Marinette woke up at dawn like she always did. But her mat on the floor was much softer, and her room was warmer than she thought it should be. Then as her eyes adjusted to the faint light in the room, she remembered, she wasn't at her home anymore, she was in the castle, she was in the Prince's Harem...  She'd met the Prince last night, he talked to her through the window. She hadn't seen his face yet, but he seemed like a nice man, his stories showed him as a kind man. He loved hunting for the freedom it gave him. She had said she'd like to go with him sometime, had she meant it? She'd decided that later. She got up out of bed and noticed how much warmer it was in her than her house. How did they warm this place? She found the candle from last night and relight it.

She wanted to wash her face and get ready for the day, but where did she find water? She'd always used the village well,  but the castle was huge, they properly had more than one well for this castle. She walked into the bathroom and looked at it more closely, and she realized there was a pump. Oh right she was in the castle the richest of the rich, of course, the rooms had their own pumps. She suddenly wonders, how they heated her bathwater last night? It didn't matter she could wash her face without bothering her ladies in waiting for this early in the morning. 

She filled the sink basin and washed her face. And used a cloth to wash the rest of her body. She then walked into her huge closet. None of these dressers were in her style, maybe she could ask to make her own dresses? Or at least a few of them or design her own? But she looked through them some of these were clearly for parties or balls. Finally, as she got near the end of the closet she found much simpler dresses. They were dramatically different, she found a note, Dear Lady Marinette, I didn't mention this to you but I also enjoy designing and sewing, I know not the most Kingly activity but I thought you would enjoy these dresses more, they had been designed for my late wife, so I hope you can give them live again. ~ Your King. 

She found that a bit odd that the King would pay so much attention to her, but maybe he truly thought she would be the right one for his son? Or maybe he felt bad for her? Maybe he wanted to help her? She pushed that thought away and picked a simple light green dress (think Belles dress). She found all the other layers she needed, found a simple bare of black flats and went to her dressing room and after dealing with the under layers she slipped her corset on, she chose not to have it as tight as she had it yesterday, she still wanted to be her. So she would find a way to balance the two. 

After getting the dress on, she ran a brush through her hair, pulling part of it up out her face and using a ribbon to keep it there. She did a light dusting of makeup, the ladies would likely redo it when they come to look for her. She would have to ask for a notepad so she could leave a note saying she was walking in the courtyard. But oh well, she'd just watch for when the other girl's lights when on and head back then. She stepped out into the dawn-ridden sky. "Oh, it's so lovely." She could see the faint pinks and purples in the sky. She noticed that there was a lantern outside her room. She lit it using the candle from her room and blew out the candle and shut the door quietly behind her.

With the faint light of dawn and her lantern in tow, she started walking through the surprisingly large space. She looked straight across and saw Prince Adrien's room, she saw what must have been his balcony. Was his room two floors tall? She notices a rose garden under his balcony and a small seating area. She remembered Nathalie's words last night, she made sure to stay away from there until she knew what was his area. So she walked in the other way past each of the other girl's rooms. She noticed one had a drawing board outside of one room. One had a small footbath and nice chair, and lastly one had a small desk and chair. Marinette then found a lovely garden. "Oh my, the flowers." Marinette smiled she knelt down to get a better look at the flowers and smell them. She hoped that this was no one's private space. 

"You know princess, nobles don't normally sit on the ground, or get up before dawn." She heard a familiar voice behind her. 

"Your Highness!" Marinette quickly turned and saw the Prince standing behind her. This was the first time she'd really seen him. He had golden hair, eyes like emeralds, and he wore a simple white shirt and tan travel pants. With a small silver ring on his head to show his rank and Crown Prince.

"I told you last night, it's Adrien, at least here anyway. Outside these walls or in front of visitors, it's My Lord or My Prince." He walked and sat on the stone bent just behind her.

"Well My Prince," She teased lightly, "You forget I am no princess, I am peasant girl, and the ground is the only thrown I've ever know. Flowers the only jewels I'd ever wanted." 

"You speak well My Lady. Now tell me, why do you raise before the sun?" Adrien watched her closely as she examined the flowers.  

"Adrien, my dear Prince, I even a baker's daughter all my life, I've always beat the sun to its wake. I likely never will let the sun wake me. The world is at peace before the sun wakes it. I enjoy it greatly. Tell me, Adrien, why do you raise before the sun?"

"I too enjoy the peace." He smiled. Then he heard her stomach growl. "Tell me, my princess, you normally have eaten by now haven't you?" She blushed, Adrien was shocked at how much more beautiful she was when her cheeks were dusted pink. He then noticed she had freckles, the work in the village must have brought them out. 

"I told you I'm no princess." She couldn't decide if he was teasing her or trying to find a nickname for her? "Well it's normally day-old bread, but it is a light meal, yes, but I'm sure that I'll be fine until breakfast." She went back to looking at the flowers. 

"Come with me, My Lady?" He stood and offered her his hand. 

"Are you asking or telling me, My Prince?" She didn't move. 

"Asking, because by now my servents have set up a small meal for me in my private dining nook, and I would enjoy your company, don't worry I'll make sure your back in your room before your ladies come looking for you."

"How could I say no to such an offer." She took his hand, the took his arm in proper fashion. 

