Miraculous Selection

What She Deserved

Marinette's POV

The Selected were given the option of breakfast in their rooms, and I took it. I couldn't face the table without Alya right now, let alone face Adrien. How could he just sit there, doing nothing? And he was the one who had sentenced them to caning. 

After breakfast, I had nowhere to be except the Women's Room. I usually avoided the Women's Room, so Chloe and Finesse were quite surprised when I entered.

Chloe had settled herself in front of the TV on the couch, as she flipped through a magazine of her catalogs. She enjoyed looking at herself. "Oh look," she said to no one in particular. "Here's another one of my ads."

Finesse was playing solitaire with a deck of cards. She didn't look at me as I sat down next to her. "How are you?" She said. 

"Fine." Was all I could respond with. 

Someone called me from across the room. Silvia. I curtsied, feeling a bit ashamed about yesterday. 

"Sit," Silvia ordered, though in a kind way. I obeyed. 

"Quite a fight you put up yesterday." She said. 

"Yes, Silvia. I was... out of line." 

"Indeed you were. A lady should not behave that way, especially in public." Silvia lectured. I sighed. Silvia smiled,and rested her hand on my thigh. "But still,  I'm glad   You did it.."

That was exactly what I needed, motherly affection. 

"So, uh, how have you been holding up since the queen...um, passed away?" I said, trying to change the topic. 

"Well, its been a while. At first I was a wreck because I though they would fire me since I had no one to be one's assistant of. But then I realized that everyone was much more of a wreck than I was." Silvia thought for a moment. "And then I guess, I became essential to everyone. But I can clearly see that the kingdom is in need of a queen. And with Alya gone, we are bound to get one soon."

I nodded. "You know, Alya never did like the idea of being a queen."

Finesse piped up. "Didn't she?"

Chloe scoffed. "I don't know what's going on in that scatterbrain of hers. I mean, who doesn't want to be queen???"

Finesse shrugged. "I'm not sure what she was doing was wrong, but her decisions weren't thought through, and she didn't think of the consequences that would follow."

"She did it for love," I interjected.

"But I would have definitely watched my back much more carefully. I would have never lied to Adrien either." Finesse said.

"She did nothing like that. You don't know what it's like to suffer because of love." I hissed.

Finesse glared at me. "Don't you dare tell me what I have suffered from. Just because you are from a lower caste, doesn't mean that I haven't had a share of heartbreak in my life."

"Maybe, but I can guarantee I have suffered far worse than you ever will."

"You know, I heard the funniest thing yesterday-" Silvia tried to blow away the topic, but it wasn't so easy.

"Just because Alya left, doesn't mean it's the end of the world. So many others have left before her, and you didn't shed a tear. Why? Because you're selfish!"

"Alya got PUBLICLY CANED, Finesse."

Finesse opened her mouth again, but was cut off by the high pitched voice of a model.

"Got what she deserved. Whore."

The following silence was as charged as what happened after it. 

Chloe turned around just in time to see me lunge at her.

I was on top of her, and with all my might, I slapped her. Hard. The sensation burned my fingertips, but nothing pleased me more of the sound that erupted when it made contact with her cheek.

She yelled, and slammed a saucer against my head. I clawed at her, thankful I had kept my nails long. I was about to swing at her again, when I was pulled apart from her. In all the chaos, I hadn't noticed someone had called the guards.

"Did you see what she did to me??!!!" Chloe screamed. "Did you see? I'll tell Adrien, and then you can kiss the palace Good BYE!!!"

"No one's seeing Adrien right now." Silvia said sternly. She had disappointment in her eyes when she looked at me. "You're both going to the hospital wing."

As the guards dragged me to the wing, I couldn't help but feel a hint of pride. I had wanted to do what I did right now for so long. Chloe's words echoed in my head. 

Got what she deserved. Whore.

No, Chloe. You had gotten what you deserved.