A/N - Sorry this chapter took me so long, but it's an extra long one for you

The tunnel felt like it went on forever. Fu led the way with his lantern through the dark, followed closely behind by Alix. A few paces back, Adrien was holding Marinette's hand while using his stick as a guide against the stones. Marinette was limping slightly beside him.

"Are you alright?" He asked, giving her hand a light squeeze.

"I think so." She replied. "A little sore but no damage done. How about you?"

"My knee feels a bit stiff, and everything is blurry, but aside from that." He gave her a reassuring smile.

After a while, Fu stopped and the four of them gathered around. "This tunnel has taken us to the edge of this forest. From here we can make our way to a safe house where we have friends there that can help us. Your highness, I would recommend covering your eyes back over from the sunlight. You are not ready for bright light yet."

"You mean you knew?" Adrien asked, surprised at being referred to by his title. Fu and Alix both nodded.

"That's why the Master sent Ivan and Mylène with the meadowsweet." Alix added. "We lost track of you when you went undercover as Chat Noir, then word came through the underground Chat Noir had been injured and was being taken to a field hospital. Thankfully it was the same one where Ivan and Mylène had already been taking supplies to. We took the chance on you being the same person. It made sense, considering the ring you wear."

Adrien looked down at his hand. "But why? I don't deserve such loyalty."

"All members of the underground are loyal to the Prince." Fu said with a small bow. "The circle of the Jade Turtle has been watching over you since the day you were given the ring of the Black Cat."

"Jade Turtle? I thought that was a legend." He looked back at his ring, feeling bewildered. "Like the Black Cat..."

Fu gave him a reassuring smile, placing a supportive hand on his arm. "I will tell you more in due course, your highness. For now, it is time for us to re-enter the world above ground."

Marinette helped Adrien pull his bandage back up over his eyes before holding his arm to help guide him. Fu pushed aside a hanging vine, revealing a concealed opening. When they had entered the tunnel, it was only just on daybreak, now the sun was full mid morning. At first it seemed as though they had gone around in a circle, but Marinette soon noticed in the distance an elegant estate she up on a hill.

Following Fu it didn't take long before they arrived at the iron gates. A young man with flaming red hair came down the well manicured path to greet them.

"Alix!" He called out. "Master Fu. Thank God. We heard about the explosion and feared the worst."

The redhead embraced Alix and Fu before turning his attention to Marinette and Adrien. "You're welcome here." He said kindly. "I'm Sir Nathaniel Kurtzburg, but friends call me Nath. Please, come."

Marinette gripped a little tighter onto Adrien's arm as they approached the main house. She felt apprehensive about being in the company of a noble, even if he seemed to be part of the underground. Adrien could feel her tense and asked her where they were. Marinette tried to describe the estate and their host as best as she could so he wouldn't be too bewildered when he took the bandages off.

"Please, take a seat." Nath offered. "Zoè, will you bring some tea for our guests?"

Adrien pulled down his bandages now that he was indoors and sat down on a settee with Marinette beside him. Alix gave Nath a very animated description of what had happened since Marinette and Adrien had arrived at Fu's cottage, including about XY and the fire. As she and Fu talked with the redhead, an attractive blonde came out with a tea tray. Marinette could see straight away that she wasn't a maid and obviously was part of the household.

"How awful for you all." Zoé exclaimed. "But don't worry, you are perfectly safe here."

"That's right." Nath nodded.

"But what if XY comes back and finds us?" Adrien asked, clearly worried. "I wouldn't want to put you and your lovely wife in any danger."

Nath and Zoé burst out laughing. "Oh, she isn't my wife." Nath chuckled.

"We've been best friends since we were kids." Zoé added. "I'm Lady Zoé Lee. Like so many, we both lost our parents during the height of the plague, so we live here together, supporting the resistance in secret anyway that we can."

"Which is why you don't need to worry. The village is part of my estate and everyone is loyal to the cause, and to your highness of course."

