The midnight ball

marinette

marinette's pov

i stare at the picture infront of me. 

i was seven in this, i thought to myself, 3 days later ill turn 16, and with that comes many new responsibilities. 

and trust me when i say many new responsibilities, i mean it. take, for eg, being the successor to the throne of quingdao.

3rd person pov

'you are up early today!' tikki exclaimed as she flew over to the bluenette. 

'yes tikki, i have decided to be a responsible grown up now.' marinette said with a stubborn expression, 'after all ill be attending my own coronation, a week from today' 

***

marinette came downstairs from her room and looked at where tom and sabine stood, smiling as always. they might not be her real parents, but in every aspect they deserved to be called her parents. marinette always looked upto them, and the love they shared, as a family was unmistakable.

'im off to school papa, mumma' she said kissing them both on their cheeks. 

'marinette,' said her dad, 'why dont you invite your friends over next week for you know- the coronation!'

'that would be a great idea honey' sabine exclaimed

'uh no...not sure about that one'

'wouldnt it be great?' sabine asked again, exhanging nervous glances with tom. 

'yes it would be dad but' she stopped speaking suddenly and looked at them. 'what's going on guys?' she asked suspiciously

'nothing kiddo off you go!' tom laughed it off.

'dad' she said and looked into his eyes.

'your manager called.' sabine said quietly. 'the queen wanted to know who all your friends are and who would be the people you'd like to call to your coronation...'

'they should have asked that question to me!!' marinette said irritatbly

'okay all three of us, your mother, tom and me, we knew you would deny so she directly asked to us. we did raise you, after all!' she blinked at the end. 

marinette's pov

yeah that was true. Sabine and tom had raised me, and raised me so lovingly i am almost guilty to say  that i never miss my real parents. father sometimes, but mother...not really. father died when i was 4, our kingdom fell into wrong hands (thats probably why not many people have heard of this little kingdom in china), my mother somehow escorted me to this safe place in france and let me grow up here, in a safe place. an year back she won the kingdom back. and since, she's been ruling it. i have never stayed there for more than a month and my real mother, the queen, well..she allowed me to stay here in france and compelete my schooling. 

let me be more clear, i wouldnt start 'ruling' that place, next week NO. ill be coronated as the princess, and as the next ruler of quingdao. ill be trained to become a queen. and at 20, ill be given the kingdom. 

'what did you say?' i groaned

'told her your class...'

***

it was almost lunch time when miss bustiere, along with mr democles entered the classroom. i knew what it was about.

'we are very surprised to let you know, that this class has been appointed for a trip to quingdao, a city in china for a trip of a week. an anonymous person did the payment for all of you children. ask your parents to sign on the sheet if they allow you to go...'

i was groaning by the time he finished speaking. they'll all be there. and that was the last thing i wanted. adrien might be an exception...what if i get to dance with him in the royal balllll

I cleared my throat. 

3rd person

'will you be going girl?!' alya asked excitedly. 'i cant wait to go to CHINA!'

'yeah ill be there,' marinette forced a smile. 'nino, will you?'

'ofcourse dude, who would miss such an opportunity'

marinette looked at the blonde infront of her, who had showed no expression and hadnt moved a bit.

'adrien?' she asked nervously. he turned to face her, his green eyes clashed with her blue and marinette lost her breath and her words. 'i- will- you going be' she took a deep breath. she had practiced alot and was sure not to fumble in front of him. 'will you be going?'

'i...i honestly dont know marinette. i want to go, but my father...'