Designs of Destiny

Chapter 7

A/N: Happy Reading!

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Tomoe Tsurugi, with her keen eye for detail and a mind as sharp as the blade of a samurai, had always been one step ahead. It wasn't long before she noticed the subtle differences between Marinette and Princess Kagami. The way Marinette carried herself, the slight hesitation in her voice when she spoke of royal matters, and the way her eyes would dart away when caught in a lie—all these things did not escape Tomoe's notice.

One evening, as Marinette and Adrien strolled through the palace gardens, Tomoe watched from a distance. She saw the way Marinette's hand trembled slightly as she accepted a rose from Adrien, and how her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. It was then that Tomoe knew—Marinette was not Kagami.

"Marinette Cesaire," Tomoe whispered to herself, "you may have fooled everyone else, but not me."

Luka had been tasked with ensuring that Kagami's secret remained safe. But his loyalty was tested when he saw Marinette and Adrien together in the garden. He watched from behind a statue as Adrien knelt before Marinette, his heart full of love and hope.

Luka's heart ached for Kagami, knowing that she was missing out on such a momentous occasion. But he also knew that revealing Marinette's true identity could mean disaster for all involved. So he kept his silence, watching and hearing as Adrien proposed to Marinette, thinking she was Kagami.

Luka's footsteps were silent as he made his way through the palace corridors, the weight of the night's events heavy on his shoulders. He reached Tomoe's chamber and paused at the door, taking a moment to compose himself before entering.

" Lady Tsurugi," Luka began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within, "I have something to tell you."

Tomoe looked up from her seat, her eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. "Speak, Luka. What has happened?"

Luka took a deep breath. "I saw Marinette and Adrien in the garden. He proposed to her, thinking she was Kagami."

A shadow crossed Tomoe's face, but she quickly composed herself. "And what did you do?"

"I watched," Luka admitted, "but I did not interfere."

Tomoe nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving Luka's. "You did well, Luka. We must remain vigilant, only until the wedding which I am sure Kagami will have to go through. The King and Queen will be back tomorrow evening just in time for Kagami's wedding in five days."

Luka bowed his head in agreement, but he remained a bit uncertain. " As you command, Lady Tsurugi." 

As they stood there in silence, the stars outside continued to twinkle, a silent witness to the unfolding drama within the palace walls.

~~~~~

The next day while taking Kagami's measurements, for her dress. Marinette turned to her with a hopeful look. "Can we switch places again?" she asked.

Kagami looked at her and asked, "Why?"

Marinette adverted her gaze toward the ground and said, "Your wedding is in less than five days, and Prince Adrien is a nice guy, he loves you a lot."

Kagami hesitated, but after seeing the desperation in Marinette's eyes she nodded. "Sure."

Marinette gave a small smile with a thank you and continued her work.

Soon Marinette finished her work but as they were about to leave, Marinette spotted Prince Adrien and she quickly hid behind Kagami.

"Who's this?" Adrien asked, looking at Marinette.

Kagami smiled. "This is my royal designer, Marinette. She's been helping me with the wedding dress."

Adrien looked surprised but pleased. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Marinette."

Marinette blushed and nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness."

With that Marinette and Kagami left the room, with Adrien staring after them or particularly at one of them...

~~~~~

King Tom and Queen Sabine sat in the quiet solitude of their private chambers, the weight of their hearts heavy with the memory of their lost daughter. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the flickering candles that cast long shadows on the walls.

"Tom," Queen Sabine began, her voice trembling with emotion, "I can't help but think about our little girl. How she would have grown into a strong and wise Queen."

King Tom nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, Sabine. I had imagined walking her down the aisle, seeing her take her place as the ruler of our kingdom. I wanted her to be a beacon of hope and justice for our people."

The queen reached out and took her husband's hand, squeezing it gently. "She would have been wonderful, Tom. Our daughter would have had a heart full of compassion and a mind sharp as a sword. She would have led our kingdom with grace and strength."

A heavy silence fell between them as they both mourned the loss of what could have been. But then, King Tom spoke again, his voice filled with determination.

"But we have Kagami now," he said, his gaze lifting to meet his wife's. "She may not be our biological daughter, but she is our family. And I believe she has the potential to be an even greater Queen than we ever imagined."

Queen Sabine smiled through her tears, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "You're right, Tom. Kagami is strong and capable. She has already shown us that she is ready to take on the responsibilities of ruling our kingdom."

As they sat there, holding each other's hands, King Tom and Queen Sabine found solace in the thought that their daughter's legacy would live on through Kagami, but they secretly hoped that the lost princess could return.

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A/N: Who is the lost Princess?