Caught In A Storm

Chapter XXII

"Mr. Agreste? Miss Bourgeois will be shortly arriving. The King requested you spent the afternoon and dinner by her side." One of his fathers' valet said as he barged into the room unannounced. The King's valets had always thougth they were allowed to do anyhting, since they were working directly for the King.

Adrien kept starring out of the window. The sun was out today, but his mood wished it would rain and ruin everything in the castle's garden, he wished the weather would reflect his feelings. The bright colours of the flowers and flower bushes made him sick. His dull green eyes slowly moved to look at the entrance of the castle to see a bright yellow carriage making its way towards the castle.

Adrien finally stood up slowly, knowing he didn't have any choice and took his time to get downstairs in order to greet his guests. His face stayed emotionless, his posture tense as he descended down the grand, red carpeted stairs to the main hall.

He hadn't even made one step into the blue salon, where the guests would always wait to be welcomed from the Royals, before someone launched themselves on him.

"Adrichou! I'm so glad you are finally back!" A shrill high voice pierced his ears, a blond ponytail smashing against his face, effectively blocking hisview and tickling his nose. She jumped on him, hugging him so tightly he could hardly breathe.

"I'm glad you back and that your birthday is approaching! It's great that you were born in May! Imagine having a winter wedding!" The young blond woman said with a horrified expression. Adrien sighed; people kept reminding him of his birthday and oncoming marriage, he didn't want to be constantly reminded. And he sure as hell didn't want to be reminded of is marriage by his official fiancée.

He was little relieved as she finally let him go. He could finally breathe without her cloud of perfume engorging and burning his lungs and throat, the stinging in his eyes lessened.

Mlle. Chloé Bourgeois didn't even notice that Adrien hadn't even greeted her,, he hadn't even said a word, before she started complaining about her tailor whom it had taken more than a hundred retouches, so that her dress could fit perfectly.

Adrien restrained himself from commenting that her bright yellow dress didn't make her look like the sun, but more like a chicken. He couldn't help but realized how much he hated yellow... blue and pink would be his absolute favourite until the end of time.

During their walk in the garden outside his fiancée kept talking about her 'sumptuous' dresses, the planning for her wedding, her joy to finally get married to him. Adrien wasn't even trying to listen to her talk. She only needed herself for a conversation, so he didn't need to listen. Even if his parents had educated him to always listen and be nice, friendly and open towards everyone, Chloé was the exeption had had made to the rule his mother had branded inside his brain.

He couldn't help but imagine some else by his side. Taking a walk, maybe even hand in hand, through the large flowery bushes, he now had grown to hate, but used to love. Maybe they would explore the small forest behind the castle. He had never been allowed to go there on his own, but with her at his side, he would break all the rules and leave with her to explore the forest. He would show her his secret spot. His mother and him would always go there on sunny summer days, enjoying the sun burning their skin as they would lay down next to a small pond, admiring the clouds in the sky, feeling the warm sunbeams warming their skins.

He was pulled out of his thoughts as a screech resonated between his ears. He was suddenly aware that his dreams would never come true. His heart's chosen would never be here, right next to his side. Beacuse he was about to be married to another...

"Prince Adrien! Look ! You should fire your gardeners! How could they be so careless to leave dirt on the pathway like this! My beautiful dress is stained!" Chloé said enraged, before she started to cry on his shoulders, putting all of her weight on him. He grunted at the weight, before forcing her to stand up correctly.

"You're in a garden, Mlle. Bourgeois. It is perfectly normal for there to be dirt." He said trying not to sound too harsh, knowing the guards would report everything to his father. He couldn't care less if they told him, but Adrien didn't want to have to talk to his father.

After Mlle. Bourgeois had finally calmed down, the sun was finally setting and they made their way back from the far end of the garden towards the castle. Chloé clung unto his arm, resting her head against his shoulder. He had tried to gently pry her away, but without any success. Mlle. Bourgeois didn't seem to want to get the hint that this was making him extremely uncomfortable.

Well... I guess if I'm getting married to her, I have to get used to this...

A heavy sigh escaped him, which Chloé ignored. He was relieved when she finally let go of his arm as they entered the castle. A valet guided them through the large halls towards the dining room, where dinner would be served. Adrien was starting to grow another headache with how much Mlle. Bourgeois kept talking. He was glad when dinner finally arrived at the table, making her shut up... at least he thought she would stop talking, but apparently dinner wasn't to her liking.

Too fatty, too cold, too warm, too greasy... her list of complaints went on and on. Mlle. Raincomprix who had quietly followed them in the garden as Mlle. Bourgeois's court lady, stayed quiet and was forced to report to the cuisine to cook something else for Mlle. Bourgeois. Adrien asked himself how this woman could stand being with her 24/7.

Never had Adrien felt so relieved when Mlle. Bourgeois finally entered her carriage and departed to head to her own property.

He dragged his heavy and tired feet up the grand stairs and marched slowly up to his room.

***

Eat chocolate !