Long Live The Queen

#ChapterTwentyOne

marinette pov*
"james! what are you doing here?" i said as my cheeks turned the slightest bit rosy.
"oh you know. having a bit of a wonder around the castle and i thought i'd check out the pool." he said giving me a sweet smile. 'damn you're hot.' i thought.
i mentally cursed myself. i can't think that! i'm basically cheating in adrien. even though me and adrien aren't together, i love him with all my heart.
speaking of adrien, i'm surprised at how i'm managed to keep my cool around him. especially now with his toned stomach and tanned skin. obviouslyyy adrien is way hotter than james. but i don't know. james has something about him. he's always seemed familiar but i can't put my finger on it. i was midway into my thoughts when a cough interrupted.
"umm marinette? girl, you okay?" i heard alya ask me.
"oh yeah. i'm fine, just thinking." i smile at my bestfriend.
"so... who's this?" alya said, looking james up and down. did alya forget him??
"umm this is james. you met him in the plane, remember?" i looked at her with a questionable look. i guess nino really took her mind away from everything. i've noticed that nino and alya have spent a lot more time together lately. it's cute.
"oh right yeah. also the boy i'm guessing you were out with the other night?" she raised an eyebrow at the both of us.
i saw out of the corner of my eye, james' cheeks turning red.
"umm yeah." james said rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
there was an awakened silence between us for quite a bit but james' loud ringtone cleared it.
"hello? oh yes. mhm. on my way boss." james said in a serious tone.
"sorry marinette. i've got to go. i didn't even get to go in the pool yet" he laughed. "um nice to see you again, alya. see you 'round marinette." james said as he slightly bowed his head at me before he turned to leave.
"damn mari, i for got how hawttt he was! and don't think i didn't see that little nod of his towards you. when did you tell him you were.. wells you?" alya questioned as she nudged me.
"firstly, nothing compared to adrien and secondly, he found out on his own. i haven't told anyone. i'll eventually tell everyone. just not now." i say as i look over to adrien. he looks really angry and confused at the same time. i have no idea why though.
"hey, you guys! are you coming in the pool or what?" kim shouted at us from the pool. almost immediately, adriens mood seemed to clear up.
"sure thing!" he laughed and dived into the pool with nino. alya and i soon followed them.
i've got to say, i normally find swimming her boring. but with all my friends here, i had the best time ever.
as soon as we got dried i put on my clothes that i had taken with me before i got changed into my bikini and went to my room. i don't really know why. i just felt drawn to it. you know how after a long day, you'd just go to your bedroom and fall flat on your bed? yes that's what i'm doing now.
i didn't even bother to tell anyone where i'd gone which was probably not the best idea.
'i wonder where my little kitty's are?' i thought to myself. i haven't seen plagg and tiki for ages. they're probably catching up, i mean me and plagg have been away for a very long time. i bet they missed eachother.
i was deep in thought when i heard two gentle taps at my door.
"uh come in?" i asked. nervous of who it was.
"it's kitania, princess. you're father would like to see you." she said before quickly curtsying and leaving.
"hmm i wonder what that's about?" i thought aloud.
i quickly make myself presentable before seeing my father.
"you asked to see me, father?" i ask, quietly walking into the private quarters.
"yes, come in my dear." he says kindly. i also see mother sitting opposite him.
"uhh have i done something wrong?" i ask. father chuckles a little bit. mother gently smiles at me.
"god no, my love. actually we wanted to talk to you about something." he glances at mom again. was he...nervous?
"well. because your coronation is tomorrow, we haven't had the time to talk to you about this." mom hesitated before continuing.
"a few days after the coronation, we want you to meet some lovely and respectable suitors. we have met them and i can honestly say, darling, they would make the most amazing husband. i can just imagine how happy you would be with these princes." mom said slowly. giving me time to process her words.
"you want me to marry?" i ask.
"well yes. obviously, you can't rule on your own." father said. i saw mom give him the most awful look out of the corner of my eye. i smiled at that.
"i'm 17! i can't marry yet. and what do you mean i can't rule alone? all he would be doing is giving heirs. and i don't plan on doing that just yet." i say in almost disbelief.
"marinette please! we aren't asking you to marry anyone yet, we just want you to meet possible suitors that could-in the future-be your husband." mother said and sighed at me.
"and not only will he be giving you heirs, he will be there to keep you company, support you, and mostly love you." father added on. i thought about it. i hated the fact that i had to have a husband to be a great ruler. like are they for real?
"fine. how about i meet them a week tomorrow? since the coronation is tomorrow, it would've given me time to settle in to my duties and not be so overwhelmed." i frown.
"perfect." mother smiled at me.
"darling it's almost 5! we must go." father says to mom.
"where are you going?" i ask.
"we're going to check up on the security details. we have a meeting with the police force and our security. we won't be long." father smiles as he takes mother's hand and turns towards the door to leave.
"be safe, i love you both." i say before the doors close.
i sigh and plant myself into the sofa.
i wonder how busy my life will become once i'm queen. i'm still angry about the decision i made with my parents. i just don't understand why a woman has to have a man by her side to feel...accepted. i know that my country won't let me rule without a king which is totally unfair. what can a man do what a woman can't? that whole agreement has put me in a bad mood for the rest of my night.
i wonder if alya, nino and adrien can cheer me up. i know i've seen them everyday but it feels like i haven't seen them in ages. i get up and search for them.
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a/n
so i've decided that since 22 is my lucky number, the longest and final chapter will be my next. i hope you've enjoyed this story as much as i have writing it. i'm also v sorry for the delay, everything's so crazy right now. and i start school again next week :(
thankyou all for all the support and encouragement on this book, i can't wait for you to read my next one. it's honestly one of the best ones i've wrote.
have the most amazing day!! ‭‭