Hey guys, I am finally back with an update after I don't even know how long. I would like to apologize for not updating this fanfic for so long. To be honest, the former title of Her Facade just wasn't interesting enough for me. That is why I changed the title to A Lady's Veil. Also, I would like to thank Jo for the fantastic, gorgeous, stunning fanfic cover that she made for me. Please enjoy, loves!
At the end of the match, Caroline followed Alaric to a small private room and went behind the screen.
Changing out of her heavy armor, she exhaled a sigh of relief. As soon as she returned home, she would take a bath and that would be the end of it.
Of course, not many people were able to take a bath everyday, but living in Alaric's home had its perks.
"I cannot wait to return home." She sighed, coming out from behind the screen wearing a simple blue dress.
"As sweaty as you are, you still look beautiful, darling." Alaric told her as he made his way over to her and gave her a fatherly hug. "Now, let us go home and I'll make sure that Jenna makes us some hearty dinner."
"Sounds good," the blonde said as she took the glass that he offered and drank greedily.
"The royals watched your fight, Caroline." Alaric notified her and as they were making their way out of the room, a well-dressed man approached them with a smile on his lips.
"Hello," he said, his husky and accented voice making Caroline shiver with something that was foreign to her.
"Hello," Caroline said, giving him a slight curtsy.
"I was told that the gladiator who won the last match could be located in the room you two just vacated." He told them as he looked into the empty room.
"I am sorry to say, but he left a couple of minutes ago. My son doesn't fancy staying too long after a match, after all."
"Your son?" The gent asked. "Am I to assume that this lady is your daughter, then?"
"Why of course," Alaric responded, beaming down at Caroline with a genuine smile.
"Papa, we must go. Mama is waiting for us." Caroline said, playing along with Alaric's little plot.
"I am sorry to keep you waiting, but I came here because I am interested in hiring your son."
"Hiring my son? I do not think that my son will be interested."
"He will. After all I am one of the Prince's and my father is the king."
"Oh my," Caroline said as her bright blue eyes widened and she stared at the handsome prince who had dirty blonde curls and stormy blue-gray eyes.
"It seems I have surprised you, my lady." The prince announced as his gaze moved down her figure. "And it seems you were very nervous for your brother's match indeed." He stated as he took on her sweaty appearance.
"Of course," she responded, looking away from him.
"May I ask your name, love?"
"Um…" Caroline said as she looked over at Alaric, wondering what it is she should do.
"My daughter's name is Caroline, your majesty. However, we must get going. My wife expects us for dinner after all."
"May I call upon you then? I would still like to talk my proposition over with your son and would enjoy getting to know your beautiful daughter."
"I am afraid that isn't possible, your majesty. Good day and if you wish to see my son then perhaps you'll come for his next appearance… It is a sennight away and will be here, of course."
"A sennight? Surely you understand that I wouldn't have approached now if I wasn't looking to immediately recruit your son. The royal family needs a man like him because with him there, nobody would dare speak against us."
"My son isn't the man for this sort of employment, your majesty. Please understand and allow my daughter and I to pass you by."
"If it's being separated from him you're afraid of, then we will work something out. The palace is a big place after all."
"As I tried to say before- we are not interested." Alaric announced and Caroline silently clapped him on the back, but wondered why he was so against her- 'her brother' taking a job with the royal family…
With a nod, the prince looked from the older man and then to Caroline.
"Perhaps, you will change your mind as the sennight passes us by. I'll be here then and will try and have a private conversation with your son. Good day." Klaus stated before he took their leave.
Once Alaric and Caroline were alone, the blonde gave him a curious look.
"Why in the world would you say no to his majesty? I wouldn't mind protecting the royal family."
"Caroline, if you were really a man I wouldn't have thought twice about it. However, I see you as my little girl- my daughter. I won't have you going into a palace surrounded by nosy people. I don't want you to be in danger. Think of what will happen when you're bunk mates find out of your sex. They'll use you, sweetheart. Young men are a rowdy bunch, after all. Not to mention those that are older."
"Ric, as you know I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself. I want to do this." Caroline announced, refusing to back down.
"Caro…" Alaric started, but she interrupted him.
"I've made my decision. Next time I see his majesty, I'll be in my gladiator's uniform. He will not find out that I am a lady, I can assure you."
"You won't be changing your mind, huh? After all, you've always been a stubborn one."
"It's my specialty," she smiled innocently before she wiggled her arm into the empty space between his side and arm.
With a shake of his head, Alaric simply nodded and she smiled brightly up at him. Then, the two walked out of the colosseum and made their way home.
When Klaus was back at the palace, he made his way into the sitting room he shared with his brothers. Just as she entered, he heard his brothers speaking of the match that they have all just witnessed.
Kol was the first to spot Klaus and as he looked over at him, a wide smile appeared on his lips.
"So, did the gladiator say yes to our proposition? Because we really do need somebody with that amount of skill protecting us from those that mean us ill." Kol announced matter-of-factly.
"Actually, I wasn't able to catch the boy, but I did run into his father and sister."
"How did you miss him, but not his family?" Kol wondered out loud, the confusion evident in his voice.
"Actually, I do not know. But that isn't important… What's important is that his father refused my offer, but did notify me of a match the gladiator would be apart of in a sennight."