They walked into his room, she was dumbfounded. He had a small dining table, a chaise, had a piano, a small collection of books. His bathroom was on this floor, and he had his own small servant's quarters. There was a staircase that must have led up to the rest of his room. His bed must be up to there, oh right, soon she would spend a night there. "I know, it's a lot, perks of being the crown prince I guess. Come sit and eat with me, though don't eat too much, I'm guessing you're not used to the amount of food you will see in a day."

"I couldn't even eat half my supper last night." She smiled sheepishly. 

"I'll send word to the kitchen to have them make you have half or even quarter portion unless you ask for more." He pushes a small plate of fruit toward her. 

"I appreciate that, Adrien." How was she talking to the prince like he was a normal person? 

They talked for a while about her life and his life until the sun filled the room. "Well My Princess, I should take you back to your room. Your Ladies should be there shortly." He stood and helped her up and started the short walk to her room. 

"You know I'm barely a Lady, let alone a princess, My Prince." She looked down now out in brighter sunlight she feels underdressed walking next to the Crown Prince, whose simple clothes were fancier than her father's finest dress clothes.  

"Marinette, I am the Crown Prince, I can give you whatever name I please. And I happen to think that you are prettier than any Princess I have ever meant." He winked. "But if you really don't like it, I will find something else." 

"Who am I to tell the Crown Prince no?" Marinette understood while she was the one everyone wanted to give the Prince a son, she had no choice in this life, may as well get used to it. 

"Wait, No, My Lady that is not what I meant. I am the Crown Prince I need not worry about proper titles. And even though our time has been short, you are different than the others.  I want you to be more than just another woman in my Harem. None of the Ladies who are here would be my confidant, all of them have found love in others arms, giving up on me, all telling me to find a secret lover if they give me the child I need. I need a woman I can count on to be my friend as well as my love. And after our two visits, I want her to want to be you. So always be honest with me." 

Marinette looked at this man, who suddenly looked broken, and not a prince ready to rule. "I promise to do my best to do that for you, My Prince." Her small bead anklet suddenly felt heavy, she couldn't tell him she was still in love with a boy from the village but she would let him go and learn to love this lonely prince. 

As they approached her door "I would stay and talk with you more but Felix and I will be leaving within the hour, and Father wants to have breakfast with us both before we leave." 

"Oh, right you're leaving for a few days." she tried to hide her disappointment, she was enjoying their visit. She wanted his help to get to know the castle and wanted to see the castle through his eyes and wanted his help to learn about court life. How could she do what he asked if she didn't get to know him? And knew if he left and came back she would have to sleep him when he came back, and that thought scared her, maybe she could have the king bring her parents her and she could talk with her mother about what happens on your wedding night even if it wasn't her real wedding night. 

The prince pulled her into a hug from behind and whisper into her ear, "Don't worry my Lady I will show you a wonderful time when I return." Her face flushed and Adrien seemed to approve of the bright shade of red, he made her turn. 

Quickly composing herself, "I suppose this is goodbye then?" 

"Simply see you later. It is only four days." He took her hand and brought it to his lips. 

"Will you say goodbye to the other "wives"?" She wondered if she would see him again before he left. Even if it was only in an hour. 

"None of them will be awake yet Marinette. The sun is just entering the sky. They will wake as I am pulling out of the Kingdom. And even if they did wake now, it would take them another hour and a half to be ready to see me. They are not like you. They are nobles to their core, what you are wearing is something they would never see me in. But fear, not I will tell your ladies and my Father that I like you best the way you like you best. I will make sure my other "wives" support you and defend you to any court member." He smiled pulling her into a hug. Then turned to leave. 

"My Prince?" She took his hand to stop him from leaving. He looked at her. "Thank you. I was worried I'd need to be someone I wasn't." 

"Never." He smiled at her. And went to leave again, but she didn't let go of his hand. He turned to look at her again. 

"Would you like a kiss for good luck, My Prince?" She smiled shyly. 

"A kiss from my Princess before I leave? Could I be so lucky?" He stepped closer. 

"Only if you promise to dedicate a win to me, my Prince." She teased. 

"I will take the whole tournament in your honour, My Lady." He enjoyed the way she went from her normal tone to a more posh sounding one when she was making fun of the way he imaged the villagers thought the nobles and royals talked, though she wasn't too far off. He stepped even closer, waiting for her to move in. 

She closed the gap between them with a simple kiss. As her heels touched the ground again she whispered "Good Luck My Prince." She turned and walked into her room. She checked her window saw that he had headed back to his room. She slipped to the floor and pulled her anklet off. "Luka. I would have loved you forever, but I think this prince needs someone to love him for who he is not who he has to be." Sure the prince was handsome, clearly smart, and not as cooky as she would have thought a prince to be, maybe his "wives" had humbled him, or maybe he'd always been like that. She didn't know, but what she did know what that he was a kind man. He had been so kind to her in their two visits, she couldn't help but wonder if you could fall for someone so fast? Was she just desperate to make the best of an unwanted situation? Her grandmother had taught her that a wise noblewoman kept her cards close to her chest and her wits about her always. She slipped the anklet back on. She would wear it as a reminder of who she was and hopefully, it would keep her grounded.