To My Dearly Detested | ✎

4 | how to be a lover of books

Adrien had, in fact, lost.

Her win had been inevitable. Adrien was simply a slow eater, and it couldn't be helped. She decided not to rub in her anticipated win. Despite his defeat, however, he accepted that he had lost with nothing but smiles and kept his end of the deal by escorting her to the Agreste's royal library.

Marinette was in awe when she stepped inside.

The library back in her castle was large, but this one was grand. The room was practically a palace itself, stacked five stories high with seemingly endless shelves. She had never seen so many books in one room. The ceiling was made out of clear painted glass, which allowed the natural light of the sun to illuminate the room and bring it to life.

Everything about this library was perfect. If she had this back in her palace, she would never leave this place.

"It is so... big." She marveled at the shelves that seemed endlessly lined with books. She almost couldn't believe this library was five stories high, whereas her library back home didn't even have a second story. "I did not expect it to be this big."

Adrien stood beside her, arms folded behind him. He shot her a quizzical look. "Is your library not like this?"

"Oh heavens no." Marinette chuckled, not even bothering to meet his eye. She was too focused on all of the books. "It is much smaller and only one story. I have already read every single book on its shelves."

"Impressive," Adrien said. "Though I will never understand the fascination some people tend to have with books."

"That is because you have never found a story that has captivated you." Marinette flashed him a smile before she looped her arm in his and gently tugged. Unprepared and a bit stunned by her actions, he stumbled, but she simply strung him along, somehow keeping him upright.

She couldn't believe the Prince of Kingdom Agreste had never willingly entered this beautiful place. She was going to have to change that.

"What if I was able to change your view on books?"

His answer was a scoff, as if he didn't think such a thing was possible, and he rolled his eyes in amusement. "I sincerely doubt you would be able to do such a thing."

Marinette flashed him a smug smile. "Is that another challenge? I should have you know that I never turn down a challenge."

Adrien considered her words briefly before he let out an amused hum. "You would not be the first to try, but if you can somehow interest me in a book, you will have my respect."

"Just that? No reward to my name?"

Adrien chuckled and shook his head. Marinette matched his smile. So far, becoming Adrien's friend seemed to be an easier goal to reach than she would have ever imagined when they were both willing. When she was able to get him out of his shell, conversation between them flowed so easily.

That was a good thing regarding this arrangement between them.

Marinette barely knew much about Adrien, but from what little she did know, it seemed Adrien wasn't a fan of books because most of what he had read was all the same. It was highly possible that his father had dumped a ton of boring history books in front of him since he was just a child, forcing him to read if only to study and retain information and never just for leisure.

If she was going to find him a book, it needed to be something he had never read before.

Fiction was her first choice. With fiction, the imagination could run wild, and she felt Adrien's imagination needed to be stimulated. Thankfully, Marinette had read so many books in her time that she could recognize many of the books on these shelves.