Chapter Text
Princess Tsurugi and Prince Agreste sit calmly across from the other over a game of chess, on the sideline over the sound of clashing swords, as their personal knights train, while their parents remain negotiating inside the castle. It's a big day in the kingdom of Gabriel, to have Queen Tomoe visiting from the land of Tsurugi. Everyone knows that King Gabriel and Queen Tomoe have been in talks for the past few months over the possibility of combining their power in an alliance. There's been gossip floating around town about how the truce is likely to be sealed with the marriage of Princess Kagami and Prince Adrien.
In contrast to the liveliness of the kingdom, Princess Tsurugi and Prince Agreste sit in solemn silence as they progress through their chess game, the silence only broken by the crashing sounds of swords and armor off to the side. As Prince Agreste waits for Princess Tsurugi to make her next move, he subtly slides his eyes over to the two knights that are training together. Princess Tsurugi swiftly puts Prince Agreste in check, claiming, "You're hesitating. It is because you are distracted, is it not."
Prince Agreste denies the claim. "I'm perfectly focused on our mental exercise, Kagami," he protests, even as his eyes are drawn to the glistening faces of the knights as they remove their helmets to take a short break.
Princess Tsurugi raises an eyebrow, "I would believe you, Sir Adrien, if it was not for the fact that you are clearly admiring something else beyond my own wit."
Prince Agreste flushes at the insinuation, "Kagami— "
Princess Tsurugi smirks slightly, "I am not offended, Sir Adrien, one must admit that a knight within their element sure is a sight to be treasured." Her own eyes rove over the figure of her own bodyguard.
"You should go talk to her," Princess Tsurugi prods, "I've noticed her staring at you before, when she has escorted me along with you."
"Kagami, really, I swear I don't have eyes for anyone but— "
"Adrien. You do not need to attempt to spare my heart. In the very beginning I may have had some infatuation for the image of you I had created in my head before we met, when my mother was instilling the idea of wedding me off to you in my head. But I've come to see that neither of us truly cares for the plotting of our parents."
"Kagami…"
"I mean it, Adrien, you should chase what happiness you are able to find," Kagami advises, even as she restrains her own jealousy.
"But Kagami, she isn't the one I've been distracted by," Adrien guiltily admits, as the images of his own knight's muscular stature and handsome features flash through his mind.
Kagami takes a moment to process the revelation. Adrien begins to worry at her silence, "Kagami, I know it's unusual, or even unnatural, but I swear that— "
"I am glad that we are not so different after all, Sir Adrien." Kagami smiles gently at Adrien.
"You mean, you too?"
"It would be hard to not have realized this about myself, when I'm constantly accompanied by the beauty and grace and strength of my own knight," admits Kagami, lovingly.
Adrien sighs in relief. "I'm so glad to know that I'm not alone in this, but my Father would be so disappointed in me if he found out."
"I understand the feeling. It was a rough conversation with my own Mother, but I was able to avoid complications by pretending as though just because my own passions may be stirred by fair maidens, does not mean that my gaze avoids male suitors."
"So, it seems as though we are both in the same situation then," sighs Adrien.
"So, for you, women do not…?"
"I am lucky that I truly do favor both, so I don't need to pretend but it's been difficult, when my own knight is so charming and kind all the time, to pretend as though any maiden could turn my eyes away from him."
Kagami sighs. "At least you may yet still have a chance at happiness," she mutters.
"What do you mean by that?" queries Adrien.
"I have seen the look in Nino's eyes when you are busy with your responsibilities as he watches over you, and while it may just be platonic fondness, one cannot doubt that he loves you, Adrien. And while I would never begrudge you from finding your own happiness, I must admit I somewhat bitter that you've managed to capture the affections of my knight in addition to your own. I could see the three of you being happy together…" Kagami frowns as her imagination spirals.
"Kagami." Adrien reaches across the forgotten chess board to lay his hand on Kagami's own. "I didn't want to accidentally offend you or insinuate something rude before, but now that we've admitted where our intentions lie, I think you should know that I am almost positive that you are the one who's caught Marinette's eye."
Kagami takes a moment to ponder the idea. "Adrien, I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to patronize me."
"No, Kagami, seriously. Look! Right now, over at them," insists Adrien.
Kagami spares a surreptitious glance across the courtyard over to the pair that had been training and while her gaze first trails across her protector's figure, once she reaches her face, she accidentally makes direct eye contact with Marinette. Marinette suddenly blushes, caught staring at Kagami, and stumbles as she quickly turns back and bumps into Nino, who laughs at her blunder.
Kagami feels her face heat up at the idea of being Marinette's object of desire rather than it being Adrien. "Are you sure that we may not just be getting lost in our own wishful thinking?"
Adrien smiles slightly, catching Nino's eye, who smiles gently back at Adrien, causing him to blush and look off to the side, "I don't know, Kagami. But I think we should at least have hope. Furthermore, with the intentions of our parents superseding over our own plans, it seems like the four of us will probably be spending a lot more time together in the coming future. I'm sure that we will be able to figure everything out."
Kagami starts smiling gently at Adrien, "Thank you, Adrien. I appreciate that we were able to confide in each other and have this conversation."
"Of course, Kagami! If our parents intend to make us wed the least we can do is have each other's backs as we try to find our own pieces of happiness during the situation."
Kagami breaks into a more real genuine smile and stands. She moves with purpose over to Adrien and sticks her hand out. Adrien smiles, slightly perplexed, and reaches out his own hand to clasp with hers, except she suddenly tugs him up and wraps him in a hug. Adrien slightly flushes but hugs her back firmly.
Kagami lets go and suddenly looks at him intently, "Alright. Let us proceed."
Adrien suddenly feels wary, "Proceed with what?"
"Our plan to achieve our own happiness of course. They are both right over there, and we will never know unless we try," she confidently insists.
"Wait wait wait, Kagami— "
She begins dragging him by his hand behind her as she walks towards the other two.
Nino and Marinette share a confused look at the approach of the regal couple.