Startled by Tikki's sudden awakening, Marinette's heart raced in her chest. For a brief moment, she forgot that Adrien had been there the night before, and panic gripped her as she scanned the room. Adrien was nowhere to be seen. Relief washed over her as she realized that they hadn't been discovered, and she was grateful that they hadn't gotten into any trouble.

Tikki sat at the edge of her bed, her eyes filled with concern. "Good morning, Marinette," Tikki greeted her. "I hope you had a restful night."

Marinette rubbed her eyes to clear away her grogginess "Er... I did, thank you. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep."

Tikki nodded, her expression too gentle. Marinette felt uncomfortable by the softness. "Yesterday was eventful. How are you?"

Marinette let out a sigh, recalling yesterday's chaos. "I'm fine, but... where were you?" 

Tikki's gaze softened, but a slight darkness flushed into her face. "I was in the hospital with Plagg. He was hurt, but he's fine. Everyone is fine."

Marinette scrunched her face shut, knowing that everyone didn't actually mean everyone. It just meant people that were deemed Important. But she shook her head, focusing on the moment. "Okay." 

Tikki smiled, clearly grateful that she wasn't being bombarded with questions. She sat up straight, her energy changing back into her excited self in an instant. "Now, I have something else to tell you! Adrien is going to stay in the castle for some time with us, for safety reasons." 

Marinette knew her cheeks warmed at Adrien's name, remembering their closeness last night. "Okay," she replied softly her voice filled with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. 

Tikki's eyes sparkled with understanding and excitement. "Things are going well? Well, that's great. But, remember the rules! Never be in a room alone, never kiss without a chaperone, and now that you're publicly official, these are even more important to follow."

Marinette raised her eyebrows, completely forgetting they were now official, anxiety overwhelming her once again. 

Tikki saw her expression and smiled, leaning over and patting her arm, completely misreading her thoughts. "Marinette," she said, "Your Highness, love can be beautiful but scary. It's okay to be unsure about what's going to happen in the future, but trust in yourself and in Adrien. You guys are made for each other. I truly believe it!" 

Marinette nodded, but she wasn't ready for talks of love. She only just realized Adrien's affect on her. Luckily, their conversation was interrupted as someone knocked on the door, and a soft feminine voice said, "Coming in, Your Highness."

It was someone Marinette had never seen before, a short woman pale skin and brown hair. She says, "I have your father on the phone." 

Marinette's eyes widened--with excitement this time. She eagerly reached out and took the phone from the woman's outstretched hand. "Papa, I miss you," she exclaimed, her voice filled with longing, feeling suddenly choked. 

On the other end of the line, her father's voice sounded tired. "Marinette, my dear. How are you? I miss you too, and I love you."

Marinette's voice quivered with a mixture of emotions as she replied, "I'm okay. I miss you so much, and I wish you were here with me." She felt very lonely without him, wishing her father's large arms were around her. 

Her father's tone grew strained. "I'm sorry, Marinette. I know it's been a long time. I wish I could see you, too."

Something about his tone caused Marinette to pause, and any grateful tears immediately dried. "But?"

He sighed on the other side. "But I won't be able to come back for a while. Yesterday's... situation is still volatile. The queen doesn't think it's safe for us to return just yet."

Marinette's heart sank as her mind replayed the horrifying events of the attack for the millionth time in 24 hours. It felt like a million years ago but also mere seconds. She couldn't understand why the queen wouldn't want to be there for the people in such a difficult time. Her people. 

Gathering her courage, Marinette spoke up, her voice tinged with frustration. "A queen should be brave enough to stand with her people, especially in times of crisis. They need her support. They need her here. And I need you here."

"The situation is dangerous, and she cannot simply abandon her responsibilities."

Marinette's heart sank as her pleas fell on deaf ears. She could sense her father's growing frustration, but she couldn't back down. Her longing for his presence, coupled with hearing his voice for the first time in two months, had ignited a fire of pain within her, enflamed by her physical injury. "Her people are her responsibility. And I should be yours." Marinette's voice quivered with a mix of desperation and determination, "I was in that attack. I faced danger too, and I need you here to help me through this. I thought family was supposed to stick together in tough times."