By this stage Adrien was hardly surprised that Nath and Zoé knew he was the Prince. "You know sometimes I wonder why I bothered with a secret identity." He quipped and delighted in the soft giggle coming from beside him.

His hosts laughed. "To be fair, we did meet once many years ago." Nath smiled. "Although you may not remember. We would have only been 10 or so at one of your Father's summer soirées."

Adrien looked at the redhead and tried to picture him 12 years younger. "Wait, were you the one with the sketchbook that was showing Princess Kagami how to draw?"

"That's right." Nath answered. "She was a quick learner too. I hear that you two are to be married."

Zoé grabbed a newspaper from a side table. "That could be difficult." She said, picking up a newspaper. "This was the morning news." She passed Adrien the paper and he gasped at the headline.

"Prince Adrien Killed"

"What?" He exclaimed. He then read the article aloud.

"There are reports this morning that Crown Prince Adrien of DuPont was killed yesterday in a fire. Rumors are circulating that the war hero Chat Noir was attempting to help the Prince escape over enemy lines when the house they were hiding in caught alight. The nature of the fire is unclear, but appears to be a tragic case of collateral damage. The people of DuPont will mourn the loss of their future King and now the question has to be asked - who will be named heir to the throne in his place?"

"Yesterday?" Fu queried with a frown.

"How could they have found out so fast?" Marinette frowned. "And this only happened in the early hours of this morning, not yesterday."

Zoé was equally puzzled. "Then someone must have tipped off the paper beforehand. I'll look into it and see what I can find out."

Nathaniel then stood up. "In the meantime, I'm sure you are all exhausted. I want you all to spend the next few days resting and recouping while Zoé and I try to find out what's going on and see if we can find a way to get you back to the Capital. Master, yours and Alix's rooms are ready for you as always. Your highness, Zoé will show you and Lady Marinette to the guest rooms."

Nathaniel led Master Fu and Alix in the opposite direction, the three of them in deep conversation as they left. Adrien pushed up from his seat by leaning on his staff, not wanting to be helped up. He offered his hand to Marinette and held it as they followed Zoé up a grand staircase.

"We have given you connected rooms so that Lady Marinette can continue to care for your wellbeing." She said and Adrien was sure there was a slight smirk on her face as she did so, although he wasn't entirely sure why. "Here they are."

Zoé opened the door to Marinette's room first. "Dinner is at six, but if you would prefer to stay in your room, I can have it brought up to you."

"Thank you." Marinette smiled, overwhelmed by kindness. "But I would love to join you for dinner."

Zoè nodded, bidding her a pleasant rest before closing the door.

It was beautifully furnished and had a lovely view of the gardens. She stood at the window and in the distance she could also see the village. Marinette put her hand in her pocket and clenched the earrings, still wrapped up in Adrien's handkerchief. She didn't know what to do, and she felt helpless.

Marinette knew that once word got back to the palace that the Prince was supposedly dead, Princess Kagami would be returned to her home. There would be no alliance and the war could continue to drag on for years. In her mind she could hear Master Fu's words "Written here is a prophecy that a war would befall the land. The union of the Ladybug and the Black Cat in the eye of a storm would bring a lasting peace to the land."

"How can that be?" She whispered to herself. "I'm nothing special. I can't be the Ladybug because I'm not a Princess and only a Princess can marry a Prince."

Marinette lost track of how long she had been standing there when there was a knock on the connected door.

"Come in." She said, and smiled warmly when Adrien entered.

"Do you mind if I stay with you for a while?" He asked. "I can't really sleep."

"Me neither." Marinette replied. "Is your leg bothering you, your highness?"

Adrien walked over to her, resting his battered staff against the window sill. "No, it's not." He said with a cryptic smirk. "What's bothering me is you suddenly calling me your highness."

Marinette cast her eyes down and out the window. "I guess I feel I disrespected you by hiding my knowledge of who you are. I should have been honest with you earlier." She felt a little bit hypocritical considering she was still not being totally honest. As far as she knew though, Adrien didn't know about Ladybug or the earrings.

