply.

"What are people we know but programmed knights drenched in secrets and lies." 

Lady Rouge shook her head. "A person with a soul wouldn't say that."

"I HAVE A SOUL!" He shout. Lady Rouge flinched. She snapped out of it.

He cleared his throat. "My soul exists, Miss. Rouge. You're just too naive to see it."

He thrust his magic at her, forming a blade in his hands. Looked too familiar to her, she couldn't tell though. He formed claws where his nails used to be. His teeth were sharp.

Lady Rouge skidded on the marble floor, but leaped up to dodge him. She hit his head with her yo-yo, and wrapped it around his neck.

"You're not even listening," he spat. The yo-yo's grip tightened. He chuckled darkly. He grabbed the string and thrust her into the wall.

She grasped her shoulder. She sucked in a breath. "Lucky charm!"

A matchbox. She grabbed a single match.

"Where's the light in darkness," she says. She walked up closer to him as he backed up. His blade disappeared.

He was...scared.

"Just a drop." She says. "I would like to see your face."

She lit the match.

He growled and burst into a loud explosion of a noise. She saw a glimpse of his eyes. Snow-coloured eyes. It's as if someone sucked the life out of him.

"AUGH!" She screamed. She winced at the light and got blown away by a gust of wind. She stiffened on the floor. "HUGO!"

The sound stopped.

Everything stopped.

How did it stop?

She did nothing...

"Yes?"

She looked up. The prince was standing there. The akuma landed on his fingertip.

She was speechless. It was over? The sun was still gone. The match still burned. Hugo lit a candle with it.

"Did what I think happened, happen?" Hugo asks in a soft voice. It was smoother than silk.

She nodded. She captured the akuma. It flew free as a white butterfly.

Lady Rouge looked around. It was just her, and the prince.

He smiled. "I believe that I've been purified?"

She nodded again.

"It's silent." He whispers. "Enjoy it for the moments that it lasts."

She nodded for the third time. She took a deep breath. 

Hugo opened his eyes once more. "Is the truth actually what happened?"

She finally decided to speak. "Yes, and-"

He chuckled. "How could I be so naive." He says. He sounded sad, almost hurt. But, he sounded relieved, and at peace. He truly was confusing.

"Y-You're not," Lady Rouge says. "I- your parents just hid it from you since they didn't want this to happen..."

"Good thing you were here," Hugo says. "I probably wouldn't be without the akuma."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the akuma gave me a chance at redemption. I forgot what my life was as Hugo... No more burdens. No more 'king Hugo'. It was all just peace. For one second."

She smiles. One good thing had come from all this.

"Has the moment passed?" Lady Rouge asked in a whisper.

He looked at her. "I believe so, Miss. Rouge."

She felt the silence, for the long moment it had lasted. "Miraculous Ladybug."

The ladybugs retrieved the people from the particles of air. They formed again and hugged the people around them. 

The queen ran up and hugged her son. Lady Rouge nodded as Hugo stared at her. He wrapped his arms around his mother.

Emma ran up to the prince as she formed, even though his mom was already there. "DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" She shouts and hugged him tightly. He pat her head awkwardly.

Lady Rouge stared at the family. Hugo noticed it. He smiled, and she returned it. She disappeared with a gust of wind. The peace had passed, and this was now reality.

***

Angela rushed into Hugo's chambers. "HUGO!" She shout.

He recognized her tone. "Yes, Angela?" he asked. He turned around and leaned his elbow on his chair back.

"It's one of The Selected girls. She got injured, very badly."

Hugo stood up and followed Angela down the stairs. A million questions raced in his mind, but even with the adrenaline rush, he could only ask one. "What happened!?"

"A girl, she got blinded. Someone threw acid in her face. She's in the hospital as we speak," Angela says. She was so rushed, he could tell she ran all the way to his room. 

Hugo's eyes widened. He didn't say anything, but they both rushed to the hospital wing. The queen was there, pacing around.

"I'm here. Is the girl okay?" Hugo asks hurriedly, catching Marinette's attention.

"Yes, she's in stable condition. They are not letting anyone in, though." Marinette explains in a tone opposite to Hugo's. 

Hugo rubbed his temples. "How could something like this happen!?" He asked in a shout. He wanted to tell his mom that he was right, and he knew something bad would happen. That was such an understatement.

The queen sighed deeply. "We need to do something."

***

Hugo stood in front of the competition girls. "As some of you may know, there has been a large incident that had taken place."

"One girl in the competition had got acid thrown at them and is now permanently blind. We are aware that our search for the suspects will begin after her short-term recovery. But, we are reminding that this is prohibited by the laws of the kingdom."

Hugo cleared his throat. "If anyone had done it, I suggest you come forward. There are far worse consequences for not being honest about the situation. Anyone involved in the incident will face fees and jail time as well, depending on the situation."

"Is that clear?" 

His tone was so dark and strict. The girls nodded silently. Not a single word of gossip was dropped.

"You are free to leave."

The girls disperse, the chattering gossip had then begun. Hugo smelled the stench of heavy perfume. He knew who was coming.

"Your majesty," Adria says. "I'm so sorry about the event. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I'm afraid not. The damage has already been done. We are now taking these matters into our own hands." Hugo says. He straightened his cravat and adjusted his coat. He just wanted her to leave.

"Are you sure? I'm sure I can do something." She says. Her tone was dumped with a pound of roses and Valentine cards. Hugo hated it.

"No, you can not. I do not feel the need to repeat myself. Are we done here?" Hugo asked, finally turning around.

"I don't think we are," she says.

Angela walked up to them. "Okay, your majesty, you have your meeting-"

Angela acknowledged Adria. "Hello," she says cheerily.

Adria glared at her.

"Anyway," Angela says. "You have a meeting soon, and you can not be late. I also made sure to deliver the papers to your room as you asked. Is this okay?"

Hugo nods. "Sorry Miss. Rossi. I will see you around," he says and follows Angela.

He runs up to catch her. He rests a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you," he says. She smiles.

She clicked her pen. "Assistant's duty!" "And besides, that was the easiest lie to make," Angela says, wearing her loaded-gun smile.

He chuckled. "You are definitely something, Miss. Cunningham."

Well, a lot of stuff happened this chapter. So, girl got injured, and Hugo is not akumatized anymore. Well, that's gREAT! Hopefully things will get better!

Well, on that note, stay tuned! Have a great day/night :)