Caught In A Storm

Chapter III

"Like he said, we are not going to hurt you and steal anything." He tried to ease her worries, his father was known for being reckless. He wanted her to known they would do her no harm. She visibly froze and looked up to him again; she nervously bit her lip and avoided his gaze. She didn't calm down, she even seemed more worried.

"If you don't feel comfortable, we can leave." Seeing her discomfort, Adrien thought it would be the only solution.

"No! It's just... I didn't really think and...suddenly there are two strangers next to me and..." She smiled nervously, still not feeling at ease next to the strangers she invited.

"Good evening, I'm Adrien. What's your name?" And he extended his hand. Marinette stared between him and his hand, clearly taken aback by the turn of their situation.

"If you don't want to tell me, I could always call you... Ladybug." He declared as he observed her polka-dotted apron. She blushed slightly, but shook her head and smiled a little.

"Hello, my name is Marinette." Now it as Adrien's turn to be surprised. His eyes widened as she took his hand and started shaking it. He actually wanted to do a baisemain (kiss her hand).

"Are you named after the Prince? Prince Adrien?" Adrien stood frozen next to her.

What did she just ask? Did she not recognize me?

"Oh, um... yes? I mean... I don't really know... Do you know him?"

"Me? No! (She laughed nervously) I-I never even saw him. We're far from the kingdom, no royal member came here before... even if the whole village is friendly... I guess it's too poor and too far away..." She shrugged and put the vegetables into the boiling water. "So... where are you two coming from?" She asked curiously, trying to find out more about these two strangers who showed up out of nowhere.

"Oh.. we, we come from... ehmm. We come from another kingdom." He lied, he felt like he couldn't tell her the truth, he couldn't tell her he was the Prince of the kingdom, the Kingdom she was living in and the one his father was ruling over...

"Oh? Which one?" She asked again curiously, wanting to know her guest better.

Why does she have to be curious!?

"The kingdom of... Astruc!" Marinette looked confused, whereas Adrien was internally panicking.

"I never heard of it... what is it named after?"

"Uhhhmmm, a star... yeah, a star. It's very very far far away..." He cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable having lied to her, eventhough he just had met her. He felt so uncomfortable lying to her as he looked striahgt into her magnficient blue eyes.

She simply nodded and took out three soup plates and spoons. After setting the table she took a loaf out and started cutting into slices. Finally she deposited the soup on the dining table and started pouring it into the plates. She gestured for him to sit down.

"Should I wake your... friend up?" Both looked at Nino, who was still snoring.

"No, if he's really hungry, he'll wake up." He sat down in front of her and waited for her to sit down as well. He had manners and waited for the hostess to start eating so he could start as well. While she cleaned the kitchen's counter, she quickly looked at Adrien and saw him not touching the soup.

"Is something wrong with the soup?" she asked. She tried remembering a possible mistake, but soup was difficult to fail.

"Hm? Oh, no. I-I'm just waiting for you." Marinette made a surprised noise. She threw her rag into the sink and sat down hastily.

Adrien looked at her being flustered and simply smiled at her. The colour of her cheeks darkened deeply and she started sipping at her spoon full of soup. The dishes couldn't be compared to the ones, they had at the castle. Adrien was used to the finest porcelain of the whole kingdom, not that he wanted to complain. Adrien never complained, he even liked those dishes better. He saw her put crumbs of her bread into her soup and eating them. He tried it as well and was surprised that all of this tasted even better than some things he had to eat back at the castle. They ate in silence, they could only hear Nino's snoring and the wind blowing outside. Adrien noticed she must have been on her own before they came.

At the castle, women are never alone... why is she all alone? Is it different on the countryside? I wouldn't know... His curiosity took over and he asked her.

"My parents left a few days ago... I don't know when they are going to come back... depends on the weather I guess..." Adrien nodded, he never thought a girl would be left alone like that, she didn't even seem anxious or scared about it. Adrien was never left alone as well, he always was supervised. He never had some time for himself, only when he was safe in his room. He couldn't do anything on his own, the only time he appreciated was when he was with Nino. He was and is more than just a valet to him, he is the only person he considered a friend.