There was a tense silence, and Marinette held her breath, waiting for her father's response. The line crackled with the weight of their unspoken emotions. Finally, her father's voice filled the air, but it was cold and distant, a tone she had never heard before.

"Don't question the queen's decision," he said sharply, making Marinette flinch. "She is my wife and the queen of this kingdom. Show respect, and understand that she has her own perspective on these matters. We don't know things the way she does."

Marinette's felt her skin grow cold at the tone. Who was he? 

"What would mom say?" Marinette's voice rose, her words likely heard in the hallway. She fought to keep her composure, her and anger threatening to overwhelm her.

But her father's response was final. "Marinette. I have to go now. Take care of yourself."

The line went dead, leaving Marinette staring at the blank screen in disbelief. Her father's absence echoed in the room, amplifying her feelings of loneliness and abandonment. 

Marinette clutched her chest. The weight of her emotions pressed down upon her, threatening to suffocate her spirit. But she couldn't let it. 

A minute of silence passed in the room as Marinette continued staring at the blank screen. When the servant left the room, awkwardly and silently dipping out, Tikki approached Marinette, concern etched on her young wrinkles.

"Marinette... Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice brimming with empathy. 

Marinette wiped at her dry face, as if there were tears that needed to be cleaned off, but there weren't any. She offered a faint smile. "I'm fine, Tikki," she replied. 

Marinette took a deep breath and fought to compose herself. If she mulled, she would spiral.

She wanted to see Adrien. 

"Tikki," Marinette began, her voice gaining a newfound resolve. "I've decided... I want to attend my classes. Are we continuing them?"

Tikki's eyes widened, a mixture of concern and admiration. "I admire your resilience, Marinette. We can start classes today. First, let's get you dressed." 

_________

Marinette sat with, a hard, foldable mini-table on her lap as she wrote in a blue notebook on Plagg's lesson. He paced back and forth, and when Adrien left to take a break, and Plagg took a second to drink from his near-empty water bottle, Marinette stated what had been on her brain for over the last half hour: 

"Should you be walking on that leg?"

Plagg slowly lowered his water and then twisted his head at her. "Should you know what an Akuma is?"

She deadpanned. "You've been waiting for that one, haven't ya?" 

Plagg limped his way over to her, his right leg's giant cast clunking with each step. "Well, I talked to Tikki last night. And we wanted to get your thoughts. Do you want to--"

"Yes."

"Yes what?" 

"I want to help."

Plagg watched her for a few moments before nodding slowly. "That wasn't exactly what I was going to say, but... We've decided that, now you know about them, you should know everything about them. Everything. You'll meet with me and the king's advisors for the--"

"What?" 

"--foreseen future. What do you mean what? Isn't this what you want?"

Marinette shook her head, but then nodded it. "Yes, of course. I want to know what's going on. I want to help. But... advisors? who all is there?"

"Advisors Brance, Plaira, Gomez, and Duval."

At the last name, Marinette felt like she'd been punched. "Oh."

Plagg kept talking about their plans, when they met ( starting today ), and more, but all Marinette could hear was his name. Duval. She'd be around him more. And she couldn't argue it. She needed answers. She could only imagine the excitement Chat would feel when he learned insider information. But... Duval. She had to be with him, in the same room, often. 

Duval. 

Adrien walked back in, and Plagg turned back around towards the board, writing something with the marker. Adrien sat in his desk, raising an eyebrow at Marinette's expression. He mouthed, "You okay?" 

She forced a smile and gave a thumbs up. His concerned expression stayed with her all through their silent lessons, and after, while Marinette walked with Plagg towards her first meeting with the advisors. Her footsteps echoed in the grand corridor, Plagg stalking beside her, wearing all black once again. She heard a vague, loud discussion from the room as they neared it, but it was silenced as soon as the two of them walked in. All eyes turned towards Marinette, their expressions mixed with curiosity, confusion, and skepticism. 

Marinette looked everywhere except for Duval, but she felt his stare linger on her, making her shiver. She stood straighter, wanting to give everyone the impression that she was strong, though she didn't feel that way. 

Advisor Brance, a stern-looking woman with graying hair, cleared her throat and addressed the room. "It seems we have a visitor... Your Highness? What are you doing here?"