"I understand why you didn't. You were trying to protect yourself. But I told you, I'm going to make sure you are safe from that man, alright. Honestly though, after everything we've been through you really can just call me Adrien." He then rubbed his neck nervously with his hand. "Or, you know... I didn't mind you calling me Kitty either."

Marinette couldn't help that bringing a smile to her face. They stood at the window for a while, watching Zoé as she went over to the beehive and extracted some fresh honey while Nath fed the chickens and rooster that scratched around the ground. Adrien then unexpectedly took Marinette's hand into his.

"Would it be wrong of me to feel a little relieved everyone will think the Prince of DuPont is dead?"

Marinette looked up at him in surprise. "But why?"

"So I can be free." He said without hesitation, looking at the carefree world outside. "I've never been as free as I was as Chat Noir. Even in the face of danger I was my own person making my own decisions. In the palace I have to always do what is expected of me. Now... fate is giving me a chance to just be Adrien, someone who is free to be whoever I want to be, to live my own life far away from the Capital." He gave her hand a squeeze. "And to love who I chose to love."

Marinette's heart felt like it skipped a beat. In his eyes she could see the confession behind his words. It was tempting, all too tempting to just run away with him and disappear somewhere they would never be found. To have a home together somewhere is the country where no one knew who they were and where they could raise a family. They could have it all, but at what cost? Marinette had to look away, hiding the tear that threatened to fall, but she squeezed his hand back.

"You would end up regretting it." She lamented, turning her eyes back up to his. "One day you'll look back and wish you had become the King you were raised to be."

"Marinette..."

"Maybe not now." She added, gently touching his face with her hand. "But one day you will look back and wonder if you could have done something. Without you, DuPont could fall into the hands of its enemies. Only you can end this war, Adrien. Your people need to know that their Prince is alive."

Adrien lowered his head, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers with a heavy sigh. For one fleeting moment, he could almost feel that dream becoming a reality. "You're right m'lady. I guess maybe I'm just more tired than I thought."

"Then rest Kitty. You don't have to do anything now except get your strength back."

Adrien looked back at her. "Will you stay with me?"

"Of course I will."

