Chapter Text
A little bit later, out in the foliage near the castle, Rena Rouge was talking to Ladybug about Luka's offer.
"Leave Paris and go with Viperion?" Rena reiterated.
"Yeah, he just asked me, and I'm still trying to process it," Ladybug said. "But I told him yes."
"Really, girl?!" Rena said, delighted. "You're going to go with Viperion?!"
"Yeah, and he said that you're welcome, too. He wants both of us to come." Ladybug confirmed.
"Oh, I am so in! Goodbye, Graham de Vanily Royal Family, hello, adventures on the road in new lands!" Rena Rouge said. The girls shared a fist-bump.
"Then it's settled. Once we're done here in Paris, we'll leave with everyone." Ladybug stated.
"Great!" Rena agreed.
"But before that, let's get to work. We have a treasury to clean out." Ladybug said, getting serious.
Rena Rouge gave her friend a nod. The two of them made their way closer to the castle, where the rest of the team was waiting for them. Once they were in position, Rena Rouge took out her telescope to look around.
"Hm... It's lightly guarded... A bit too lightly guarded." Rena reported as she put her telescope away.
"They're either getting complacent or there's more going on..." Ladybug said.
"Think they're trying to ambush us for a change?" Ryuko questioned.
"That's entirely possible, but we won't know until we try," Ladybug told her before turning to Rena. "So, the southwest wall is the closest place to the treasury?"
"Yes," Rena confirmed with a nod. "Just sneak up there and the rest should be very straightforward."
"Thanks," Ladybug said as she started to move. "You and the rest of the boys stay here and keep an eye on things. At the first sign of trouble, get out of here and get back to the camp."
"Got it." Rena said, giving Ladybug a thumb's up.
"Now, let's go!" Ladybug said as she, Viperion, and Ryuko ducked and hid in the bushes while sneaking to the castle.
As they got closer to the walls, Ryuko looked around and quietly said to Ladybug, "Rena was right... The security is too light for a party like this. I see most of the guards are at the front gate, with almost nobody in the back."
"Something's off..." Viperion agreed.
"Yeah, I'm getting that vibe, too..." Ladybug spoke as they got closer and closer to the castle.
Once they were there, they saw a flat wall.
"So, here it is." Ladybug said.
"Exactly how are we supposed to get to the treasury from here?" Ryuko asked. "I don't see any windows or anything to hang a rope on to."
"No need for that," Ladybug said with confidence as she started feeling around the wall. "If I remember right... It should be..."
*CLANK! CA-CHUNK! WHIRRR!*
Part of the wall sunk in further and then it slid open to reveal a small, narrow staircase.
"Bingo," Ladybug said. "Let's go!"
The trio ran up the stairs, just as the wall closed up again.
"Okay, we're in..." Ladybug said as they made it to the top of the stairs.
They slid the door open and they were greeted by the sight of a luxurious and ornately-decorated hallway.
"The treasury should be around the corner to the right of where we are..." Ladybug said.
"According to Rena, the party is being held in the ballroom on the northeast side of the castle," Ryuko muttered. "Meaning most of the guards will be on the other side of the castle, so we can go in, get that money, and get out before anyone notices."
"Maybe so, but again, my gut's telling me that something's wrong," Viperion said. "Are you sure we shouldn't go back and rethink this plan?"
"You may have a point..." Ladybug muttered.
"We can't stop here," Ryuko insisted with a quiet hiss. "Think of all those starving people we'll be letting down if we chicken out."
Ladybug sighed and said, "...You're right. Let's go."
The trio started quietly walking down the hallway, keeping an eye out for any guards in the area. Every time they heard footsteps, they paused and hid in the nearest shadow they could.
They stepped around the corner and saw the door to the treasury. The trio started running to the door.
"No guards at the treasury?" Viperion spoke.
"Yeah, I noticed..." Ladybug said as she opened the door to a dark room.
They cautiously stepped in and saw a bunch of golden coins and rare gemstones on the floor and in sacks.