Marinette opened her mouth to introduce her new role, but Plagg interjected. "Princess Marinette has Tikki's permission to be here. We've decided that in the King and Queen's absence, her ignorance can be dangerous, as was shown last night."

The advisors exchanged glances, their expressions mirroring a clash of differing opinions. Advisor Plaira, a middle-aged woman with a dark skin and a kind demeanor, spoke up. "While it's... important to be informed, we must also consider Princess Marinette's lack of experience and knowledge. She comes from a humble background, and the matters we discuss here may be too complex for her."

Plagg, his eyes narrowing, lifted his chin, lifting Marinette's confidence at the same time. "Don't underestimate her. Her Highness has shown great resilience and intelligence, in all of my courses. She's more than capable of grasping the intricacies of our discussions."

Advisor Gomez, a stout man with a bushy mustache, chimed in, his voice laced with skepticism. "Plagg, you're too biased with your pupil. We can't risk compromising the safety of the princess--or anyone around her, for that matter--by involving her in these issues that she may not truly understand."

Marinette didn't like the formal tone that everyone used around each other, though she knew it shouldn't bother her as much as it did. Maybe she hadn't realized how people dummified everything down for her. This realization offended her more than it should have. They spoke of her as if she were a fragile porcelain doll, incapable of understanding the weight of their responsibilities. She didn't know much, but she knew more than they thought she did. And she had to learn, whether she was stupid or not. She had to. 

She glance at Plagg, seeing him raise his eyebrows with confidence. In her. She swallowed to hold her tongue.

He countered, "You talk of safety, but do you truly believe hiding the truth from her is protecting her. I don't. It's leaving her vulnerable and uninformed. If we truly want to ensure her safety, we must empower her with knowledge. I believe that if she had known about the Akumas--" They gasped, darting their eyes back to her, as if they'd all knew she wasn't supposed to know about the Akumas. It made her boil inside. "--she would have made different decisions in town this past weekend." he stated. 

Marinette didn't know how much he really believed in her, but she could tell he at least believed in what he was saying. Marinette thought about the swimming duck analogy he used a few months ago. How did it go again? 

Advisor Duval scoffed, interrupting her thoughts. "Plagg, you have a peculiar attachment to the princess. It's clouding your judgment. We cannot allow sentimentalities to dictate our decisions. This is about the well-being of the kingdom."

Marinette's frustration turned into anger, a fire igniting within her. She stood tall, meeting Advisor Duval's gaze with a fiery emotion. "If you truly cared about the well-being of the kingdom, you would trust in its leaders. I may be young, but I am almost an adult. I have a right to know and contribute to the discussions that shape the fate of our people."

The room fell into a tense silence as the advisors absorbed Marinette's words. The weight of her conviction echoed through the air, challenging the rigid protocols and traditions that kept her confined.

Advisor Plaira, her eyes filled with a mixture of empathy and respect, broke the silence. "Perhaps we have been too quick to dismiss Princess Marinette's capabilities. We should give her a chance to prove herself, to learn and grow with us."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, and even Advisor Duval seemed taken aback by the shifting tides. Reluctantly, sat down.

"Very well," Advisor Duval conceded, his voice filling Marinette with bitter memories of the smell of peppermint. "But she must be accompanied and guided, ensuring her safety and the integrity of our discussions."

Marinette nodded, accepting the compromise. She knew that earning their trust and respect would be a continuous journey, but she was prepared to take that step forward.

As the meeting resumed, discussions revolved around the recent attack and the search for information regarding the akumas. 

Advisor Plaira brought up a curious detail—an encounter with Chat Noir, who had been mistaken for a civilian by one of the spies. Marinette's ears perked up, her attention fully captured by the mention of her friend.

Duval spoke before Marinette could process the infromation. "We must exercise caution when dealing with Chat Noir. We cannot trust his intentions fully. If necessary, we should consider arresting him to extract any information he may possess."

Marinette's mind raced as the advisors decided on what to do with him, realizing that she needed to speak with Chat Noir urgently. She didn't trust Duval, though she knew she should trrust the rest of the counselors. But what to do with that? How much should she trust them? 

As the meeting drew to a close, Marinette left the room, still reeling from the discussions of Akumas. She would prove herself capable, earn their trust, and strive to protect the kingdom she now called home.