Abelia woke up to the bright sunshine that penetrated through the window by the bed. She opened her eyes, noticing that she is undressed and lying in bed on her own. The memories of last night had been real, she can be certain of that.

For her own reputation, she would have preferred this union between Kol and herself to be of her imagination. No collateral damages would be available the morning after. She wouldn't have to face Elijah now, because she knows she has to.

Kol has disappeared by her side, as she had expected. He didn't want this to happen anymore than she did. She was the one who took advantage of the lord when he was intoxicated. He has no reason to stick around when he woke up to find her in slumber beside him. Besides, Kol isn't the type to hang around. Waiting for Lady Abelia to wake up would have lacked entertainment.

Shaming herself for being a whore, she left the bed and dressed herself in last night's gown. Everyone will know of her actions when she makes her appearance. She will be returned to her household as an unwanted woman and her family will shun her for taking such risqué actions. Her purpose in life is done.

Lady Abelia left her chambers and waved her maid servant off when she attempted to assist the lady on her walk of shame down the spiral staircase. She fiddled with her fingers guiltily, feeling undeserving of the ring provided to her by Elijah. The metallic material is worth a lot more than her loyalty, or lack of loyalty to her man.

She made it down to the dining hall, immediately drawing the attention of the lined up butlers behind the table. They approached her, escorting her to a seat with the masters of the palace. Abelia smiled at the butlers and turned to examine the members seated on the dining table.

Fortunately for her, she does not have to face Elijah just yet. Lord Niklaus and Lady Rebekah are the only ones seated in the dining hall at this hour. They looked over at her when they sensed her arrival, staring at the lady as she took her seat beside Rebekah.

"Mistress in last night's clothes, I wonder of who could have gotten the Lady Abelia so wild" Klaus flashed the lady his signature smirk.

Rebekah eyed her skeptically, although Abelia can sense a tint of amusement in her features.

"You could have had the decency to cover up last night's faults with a new gown"

Abelia turned from the Mikaelsons, glancing down at the silverware on the table.

"I bare my shame as I intend to, because I am deserving of judgment"

Klaus rolled his eyes at the statement, trying to hold back a laughter that was about to erupt. Rebekah shot her sibling a dirty look before returning her attention to the Lady.

"Did you not hear of Elijah's delightful toast to you?"

"I did, Lady Rebekah"

"Then why is it that you betray him with his own blood brother?"

"I—"

"Good morrow, brother, sister, Abelia; how are you all on this fine morning?" Elijah entered the dining room, stealing all the audience.

Abelia froze in her spot, averting her gaze from the man of the hour. He is still going on cheerily as his soon-to-be wife hasn't formed a union with his younger brother. She can't bear the thought of having to tell him. She has to inform him because being a woman means to take responsibilities for her own actions. Elijah deserves that much.

"I find this morning to be quite the entertainment Kol would have loved to witness" Klaus shot Abelia a taunting look, to which she did not sense.

Rebekah didn't say anything, shooting a signal to her oldest brother with her eyes. He followed her gaze to his Lady Abelia before returning his attention to his sister. He immediately understood of what has happened.

"Elijah" Abelia stood from her seat.

"My lady?"

"I wish speak with you, on our own"

"As you wish, Abelia" Elijah held out a hand for her to take.

She took his offer without hesitation, letting him escort her out of the dining hall. He brought her out into the entrance of the ballroom, bowing to her before releasing his grip on her hand.

"I have done the most terrible, I betrayed and I sinned"

"Lady Abelia, your actions are understandable" Elijah said.

"Lord Elijah, you have no knowledge of what I've done. I bedded with-"

"Kol, I am aware of that, Lady Abelia"

"I know that no apologies can excuse me from this offense and betrayal, I will depart from the palace immediately as I am undeserving to be in your company" Abelia began pulling the gemmed ring from her finger.

Elijah held a hand up, stopping her from the removal of the ring.

