It's been a few 3 weeks now and everyone is finally getting use to their surroundings, the akuma class picked up on a few mandarin, the princes and princesses made themselves at home, however they Chanhyuk and Izanagi goes back and forth to Korea and Japan every weekend due to their royal duties, while Hayami and Suhyun stay in China keeping Marinette companied.
And on other news Nathaniel passed his knight examination with flying colors thanks to Nino. When Marinette heard the news She called, Juleka, Kagami and Luka over to the palace where they celebrated Nathaniel's success. There they met Suhyun, Chanhyuk, Izanagi and Hayami. Kagami got flustered over the fact that she got to meet with the royal family of Japan.
The Lee duo and the Couffiane siblings bonded over their love for music. Marinette was the time of her life, her friends all getting along all that's missing is Felix. They called each other everyday but she missed having him beside her.
Suhyun now has gotten more confident with the help of Marinette and Hayami. She's now more open and isn't afraid to speak her mind, so whenever she sings her notes now seem more colorful and brighter. Her brother was proud of the progress she made, he felt that she finally doesn't need her brother anymore.
Hayami and Chloe had gotten close to each other for their love of fashion. If they weren't talking about shoes, they were always talking about the latest celeb gossip. Unfortunately, they also got word that Adrien Agreste is in China for the Coming-of-age banquet for the princess of China which caused an outrage among them. Luckily for Marinette, Nino and Nathaniel they don't have to see that son of a bastard but unlikely for Chloe, Kagami, Luka and Juleka they do, and even more unfortunate Adrien keeps bothering them asking where Marinette is.
Right now, Marinette, Hayami and Suhyun were sunbathing by the pool in the turquoise palace. Ever since Marinette woke up, she felt that something was wrong but didn't know what it was. Marinette kept on sighing and pouting through out the day.
"Okay Mei what's wrong you've been like all morning." Hayami confronted.
Marinette shrugged, "I don't know something just doesn't feel right."
"Well, whatever it is I'm sure it'll go away." Said Suhyun.
Just then a maid came in, "Your highnesses, their majesties the emperor and the empress has requested you to meet them in the throne room, his highnesses Prince Izanagi and Prince Chanhyuk are already on their way."
Marinette lift up her sunglass putting it on top of her head and said, "Why do I have a feeling that whatever it is they want to tell us isn't exactly goo news."
The other two princesses gulped and nodded.
They all headed to the changing room and got changed afterwards they headed straight to the main palace.
"Mother, Father." Marinette called out.
"Ah, girls you're here." Xukun greeted.
Marinette and her friends entered the room, Marinette asked, "What's going on?"
Xukun cleared his throat, "Well you see dear...it's...well...your mother has something to tell you."
Shuxin looked at him in disbelief, she then sighed and said, "Honey, don't be mad but you see your father had already planned for your class to stay in the palace for the last two weeks of their stay before we had found out that they bullied you and it was too late to change it and they're supposed to come tomorrow and they will be staying in the ruby palace."
She said the last part slowly. They all looked at the couple in silence, blinking, trying to process what exactly they said.
Shuxin gave a nervous chuckle, "Ehehehe, Xiao Mei are you..."
"WHAT!" They all yelled.
"Oh, heeellll naw!" – Hayami
"Father how could you!" – Marinette
"With all due respect your Majesty I don't think that that is wise." – Chanhyuk
"NOOO they're going to ruin our music." – Suhyun
"YAY NEW PUNCHING BAGS." – Izanagi
Everyone looked at Izanagi eyebrow raised.
"Uh forget I said that." He said embarrassed.
Xukun sighed if he had known that his daughter was being bullied her wouldn't have let them stay in the villa or stayed in the palace. Xukun looked at Nino and Nathaniel and said,
"Boys you know them best, I'll leave you in charge of security while they stay here, don't worry on the day they arrive everyone in the palace will be wearing a mask, YES when I mean everyone, I mean everyone including you five. And Xiao Mei Yu Yuan will be here on the day they arrive, she will be start acting as your lady in waiting as of tomorrow." Xukun explained.
"Everyone will reveal themselves on after Marinette is introduced at her party understood." He continued.
Hayami then held her hand up, "Your Majesty may I have permission to play with them afterwards?"
Xukun honestly didn't want to ask what she meant because he had a feeling, he knew exactly what she meant but let's say he didn't.
"By that you mean?"
Hayami perked up and said, "I mean my giant venues fly trap have been feeling lonely lately and a bit hungry, heheheh."
Xukun sweat dropped, 'I knew it.'
Suhyun then looked excited and raised her hand too, "I also need practice hit those sharp high notes, they could be my audience."
Suhyun then gave a dark chuckle which sent shivers down her brother's spine, he thought, 'Meiying you have officially corrupted my sister. Oh, what happened to my soft sweet loveable sister.'
Xukun massaged his head, "I can't believe I have to explain this, no feeding the guest to your carnivorous plants, and no you may not break the guest's eardrums."
Marinette was about to say something but was cut off by Xukun saying.
"AND NO Xiao Mei, you may not incase them in your crystals and turn them into your statue collection."
Marinette pouted and huffed, "I wasn't going to say that."
Xukun gave her a look that says otherwise, "Anyway all your mask has been prepared and are put in your rooms."
"But – "
"No buts you're dismissed." Xukun ordered.
Marinette and her friends felt dejected.
They were all in Marinette's drawing room.
"YA! Is he crazy!" Suhyun exclaimed.
"Eii, watch it that's my father you're talking about." Said Marinette, "But yeah you're right."
Izanagi smirked just as he got an idea Chanhyuk saw this and said, "I know that look on your face. You're up to something."
