Harbored

Circles

Marinette's small hand dragged upon the jewels of her tiara, outlining its entirety. The glimmering rubies encased in shining gold sat prestigiously on a pillow, not yet bestowed upon her adolescent head. 

Soon, it would be, carrying its weight of power and authority.

Oh, how she dearly detested the amount of restrictions placed upon her. The Princess had much to tend to, and had limited time to her own self, nevertheless her hobbies. Half of the time she wanted nothing more than to scream. The other half, she wished for a better, simpler life, one that included sweet freedom from such gruesome responsibility.

Marinette had figured this much, and more, out a young age. 

She sighed while sitting upon the stool drawn near her beauty vanity. Rubbing the pads of her fingers along the smooth tabletop, Marinette feebly tried to calm down her angry heart from exploding aloud.

Once a week the royal family, Marinette and her parents, would go into town in order to hear out its citizens, making sure their policies and laws were apt and reasonable. By asking any inhabitant of Marinette's kingdom, they would agree that the King was just and righteous in every impending matter. He simply could not understand his very own daughter.

She pushed one a fallen chunk of hair behind her ear before tacking on her heavy crown. The young girl in Marinette's reflection was one of high glamor and looks, sure to be gorgeous once fully grown. By looking much closer, zooming in on her fine details, sunken in eyes and somber lips hung on her face. 

She was greatly unhappy and any simple minded human could notice.

"It's time, Your Majesty."

At the pace of a turtle walking through molasses, she crossed the room, numbly exiting. Her first pair of kitten heels clanking against the polished marble flooring.

Everything felt that of a dull routine while she entered the carriage bound for the town's square. The ride was always a bumpy one, her parents discussing proper procedure and any issue that might arise. 

Upon entering the village, a hearty dance could be viewed. Marinette wanted nothing more than to strip into commoner clothing, and dance with her handsome Prince Charming in shining mud cakes and tattered clothes.

In fact, Marinette did not snap into reality until she heard her mother say, "Go dance with Titus, Noble Fritz's son." No matter her repulsive attitude towards the adolescent boy, orders were orders, especially in the viewing of public eye. With great disapproval in her being, she grasped his slick palm, coated with repulsive sweat.

"Relax. I do not want to be here too, so no need to be uptight," Marinette stated. Much to her aid, Titus loosened up and placed his hand on her hip and spun her in dizzy circles. As soon as majority caught eye of the Princess dancing, many evacuated, leaving ample room. She wished they did not; it was more surface area for Marinette to be mercilessly twirled.

Maybe he circled her around her axis so many times to avoid uncomfortable conversation. Upon this realization, Marinette was suddenly alright with all the spinning. 

Whether her stomach would agree with her or not would be a later dilemma.

Eventually, the music came to an end. Marinette decided one dance was enough and politely curtseyed her goodbye and thanks, hastily leaving. It was vital to escape before her parents realized she had disappeared.

Once she reached a barren corner, Marinette ripped the crown off her head. She spotted an empty barrel nearby and opened its lid. Hastily, she shoved the tiara inside. Her next mission was to change into dirty clothing as to fit in. 

She had her eyes set on adventure and by golly, she was going to find it.

***

"Peanut butter pickles?" Marinette questioned, asking a boy, around her age, whom was propped in the corner, shrinking his shoulders.

"Pardon me, Mademoiselle, but do not knock it until you try it," he spoke in a shy manner. His quiet volume clashed with his bold language, making him highly intriguing. Never before this point had anyone taken such a casual temper with her. Marinette was happily and utterly floored by this boy.

"I suppose that is true. May I?" Marinette asked, savoring the odd combination for the first time. Honestly, the recipe sounded horrible yet the flavor was not to be messed with. She verbally hummed in delight. "Consensus?" the boy quizzed.

"Unexpectedly good. My name is Marinette. Yours is?" she asked. "Nathanael. Did you know that you have the same name as the Princess?" he asked slightly more brave.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. My parents have a real sense of humor. Say, I am new in town, and I was wondering where a girl could find some real food."

"I will lead the way."

Nathanael grabbed her hand, tugging her along. It was peculiar really, to be lead by a person she had hardly met. Marinette's trusting abilities were heightened, allowing a near perfect stranger to guide her away from the public, to a much more private place.

"This is my home. It is not much but I like it just the same," he said, gesturing towards a quaint shack of sorts. "It is amazing," Marinette flabbergasted. Nathanael only cocked his eyebrow in confusion at her wonder-filled response.

"Show me everything!" she flustered. "Come on then," Nathanael gestured towards his front door.

His home was beautifully snug and cozy. Marinette's insides flushed with a comforting warmth she had never known beforehand. The palace in which she lived was as cold as the slick marbled flooring. Once her parents gave up on her, the whole aura chilled with a frigid ice, frozen tendrils whisking about the very air she breathed.

"Like I said, not much but..."

"Would you shut up already? I said it was perfect. What else do you want me to do to prove it?" Marinette angrily barked.

"Dear, who is this?" a woman in the kitchen questioned. She presumed her to be Nathanael's mother by her red locks. "Her name is Marinette, the same name as the Princess. Her parents are funny people," he responded.

"So I see. Do not neglect your chores, okay Sweet Pea?" Nathanael's mother said. "Ma! Do not call me that in front of her!" Nathanael coward in shame.

Marinette, thinking the name calling was endearing, found every aspect of this home to be ruthlessly coveted.

***

Marinette supposed meeting Nathanael could have the absolute potential to be the best part of her measly eleven years of life. It was the most freedom she had yet to experience, and all she had was a cute little red headed boy to thank.

What she had not expected was to be caught so very soon. When the Royal Guard spotted her presence three days from her disappearance from the village dance festival, her parents distastefully looked the other way.

Marinette's apparent actions landed her a one way ticket to shackle town with the all too scenic route of steel bars. A few members of the Royal Guard stood in solitary post outside of Marinette's dungeon cell. 

She wondered how Nathanael would feel if she were to show up at his home unannounced. Her determination to escape the castle increased, as she feverishly thought of living with a dear friend such as him.

And that was that.