16th June 1769

Duke Mikael was pacing in his chambers anxiously looking towards the old man sitting on a chair with a chain with an pendulum hanging at the end of that chain. As the Duke looked the pendulum moved vertically. He looked towards the man expectedly when he said "yes your Grace. It will be."

Duke Mikael said "Good. You can leave now."

20th July 1775

He asked her "is she ready?"

She said without looking up "yes your Grace."

He said "you can leave now."

She walked towards her room wondering 'it was about time.'

Klaus looked up and his eyes caught her but at the same moment an angry wave went through him as he saw who she was watching. As he watched she looked towards him, their eyes met for a fraction of second and then she looked down. After the court he got up and left while she left with Camille.

He went to his regular sword fighting sessions with Marcel and then later went for riding towards his lands whereas Hayley went to her chamber once again drenched in the guilt she had been carrying in her for the past one month.

While Klaus was headed towards his bedchamber when a servant said to him "my lord, his Grace requires your presence."

He nodded and headed towards his father's bedchamber thinking what could it be this time. As he opened the door to his father's room, he spotted his brother there. Seeing Elijah there suddenly made him angry but he controlled his anger not wanting to reveal the secret that his brother thought was a secret.

He walked into the room with trepidation and asked ignoring Elijah "you called for me father?"

Mikael turned to him and said curtly "I need a grandson to continue the name of my name. As your brother had not been able to provide me with one you are to provide me with one."

He exchanged startled looks with Elijah and after being quiet for a moment said "father, Hayley and I are still…"

Mikael cut him off by saying in the same tone "I know that but I have been informed that she is a woman now. That means that she is ready to produce an heir for this family. You are twenty three years old, old enough to be a father. Give me the news in a month."

Klaus felt like saying no but then he nodded and left the room without another word.

When he approached his room, he stopped but then went to his room. He said to his faithful servant of past four years "Henrick, send Elizabeth in."

He said "yes my lord and left."

He was pacing his room when he heard a female voice "my lord, you asked for me."

He turned to look at the elderly kind face and said "prepare lady Hayley for me."

She said "yes my lord" and retreated.

Hayley was sitting in front of the dresser brushing her hair thinking about what she had done feeling guilty about what she had done with him cursing herself for not able to control her desires when she startled as the door opened and Elizabeth entered the room. She smiled at the elderly lady who had been with her since she got married to lord Niklaus, three years ago. She said "Elizabeth , where were you?"

She walked to her saying "my lady…" but she cut her off by saying "dont call me that. You know what to call me."

When Elizabeth continued to look at her without saying anything she said "Elizabeth, what is it?"

She said "my child, it is time."

She asked getting up "time for what?"

Elizabeth said "time for you to become his wife my lady."

She looked at her in confusion for a moment and then asked "what?"

Elizabeth walked to her saying "what happened between you and his brother must be kept in past my lady. You have to become his wife."

She whispered "you know?"

She said "I have taken care of you for the past three years my child and I have known you for the past 9 years since your father started coming and teaching lord Niklaus. If I had known what you were going to do that I would have stopped you. You have dishonored your marriage vows. You need to make it right."

She stopped talking for a moment and then said "it is time for your bath. You need to be prepared for tonight." Saying that she went to the bath chamber to prepare her bath for her. As Elizabeth helped her with her clothes and stripped her down to nothing she kept reeling in guilt. She continued to feel guilty as Elizabeth helped her with her bath. The fact that it was not a secret was devastating her. The disappointment on Elizabeth's face was breaking her heart. Elizabeth gently helped her with the bath, later handed her the robes and then handed her a flimsy blue night grown. As she helped her put it on, Hayley said hopefully "you wouldnt tell anyone right?"

Elizabeth said kindly "no I will not but he will find out tonight."

She felt a drop in her stomach and she asked "how would he know?"

Elizabeth said "my lady, he is expecting a virgin and the lack of blood will tell him that."

Hayley started feeling nervous knowing fully well that nervousness was not because of having sex with him but was all because of him discovering that she had given his right to someone else- not anyone, his own brother.

Elizabeth said "I pray that he does not notice that my lady."

She asked panicking now "how will he not Elizabeth? All virgins bleed when they lose virginity."

Elizabeth said with a smile "not all, my lady. Most but not all."

She retreated from the room after checking on the the logs in the fireplace and dimming the oil lamp a bit.

Hayley was pacing in her room feeling anxious by the minute and then she thought 'if she manages to make him angry somehow, maybe he will not want to have it tonight. But how long can she keep on doing this? What if he is so angry that he does not notice?'