Adrien grabbed his stick and led Marinette back to his room. Closing the curtains, they both laid atop the bed, facing each other. Adrien took her hand back in his, kissing her knuckles before holding her hands between them. Neither of them fully fell asleep, but slipped into a peaceful lucid dream, each wishing for the life that neither believed they could ever have.

~~~~~

"Are you done yet?"

"No."

"Well can I at least take a peak?"

"No. Now stay still."

Félix tried not to chuckle at Kagami's serious face as her hand moved across the paper. He had started to become quite fond of these little afternoon interludes they had been having in the garden. What started out as simply a scheme to win the Princess's confidence had since become the highlight of his day, not that Félix was about to admit that out loud.

Despite his initial belief that Kagami had been writing in a diary, he was somewhat amused to discover it was actually a drawing journal. At first she had refused to let him look at it, then today she agreed to let him see if he allowed her to draw his portrait.

"How do I know you're not just drawing some kind of stick figures?" He mused. "Or that you're not giving me two heads with warts on my nose?"

A small smile curved at her lips. "Maybe you do have warts on your nose." She teased. Félix feigned offense and she laughed. "Give me a little more credit than that, Lord Fathom. I'm actually quite good at this."

"How can I when you won't let me see it?" Félix whined. "And don't you think we've spent enough time together for you to just call me Félix? Everytime you say Lord Fathom I think my father has risen from the dead."

Kagami didn't know if Félix was intentionally trying to be funny, but he seemed to have made her laugh so much more in these last few days than anyone else ever had before.

She didn't say anything for the next few minutes as she concentrated on her picture. Félix watched her, her hazel eyes flicking up to meet his before glancing back to the page. The light was starting to fade, but she was determined to finish it. Soon she let out a satisfied breath. "Alright, you can see it now."

Félix took the journal she offered him and was blown away at how realistic the image looked.

"Wow." He said in awe. Flicking over the pages he saw some of her other drawings of the grounds and fountains. "You're really talented. Your mother must have hired you a great teacher."

Kagami fiddled with her charcoal pencil. "Actually, she doesn't know." Félix raised an eyebrow at her as she continued. "She thinks artistic pursuits are a waste of time for someone destined... to be a Queen." The words felt so heavy when she said it. "We attended a soirée here many years ago and a young Squire with red hair showed me some basic which sparked a great desire in me to draw more."

"That must have been the year I had smallpox." Félix wondered out loud. "Otherwise I would have met you back then."

"I was wondering why we hadn't met before. Anyway, I had to keep my work hidden from my mother, which is why I never showed anyone before, but I practice as often as I can."

Félix handed the journal back to her. Kagami closed it carefully and held it close to her chest, closing her eyes. Over the last few days, Félix had seen more and more of the real Kagami, the one that she keeps hidden in that journal. He guessed Adrien must have at some point too, because as much as he hated the idea of being forced to marry Kagami, he never disliked her. Félix had heard Lila refer to her as the Ice Queen, but really that couldn't have been further from the truth. She was warm, kind and... beautiful.

"Well, if it were up to me, you could draw all day every day if you wanted too."

Kagami met his eyes again, his gaze soft, much softer than she had seen before. Félix confused her. She had seen him sharp and fiery with his Uncle, but he spoke fondly of his cousin. He missed his mother, but didn't seem to care less that his father had died. He acted distant and aloof to most people, but when he was with her... he let down some of that reserved guard. He treated her like a person, not like a porcelain doll, but there was something more in that emerald gaze that Kagami couldn't quite read.

Félix had to turn away. Suddenly his hands felt clammy and his mouth was dry. She wasn't supposed to be having this effect on him. He was only paying her attention so he could get back at his Uncle, so he could ruin their little alliance. At the end of the day, Kagami was still a Princess that must marry a Prince, not a Duke who had nothing left to offer but a name.

A commotion broke out in the Palace. People were running, yelling and crying. Félix jumped up and saw Théo Barbot and a man Félix only vaguely recognised moving at a rapid pace into the palace.

"What's going on?" Kagami asked.

"I don't know." Félix frowned. "Come on."

Félix ran into the Palace, Kagami following closely behind. Barbot was nowhere to be seen, but spying Nathalie he called out to her. "Nathalie, what's going on?"