"Mei, don't you think it's time for a little pay back after all the torture they've put you through during your stay in Paris."
Marinette raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"When they're having their tour around the palace tomorrow why don't we play a little prank on them? You know "harmless" pranks." Izanagi suggested as a mischievous glint in his eyes appeared in his eyes.
Everyone smirked and said, "We're in."
Nino and Nathaniel stood at the back wondering if they should intervene or not thinking, 'Why do I have the feeling that this will not end well...'
They could practically feel and see the menacing arura around them.
(The next day)
"Woah, this palace is huge." Said Alya.
Lila looked around and was amazed but hid it, she then smirked and said, "Well it wouldn't be this amazing if I didn't help with the design after all. This palace is the new design it was a few years ago before I moved to Paris."
Alya raised am eyebrow, "Really?"
Lila just nodded innocently.
Adrien rolled his eyes at the obvious lie. He looked around and noticed that almost all the maids and guards were wearing mask. He though that it was strange that they were all wearing mask. Thay were all lead to the throne room where the emperor, empress, and princess were sitting on the thrones, there were two figures standing on each side of the family.
Adrien turned around and noticed two guards by the door, one guard was wearing a mask that only covered the eyes much like the rest of the guards they saw earlier with a hood and the other one wore a full mask that cover his entire face. Adrien looked back at the throne and when he saw the princess, he smirked knowing that it's Marinette.
Marinette's fist tightened when she saw him smirk and wink at her, she'd do anything to wipe that smirk of his ugly face, it was as though he was toying with her. But she calmed down not wanting to reveal her identity.
Xukun forced a smile and greeted the class, "WELCOME class of Françoise Dupont, I am Cai Xukun the Emperor, this is my wife the Empress, Yu Shuxin, and my daughter Cai Meiying Princess of China. I hope you all enjoyed your visit."
Xukun scanned the class and spotted the liar, his eyes narrowed at her. Lila even though she could see his eyes felt somewhat intimidated. She felt like she was being suffocated, unable to move. She held he head down not wanting to meet him eyes.
Alya saw this and was confused on why Lila was acting like this, she thought, 'Why didn't hus majesty recognize Lila, why is the princess staying quiet when her best friend is here. Why si Lila not saying anything.'
Something didn't feel quite right, but she didn't dwell on it thinking that it was probably because they haven't seen each other in a long time.
Xukun saw Lila's expression go paler by the minute and smirked. He held is hand out for Marinette to come forward and said,
"My daughters and her friends will guide you to the Ruby Palace, they also give a set of rules you must follow, break them and you will get consequences, UNDESTAND."
They all quickly nodded as his voice boom throughout the room.
Marinette and her friends escorted them through the palace.
"This is the Diamond Palace it's the main palace specifically for the Emperor and Empress, the throne room is also here, underground dungeons are off limits. Most of the time you will see other nobles come and go in this place normally they would be here for a meeting with his majesty."
They walked a bit further and noticed that the ground surrounding them had stubs of white and light pink crystals on the ground, some were sticking out from the pillars. The flowers around them were all pink and white.
"This one is the Quartz Palace this palace is mostly used for the princess and prince of the royal family; this is where I live and where my siblings will be living once, they are born."
Alya then excitedly asked, "Your highness, will your best friend be living here as well."
"My best friend? Seeing as Lady Yu Yuan is my lady in waiting as well so of course." Marinette answered. She smirked knowing that Alya was thinking that Lila was her best friend.
Alya looked confused, "But I thought that Lila was her best friend."
Marinette tilted her head looking confused and asked, "Who?"
Alya then pointed to Lila who hid behind the class, "Her, you know Lila your best friend since you were a child."
The pair of siblings laughed while Marinette just gave a look of disgust. Now she was even more confused, why were they laughing? What was so funny? Why does the princess look offended? She looked at the rest of the class they looked just as confused as she did.
"Princess Meiying, I didn't know that you were friends with some that looks so...so...how do I put this in a nice way, hideous." Said Hayami as she cackled some more.
Suhyun calmed down but not without letting a few giggles pass, "I get what you mean Princess Hayami, I mean who would style their hair like that? I mean it looks like to tied to sausages on your hair and look at her proportions, her face is so big and at least 90 percent of her face is her forehead."
Marinette just turned around and said, "Your friend bust be lying because I would never associate with someone who looks like that. Now let us continue this tour so you can get settled in."
"My only best friend is Lady Jiang Yu Yuan future Duchess of the Jiang Duchy."
Alya was shocked she looked at Lila for answers but all that Lila did was look anywhere other than her.
They walked some more and noticed that their surroundings changed now there are white, light blue-, turquoise-, and gold-colored pillar. But the difference with this palace and the previous was that this palace had more fountains around the area.
"Here's the Turquoise Palace. Normally when nobles from far parts of the empire travel to the palace they would stay here. But normally that would be once or twice every month. Next is the Sapphire Palace this is where royal guest stays, like princess Hayami and princess Suhyun and their brother stay."
The walked a bit further and arrived at a place it was the color of the palace was red, white, and gold it was a bit smaller than the other palaces.
"Finally, we have the Ruby Palace this is where you will be staying, inside the head maid will assign you all to your respective rooms. For tonight you all will be having dinner in the main palace with the Emperor and Empress and with us of course so be prepared it will take at least 30 minutes to go to the main palace from here so I have arranged a limo to take you guys, Oh and once last thing security has been tightened so if you want to leave palace grounds please be sure to inform someone of your whereabouts and bring and escort, you may not leave palace grounds unless you have one."
Before Marinette left, she gave them a dark smiled and said, "Hope you enjoy your stay."
This sent shivers down their spine as they thought, 'Why do I get the feeling we're unwelcomed.'