"I told you I wanted you to have it. It is my token of protection; please do not remove the ring from your finger, Abelia"

"Elijah, I have betrayed you"

"And I understand that your betrayal must be done for you to move on from your childish phase. My lady, you and Kol approach life in such reckless ways that I can no longer be surprised by the actions done by the pair of you"

Abelia didn't understand how Elijah can be so forgiving. She never expected to be forgiven for such a crime. She had done the most degrading thing to disgrace her family and yet, her man expects that of her because of her childish ways.

"Elijah…"

"Hello brother!" Abelia's eyes widened at the sound of the familiar voice.

The pair turned from their conversation to Kol, who decided to join the conversation at this time of day.

"Kol" Elijah greeted with a slight head nod.

"You know, we are family. What's yours is mine, what's mine is yours" Kol grinned cheekily, wrapping an arm around his elder brother.

Abelia stared at the younger Mikaelson in disbelief. She refuses to believe that Kol finds the events of last night to be a joke to him. He is supposed to feel as horrible as she does for what the two had done together. They have betrayed Elijah, it is an offense. But Kol is being overly open about this situation.

"Kol, that's enough" Elijah said casually.

"Well, I want to let you know that it is such a shame that I was intoxicated, because it would've been the best entertainment of my life to have experienced what went on" Kol winked at Lady Abelia.

Abelia rolled her eyes at him but still flushed by his words.

"Are you infuriated with me, brother?" Kol turned to Elijah.

"Do you expect me to be?"

"My greatest desire is for you to be"

"Why is that so?"

"Life deserves more than just happiness and forgiveness. Your honorable ways need to be tampered with"

"And I believe that you have failed yourself, brother" Elijah spoke.

A grin remained on Kol's face, despite his brother's call of his failure. He turned to Lady Abelia and winked at her once more. She averted her gaze from him, her face heating up as reaction. He enjoyed the tension between the three of them. It is exciting, and taking life to the extreme.

"You can't believe that I will test your honor with only one attempt, can you? More attempts will follow this one but as of right now, Lady Abelia" Kol glanced at the said Lady, "would you care to take a walk with me across the garden?"

Abelia tilted her head, feeling uncertainty rush through her body. It is her greatest desire to do so, because she feels love when she sees Lord Kol. The love may not be returned but she wanted to be part of his wild adventures. She wanted to be reminded of what life used to mean before marriage. But she cannot betray Elijah once again.

"Maybe another time, Lord Kol?"

"Come on, Abelia, don't be such a weakling"

"Abelia, you may take that walk with him if you wish" Elijah interjected.

Abelia took one glance at Kol, shaking her head at him.

"It is not my desire to take the walk with Lord Kol"

She turned from the pair of men and returned to the dining room.


"I had something in mind, but what Kol has done surpassed what I originally had" Klaus commented.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, turning away from her brother.

"I had no idea she was such a tramp"

"Now, Bekah, where are your manners?"

"She dare betray one of us, she can die for all I care"

"Elijah can't even bear the thought of us laying our hands on her, and besides, we really need to hold our end of the deal with William Smith. He takes vervain, we cannot compel him to do anything we wish"

Rebekah scoffed.

"You are the most powerful and you have failed to do what you truly desire"

"Now would you prefer it if I did?"

"What is it that you desire, Nik?"

"Taste the Lady, terrorize her, and rip her to pieces, to shreds—in sight of William Smith"

"How horrifying"

"I despise that man and we all know it"

"I could've drawn out the conclusions, considering the fact that you wish to destroy his daughter with him watching"

Klaus placed a finger on his lips, shooting his sister an urgent glare.

"I hear it, Niklaus, I am not deaf" Rebekah complained, rolling her eyes.

"Lord Niklaus, Lady Rebekah" Abelia entered the dining hall, an apologetic grin on her face.

"It is such a pleasant surprise, for you to join us after confession hour with our brother" Klaus spoke first.

"He has forgiven me as I had not expected" Abelia spoke.

"It wouldn't be the Elijah we know if he hadn't" Rebekah said, trying to hide the resentment.

Abelia returned to her seat as previous and resumed to her morning meal with the pair of Mikaelsons.