"Oh Félix." Nathalie exclaimed, barely keeping her emotions contained. "It's terrible. Truly terrible. Quickly, come to the throne room."

Félix and Kagami followed Nathalie into the throne room where King Gabriel was waiting. Théo and his shady looking companion also entered from the side door. They had collected a third man along the way who was carrying a set of documents in his hand.

"Barbot?" Gabriel's voice was demanding but also slightly slurred. Félix suspected he had been drinking. "You have news of my son?"

Barbot gave Gabriel a low bow. "Your Majesty, I have just received news of the most grave nature."

Gabriel frowned. "Well, out with it then. Where is Adrien?"

"It is with a heavy heart that I must inform Your Majesty that your son was tragically killed."

There was an audible gasp from Kagami and a loud sob from Nathalie. Several other courtiers in the room began talking amongst themselves with others joining in the tears. King Gabriel stood unmoving, his face frozen as though he was trying to process Théo's words.

"You... you have proof of this?" Félix demanded.

Théo kept his back to Félix, beckoning his companion to step forward and addressing the King. "This is my most trusted emissary, your Majesty. I had charged him with the task of finding the war hero Chat Noir to help bring the Prince home for his upcoming nuptials. It would seem Chat Noir had already found the Prince and was escorting him back when tragedy struck. Unfortunately XY did not make it in time to save them."

"XY?" Félix whispered under his breath. That name sounded familiar. Kagami looked up at him, but he had his eyes firmly fixed ahead of him at the back of Barbot's head.

"You saw them?" Nathalie asked, addressing XY as she wiped her eyes.

"Yes, your... Ladyship." XY replied, unsure how to address her "I saw the bodies of both Chat Noir and the Prince with my own eyes."

Kagami felt Félix grasp her hand and grip it tightly, like he was needing her to ground him in some way... or hold him back.

King Gabriel was visibly pale, slinking down into his throne. "My son...My son..." He murmured, dropping his head into his hands. "How can this be?"

"We need to get Princess Kagami back to her home as quickly as possible." Nathalie stated, but Théo shook his head, holding up the documents he had entered with.

"I wouldn't be so hasty. These documents were recovered from the scene, an intercepted missive Chat Noir was trying to get to the King. There is a plot to kidnap the Princess and hold her to ransom."

He passed the documents to Nathalie, the edges of the papers seared by fire. Nathalie felt sick to stomach looking at it. The papers were not addressed to anyone in particular, nor was there the name of a sender, but the document was on Palace letterhead indicating there was a traitor. Nathalie looked past Barbot to Kagami and pretended not to notice Félix holding her hand. "That changed things." She said, directing back to Barbot. "We can't risk anything happening to the Princess. Even if we lose the alliance, we can't risk making an enemy."

"If I may be bold enough to suggest, the Palace needs to be completely locked down, no one comes in or out until we can investigate the origin of these threats. If that is agreeable to you of course Your Majesty."

Gabriel barely registered what was being said, staring off into the distance. He simply waved his hand in a vague acknowledgement.

Nathalie looked at the King with great concern. "I better take him to his quarters." She said quietly. "He's in shock and not fit to make decisions right now. I'm not sure what the protocol is in these situations."

"I suggest appointing a Regent as quickly as possible until the King recovers. I believe the Magistrate would have that information." Barbot waved over the other man that had entered the room with him.

He was a short man in thick glasses carrying a large book as he stepped forward. "If I may, Lady Sancour. It is written here in article 23 of the DuPont constitution that if the King is absent, unwell or otherwise unable to give considered and measured direction, the appointed Regent would speak on his behalf and take on the duties of running the Kingdom in the interim. The Regent must be appointed from his most senior council. Under the circumstances, that would be Lord Barbot as the King made him High Chancellor yesterday."

Nathalie looked over at Félix who didn't seem to know any more about that than she did.

"Show me the document."

The scribe handed over the paper bearing the King's royal butterfly crest alongside his signature and witnessed by Sir Robert Roth. She showed the document to Félix. If he wasn't mistaken, Sir Roth was XY's father, and something about this whole situation was beginning to stink.

"I see." She said, handing the document back to the Magistrate. "Then I have no choice but to put the protection of the Palace into your capable hands, Lord Barbot."