"Jackpot," Ryuko said. "Now, let's get collecting."
As Ladybug picked up one sack of money...
"NOW!" A voice shouted, causing the thieves' heads to snap up.
The torches came on and they realized they were surrounded by guards.
"Attack!" The captain shouted as all the guards charged at the group.
"I knew something was off! This was a trap!" Viperion shouted as the trio began fighting.
The guards jumped on the thieves, tangling with them. Ladybug tried to fight back, but for once, she was overwhelmed, and getting ambushed didn't help.
She was knocked onto her back, and the two guards held her down by her limbs.
"Ladybug! I'll-" Viperion began, only for his lyre to be knocked out of his hand, and he was tackled and held down by another guard.
Ryuko continued fighting with her sword, knocking a few guards down, but not enough. One guard got her by the hand, but she back-flipped and kicked him in the face.
Ladybug lifted her head and shouted, "Ryuko! Get out of here! Warn the others!"
Ryuko protested, "What about-"
"Just go!" Ladybug shouted.
Ryuko knocked one guard away before dashing out of the treasury.
"After her!" The captain shouted.
"No, let the dragon go," Another voice said. In walked the prince, looking smug as ever. "We got their leaders. That's all we need for now."
"Let me guess: you split the number of guards up because you thought we would come and get the money from here?" Ladybug asked as the guards forced her and Viperion up on their knees.
"Smart girl," Félix chuckled. "Now, to the dungeon with these crooks."
Ladybug and Viperion looked at each other in worry.
Meanwhile, Ryuko broke out of a nearby window, dashed into the bushes, and she said to everyone else, "We gotta retreat! Now!"
"What?" Carapace asked. "Where are...?!"
The devastated, sad look on Ryuko's face said it all. The others were shocked before growing solemn faces. Rena collapsed into Carapace's arms and began crying.
"How?! How did this happen?!" Rena cried.
"Oh, babe..." Carapace muttered, trying to comfort his vixen.
"Let's go," Pegasus said, putting a hand on Carapace's shoulder. "We'll regroup at base and come up with a plan to get them out of there."
The team sadly ran from their hiding spot to go to the camp.
Ladybug struggled against the ropes that were binding her arms and legs. She was looking around the cold dungeon cell she was in, trying to find a beam of light to see if she could find a way to get out. No luck. She heard doors open, and she stiffened up.
In came the prince, who was giving her a triumphant smirk. She, on the other hand, was glaring him down, her eyes so narrow that they may as well have been slits. She was about to growl at him.
"Well, well, well, looks like the ladybug isn't so lucky after all," Félix chuckled as he opened the door to her cell, and he sauntered over to stand right in front of her. "Do you mind telling me where the rest of your little friends are?"
"As if I'm going to tell you anything!" Ladybug spat at him.
"Well, that's too bad, especially since if you do cooperate, you're not likely to end up dead." Félix replied, his expression not changing.
"I'd rather be dead than give into the demands of a spoiled rotten tyrant!" Ladybug fired back.
"Let's see how tough you are when that mask of yours is off." Félix stated as he came closer. Ladybug stiffened up.
She closed her eyes as she felt the fabric leave her face and felt her hair fall down from its pigtails.
"Marinette! I should have guessed," Félix said in realization as he started walking around her like a lion about to pounce on its prey. "Someone as ballsy, someone as gutsy, someone as outspoken as you, joining a band of criminals? I should've known. I assume that little fox friend of yours may be Alya?"
"I'm not gonna say a word to the likes of you!" Marinette stated. "And even if I did know who was who, I know better than to betray my friends!"
"You're betraying the crown by doing this, you know," Félix told her, his triumphant smile still on his face. "So you might as well start talking."
"I'm exercising the right to remain silent, as I refuse to waste my air talking to scum like you!" Marinette snapped.
"Well, you'd better spill because otherwise, that snake you clearly have a thing for is likely to be hanged." Félix stated.
Marinette's eyes widened, she turned her head to look at the prince, and she glared at him before saying, "You wouldn't...!"
