Noblesse Oblige

Chapitre quatorze

Chapitre quatorze

Pain And The Proposal

Marinette nervously looked about the room while Rose and Juleka vacated it – Juleka gathering a bundle of fabric that was a lovely shade of red from the desk Chat was leaning on. He quietly watched them go, waiting for the door to click closed and their footsteps faded away before speaking again.

"Rose told me something funny yesterday," he said, finding interest in the floorboards beneath her feet. "She said that the Duke decided to waive all dues owed, said he took some time to look at their past payments – saw how much they overpaid many times and put that towards this month's taxes. It's odd, don't you think?"

"A little," she said, scuffing the toes of her shoes on the floor.

"I was bringing over more than enough to help them when she told me. The thing that boggles me is why the Duke suddenly decided to change his mind. What happened? Why would he do that?"

"Maybe the Duke decided it wasn't that important. Rose's father is the best blacksmith in Rochers – the best for the next five towns over. He's needed. Maybe the Duke had time to think about it and –"

"No, you see, I know Felix. I know his kind. He doesn't just get up and do things out of the good of his heart. He's not that type of guy."

"Every time he's brought up, you make it sound like you know him – not just 'his type' but actually know him."

"I grew up around his type," Chat said, clenching his jaw. The accent – the noble accentuation on certain vowels and consonants – became more pronounced the more he spoke. "I went to school with young men just like him. I gave it all up because it wasn't worth it, what he and people like him do to others. He wanted something, and he got it."

"You're a noble," she said. "I thought... I knew there was something off about you the first moment we met. You have a stupid nobleman's tone to your voice, do you know that? It's so obvious. I thought you were some farmhand turned rogue who was attempting to seem like he was of some higher birth. But, no, it's the other way around."

"That doesn't matter now. Yes, I was a nobleman. I have noble blood in my veins. I gave that up because I didn't like it – I never liked it. I'm freer as Chat Noir. I can actually be myself."

"That's a little selfish of you." She crossed her arms in front of her chest, glowering at him.

"What?"

"You. You're being selfish. What about the people who are supposed to be under your protection? What about them? Aren't you supposed to be there, making decisions to keep them safe from... from vigilantes like you?"

"I am keeping them safe," he said, his voice rising in volume. "I'm doing the best I can in the best possible way. I can walk amongst them freely, hear them speak for themselves, help them fight for themselves. As who I was before I became Chat Noir, he's a nothing. No one misses him."

"You don't know that," she said. "What about your family? What about your intended? I'm fairly certain you have a fiancée."

"She... she thinks I'm dead. I did die, or well... the person I was died."

"I'm fairly certain that he's not dead. If he... If you went back to that life, you could stop the Duke. You could set things straight. You're his peer, he'd listen to you."

Chat snorted and crossed his arms.

"He's never listened to me before," he said.

She furrowed her brow, catching his wording. He did know the Duke. How much, though, was up for debate.

"But, right now, this isn't about me. Princess – Marinette – what did you do?"

She felt her mouth go dry, his eyes catching hers. She turned away.

"Nothing," she said. "He wanted... I didn't say..."

"What did you agree to?"

"Chat, he... My father... He still has my father – he threatened my father. He threatened Rose and her family. He threatened my maman!"

"Your parents are grown people, they can handle themselves," Chat said. She felt, rather than saw, him move closer to her. His presence was warm and all consuming. She ducked away from him and to the partially opened window. "Marinette, what you've done, it could affect not only you, but also every single one of my friends."

"He wanted names," she said. "Family, friends, followers... I told him I didn't know any."

"And he knew you were lying, so he threatened your family. Just like him."

"I... I did tell him one or two things. I'm sorry."

"What did you say?"

"That you have a camp?" She winced at that, hoping he wouldn't raise his voice again. She didn't like it. Thankfully, he scoffed at that.

"Everyone knows I have a camp. The thing is, they think I'm always moving around, so they're always looking in various spots around the forests." He chuckled at that. "And what's the other thing?"

"Strawberry tarts?"

"I beg your pardon?" he said, making her look up at him. "Strawberry tarts? What do strawberry tarts have to do with anything?"

"You said they were your favorite food. The other night at the Sanglier Bleu. And it just kind of slipped out, and... I'm sorry."

He sighed, crossing his arms behind his head and looking out the window. He was silent for a minute.

"It's alright," he said. "I don't like that you've – unfortunately been blackmailed into it, of course – become a spy for him, but there's not much we can do now."

"I can feed him false information," she said, hoping that it could smooth things over between them. He was angry, she could tell – though she wasn't sure how she knew, but it was there – and she didn't like that the anger was garnered towards her.

"He'd know it's false before it left your lips. Felix has that uncanny ability to know when someone is lying. Just... Please don't go to him. If he comes for you, fight for as long as you can. I saw those guards of his, by the way. You can, at the very least defend yourself well enough to get away, if you really try."

"You could teach me. How to defend myself better."

"I'd rather not. I don't know if I could trust you not to physically hurt me. I don't know if I can actually trust you at all." Her shoulders slumped. "I just have to keep a closer eye on you."

She looked up at him through her lashes. He took a half step back and turned away.

"I guess we'll be spending a lot more time together, then?" she said. Was it just her, or did her voice sound much more hopeful than she actually felt?

"I... Yes. I guess... Sure."

"Maybe you could teach me how to shoot now that we'll be spending all this time together?"

He heaved a sigh and looked down at her, frowning.

"Didn't I just say I couldn't trust you not to hurt me?" he said. She looked away, ashamed.

"I never really meant to. It's just... Chat, I'm really worried about Papa. This is the longest maman and I have gone without seeing him or hearing from him, and we're both just... We're really worried."

"I swear, Princess, that your father is safe and unharmed. As terrible of a person Felix is, he's not completely stupid. Believe me when I say, no harm will come to your father."

"Chat, if... if I promise not to seek out Felix, could you... would you teach me how to shoot?"

"Only if you agree to one other thing," he said, humming. He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Only if you marry me."