There was something in the grin on Barbot's face that made Félix's blood begin to curdle. Barbot gestured to one of the throne room guards to come to him.

"Escort the Princess to her chamber. For now you are in charge of protecting her door. Only myself or Lady Lila will be permitted to enter, is that clear?"

The guard held a fist over his chest in acknowledgement and marched over to the Princess, indicating for her to walk ahead of him.

"I'll talk to you later." Félix whispered, reluctantly letting go of her hand. She gave him one last look before walking out of the room, the guard closely following behind her. The courtiers slowly began to dissipate out of the throne room. Théo and XY also left through the side door they entered with the Magistrate.

Nathalie turned back to Félix. "I want you to stay low." She said in a quiet voice. "My gut is telling me something isn't right here."

"Glad I'm not the only one." Félix replied, he then looked toward the King. "Uncle Gabriel?"

King was still sitting on his throne, his face in his hands. "He's drunk" She said, her voice beginning to crack again. "He has been for days now. He must have sobered up at some point though to have signed those documents. Surely a Magistrate wouldn't have gone through with it if he wasn't."

"Money can be a powerful thing, Nathalie, or secrets." Félix said, remembering what Lila had said about Barbot knowing secrets.

"He had pinned it all on Adrien." Nathalie lamented, her tears returning. "His hopes, his dreams, the legacy of his late wife. It was all on Adrien."

Félix placed a hand on Nathalie's shoulder. "Don't lose hope Nathalie". He said. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this, but I need to talk to Kagami. You take care of Uncle Gabriel. Make sure he is safe."

"Are you going up to the old hideout?" Félix nodded and Nathalie gave him a sad smile. "Then I will keep a look out for you."

Leaving the throne room, Félix passed Lila entering Kagami's room with her dinner on a tray. The guard clearly wasn't going anywhere. If he was going to talk privately to Kagami, he would have to find another way in.

Inside Kagami's bed chamber, Lila sat her dinner tray on the table. "Would you like me to help you change, your highness?" She asked, taking Kagami's bedclothes from her drawer and laying them out on the bed.

"No thank you." Kagami said quietly. "I just want to be alone now."

"I understand." Lila replied with fake sincerity. "I can only imagine how devastating it must be to learn your fiancée has been killed so tragically, and now you can't even go home."

Lila could see that Kagami had no interest in talking. Once Lila had taken her leave, Kagami sat down at her table, picking up her fork and prodding her potatoes. In truth she didn't know how she felt. She was sad at the news of course. Despite the circumstances of their engagement, Kagami had always held a fondness for Adrien and she would miss him very much, but that wasn't what was really bothering her.

Disinterested in her food, Kagami pushed her plate to the side and opened up her drawing book. The page fell open to the picture she had drawn of Félix. A small smile crept onto her face, but also there was a sinking feeling too. She can't leave yet, but eventually she would have to and then what would happen to her?

Kagami was pulled from her thoughts by a tapping sound. Following the noise, she pulled back the curtain that led to her small balcony and found Félix out there. She quickly opened the glass door. "How on Earth did you get out there?" She asked. Félix gave her a devilish smirk.

"How do you think I helped my cousin sneak out of the Palace." His smile then dropped and took on a more serious countinance. "I need to talk to you. Take your dress off."

Kagami's eyes flew open and heat flooded her face, but Félix had already turned towards a creeping vine wrapped around a pillar, shrugging off his jacket and removing his cravat. "You want me to do what?" She demanded.

Félix looked back at her, almost annoyed at having to explain himself. "These walls have ears." He said in a whisper. "And you can't climb in a dress. Now hurry before the guard comes back through the courtyard below."

Being the well brought up Princess she was, Kagami had half a mind to slap Félix for even making such a suggestion. On the other hand though there was something terribly exciting about breaking the rules like this.

Kagami hastily undid the buttons at the top of her dress just enough to slip it off. She then took off her petticoat, leaving her in her bloomers, chemise and corset that Lila had done up far too tight. "Will you help me take this off?" She said, pointing to the offending garment.

Félix sucked in a breath. He hadn't actually thought this far ahead. Twirling his finger to indicate for her to turn around, Félix carefully undid the bow and loosened the strings. Sure Kagami still was still in her chemise and bloomers, but she seemed softer somehow, vulnerable even and far too trusting because right now being a gentleman was extremely difficult with her fair arms so exposed, and her dark hair touching her exposed shoulders.

