May I introduce myself, Your Highness?

Chapter 2

Uncle Plagg was here again. Yes, Adrien realized it was a ridiculous name for a kitten, but it was Marinette's kitten, and she had told him the kitten's name was Uncle Plagg, so Uncle Plagg it was.

The kitten meowed and jumped into his lap, pushing his head into Adrien's hand. He'd made a habit out of it by now—sneaking into Adrien's bedroom after most of the castle had retired for the night to demand pats.

"Good evening to you too." Adrien couldn't help a smile, giving in and petting the pesky kitten.

Uncle Plagg meowed and started to paw at Adrien's leg, driving sharp claws into his skin.

"Really?" Adrien grumbled, picking up the kitten and standing up from his desk. "You need to work on your manners, Uncle Plagg. I feed you, I let you stay here, I pet you on demand. The least you can do is not to maul me."

The kitten hissed, staring at Adrien with his almost glowing green eyes.

Adrien rolled his eyes, chuckling. "But I guess I do owe you for always making sure I don't work too late."

Uncle Plagg meowed again before jumping out of Adrien's arms to the ground and running to the balcony door. With one more glance Adrien's way, he started to scratch at the door, as if telling Adrien to open it.

Adrien complied. Fresh air wouldn't hurt him either, after a day as overwhelming as this one.

That was the moment he saw her.

A young woman so lovely, her beauty shone like the sun in the darkness of the garden. Her delicate figure was clad in a dark, toga-like gown. Her hair, black like the night, was tied in low pigtails. Her skin almost glistened under the moonlight as she ran past his windows and headed into the deeper parts of the garden.

Adrien's heart skipped a beat; he reminded himself to breathe, unable to take his eyes off the beautiful stranger. Absentmindedly, he climbed down his balcony and followed her, Uncle Plagg hot on his tail. The moment the girl spotted him, however, her eyes widened and she sprinted away, vanishing without a trace.

The next time he spotted her was a week or so later when Uncle Plagg had prompted him to go out to the balcony again. The ethereal beauty was heading in the same direction she'd gone toward last time.

Adrien followed.

Holding his breath, he moved quietly, recalling the stealth tips his instructors had taught him. Sneaking in the shadows, staying out of sight, Adrien was more careful than ever before, and it seemed to be paying off. The girl didn't notice her pursuer until the very end when she stopped at a remote clearing and kneeled at one of the flower beds.

Adrien stilled. He knew this place. This had been one of his favourite hiding spots when he was a child and needed a moment alone. It had changed tremendously, though. The white gazebo in the center was the same, but all of the flowers around it were new. An abundance of flowers surrounding not only the structure but the whole perimeter of the clearing. And not simple flowers, either—most of them were sparkling under the moonlight with pinks and blues and yellows, shimmering with purples and gold, glistening with silver and diamonds.

"Incredible," Adrien breathed out, forgetting all precautions.

The girl yelped and hid behind the tree.

Adrien startled. Right. There was a reason he was here, and he'd better be careful unless he wanted to scare that reason away again.

"Hello?" He slowly approached, his attention fully on the girl. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I promise I'm not here to harm you. I just wanted to see what you've been doing this late in the garden."