The Miraculous Masquerade

𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊: 𝕗𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤

ack all of these chapters were written like two years ago

note: this chapter is rewritten*

"Father? Natalie?" Adrien's voice resonated within the cold and empty mansion. Despite the place being filled to the brim with lights and decorations, none of them gave off the feeling of warmth or family. He eyed the Christmas tree glowering over him like a giant. Colorful boxes sprinkled its base. To a guest or a stranger, it would seem that Adrien was a lucky kid who was spoiled rotten by his father.

They didn't know that just like his home, those presents were hollow and empty on Christmas Eve. Just a prop to impress the public.

With a small turn to the left, he sorrowfully glanced at the portrait of his father and himself, one lacking of his mother. His father had ordered the maids to decorate the house upon Adrien's request of making the house more lively and happy. He, however, returned to his office to impersonate the emotionless statue that he portrayed nearly every second of every day.

Adrien dragged himself up the grand staircase, a sulk gracing his sculpted features. Meeting Marinette was like an strange eye-opener for him, he noted that not everyone was going to fall at his feet upon meeting him. Not everything was going to go his way.

Adrien's hand hovered over the handle of his door when his thought train was interrupted by a feminine voice,

"Adrien, your father wants you to be aware that we are going tuxedo shopping tomorrow for the masquerade ball. I expect you to be up early," she said, curtly and cold.

Adrien deadpanned, slowly turning around to meet her intimidating gaze with one equally icy.

"And yet again my father can't say this to my face?" He chuckled darkly. Nathalie knew it was impossible to argue with the young Agreste. His aura made most cower away, however, Nathalie could withstand it. For the most part.

She sighed, giving up on having a stare off with him. "Just... practice your fencing for thirty more minutes and go to bed, please," Nathalie mumbled, poising herself, then walking off.

"Tch," Adrien scoffed. "Merry Christmas to you too,"

Thirty minutes later, Adrien was still violently slashing and jabbing at a dummy with his fathers face taped on it. He stuck forward his foil repeatedly, pants of frustration slipping out of his lips.

"Couldn't.. bother.. to even. speak to me... on Christmas" He gritted out, wiping off the sweat on his forehead. Adrien stumbled to his bed and collapsed, feeling worn out. He thought about what it would be like if he were just a normal teenager, who didn't need to constantly be putting forth his blood, sweat, and tears just to get a glance from his father.

With that grim thought, he fell asleep.

The next morning

Adrien shot out of bed, pulling on layers of clothing. It was Christmas morning, but it didn't feel quite that festive. The only reason why Adrien even had a small bit of happiness and determination was that today was the day would by a suit to make a good impression in front of Marinette, who would be at the masquerade ball. Before he could even get dressed, a shrill cry emitted from outside his room.

"Adrikins! I'm here!" The mayor's daughter, Chloe Bourgeois ran into his arms, kissing his cheeks. "Ew you stink, did you even shower last night?"

Adrien mentally cringed but plastered a smile on his face. He didn't know what his relationship with Chloe was. They weren't dating but she would like to think that they were exclusive. An arranged marriage perhaps? Or maybe it was friends with benefits, minus the friends part.

"Hello, Chloe, it's a pleasure to see you again," Adrien nodded at her, not wanting to waste extra breaths talking to her probably overhyped self.

Chloe ignored him and found her place on his bed, chucking dozens of shopping bags onto the floor like they were trash. She batted her eyelashes and checked her claw-like nails.

"Adrikins, help me pick a dress for the ball, I can't decide between-" She started, but Adrien interrupted her sentence.

"Hold up, what makes you think that I would be going with you?" He raised a brow, tilting his head a bit while giving her a curious look. His attitude suddenly turned sour. He did not plan on matching with her even if she were the last woman on this planet. Again, Adrien didn't hate Chloe. He only now realized that he was using her to fill in the gap of loneliness in his heart, and he started to feel bad about it.

She paused for a split second before bursting out into cackles. "That was funny Adrien, good one," She hunched over, spilling out fake laughs. "Wait, you haven't even decided on what tux you're going to wear! It has to match mine, no doubt." She yanked out a stack of glittering dresses, blinding his vision slightly.

Adrien folded his arms, laughing quietly at how closed-minded this girl was. He sat on his desk, tuning out Chloe's foul rambling with the thought of a girl with gorgeous blue eyes and rosy red cheeks.

Perhaps Marinette would end up matching with him at the Masquerade ball. Only fate could tell.

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