Félix swallowed thickly before turning his attention back to the vines. "It's not far up to the roof. I'll go up first and then help you up, okay?"

Kagami nodded and watched as he easily climbed up onto the lower roof that covered her balcony. He then held down his hand. "Come on."

Kagami kicked off her shoes and used a chair to get up onto the railing while holding the vines on the pillar. One foot, then the other. Another step up and she clasped Felix's hand. The sound of footsteps below made them both freeze.

"Quickly." Félix whispered, pulling her up. In his haste he pulled her too quickly and promptly fell backwards, clasping Kagami in his arms to cushion her fall. She landed with a thud on his chest and the footsteps stopped.

The two of them locked eyes, their noses only a hair's breadth apart. "Félix?" Kagami whispered. He placed a finger over her lips and the two stayed frozen. Oh Lordy her lips were so soft! He wondered if her heart was beating just as fast as his, and he was sure it wasn't just at the risk of being caught. Kagami was acutely aware of his hand gripping her waist, so she wouldn't fall of course, but she also couldn't take her eyes off his.

After a few moments that felt like an eternity, the footsteps resumed and faded off into the distance. Félix carefully slid Kagami off him, standing up to offer her his hand. Once they were satisfied the coast was clear, he led her across the roof to a flat, cleared area. There was a box up there that Félix took a blanket out from. He smiled at the surprised look on her face.

"Adrien and I used to sneak up here all the time when we were kids." He said, fondness for the memory in his expression. "My Uncle didn't approve because he thought it was too dangerous or some such nonsense. Nathalie knew of course, so did Adrien's mother, the Queen. She even got us a telescope so we could watch the stars."

Félix patted the place next to him, inviting Kagami to sit down. She tried to leave a space between them. He was unfairly attractive with his long blond ponytail and his white ruffled shirt unbuttoned at the top. "Why did you bring me up here?" She eventually asked. "Not that I mind, it's just there must have been a reason."

"Two reasons." He said, his face serious. "Firstly, I don't believe Adrien died. In fact I am certain of it."

"How can you be so sure?"

Félix dug his hand into his pocket and took out a piece of paper, giving it to her. On the page was a drawing of a ring with a cat paw print engraved on it. Adrien's ring. "Do you recognise that?"

Kagami nodded and Félix continued. "That ring had been in our family for generations, along with a story about the one who first wore it. Aunt Emilie couldn't remember all of the details because the story was only ever passed word of mouth, but one thing she did tell us was that he was a hero that went by the name Chat Noir."

Kagami slowly nodded her head. "You believe that Adrien is Chat Noir?"

"It's too much of a coincidence. Adrien loved that story and it would be just like him to use that as a cover name."

Kagami frowned. "But the King... wouldn't he have put two and two together?"

Félix shook his head. "It was a story that passed down through the De Vanily's. Besides, Uncle Gabriel was never that interested in an old legend. If I'm right though, that means that XY is lying. If my memory serves me right, my cousin had him thrown out of military school, so he would have known who he was."

"Does Lord Barbot know that?"

"He would. He was the one that signed off on it. Which brings me to my second point. Don't trust him, or his niece Lila for that matter. They are up to something and I..." He turned his head away from her. "I'm ashamed to admit that I tried to help them."

"What do you mean?"

Félix let out a long sigh. "Lila dangled a carrot out to me. My Uncle... wait, I need to back track." He then turned to face her more. "You might not know, but my mother and Adrien's mother are identical twins. The title of Duke of De Vanily is usually passed on to the eldest son. Since there were no boys the title would skip a generation. Aunt Emilie, being 10 minutes older, meant that Adrien would get the title. Am I making sense?"

Kagami nodded so Félix continued. "Aunt Emilie wanted to change that though. Since Adrien would be crown Prince of DuPont, she wanted me to inherit the title of Duke of De Vanily, as well as the estate, providing Adrien keep the family ring. My mother agreed, but when Aunt Emilie died, Uncle Gabriel reneged on that deal only he never fully told my mother that. When she passed, I lost everything."

Kagami pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them to her. The temperature was dropping and she was getting cold, but was far too intrigued to leave. "So, Lila offered you a way to get the title back?"