Félix's smile only grew. Marinette dripped a cold sweat dor a second, realizing he really would go through with it.
"You assassinate him and you'll make a martyr out of him! Then all the peasants are gonna roar for justice on his behalf! They'll hate you more than they already do!" Marinette shouted. "So do the right thing and let us go!"
"Hm..." Félix muttered, his finger under his chin in consideration. He started walking around Marinette again. "You know... I may actually be willing to show a little mercy on your snaky man."
Marinette looked up at him with a cautious eye and asked, "What's the catch?"
Félix reached into his pocket. Marinette stiffened, bracing herself for whatever he had in mind. Instead of a weapon such as a knife or gun, he pulled out a ring. With a swift motion of his fingers, he split it into two.
"These, my dear, are the Graham de Vanily Twin Rings, a family heirloom," Félix began. "I was planning on using these as my wedding rings for the lucky lady who would decide to become my queen. As you know, I've had my eye on you as my queen for a long time. They say behind every powerful man lies an equally powerful woman. And you certainly have what it takes to speak like a queen."
Marinette looked up at him, her blood turning to water.
"All you have to do to set your snake free is to accept my mother's crown." Félix told her.
Marinette looked up at him, scared. A lifetime of standing by the side of this monster? Or death? She was afraid, not sure which path she would choose, because either way, it wouldn't end well for her.
But for Luka... Her beloved Luka, who was always there for her with a smile and a song.
As a tear fell from her eyes and onto the ground, she decided...
A little bit later, Marinette was sitting in a nearby parlor room, wearing a luxurious white dress with a long veil attached to a tiara. She was looking at herself in the mirror, with her face covered with a light amount of makeup, making her bright blue eyes pop even more. Her hair was down as always, just like her emotions were. Her smile was gone.
Her parents and the queen were in there, too.
"I'm so happy you've finally changed your tune, Marinette!" Amélie said, her tone of voice still saccharine and false. "You're finally accepting your role as my boy's wife!"
"Hey, she's not doing this out of her own free will!" Tom said to the queen. "We all know it, but your son coerced her into this!"
"Oh, she'll grow to love my son," Amélie insisted. "Now if you excuse me, as the mother of the groom, I need to be in the audience."
As Amélie left, Tom and Sabine looked at their daughter.
"Honey, are you sure about this?" Sabine asked.
"Truth is... No," Marinette said, about to cry. "I... I don't want to do this, but if I don't, Luka will be dead! I can't have that on my conscience!"
Tom and Sabine gave Marinette sad looks.
"So much for leaving Paris with the man I love..." Marinette began.
There was a knock on the window, and Marinette looked over to see...
"Rena!" Marinette said as she stood up and ran to the window. She opened it and let her in. "What are you doing here?!"
"Girl, you didn't tell the prince anything about any of us, so I'm here to get the truth: are you really going to marry Félix?" Rena asked.
Marinette's face fell and she sad, her voice breaking, "...Yes. I am."
"You can't!" Rena said. "What about us leaving Paris with the others?!"
"You can still go, but as for me..." Marinette began, her eyes going askance and about to cry.
"...This isn't right! This is evil!" Rena insisted. "Marinette, you once said it yourself: every problem has a solution! And I've got the solution to this one!"
She went back to the window and climbed onto the sill.
"Al- Rena Rouge, what are you going to do?" Tom asked.
"Trust me. I'm a cunning fox for a reason! I'll be back as Alya soon. See you at the wedding." Rena said as she winked at the family before leaping out.
A few hours later, down in the dungeon, Luka was fighting to break free from his bindings around his body and his feet.
He tried slipping his hand out of the chains, but no luck. He heard the door to his cell opening up, and he saw two cloaked figures coming in.
Luka hung his head, resigned, and he said, "I accept my fate..."
"Don't get all depressing on me, bro." A familiar voice said as the person took the bindings and started to pick the locks on the chains.
Luka looked up and saw the two people lower their hoods.
"Juleka? Rose? What are you doing here?" Luka asked.
