Hi there! Here goes chapter 4. It's a bit shorter than the previous ones but enjoyyy.

Chapter 4:

She wasn't sure how many hours had passed but there were enough. Her hair had gone dry long before she gave up waiting for her husband to return. She wished he would be home soon. He said he just needed a drink. But maybe one wasn't enough.

She sighed as she turned to her side and looked at the empty space on the bed. Her fingers brushed over the covers that should cover his body but he wasn't there.

She remained quiet just staring at his empty spot when she heard the noise just outside the door. She closed her eyes pretending to sleep knowing that close to the morning hours, her husband returned to his home and their bed.

Caroline kept her eyes closed as she heard him undress and felt his weight on the bed but she remained still to give him the impression that she was still asleep. Her lips parted as she took in a deep breath when she felt his arms around her body. He was holding her so he could sleep. She was confused by that action but she didn't mind. She thought it was just his drunk state. The alcohol he had consumed filled her lungs as he breathed close to her face but still she managed to find herself relaxed in his embrace and fell asleep rather quickly.

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The next day came rather quickly. When Caroline was woken up by the knock on the door from the servants she felt as if she had just gone to sleep. She shifted in his arms and rubbed her eyes before yawning. She sat up taking a moment to herself before she called that they could come in. Klaus still seemed deep into sleep but she was certain that Sheila, who looked more annoyed than ever, would wake him up soon.

After she was dressed and prepared for the day she allowed her eyes to find her husband who was getting dressed now as well. She bit her lip as she admired his body but was distracted by Sheila's words. Even though she was talking quietly Caroline could tell by her tone that she was lecturing him about last night. She let them speak in private as she made her way out of the room finding Rebekah at the corridor. The girls agreed to make their way to the market after breakfast and Caroline forgot about everything else and focused simply on that.

Breakfast was rather quiet for her since Mikael's words were more towards his sons regarding the business they had until he acknowledged the presence of a young man Caroline had never seen before. That man kissed Esther on the cheeks before taking a seat at the other end of the table letting her confused. He didn't acknowledge her presence but spoke to almost everyone.

His name was Finn and Caroline remembered hearing about him. The oldest sibling, the actual crown prince, up until he decided to give up his title and became a royal guard sworn to live with never having a family or owning anything. There were rumors that he reached that decision when the girl he was in love with, Saige, died of a disease. The rumours said that he loved her so much he didn't want to marry anyone else thus leaving Elijah to become the crown prince and next in line for the throne. If the rumors were true Caroline felt sadness in her heart. Having such love for someone only to be taken away from you.

Their eyes met only for a moment and she realized that she had been staring at him all this time. Clearing her throat her eyes met with Rebekah's and smiled softly.

"Are you ready for our departure?" The young princess nodded and stood up fast eager to leave the palace. Caroline stood up and looked at Klaus before her eyes moved to the rest of the family.

"I shall see you soon."

Once outside Caroline felt free. Alive. Her eyes moved everywhere wanting to take in every single object placed on the table to be sold. Every single man, woman, and child who were around them. Many bowed as they walked past them and many more tried to sell them something or gift them things. The royal protocol dictated that they must accept all gifts presented to them and soon the maids that were with them found themselves carrying flowers and other treats.

"Come. We need fabric for my dress." Rebekah called pulling Caroline to a small store.

She wanted to comment that it was two dresses since she would need one too but she held that comment to herself. The young princess always felt the need to be the center of attention. They two of them found themselves discussing colors and designs and getting lost in planning how their outfits would look as well as the amount of jewelry that they would wear.

His head was pounding as Sheila came in walking to his chambers and literally pulled him out of bed. His headache was one thing and her lectures were another, making it worse for him. Yes, yes yes he knew it all, but he didn't do anything. Was going out to to the tavern to get himself a drink forbidden too now? He didn't even go further than that, though he did consider it as the night grew darker.

"Surely you can go and grab a drink at some occasions, Niklaus. But do you realize that it is merely the first day of your married life? Look at yourself..." She didn't speak loud but her voice did sound very strict and serious. She shook her head at him disappointedly as he got up to get dressed.

"As if you care..." He muttered, pulling his pants up.

"What is that? Of course, I care!" She said louder now, making the frown on his lips deeper. Thankfully Caroline was out of the room now, cause he really didn't want anyone to hear that he was being shouted at. His wife... He tried to remember last night more detailed and remembered how he fell asleep with her in his arms. But he was drunk... It meant nothing.

