All For Love

Chapter 2

Two years ago...

"Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous." Marinette said, fanning her overheated face with her hand as Alya fussed with her hair. "I wish you were coming with me tonight."

Alya chuckled. "Maybe I could wear one of your dresses and just sneak in."

Marinette turned around excitedly grabbing both her hands, including the hand rush she was holding. "You think you could?"

"No!" Alya laughed out. "I don't think it's usual practice for a ladies maid to go to a ball at the King's Palace."

Marinette slumped her shoulders. "But you're my best friend Alya, there should be an exception for that."

Alya finished placing the flowers in Marinette's hair and picked up the red mask to match her dress, placing it carefully on her face and tying the red ribbon at the back. "I'm just excited to be here with you at the Capital. It's so different to being in the country with so many buildings and people and just everything." Alya gushed, looking out the window at the township below. A lamplighter was walking along the street below turning on the gas street lights as shopkeepers began closing their doors.

"I know what you mean." Marinette agreed. It had been quite a journey from her grandfather's country estate in the south to the Capital in the north, but it was her first time attending the court of the King and Marinette was a bundle of nerves and excitement. "Oh Alya, what if I trip and fall when I curtsy to the King? I think I would die of embarrassment!"

"You'll be fine." Alya assured her. "And your cousin will be with you."

"Speaking of which..." Lady Fei said from the bedroom door with a wide smile. "Are you ready Marinette, we'll be late."

"Yes I'm ready." Marinette replied, jumping up and smoothing down her red dress. "Let's go."

"Wait, before we go." Fei said, opening up her small purse. "I have a present for you to celebrate your debut tonight."

Opening her hand, Marinette saw a beautiful pair of black and ruby earrings. "Fei, they are beautiful." She said, picking the earrings out of her cousin's hand and admiring them in the light. "Look Alya. They look like little ladybugs."

"Well I thought they matched your dress." Fei added. "Besides, you're seventeen now Marinette, and it's time you were presented as a young Lady. These are from your mother's family in Shanghai and they are said to bring good luck."

Marinette took out her plain Pearl earrings and put in her new ones. They did indeed match her dress and made Marinette feel quite grown up. Following Fei out to the carriage, they were finally off to the ball.

As the carriage bumped along the road in the twilight, Marinette wished her mother could have been here to see her. Both her parents had died the previous year from plague. Sabine, being the selfless woman she was, had tried to care for the less privileged that were sick. She had sent Marinette away to stay with her Grandfather in the country to protect her from catching it, but sadly both her and her husband Tom contracted the illness, dying within days of each other. Her Uncle, Lord Rolland the 7th Earl of Dupain, wasn't really sure what to do with a young woman in his household and so he sent her to spend the summer with Sabine's cousin Fei at the Capital. Fei was delighted to have Marinette come and stay and promised Rolland that she would help Marinette become a proper Lady.

When they arrived at the palace, Marinette stood in awe of the spacious gardens and grand architecture. All around her was a swirl of beautiful ball gown and glittering masks as the guests made their way up the grand staircase. Marinette subconsciously adjusted the mask on her face. The fabric was soft, but it was strange having it on. Fei opened her fan.