The Marriage Law

Chapter 3- The Marriage Law

Adrien POV

Finally, today is the last day of summer break before school.

I have always looked forward to today ever since I started going to school when I was 13. I liked being home but it got boring with the same lessons every single year. I'm 17 now, turning 18 in two days.

Although, I cannot help but feel as though something is not right. Ever since I woke up this morning actually, I've tried to shake this feeling, but it doesn't go away, and I don't know why.

Natalie came in earlier and told me that father wants to meet with me at 4:00. At this point, I don't know why I bother going to meet him anymore, but what father wants, father gets.

It is now 3:36pm, I should start heading down.

As I make my way to my bedroom door, Plagg stops me.

"Adrien! Why haven't you fallen in love with Ladybug yet?" The flying cat asks me. Woah, I expect him to usually give me a little speech about his cheese, but this question was unexpected, so I halted.

"What?" I ask him.

"I asked why haven..." He begins.

"I know what you said, but why are you asking me?" I ask now sitting at my desk, confused.

"I'm asking because... have I ever told you about the Miraculous of both Ladybug and Chat Noir?" He asked defeatedly sighing like he's hiding something but doesn't really want to talk about it.

"Not really, except the basics," I answer.

"Being?"

"Being that both Ladybug and I cannot know each other's identity, we each have a 5 minute time limit before we detransform, nobody can know our identities, and if either of us find out the other's identity or even attempt to find out the other's, we have to give up the miraculous, why are you asking me this, you already know all of this" I ask.

"I know, but, Adrien, have I ever told you about the connection between both the Black Cat and Ladybug Miraculous," he asks. I think hard about this but I can't seem to recall.

"No, I don't think so, but what is it?" I asked.

Before he could answer, he phased through the desk, and Natalie entered my bedroom. "Adrien, your father will see you now," she stated in a stiff nonchalant manner. I nodded and followed her into his office, "Adrien is here, sir".

"Thank you, Natalie," he said while continuing to gaze at the portrait of mother. It's been years since she went missing, and he still has yet to move on. I understand people grieve differently, and he still loves her, but sometimes I wonder, just what is it about her portrait that has his attention rather than his own son. I sigh knowing that nothing will ever change his mind.

"Adrien, come here, I want you to watch this alongside me," he states with irritation, almost as he's already seen... well, of course he has, he's my father, "pathetic imbecile! How dare he execute this absurdity without my approval!" I heard him mutter under his breath, although I did not dare question him.

-

-

"Father, I..." I began

"Do you believe in love?" He asked me bluntly, still facing the screen.

"Well..."

"Adrien, I do not need a well, I need a yes or no. Do you believe in love?" He asked once again.

I couldn't tell him I didn't, but based on the Mayor's speech, my father will find out one way or another. If not this, my father might arrange an arranged marriage for me without the Mayor's approval. I don't like when anyone bribes to get what they want, especially Chloe, although in this case, honestly, I would rather my father and Natalie bribe the Mayor or his the main hall to not submit me as a participant. I don't want to go through with what he has planned.