"Getting you out of here, silly." Rose giggled.
"How'd you...?" Luka began.
"Alya," Juleka muttered in confirmation as the chains fell off around her brother's abdomen. "But there's no time for chitchat - you've got a wedding to crash."
"What do you mean?" Luka asked as his sister undid the chains around his ankles.
"Alya told us that Marinette sacrificed herself to the prince," Rose explained. "She agreed to marry him on the grounds that he let you go."
Luka's eyes bulged and he said, "What?! I gotta stop this!"
He was about to leave his cell when Juleka stopped him by the arm, saying, "Not dressed like a commoner, you're not. Good thing I brought a change of clothes."
Juleka presented her brother with a bundle of fancy clothes in cyan and teal green.
"Wait, is this...?" Luka began.
"Yep," Juleka said. "Our father's old clothes. I picked up some tips from Marinette and altered them for you. It's time, Luka. Time to fulfill the promise you made that day."
Luka looked at his sister, and he gave a firm nod.
"...Thanks, Juleka." Luka said as he took the clothes.
"Hold it, you're not done yet." Rose giggled.
Luka looked over and saw Juleka was holding out a small jewelry box.
"Managed to salvage this from the fire." Juleka said.
Luka smiled in delight when he realized what it was.
"Thanks, Jule," Luka said as he took the box. "I'd better get changed."
The trio smiled as Luka dashed out.
In the wedding cathedral in the castle, the wedding march was being played on the organ. Félix was wearing his royal wedding clothes and standing at the alter before the priest, a wicked smile on his face. Amélie was sitting in the audience in the front row with a smile. A few seats away to her right, Sabine was sitting, dreading the ceremony. Alya was also there, sitting in between the queen and the bride's mother, her face neutral.
The door to the room opened and everyone turned around to see Marinette, arm-in-arm with her father. They both looked pretty sad. The organ-player restarted the wedding march as Tom walked his daughter down the aisle.
As they made it up to the altar, Tom glared at Félix in rage before letting go of Marinette's arm and going to sit with Sabine.
Félix looked at Marinette and said, "Smile. You're going to become royalty!"
Marinette gave Félix the worst stink-eye she could muster before looking up at the priest. The priest looked at the bride in pity before breathing deeply and sighing sadly.
He held the book up and he began, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered today to witness the union of Prince Félix Graham de Vanily and Mlle. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, in holy matrimony..."
Outside, the one guard who was keeping an eye on the situation was pacing in front of the door. He heard rapid footsteps, and he turned around to say, "Halt! This is a private-"
His eyes widened when he saw the person in front of him.
Back in the cathedral...
"...If anyone has any valid reason that these two should not be wed, the bride and her family notwithstanding," The priest began as he shot a sad look to Marinette's parents. "Speak now or forever hold-"
The noises of shouting and a scuffle was heard outside and there was a shout and a banging noise, causing the priest to pause in his preaching.
*BANG!*
"I object!" Luka hollered as he slammed the doors open and barged in. Behind him, the guard had been thrown onto his back and he was struggling to get up.
Everyone whirled around to look at Luka in shock. He was wearing royal clothing, similar to Félix's uniform. But in Luka's case, his was primarily cyan, navy blue, and silver. He even had a small, silver crown on his head.
"Luka!" Marinette said, shouting in surprise as she pulled away from the groom. Alya was fist-pumping in delight, thinking, 'Right on time!'
"Oh, now what do you want?!" Félix spat. "Don't you know when people don't want you?!"
"I think people should be asking you that," Luka commented with a chuckle. "I'm just here to take the bride away to my kingdom."
"Hah, your kingdom? You're just a lowlife thief who's only walking because Marinette decided to become my princess." Félix scoffed.
"Oh, she'll still become a princess... Just not yours." Luka said with a knowing smile.
Félix started howling in laughter, but Luka stood firm.
"I wouldn't be laughing," Luka stated. "You've forced Marinette into this marriage, and in my kingdom, women are treated with nothing but respect!"