"We'll not be able to attend, little brother." Elijah announced. "I'm getting married that day and I expect you to be by my side with the rest of our siblings."
"'Lijah, I'll stay for the ceremony, but not for the day's festivities. I have to recruit this boy because he can train our guards. You know what has been going on… Father has been getting threatening letters and though we have a large group of men working for us, we need somebody that can teach them how to fight."
"You'll stay for the ceremony and the day's festivities, Niklaus." Elijah commanded. "I am the heir to the throne and though I do not wish to use my position, I shall. You will attend my wedding or else there will be problems."
With a roll of his stormy blue-gray eyes, Klaus shrugged and took a seat on one of the wing chairs.
"Are we understood?" Elijah questioned a few seconds later.
"We're understood, your majesty. Nevertheless, you may be the heir, but are not yet the king. I'll see what father has to say about the situation." He announced.
Elijah watched him through hooded eyes, but nodded at the end. Though the brothers loved one another, there were times when they simply did not get along.
Later that day, Klaus knocked on throne room and when he was given entry, he walked over to his father.
"Hello, your majesty." Klaus said as he bowed at the waist.
"Niklaus, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Emperor Mikael of Rome questioned as he folded his hands together in his lap.
"Your majesty, today I witnessed a fine match between two gladiators."
"Nik, it's just the two of us here. You can call me papa." Mikael reminded as a smile appeared on his lips.
Laughing, Klaus nodded in agreement and moved to the other throne that belonged to his mother. As he sat down, he remembered all those times when he was younger…
"Papa!" A five year old Klaus Mikaelson cried out as he ran into the throne room that was filled with people.
Stopping in his tracks, he looked around and bit down on his bottom lip nervously. After all, all the men excluding his father were looking at him at though he had two heads and four arms.
"Niklaus, come forward." Mikael commanded and the little boy did as he was told.
As he stepped towards the throne his father currently occupied, he looked down at the floor. After all, a king's son had to gift his father with obedience and ought to have been disciplined no matter how young he was…
Before the emperor said anything else to his son, he ordered for the men to leave him for a couple of minutes. He turned them into the direction of the different card rooms that were set up as well as the different lounge areas where the men could drink some alcohol and smoke cheroots.
Though all the men did as they were bid, there were those select few that did so to keep up their facades of good-natured followers of the King.
Nevertheless, all the men left and once the emperor and his third son were alone, the emperor urged his son to come closer.
Klaus expected a slap of discipline, but instead he felt his father's arms around him. His arms enveloped the little boy and he placed him upon his lap.
"What happened, my boy?" The emperor questioned, his voice filled with warmth and love.
"I- I wanted to show you something that I found while digging."
"Digging? Why were you digging, Nikky? You ought to be learning languages and numbers with your tutors."
"Um… I was learning a lot, but then I got tired. I asked Mister Colin if we could go outside because I wanted to know more about artiwacs. Mister Colin said okay and I found this." Klaus announced as he reached into his pocket and removed a piece of metal with a specific looking talisman.
"Artifacts, my boy." Mikael corrected.
The little boy looked away from his father and gave a sad sigh.
"It isn't a big deal, son. You tried and that's all that matters. Actually, this artifact looks very interesting. I am going to put it in my collection and we'll go digging for the missing pieces. Perhaps we'll find them all." Mikael offered.
Klaus nodded in agreement before he looped his arms around his father's neck.
"I love you, papa." Klaus said before he departed in search of the missing pieces. What was interesting was that though they found many of the missing pieces, there was one very important piece missing…
"Papa, so the reason why I am here is because I would like to discuss recruiting one of the gladiators that fought today. You see, this lad was really very skilled and I do think he can teach our men how to better protect themselves and us."
"That sounds like a fine idea. However, you do realize that this particular gladiator may just have gotten lucky during today's match, right?"
"That is what I thought at first, but not anymore. This lad is the real deal. I am going to follow up on his match in a sennight."
"Elijah's marriage is to take place on that day, Niklaus."
"I know," Klaus sighed. "I spoke to my older brother and he seems to be against it. Apparently since he's the heir to the throne I am to do as he bids no matter what. He's acting as though he's already King." Klaus announced as a frown settled upon his lips.
With a chuckle, Mikael shook his head before he motioned for Klaus to come closer.
"I'm still here and I expect to remain in power a lot longer. With that in mind, you must attend the wedding ceremony, but afterwards you may go and see the match. If this lad is really as good as you say then we need him. You have my blessing, son. But I expect to see the lad's strategy as soon as you recruit him. Is that understood?"
"Yes," Klaus answered immediately. "I won't disappoint you, papa. Just wait and see."
With those last few words, Klaus left his father to himself before he made his way to his bedchamber. There, he thought about what would entice the boy to take up the position he offered. As the ideas circled around in his brain, he couldn't seem to get the girl's face out of his head. It seemed neither the male or the female sibling would be giving him any sleep in the coming sennight...
There you go, sweethearts! I hope this chapter was alright and would like to thank those of you that will give this fanfic another chance. Thank you so so much for your support and patience. It really means the absolute world to me, especially now. Unfortunately, I'm not writing as often as I'd like to because I simply don't have the heart to. Not with my grandmother's life hanging in the balance. Nevertheless, I am hoping for the best and hope to return very soon with another update.
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~Hana :p