An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
In a shameless Cinderella AU, Prince Adrien goes incognito as Chat Noir to find himself a spouse at the most elaborate masquerade the kingdom has ever seen.
Chapter One: In Which Our Protagonists Are Introduced
“You need to relax.”
“You’re not the one who has to find themselves a spouse at a masquerade ball.” It was precisely six-fifteen in the evening, and Prince Adrien was already looking forward to seeing the guests leave. Under normal circumstances, he would have been in his element modelling for his father – King Gabriel’s elaborate balls, though the guests politely pretended otherwise, were usually an excuse to show off his latest designs. Besides, seeing the ballroom full of people made a pleasant change from the echoing loneliness of the castle in his day-to-day life.
Today’s ball, however, was not “normal circumstances”.
“I thought you were ready to start searching?” Nino, his valet, asked as he unfolded a pair of trousers for later and laid them on the bed.
“I am! I just,” Adrien groaned and dropped down next to the trousers, “I’d just rather do it in my own time. This masquerade feels so…unnecessary.”
Nino hummed a sound that was somewhere between you-have-a-point and masquerade-balls-are-fun-so-quit-complaining, as he pulled a shirt from the wardrobe and squinted at it. “It’s not your style, huh?”
“I’m a model, Nino. Everything’s my style.”
His valet heaved a sigh reserved specifically for the terrible puns that, unfortunately, were not uncommon.
Adrien pouted. “Will you ever appreciate my comedic genius?”
“I will, when your jokes are worth laughing at.”
“Ouch.” The Prince feigned hurt, and Nino chuckled.
“Save the wit for your future spouse.”
“Well that’s an inappropriate thing to say about my-”
They were saved from another terrible, tenuously-linked pun, by a knock at the door. It swung open to admit Kagami, head of the Prince’s security force.
“Good evening, your highness.”
“Kagami! Is everything okay?” Despite her brusque nature, Adrien held a soft spot for his bodyguard. Over the years, she’d proven to be a good friend – willing to listen and sympathise, but more than capable of telling him when to pull himself together in a castle of people intimidated by his title.
“All guards are in place for tonight, but it would help if we knew what you’ll be wearing.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I assume you will be changing into something a little more formal?”
“You would be correct.” Nino picked up Adrien’s mask from where it lay on the windowsill and showed it to her. “Though considering the rate at which he’s been procrastinating, I’ll be surprised if he actually makes it to the ball.”
“Okay fine! I’m changing, I’m changing.” Adrien ducked behind a screen to pull on his formal attire, ignoring the amused look exchanged between the others. “By the way, Kagami, Felix agreed to pose as me so that I can talk to people without panicking them – he’ll be the one in the white swan costume.”
“Thank you for the heads up, I’ll make the guards aware.” Kagami glanced up at the clock. “You have forty minutes. I’ll be at the end of the corridor if you need help wrangling his highness into something resembling a prince, Nino.”
“Thanks, Kagami.”
“I heard that.” Adrien’s hand appeared round the side of the screen to gesture vaguely at her. “I’ll be punctual, I promise.”
“You always are.” With a final nod at Nino, Kagami left the room. Behind the screen, Adrien mumbled as he fiddled with the buttons on his sleeves.
“Need a hand?”
“Please.” Adrien emerged from the screen to hold out his wrists. “I just can’t believe that tonight I’m supposed to meet the person I’ll spend the rest of my life with.”
“And if you don’t?”
“Father says that Princess Lila has…expressed her interest.”
“I see.” Nino pulled a face as he finished buttoning the cuffs. “Well, I’ll be around to point you in the direction of suitable looking guests. And if you’re desperate for a friendly face.”
“Last time you said that, I seem to recall that you vanished off with a certain Lady Alya all night.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
-x-
“You need to relax.”
“But tonight’s the night I might meet Prince Adrien.” Sighing happily, Marinette Dupain-Cheng twirled in front of a mirror, admiring her reflection. On the nearby chaise lounge sat her best friend, Lady Alya Cesaire, who just shook her head.
“Girl, he’s only human.”
“A human who happens to be a Prince!” Marinette clasped her hands. “Not to mention that his father is the best designer of all time, and that Adrien happens to be the most handsome model in the whole kingdom.”
“Well I think his valet gives him a run for his money, but that’s just a matter of opinion.” Alya smoothed down the skirt of her own russet dress. “Just try to keep your cool if you do get the chance to dance with him, yeah?”
“Of course I will!”
“And remember that every eligible person in the Kingdom is attending. So even if you don’t get to dance with the Prince himself, you might still snag yourself a cute lady or lord.”
“I’ll remember.” Marinette touched her hair to check it was still in the two buns that she’d wrestled with earlier. Silver ribbons were twined round each of them to keep them in place, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Not tonight.
Her dress was composed of panels of grey and silver – inspired by the mice that helped with her chores around the bakery each morning. Not the fanciest animal, sure, but Alya had assured her that the Prince prized sweet personalities over preening peacocks.
"Thank you for letting me get ready here, by the way." said Marinette, smoothing out her gloves. "My parents are really busy with the orders for tonight."
"No worries girl. My place is your place, you know that."
They smiled at one another, before Marinette turned back to the mirror and worried at her lip. Alya put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re fine, Mari. You look beautiful.”
“So do you.” she replied. And it was true. Alya’s fox outfit became her, sleek and ruthless and, well…stunning. No wonder the Prince’s valet was head-over-heels for her. “Will Nino be around?”
Alya’s face lit up at the name of her lover. “He said he’ll be there. Though, he might end up having to keep an eye on the Prince, to make sure he doesn’t scare people away with his puns.”
Marinette giggled. Alya (and by extension, Nino) had told her enough stories of the Prince that he felt like a friend. A friend that she hadn’t met yet, but maybe, just maybe, that would change tonight. She’d meet him and he’d flash her that irresistible smile and oh, dancing with him would be wonderful. He’d twirl her under his arm, they’d waltz like they were on clouds and his eyes would just bore into hers and he’d pull her close and –
“Hey Mari, are you even listening?”
“I – ah – of course I’m listening, what do you mean am I listening? I was totally paying attention!”
Alya rolled her eyes affectionately. “I was asking if you were ready to see the masks? Masker Fu dropped them off this morning.”
“Our masks are from Fu?!” This was news. Only the Royal family and nobility could afford masks designed by Fu. His work was the stuff of legends – they said he used magic to get the colours exactly the same shade as the animal they were based on.
“Of course they are. You didn’t think we’d be going in masks from the High Street now, did you?” Alya smirked, holding out an intricately carved box. “Go on.”
Hands trembling, Marinette unclasped the box and lifted the lid, only to gasp and nearly let it fall.
Inside, nestled amongst crimson tissue paper, was the mask. It glimmered faintly under the lamps, silver mixed in with the grey fur. Whiskers protruded from it, softer than they should have been when Marinette stroked a finger along them, tapping the tiny black nose as she picked it up.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Try it on.” Alya urged, placing the box on the windowsill. “I’ll tie it.”
Holding the mask to her face, Marinette felt it mould to her features. It fit like a glove. Deft hands tied the ribbon to secure it, then Alya was tugging her back towards the mirror.