"And what would you know?" Félix asked, crossing his arms. "Commoners like you should know how to be respectful towards royalty."
"Well..." Luka said as he stepped forward. "I don't really like formal intros, but if you insist..."
Luka brandished his left hand and the light was caught by the bangle on his wrist. His family's crest, which hung from the snake's head, dangled in the light.
Everyone who saw it (barring a confused Marinette) gasped and they knelt down. Those who didn't catch it were forced on their knees. Even Félix paled when he saw the snake-themed jewelry on Luka's wrist.
"Wait a second... That bangle..." Félix began as something set in and his eyes went wide. "I know that bangle!"
"As you should," Luka began. "I'm the lost Prince of Serpent Kingdom, Luka Couffaine!"
"Wait, Luka... You're...?" Marinette asked, her eyes wide.
Félix went ashen white and said, "The Prince of Serpent Kingdom?!"
Everyone started clamoring and talking about the turn of events.
"The royal family of Serpent Kingdom is alive?!" "But how?! I thought their kingdom fell when the Queen went mad!" "The castle burned down!" "How?!"
Luka held up a hand and everyone went silent.
"Yes, it's true, the kingdom lost the royal family's castle when my mother lost her mind and started living up to her name," Luka began. "But my younger sister and I fled when we realized she was too far gone, with the intention to someday return and reclaim the throne. We wandered around for years to try and find a safe place to stay and bide our time."
Luka stepped forward as he glared at Félix.
"We assembled a group of friends who wanted to help us do good deeds and bring justice to other kingdoms in the meantime," Luka continued. "And when we caught wind of rumors of how this kingdom was being oppressed by their royal family, we decided to check it out."
Félix flinched at the sight of Luka's glare.
"I got enough information from Marinette's testimonies, Alya's intel, and the stuff I'd seen around the kingdom to get an idea of what to do," Luka added as he approached Marinette. "And seeing Marinette as Ladybug in action, actively helping people and covering for us whenever possible, really moved me."
Marinette blushed in response, her grin goofy.
"So, when I learned that she's only going through with this wedding to save my snakeskin, I thought it was time to return the favor," Luka said as he gave her a smile. "I'm here to save her as my thanks."
"Oh, Your Highness..." Marinette began.
"No formalities between us, Marinette," Luka chuckled. "So... Since Serpent Kingdom needs a lot of work and some leadership, I'll have to go back and become King. And you know what they say: every king needs a queen... A queen like you, Marinette."
Marinette gasped in delight and shock as Luka took her hand.
"So, what do you say?" Luka asked her. "Will you be my queen?"
Marinette said, "Yes I will!"
Everyone in the room started cheering as Marinette hugged Luka. She threw the bouquet over to Alya, who caught it in both hands.
"Let's go?" Luka asked.
"Yes." Marinette agreed as the two of them went to leave.
"Absolutely NOT!" Amélie shouted as she stood up in rage. Félix crossed his arms. "This is supposed to be Félix's wedding to Marinette! She can't just run off with someone else! For the bride of the royal family to walk out on the groom?! It's scandalous!"
"What's scandalous is how you forced Marinette to marry your son!" Tom roared. "We've been against this from the beginning!"
"Agreed," Sabine added. "Luka definitely deserves the title and Marinette's hand."
"Amen to that!" Alya agreed.
Luka hugged Marinette protectively.
"NO!" Félix hollered as he grabbed the sword from the guard and glared at the pair.
His nostrils were flared, his eyes were narrowed in rage and his hair was starting to frizz out.
"Marinette is MY wife! MY princess!" Félix growled in a fit as he brandished it and started to step closer to Luka and Marinette. He pointed the sword at Luka. "So if you know what's going to keep you alive, give me back my wife!"
"Luka interrupted the ceremony before the vows were even started, so I'm actually not married to you." Marinette pointed out with a smile.
"She's right." The priest confirmed.
Félix growled again, put the sword back, took one of his gloves off and threw it at Luka, shouting, "I challenge you!"