Félix ran his fingers through his hair. "More or less. She said that if I helped stop you marrying my cousin and broke the alliance it would force Gabriel to abdicate or make a new deal where he would no longer be King and the De Vanily estate would be my reward. She said there was someone else who would be King. I assumed she meant Andre Bourgeois, but now I'm not so sure."

Kagami hardened her gaze. "And this plan... what was it exactly?"

Félix hesitated. He wanted to be honest, but he also knew what he was about to say was maybe the most underhanded thing he had ever done.

"The plan was for me to seduce you, then dump you so you would return to your mother and join our enemies."

The silence that fell between them was almost deafening. "So..." Kagami finally spoke, her voice heavy. "All those afternoons we spent together... it was just a ploy?"

"Yes... no... a first maybe but... ugh..." Félix dropped his head into his hands. "I reached out to make contact with you because Lila suggested it. She said you were cagey and difficult. I took it as a challenge. You have to understand, I wasn't just doing it for myself. I know Adrien wasn't happy about this marriage either and I thought..."

He stopped speaking when he saw a tear starting to brim in her eye. "Oh to hell with it." He said. "Who am I kidding? Of course I was in it for myself. I always only ever look out for myself. If I had even the smallest self respect I would have gone to the war front with Adrien instead of staying here and stewing in my own self pity." He turned his head back to her, a sad smile on his face. "You want to know the real irony though, I thought I was so clever trying to make you fall in love with me that I didn't even see how much I had fallen for you."

Kagami's eyes widened at that, her lips parting in surprise. Before she could say anything though, Félix suddenly stood up. "You don't have to say anything, or you can slap me in the face. I probably deserve that. I just wanted you to know that while my initial intentions were dishonest, my feelings for you now are completely genuine."

He looked down to where she was still sitting, hugging her knees. She wasn't looking at him, and he could only guess at what she must have been thinking. "I'm going to find a way out of the palace and go look for Adrien myself. I know he's alive out there somewhere. If you want I can get you out of the Palace and help you get back to your mother or you can stay here and wait for me to find Adrien..."

"I don't want to go home." Kagami murmured, turning her tear filled eyes back up to him. "And I don't want to marry Adrien. Even if your intentions were dishonest at first, I looked forward to our afternoons together. Not because I was lonely, but because I enjoyed being with you."

Félix couldn't take his eyes off her as she spoke. She stood up and moved closer to him. Reaching up she fisted his shirt in her hands and looked up at him through her lashes. "Please, take me with you."

It took everything Felix had to loosen her grip from his shirt "Kagami, I'm trying to do the right thing here. You are a Princess. Your destiny is to marry a Prince, not a Duke with not even a home to his name."

"My destiny." She repeated, disdain in her eyes. "Donyou want to know why I agreed to marry Adrien? Because he was my friend and had always been kind to me. I figured that I would rather have a loveless marriage with a friend who was kind than a loveless marriage with a tyrant. I thought I had no choice."

"What about your mother?"

Kagami scoffed. "What's she going to do? Disown me. I don't care anymore." She reached up and placed her hands on each side of his face. "She tried to tame me, she trained me in fencing, horse riding, archery... She wanted to harden me to the world, but she could never tame my heart. Take me with you Félix, I want to give my heart to you."

Crumbling in the face of her impassioned plea, Felix scooped her up into his arms, his lips hungrily claiming hers. He couldn't explain the way his heart soared at her words. This was dangerous ground, dangerous for both of them, he knew that, but as they continued to deepen the kiss, falling to their knees on the blanket, he knew with every fiber of his being that it was a risk worth taking. He would fight for her, fight to be with her.

In the distance there was the sound of a peacock's cry. Reluctantly, Félix had to part his lips from hers to speak, his voice husky. "That's Nathalie. She's warning us."

"She knew we were up here?"

Félix nodded as he stroked her hair from her face. "I know she will help us and so will Adrien when I find him."

After packing up the blanket, Felix helped Kagami back down the vine and into her balcony. Pulling her into his arms again, Félix couldn't help kissing her again, even if it was just to convince himself it was real. "It might take me a few days to get a plan together, but be ready, okay. We might have to go at a moment's notice."

"I'll be ready." She assured him. "I promise."

With one more kiss goodnight, Félix disappeared over the rail and into the night.