Cinderella (Miraculous AU)

Chapter 6

Marinette pulled the small black box out of her pocket. There were intricate red engravings on it that reminded her of the ladybug she'd seen earlier.

"How did this get here?" She wondered out loud.

She placed a hand of the lid, then hesitated. Should she really be messing around with this, if it wasn't hers?

"This is ridiculous! The man from outside must have dropped it. I shouldn't touch his things. Maybe I'll see him at the marketplace tomorrow and return it." Marinette place the box by her mirror.

Right now I need to get some rest. I'll need to find something to wear at the ball tomorrow.

Her mind wandered and she drifted off to sleep with dreams of the masquerade and a night full of dancing.

•Adrien•

Riding back to the palace, Adrien thought about the girl he'd met, Marinette.

What a curious girl. In town she seemed so uninterested in him, which ironically made him interested in her. He was glad to see she was kind and sweet. How embarrassing that he'd missed so horribly to frighten her in the woods.

Adrien was so glad he'd made a friend. He wondered if this was usually how friends were made - silly ways that don't end up as bad as you'd imagine.

"Does his royal highness mind speeding up a bit? We wouldn't want you to get lost," called Nino.

"Coming!" Adrien sped up on his horse and was now only a few feet behind when something caught his eye.

"Ah! Oh no," Said a voice from not far away. Adrien then heard a faint thud, and his eyes widened at the sound. He veered off the road and rode towards the direction of the sound.

"Adrien, wait, where are you..." Nino's voice called after him.

The sun had already set earlier, and it was getting darker and darker. Adrien searched for the sound of the voice that had sounded so distressed. His eyes landed on a man lying by the side of the road on his hands and knees. Adrien rode up to him and jumped off his horse.

"Sir, are you alright?" Adrien reached down and saw that the man was reaching for his walking stick a few feet away. The man himself was lying on some ice.

"Here, let me help." Adrien helped the man up and led him slowly to his cane.

"Thank you, young man," The man said, gladly taking the cane from Adrien's hand. He looked up with a smile, though it quickly disappeared.
"Your highness," The man gave a quick bow to the best of his ability. "This is an honor. Thank you again, have a wonderful night!"

"It's nothing, I'm glad you weren't hurt. Have a good night!" Adrien smiled and waved goodbye.

"Prince Adrien!"

Adrien sighed at the voice behind him.

"I told you not to call me that." Adrien swing his leg around his horse and landed lightly on the saddle.

Nino grinned. "Up to some late night mischief, Adrien?"

"Merely my nightly stroll," Adrien started riding towards the palace again, with Nino not far behind.

"How interesting it must be to take a stroll on a horse," Nino commented, to which Adrien chuckled.

"There are secrets that a Prince must never reveal."

"Wow, you will certainly win over all the ladies at the ball with that line!"

"Nino, in the most princely way possible, I ask you shut up."

~

Once they arrived back at the palace, Adrien sat on a chaise in his room and sighed in exhaustion. He wondered if he could go hunting tomorrow as well. No, not hunting - Adrien suddenly felt energetic and bold.

Why did he never go anywhere else out of the palace besides the woods and the town? He'd never set a foot into the town without there being guards within 20 feet of him. If only he couldn't be recognized so easily - all his fancy clothes and the guards always made it clear that he was royalty.

Adrien's weary eyes landed on a small black box sitting on the table in front of him.

What is this? He thought. He picked it up and inspected the engravings on it. Could it - no, Adrien quickly brushed the thought away. His father would never give a gift. Who needed gifts when he was the Prince, after all?

Could it be...what could it...

Adrien's eyes slowly drifted shut with the box still in his hand.