Author's note: This was written for Klaroline AU Season 2021 - Week One: March 17-23 – Rebellion. This is a Klaroline historical royal AU inspired by a scene from the The Tudors. Lady Caroline comes to court to petition King Niklaus with an unusual request.

Warning: References to past domestic abuse (no details though.) Later on (and unrelated), some sexytimes. Enjoy!


"Titles are shadows, crowns are empty things,
The good of subjects is the end of kings."
― Daniel Defoe, The True-Born Englishman: A Satyr


It was said that the king was bloodthirsty, whose cruelty knew no bounds. But Caroline had seen far too much of both in her lifetime for her fear to be roused. However, as she felt the weight of King Niklaus' gaze, she idly wondered if she'd made an error in speaking so brazenly before being properly presented at court.

"Countess St. John," he entreated, the flickering flames setting the jewels of his fine vestments aglow, "I pay no mind to the vipers in my court and their vicious gossip, and yet tongues are positively set ablaze over the merest whisper of your name." Cocking his curly head to the side, he boldly asked, "Rumors abound that your first husband was mad — is it true, pray tell?"

Caroline reminded herself of the desperate need she had to remain in the king's good favor, and stiffly replied, "Ours was not a blessed marriage."

"It also is said that you were ill-used by Lord Salvatore."

Her temper flared as she mused, "If it is said, then surely it must be true." Clenching her fist until nails cut her palm, she added venomously, "It is a wonder no one came to call upon me during that dark time if my plight was so well-known. What a comfort it is to hear how your court was plagued by concern for my welfare."

At first, she fretted that her sharp tongue had spoiled her petition before it could be heard, as King Niklaus' stricken expression cast a grave shadow between them. Suddenly, his lips curved into a sly smile as he chuckled merrily. "You're quite the firebrand, aren't you, love? Upon my oath, I swear you'd raise rebellion if even the slightest obstacle crossed your path."

While secretly pleased by the king's compliment, she couldn't help the wave of sorrow that gripped her heart. Her marriage to Damon had been filled with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. And the dark deeds she'd done to remove those obstacles would haunt her. "It wasn't always my way," she replied simply, toying with her emerald ring. Her salvation. It was foolish to keep the trinket, much less flaunt it so brazenly, but she'd grown fond of its hidden compartment that had granted her freedom.

"It's dark times indeed when a lady like you has suffered so." His gray eyes darkened, a hint of a mirthless smile flashing as he added, "It was a mercy then that Lord Salvatore caught the sweat and passed on. One would think the heavens would see fit to have prolonged his anguish."

She fought to keep her face impassive. Damon's anguish had been great. Caroline ensured her lord had suffered every indignity she could imagine in the hours before the poison had taken root. Caroline realized she'd gotten lost staring in the flames, distracting herself from her goal. Quickly clearing her throat, she said, "Forgive my boldness, but my purpose is to petition your Majesty on behalf of my husband, Count Enzo St. John. He's an honorable man who has shown me great kindness."

Her voice caught as she thought back to Enzo's unexpected generosity when she was freshly widowed and Damon's grasping, greedy family of reprobates had descended upon the estate to demand a fortune that he'd already squandered. Enzo had been little more than a passing acquaintance, and yet he'd gallantly sent them all away, but not before soundly boxing Damon's brother about the ears for his slanderous insults upon her character. And then he'd promptly married her and gave her a life of comfort. It was a debt she could never repay until now.

"My heart is gladded that your second marriage has granted you a measure of happiness," King Niklaus brusquely stated, sitting back in his velvet chair as he drank deeply from his goblet.

Undeterred by his suddenly cool demeanor, Caroline pressed on. "Ours is a happy union to be sure, although it's somewhat...anomalous." At the king's questioning eyebrow, she hastily explained, "An arrangement was struck between us, and we've lived peacefully ever since. However, now his uncle has accused of him of intolerable acts and is trying to use his considerable influence to seize my dear Enzo's estate and titles."

His Majesty was struck speechless it seemed, and Caroline wondered if he would subject her to unseemly questions for his own amusement. She still bore an ill temper after Enzo's uncle had proclaimed him unfit because of his malady. Malady. What an ugly, devastating word. Enzo's appetites were not harmful, and she saw no evil in that he chose the embrace of another man. The only impropriety in their home that day was when his vengeful uncle had barged past the gates like a rogue, stomping his boots and shouting obscenities at their servants.

"I must admit your confession leaves me quite flummoxed, Countess St. John. Your rebellion against the mandates of social decorum is daring. Not to mention my immense pleasure to learn that you aren't spoken for...in any conventional manner," he replied with a devilish smirk.

It was those dimples. And his flirtatious manner that vexed her so. Briefly through the red haze of her temper, Caroline knew any outburst would be ill-advised at best and fatal at worst, given the volatile king's mercurial ways. Insufferable prick. "I'm asking for your Majesty's clemency and compassion to restore my husband's good name! His uncle is a vile excuse for a human!"