The glove smacked Luka in the face and it fell to the ground. Everyone gasped in fear and watched in silent fear, their breath held, and wondering what Luka would do.
He just shook his head and said, "No."
Everyone gasped again.
Félix smirked and said, "Hah! Not accepting a challenge? That's cowardly."
"Blackmailing a woman into marrying you is what's cowardly." Luka stated, retaining calm.
Everyone was murmuring in response. Some were in agreement, others weren't impressed with Félix's challenge, and only one person (Amélie) outwardly admonished Luka for declining her son's challenge.
Félix snarled in anger, took his sword back and was about to charge at Luka and strike him down when...
Marinette, angry, shouted, "ENOUGH!"
Everyone looked at the bride in surprise.
"Listen up!" Marinette said as she stood between Luka and Félix. "If you wanna pick a fight, then do it with me!"
Again, collective gasp from the audience.
"What? You?" Félix asked.
"This is between the two of us," Marinette said. "You were the one selfish and stupid enough to drag Luka into it because you can't understand that Luka's the one I love!"
"How can you love this lowlife?!" Félix snapped.
"The only lowlife around here is YOU!" Marinette shouted.
Yet again, gasping from the crowds.
"So, here's the challenge: you duel me, and whoever gets the other's weapon out of their hands wins," Marinette stated. "You win, I'll marry you without argument. I win, you let me and Luka get married and leave us in peace, and you fix everything that you and your mother have done to the kingdom - lowering the taxes, freeing the prisoners, the whole package."
"...Deal." Félix said, smirking.
Marinette held out her hand for a sword, and one of the guards reluctantly handed it to her.
"Go for it, Marinette," Luka said as he stood up. "You've got this."
"Thanks, Luka." Marinette said as she brandished the sword.
Everyone in the room, Luka included, backed away to give Marinette and Félix space to fight.
'I may not have a lot of experience, but what I lack for in skill, I make up for in luck!' Marinette thought.
"Un, dieux, trois, aller!" One of the guards said before starting the match.
Marinette swiftly leaned to the left as Félix lunged at her to try striking her down with his sword. Marinette moved out of the way before brandishing her sword again. Félix whirled around before charging at her. He swung her sword at her, but she blocked with hers. She ducked and sweep-kicked at his leg, but he jumped and brought his sword down on her. She tumbled out of the way, stood up, and swiped her sword at him.
Their swords clashed over and over again.
"Where did you learn to fight like this?!" Félix demanded of her.
"A certain dragon offered to teach me, so I took her up on it." Marinette bragged before jumping and roundhouse-kicking at Félix's chest.
He stumbled back, shook his head, and pivoted on his foot before running at her. Marinette quickly looked around and saw a dangling silk. She jumped up, grabbed it by the hand, swung back and forth, let go, and she drop-kicked him in the face before jumping forward, doing a somersault and landing on both feet on the ground.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Félix griped as he shook his head.
"You didn't set any rules," Luka told him. "Don't complain."
"Shut up!" Félix ordered.
He charged in, but Marinette moved to her right and used the hilt of her sword to jab him in the oblique before using her foot to push him down, and he hit his head.
Marinette made some distance and held her sword up before letting her eyes scan around to look at her surroundings to find another plan. She didn't see anything when Félix got up and ran at her.
He held his sword out like he was jousting. But Marinette reacted just in time to block with her sword, parried his move, and shoved him away.
The two of them kept dashing in, clashing at each other, backing off, and repeating. It seemed to be going on for hours, neither one of them gaining the upper hand. Marinette scored a few points with her creative moves and unpredictable strategy.
At one point, Marinette's back was against the wall and she looked forward. Félix raised his sword to strike and knock her sword out, but Marinette ducked and slid between his legs to escape.
She stood up and jumped up to try kicking at Félix, who blocked with his sword. Marinette jumped back, did a back spring before landing, and held her sword up again.
The two of them charged in, their swords ready...