Shaking his head after Sheila finally left him alone, he washed his face and made his way towards the dining room where everyone was already seated. Ignoring both Mikael and Esther's stern looks, he sat down in his usual spot next to Caroline and Mikael. He lazily ate his food and nodded as Mikael spoke, not even hearing a word he said until he called Finn into the room.

"Hello brother, it's good to see you at the table for once," Klaus said in a slightly mocking way as he took a sip of his tea as all of the brothers engaged in a casual conversation before he heard Caroline speak. He turned his head to look at her, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, for a moment he forgot that she and Rebekah were going to the market today.

"Do take care of yourselves." He said as she stood up, his eyes on her for a moment before moving to Rebekah.

"The both of you."

With that, they left, together with the guards who were waiting for them at the carriage. Leaving the rest of the family to finish their breakfast.

Once the rest of them was allowed to leave the table, Klaus made his way towards his study. He had to go to the village in a moment, he was going to meet with Stefan to speak about the goods exchange between their families and share a drink or two.

"Hey, Nik!" Kol shouted as he bounced into his brother's office without bothering to knock.

"What are you doing? Let's go do some sword fighting... Or even better, let's go for a drink?"

"It's not even noon yet, Kol. Besides I have got some errands to run." The prince said as he opened and closed some drawers to find the papers he was looking for.

"Ah come on. I'm bored. What errands? Please spend some time with your little brother. You're merely married for a day and you already became as dull as our older brother Elijah." Kol walked further into the room and picked random stuff from Klaus' desk.

"I'm meeting Stefan at the village, we have some things to talk about." He said as he found what he needed and rolled the papers them up.

"The village? Oh, let me join you, please. I hate being stuck in this house the whole time and you know I hate it when mother constantly whines whenever I leave for the tavern or something. I promise I'll behave."

Klaus groaned as he walked out of his office with Kol following behind him. He could understand he was bored but that was none of his problems to worry about. He should have just went with Rebekah and Caroline, he thought.

"It's only business talk, you know. You'll get bored."

"We surely can have a drink! Come Nik. Okay? I'm coming."

Before Klaus could say anything else, Kol patted onto his shoulder and disappeared into his chambers to get ready. Sighing, Klaus walked down the stairs towards the ground floor and told some of his men to get the other carriage ready before he and Kol both got in and rode towards the village to meet Stefan at a private tavern, that was owned by the Salvatores.

She wasn't sure how much time they had spent at the store trying to get everything they needed for the dresses but she felt more than tired. She was exhausted. She doubted that those who accompanied them at their little walk that turned out to a shopping spree could carry any more things at their hands so both Rebekah and Caroline decided to return to the castle and get themselves to work on their dresses. Despite being a princess, Rebekah knew how to sew and along with their maidens and ladies in waiting the dresses would be done in time for her ceremony. Another ceremony that she wasn't looking forward too. She couldn't understand why they needed a special event to announce her officially as a princess and give her a crown and such. All those could be made at the wedding.

Caroline let almost everyone walk faster than she did wanting to take in the beauty and the chaos of the market. She smiled watching kids run around and mothers chasing them. As she made her way to the carriage she passed by a tavern and without realizing she glanced inside.

Her steps came to a stop when she saw who was inside.

Amongst other men, there was Kol, a man she briefly saw at the wedding and Klaus, her husband. It wasn't the sight of him drinking with his friends in the middle of the day that shocked her the most. It was the lady she saw sitting on his lap that did. She was whispering something to her husband's ear to which he responded by chuckling. Her dress barely covered her cleavage and she had lifted it a bit higher to expose her legs. Caroline took in a deep breath and turned around walking to the carriage.

For the whole ride to the palace, she remained quiet. She didn't know why she was expecting anything different from Klaus other than drinking and whores.

Even when they arrived home she sat quietly drawing her ideas for her dress. She had already made one for Rebekah's and all the ladies were busy making it but her own mind refused to assist her in designing her own. Instead, she found herself writing a letter. She wrote a letter to her mom asking for advice on how to handle the matter even though she knew the reply.