When his Majesty failed to disguise yet another amused smirk, Caroline abruptly stood, fists clenched as she shouted, "And I'm not here to indulge your libido, King Niklaus! These flirtations of yours are highly improper! My husband's reputation and fortune and possibly his life are at stake!"

King Niklaus seemed just as stricken as she. As the silence stretched between them, stark and uncomfortable, Caroline was paralyzed by fear. She had shouted at the king. A king whose liaisons often ended in shameful banishment or unspeakable bloodshed. She'd started to compose in her mind what she hoped would sound like a heartfelt apology, when the king burst forth with gales of laughter that shook him from the tip of his boots to the curl of his hair.

"It's Klaus." At her obvious confusion, he explained, "I haven't been squawked at in such a manner since I was a lad getting my knuckles rapped by my tutor. He called me 'Klaus'. I'd like you to do the same."

Her king just asked her to call him by a childhood nickname. It was a tremendous understatement to say Caroline was beneath him. "I...it's Caroline, then. I...words escape me, your Maj—Klaus."

"All evidence to the contrary, Caroline." Klaus reached forward, grasping both of her hands in his as he said, "I envy your loyalty to your husband. No matter the arrangement, it's clear you hold him in your heart." With downcast eyes, he murmured, "I wish I could command such steadfastness amongst the sycophants of my kingdom."

She let out a gasp, unsure of what to say. Her name on his lips was the sweetest of melodies. Her ears rang with it and she could feel her cheeks flush crimson. Her king had struck his soul bare before her, and she suddenly saw the man and not the royal. The power of his throne hadn't dimmed, but his humanity began to shine just as brightly.

"Please convey to Count St. John that I will have my Lord High Treasurer personally meet with this troublesome uncle. It seems that taxes levied against his estate have gone unanswered for quite some time. It's an affront to my court, and will lead to a redistribution of peerage and property. I suspect your Count St. John may benefit from this unexpected windfall."

Blue eyes went wide as Caroline choked on her words, "That would be — I — it's more than what we could've hoped. Thank you for your generosity."

"I also predict a stay in the stocks is in his uncle's future," he said with a teasing lilt to his voice, brushing his lips across her knuckles. Klaus held her gaze with a fiery determination that left Caroline breathless. It had been so long since a touch had felt like anything other than contempt or indifference.

Some of the passion she felt must have shown on her face because the king pulled her to him, placing gentle kisses to her palms as he said, "I do not wish stand before you as the king. Could you look upon me as a man instead?"

"Yes," Caroline whispered, heart beginning to pound in anticipation — and trepidation. Her introduction to marital relations had not been kind. Even after Damon's death, she sometimes awakened to the screams caught in her throat. Her dear Enzo had done his best to comfort her during those dark hours, but it seemed a man could not fathom that torment.

A gentle kiss to her temple startled her, and she realized that Klaus cradled her in his arms, murmuring softly, "Easy, love. I did not mean to cause you distress. Your pleasure is your own to take as you please." His voice was a dangerous promise as he swore, "I do not take the unwilling to my bed. If it were in my power, I would wrest your first husband's moldering corpse from the earth and slay the bloody bastard yet again."

It was the passion behind his unseemly words that gave her pause. Control. That was his gift to her. "I'm not...there are things I cannot...not yet," Caroline haltingly explained, her eyes downcast as her eyes grew wet with shame. No. Damon would not take this from her as well. Raising her chin stubbornly, she told him, "But...there are other...exertions that I've longed to try."

Without preamble, Klaus sank to his knees, slowly raising her silken hem to her calves. He stared up at her, gray eyes darkening with desire as he asked, "Pray tell, is this one such exertion you desire, sweetheart?"

"Yes, please," she begged, knees trembling as he pushed her skirts further along her flesh. She'd never experienced the sweet tension of a lover's embrace, but the kisses Klaus trailed along Caroline's thighs made her burn. Did every woman feel such flames? Her fists tightened in her crumpled skirts, and she bit her lip in anticipation when he paused at her center to regard her with a lusty gaze.

"I want to taste you." At her wordless nod of approval, he ducked his head, delivering a slow press of his lips against her core. She sighed helplessly, unsure of what would become of her if Klaus ever stopped his decadent exploration. Her flesh warmed and she swayed on her feet, grateful his strong hands were steadfast.

And then, praise the heavens, she felt his tongue! She never imagined there could be more than a mere brush of lips! Caroline's surprised gasp at the unexpected slide of his tongue startled them both, and when Klaus paused in his ministrations, she let out a needy whine at the back of her throat.

With a husky chuckle, Klaus observed, "Such a greedy thing. Don't be shy, love. Take your pleasure." When she parted her thighs, he hummed his approval, lapping at her essence in devilishly slow licks.

She no longer tried to stifle her wanton moans, scarcely believing that the king knelt before her. Doing such wicked things. There was a coiling ache in her loins, leading her down a fiery path she eagerly raced toward. It was magnificently freeing as she shrieked out her release, not entirely sure what had occurred, but certainly pleased by the outcome all the same. And quite anxious to try it again.

From Klaus' smug expression, it appeared that he wholeheartedly agreed.