*CLANG!*
One sword was knocked out, it flew into the air, spun, and it landed with a loud clattering nose. Everyone fell silent. The room got so quiet that one could hear a pin drip.
A sword was raised and was about to be brought down, but the person paused.
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"...Admit defeat, Your Highness." Marinette said as she stood firm above the prince, and pointed her sword at his face.
After a pregnant silence, the entire crowd, barring the queen and prince, erupted in thunderous applause at Marinette's victory. Tom and Sabine were crying tears of joy and relief, Alya was whooping and hollering in delight, jumping up and down, and cheering.
Luka ran up to Marinette. She put her sword down and she let herself be scooped up into Luka's arms. He lifted her up by the waist and spun her around in his arms. He was laughing in delight.
"You did it, Marinette! I knew you could, but it still blows me away how amazing you are!" Luka said.
Marinette laughed as she allowed her prince to kiss her cheek. The two of them, tears in their eyes, kept kissing over and over again, ignoring the crowd's applause and letting themselves be happy.
"I won't have this!" Amélie screamed as she stepped forward and went to separate Marinette and Luka. "My son needs a bride and Marinette is the only one worth..."
Luka put a hand up.
"Your son agreed to the terms," Luka told her. "Marinette won the match, so she and I are to be married in peace."
Luka looked at Marinette with a smile and said, "So, now that that's settled... A great king needs an amazing queen."
Marinette gave him a flirtatious smile and said, "And yet again, I accept."
They shared one more kiss before Luka took her hand and they ran out of the cathedral. Everyone was cheering in delight, meanwhile Félix was about to throw a tantrum.
Epilogue
After that, Luka whisked Marinette away to Serpent Kingdom. While the castle itself was in shambles and the kingdom still in chaos, once Luka revealed himself, the people grew hopeful for their future.
With their Merry Friends and their families, Marinette and Luka began to rebuild Serpent Kingdom. Between Marinette and Luka's shared leadership skills, everyone's cooperation, the hope they restored together, and more, the restoration of Serpent Kingdom went all but flawlessly and in a very short amount of time. Marinette's creativity allowed for unconventional and complex solutions to the problems facing Luka's kingdom.
Over time, Marinette and Luka grew closer and closer with their affection. Whenever the two of them were out, they were holding hands, close to each other, consoling each other when things didn't go according to plan (more accurately, it was Luka soothing Marinette), working together on projects, bouncing ideas off each other, and going out and talking to the people to listen to their needs.
People didn't hesitate to talk about their blooming love, and how they were a shining hope for the citizens.
It took a few years, but once the kingdom was in a good position politically, militarily, economically, etc., all the citizens were chanting for a royal wedding.
It was a simple wedding, but the turnout was massive. Marinette and Luka never let their eyes leave each other during the ceremony. The rings (which were also heirlooms that Luka managed to rescue from his mother's mental snap) were exchanged once the vows were recited.
"By the power vested in me in the realm of Serpent Kingdom, I now pronounce you royal and wife!" The priest stated.
The priest put the crowns atop the newlyweds' heads. Luka's crown was large and silver with a giant aquamarine in a pear cut as the crown jewel. Marinette's crown was smaller in gold, and her crown jewel was a giant heart-shaped ruby.
"Ladies and gentleman, may I present to you the King and Queen of Serpent Kingdom!" The priest declared. "You may kiss the bride!"
Luka and Marinette shared a kiss, with the crowds erupting in joy.
The two of them ran the kingdom together, and within two years of their wedding, Marinette gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that they named Mélodie. The princess took after her mother in physical appearance with blue eyes and dark hair. She also got her mother's creativity and leadership skills while still having minor bouts of overthinking and clumsiness, but Mélodie also inherited her father's laid-back nature, intuition, charm, and musical talent.
Princess Mélodie Couffaine would someday run Serpent Kingdom with the same nobility her parents currently did.
Marinette, Luka, Mélodie, and all of their family and friends lived happily ever after.
As for Paris? Who cares, aside from the abolishment of the royal family after Félix followed through with his end of the deal?