'Men are just men darling. Learn to live with it.' her own mother looked the other way to her father infidelities. And they were far worse than a few whores. Her father enjoyed the company of men and it was a well-kept secret in the family. One that no one ever talked about. She didn't know how her mother could handle this.

The other letter was addressed to Tyler. She knew her mother would give him the letter without a second thought. Caroline and Tyler grew up together and everyone saw them more as siblings than friends. But there were other feelings neither of them dared to speak loud to anyone. They kept their love words in hushed tones only for each other's ears.

As she wrote Caroline reached a decision. This was not a life she wanted. She wouldn't sit back and put up with that behavior. Klaus was married for just two days and was already in the arms of other women. He would never change. She would never accept it. So she had to leave him forever... She had to leave with Tyler.

After Stefan's friendly greeting, Klaus and he had a brief conversation about the business they were involved in. There wasn't much that needed to be done, just some final details that had to be discussed the amount of the goods that they were going to trade. Therefore, the conversation soon turned into a casual one, just two friends talking, with Kol looking for mischief around the tavern. As always. He could never sit down on his arse for more than five minutes. Everyone knew this.

"Are you two done with your dull chats?" The youngest prince whined from across the bar as he approached their table with two wooden beer mugs and a woman by his side.

"I apologize for bringing him along, Stefan. You know sometimes we need to make sure that our pigs get enough fresh air as well." Klaus said with a slight smirk on his lips as he snatched one of the mugs from his younger brother, who scoffed and rolled his eyes at the comment.

"Hilarious, Nik." Kol pushed the brown-haired girl who was just grinning smugly onto Klaus' lap as he spoke.

"Your jokes are getting worse since you're married now. Oh wait, they were already the worst, weren't they?" He smirked to which Klaus responded by shaking his head.

He took a sip of the beer as the girl made herself comfortable on his lap and starting playing with his hair. He wasn't boring, and being married didn't change a damn thing about him. He was still the same man who loved a good drink with his friends and enjoyed the company of beautiful women who were willing to please him.

It was already a few hours and several of beers later without any of them being aware of it. They wouldn't have realized that it was already noon until one of Stefan's men walked in and whispered something into his ear, informing him about a matter.

"Oh no, my friends. I fear I have to leave you on your own. Feel free to enjoy more of the drinks and ladies, it's on me." The youngest Salvatore said, slightly drunk and gave Klaus a goodbye hug before he went outside.

"We should start heading home as well, Kol. It's getting late." Klaus mumbled as he took a sip of his beer, and then another. He doubted Kol heard him since he was too busy kissing one of the girls that had her hands all over him.

"Kol!" He shouted louder but continued sipping of his beer, too drunk to care what was happening around him.

"You bloody pig." He chuckled childishly and turned his attention to the woman next to him.

"I'm not boring, am I?" He asked drunkly, taking another big gulp of his drink.

"Tell me I'm not boring" He demanded.

"Not at all, your highness." The girl giggled at the question and handed him her own beer before pushing herself onto his lap, knowing they weren't going home anytime soon.

It had been a few days since she saw him at the tavern. Since the day she decided that Klaus would never change. He wouldn't even try to change. He would always leave every night for drinks and to satisfy his needs with whores. She would be there just for having his children and she refused to live a life with a man who treated her like that. An everyone knew about it. It was disrespectful and people were already gossiping about her. She couldn't bear it.

After her first letter to Tyler, she had written many more. He always made her feel wonderful and loved. Made her feel wanted. His words were so filled with love and hope for the future. A future for just the two of them. A future away from everyone. Away from her husband.

She wouldn't allow anyone to find out about her plans so she continued her days as usual only she didn't bother to make any effort with Klaus. She was merely sleeping in his bed. Having meals with him and his family and that was all.

She continued to prepare her dress for the crown for the ceremony that would never happen. Inst, ad she made her dress look more like a wedding dress. A dress she would cary with her for her secret wedding with Tyler.

The dress was in an ivory color. A stunning form fitting dress that showcases a beautiful strapless neckline. The pearls were all hand sewn and she had to thank Bonnie for that. She had come to find a true friend with Bonnie that always had amazing stories about the royal family. She was a good friend she would hate to leave behind. But she had to think about her future.

A future away from her.

Away from the royal family.

Away from her family.

Away from Klaus.

Oehhh, will she run away? Will she not? Read it all in the next chapter that will be up soon.

Thanks for taking your time to read our story!