Miraculous Ever After

Dutchess of Snobbinton

All of the villagers stopped what they where doing to look in the direction of the noise. A gold decorated carriage rumbled down the road with a servant on the back blowing the horn. Trumpets came to a stop as the horses did.

The carriage doors swung open to reveal non other than the duke's daughter herself, Chloe.

"Speak of the devil." Marinette muttered, only Chat heard her and he chuckled at the blunette's comment.

"Well well well if it isn't the Dutchess of Snobbinton herself." Chat responded which caused Marinette to heave in laughter.

Chloe glared at the baker as she got down from the carriage. Why was this peasant laughing at her? And the baker's daughter no less!? Has she no respect for "royalty"!?!

"How dare you make fun of a princess!" Chloe shrieked as she stormed towards Marinette. Chat defensively side stepped in front of his blunette friend.

"Please if your a princess, then I'm a prince." Chat snapped back, his voice full of sarcasm, which was greatly unappreciated by the brat. She glared at him with icy blue eyes that sent shivers down the spines of everyone, but Chat wasn't phased at all by her death glare. He simply turned and took Marinette by the arm, leading her to the safety of the wagon.

---

Marinette handed the book to Chat. The cover seemed interesting but unfortunately she couldn't read. Most of the villagers couldn't which is why many of them did not understand the need for a bookstore. Chat was one of the few who could read so every day at the end of his wagon deliveries the two would go the bookstore and he would read aloud for her and anyone else who came by to listen.

He tried teaching her how to read before but Marinette didn't really see the point in learning how to read. She was a baker and that was all she was ever going to be. Plus she got to listen to his voice for hours on end and if learning how to read was going to end that, then she rather be illiterate her whole life.

His voice was quite beautiful and passionate when he read the enchanting stories that where held within the pages of these old books.

Alya, who could also read, was there today and so they decided to read a poem. Taking turns the two read many poems about love and adventure in distant lands that where lost to time. Marinette couldn't help but feel wonder as she imagined the scenarios that they depicted.

---

After the reading circle had ended a strange man approached Chat and Marinette. He was draped in a black cloak with the royal knight crest on the latching pin. The hood of the cloak was pulled up so no one could see his face.

Marinette was already sitting on the wagon's bench, and Chat was about to climb aboard himself when the stranger stopped him.

Chat turned to face him when the cloaked man grabbed his ring hand and stared at the pearly white gem that was wrapped around Chat's finger.

"Where did a young peasant such as your self get a jewel such as this?" The cloaked man inquired, his grip tightened on Chat's wrist causing the blonde to flinch in pain.

"I've always had it, I don't know much about my past but that's one fact that I do remember." Chat replied and the cloaked man released his grasp.

"What's your name boy?"

"Chat Noir." Chat replied, rubbing the red mark on his wrist where the stranger's hand had grabbed him.

"Mr. Noir you are the spitting image of the young prince." And with that the cloaked man walked away. Marinette watched him until he turned the corner and was lost from view. She looked up at Chat as he pulled himself up into the wagon next to her.

The rest of the ride home was quite and Marinette knew better than to disturb the silence. She watched Chat worriedly as he lost in thought. He maneuvered the wagon on seemingly on auto pilot, back the the farm that he called home for the past ten years.