Of Knights, Damsels, and Mysterious Creatures

Chapter Three- Longing

Luka watched from the outside of the ring as Marinette swung her sword in the air, parrying against her opponents and expertly dodging each of their attacks. She was quite the anomaly, that girl, not that you'd ever convince her to believe it. Marinette doubted herself a lot of the time, which was one of the reasons why Luka was always trying to find ways to compliment her. More than that, she was beautiful, though he knew better than to keep telling her that. Once upon a time, they'd had a thing for each other, but that had ended months ago and they'd decided to just remain friends, which, though it hurt a little, he'd learned to be fine with. At least he still got to spend time with her.

Brushing his teal hair out of his eyes, he watched as the sun glinted off the clashing weapons. Watching people fence was like watching some sort of elaborate dance, one that he so desperately wanted to learn. But, for the moment, he just wrote songs about the things he witnessed, channeling all his thoughts into notes and chords on his lute. It was the best way to express himself that he'd discovered thus far in his life, since he wasn't always the best with his words. Or at least he didn't think he was. Besides, he was the son of a bard. Music was in his blood.

He soon became lost in daydreaming until he heard someone sigh next to him. It was Alya, another of Marinette's friends and the foreigner girl's assigned squire. The brunette wasn't looking at her best friend, however. Instead, all of her attention was focused on Marinette's opponent: a lanky, dark-skinned boy named Nino.

Luka smirked. "I don't understand why you two haven't courted already."

"Because whoever heard of a squire and a knight falling in love?" Alya replied. "Besides, my sister would never approve. Even if he is a knight, he still wouldn't be tough enough for her."

She had a point there. Alya's older sister was tight with the headmaster of the military academy, seeing as to how she was a general and all. It was how the younger girl had gotten in in the first place, albeit not to be a fighter. Still, Luka was the type to believe that love always won out in the end, despite the odds. Except when it had come to him and Marinette. Well, not totally. Both parties had to be in love in the first place for things to work out.

"I fell in love with a knight," Luka said, "even though I'm not one. And I'm sure he'd grow on Nora. Eventually."

Alya sighed. "Perhaps you're right. But right now... well, right now we're just friends. And that's the way it'll stay until he finally gets up the courage to ask me to court him."

"Unless you can find a way to make him do it sooner."

Luka smirked. It had been a long time since he'd played matchmaker, but he was ready for the challenge. This was going to be fun.

Adrien had gotten used to eating dinner alone. The first few times he'd done it, the dining hall had felt too empty. Lonely, even. But perhaps it was better to be by himself than sitting here listening to his stepfather come up with some new outrageous rule for him to follow. So he was surprised to hear the door open and someone else pull out a chair at the table.

"Anything tasty?" his cousin Felix reached across the table and speared a piece of meat with his fork. Adrien rolled his eyes. For someone in his position, you'd think he would have learned better manners by now. Or perhaps he only did this in company he was comfortable with, though that wasn't a thought Adrien particularly liked. It's not that Felix was horrid, per se, he was just.... unnerving. The other boy was always cooking up some scheme in that head of his, and it was a coin toss as to who it would actually end up benefitting. Adrien could see the wheels turning in the advisor's head this very moment, though he knew better than to ask.

"Why don't you tell me," the prince said, "since you're already scarfing it down."

"Don't pretend like you were going to eat all of this," Felix chuckled. "Might as well share it with me."

"What do you want, Felix?" Adrien asked, annoyed.

"Is it a crime to spend some time with my family?" Felix simpered.

It wasn't, but it was certainly odd for the other blonde boy to do so. Felix rarely ever engaged with his younger cousin, and it was usually only when he wanted something out of him.

"You and I both know that's not what you're here for."

Felix rolled his eyes and set his feet up on the table. Adrien had half a mind to tell him to get them off of there, but decided against it. The quicker his stepfather's advisor was finished with his little spiel, the faster he'd be free of him and could finish his meal in peace.

"Fine, so I may not have been completely honest," Felix said, biting into an apple. "I just wanted to let you know that your fiancee's mother wrote again. She and Princess Kagami are coming to visit very soon."

"And?" This was nothing new. Queen Tomoe had been trying to visit the kingdom of Etserga every few months since the engagement had been announced, but each time she'd been denied with some lame excuse. Adrien doubted this time would be any different.

But that was where he was wrong.

"I sent them back an answer saying to come as soon as possible," Felix smirked.

"My stepfather actually said yes to letting them visit this time?"

Felix shook his head. "Of course not. But I'll figure out some lie to tell the king when the Napaj royals show up. Besides, I think spending some time around other people your own age might do you some good."

So maybe Felix was actually being kind for once. A little shocking, considering how Adrien's cousin usually acted. Though he wasn't thrilled to be marrying some girl he knew virtually nothing about, it did excite him that he'd finally be able to socialize again, even if was only with one person.

"Thank you," Adrien smiled at his cousin, his frustration gone.

"Don't mention it," Felix said as he got up and left the younger boy to himself once again.

Princess Kagami was not your ordinary royal, not at all. From a very young age, her mother had taught her how to fight, but also how to be a proper young lady. Too bad she didn't have the courage to stand up to her mother once and for all.

Ever since she'd discovered that her mother had procured a husband for her a little over two years ago, Kagami had been doing her best to get out of it. It wasn't that she didn't believe Prince Adrien was nice, but she didn't particularly want to marry someone she had never met, especially not someone from a rival kingdom. Besides, sixteen was much too young to be tying the knot. She wanted to be mature enough to be able to handle all the responsibilities of a wife. And, even more than that, she wanted to marry the man of her choosing, not someone picked by her mother just to form some sort of fake alliance.

Fortunately, every time her mother had made plans to visit Etserga so far, she'd been denied. Kagami was hoping this time would be the same. But when Queen Tomoe received a return letter and told her daughter to begin packing her things, Kagami knew the older woman's persistence had finally won out.

With a sigh, Kagami headed up to her room to begin collecting her belongings, silently running over a conversation that would never happen in her head.