The very thought of becoming his wife in every sense was making him nauseating. The lack of interest he had shown towards her in the past three years had caused nothing but hatred in her heart for him.

She startled when the adjoining door opened and he walked in wearing his robes.

Their eyes met and she realized that even though they were husband and wife, she was seeing him after one full week and her heart skipped a beat at the slight stubble on his face not to mention that it had been ages since he had entered her room. The last time was when he showed her this room, the day they were married. During these past three years she had gotten to know him really well even though they hardly spend any time together and from that knowledge of him, she could see the anger on his face.

As he closed the door and walked to her in anger, she felt a hatred for him in her heart that had been brewing for him for three years. He said "I am to produce an heir to my family line and you will provide me with it."

Taken aback by those words even though she had an idea why he was there to consummate this marriage but she recovered quickly and spat "if you think that I will carry your child just to provide an heir to the family then you are mistaken."

Overcome by the rage he had been feeling at the rumors he had been hearing he grabbed her arm as she started to walk away from him and hissed "you will carry my child and until you give me the news we will continue to do this."

She struggled to free herself from his grasp but was unable to and when he backed her to her bed, she started to feel really nervous and before she knew it he untied his robes and was lying on her. She whimpered saying "let me go. I am not …"

He hissed "not what? my wife?" before he knew it words were out "from what I hear you were eager to spread your legs for my brother, why not me?"

She startled wondering 'how did he know?' but decided to not let him get to her so she said looked into his angry face "because I wanted him and he wanted me."

Her arm got freed and a slap landed on her face. The shock and disgust on his face just made the matters worse.

He stared at her with contempt for a moment and then he took a step towards her hissing "you dare have a relationship with him…."

but was cut short when she asked with contempt "why is it all my fault? He is willing to give me what my husband was not willing to give. He needed a mistress and I needed a person who would lay with me not just because he was forced to but wanted to. It is not my fault that lady Camille is carrying his child and is not stopping him when he was in between my …."

With each word his anger was rising and her confirming of his suspicion was just too much and he snapped. He grabbed her hair with his left hand pulling her towards him with her right hand and smacked his lips against her lips so brutally that she struggled to breath and then she gasped when he was in her and was pushing harder and harder with each stroke making it impossible for her to take a breather. When he was done, she had not even climaxed. She was still reeling with what happened, with him still on top of her when he hissed "yesterday was the last time you went to him. You will keep your mouth shut about what happened between him and you. Do you understand?" grabbing the lock of her hair, pulling it back in anger as he reached the end of his sentence staring into her eyes. When she nodded, now scared of him he got up from her pulled his robes back and went towards his room through the adjoining room. As the adjoining room door closed she pulled her dress down with sore legs and curled up in the ball and drifted off to sleep.

While she slept in her room, he was pacing his room like an angry tiger thinking about what Elijah took from him - his right. His wife's virginity that he was supposed to take. He continued to pace, kicked the settee hard making his servant, Henrick, come in and asking "my lord, everything okay" but then he retreated quickly when he roared "yes leave me alone."

Flashback Klaus

15th June 1769

Klaus said "father I want to marry her. I have talked to monsieur Marshall. Will you talk to him about this"

Mikael said "Niklaus she is the daughter of a scholar."

Klaus said "and what better woman for your son."

When Mikael remain quiet he said "I will marry only her and no one else. If you want me to provide heir to this family line then I hope your decision will be in my favor."

He looked towards Mikael for a minute and then left.

End flashback Klaus.

He said to himself angrily "nothing has changed. She liked him then and she likes him now too."

He remembered how in the beginning he was happy about their engagement and then she moved in to this castle when her mother died a year after their engagement. Days later his mother passed away too. How he was feeling depressed making him realize how she must have felt when her mother had passed away and went to look for her to talk to her about her mother when he saw her with Elijah hugging him and how everything had stopped moving around him. How in the few weeks he saw her getting close to Elijah and moving away from him. He remembered how worried he had become recalling how girls fawned over his brother but then he had reminded himself that Elijah was married and was a father of an adorable two year old daughter and he felt relieved but he was never able to warm his heart towards her after that.

Coming back from memories to present he kicked the settee in anger holding his head wondering not in his wildest dreams had he imagined the Elijah, his blood would do something like that to his wife. His male ego was challenging him to do something about it but then he recalled that Camille was with child again and he recalled how tense she was about the fear of having another girl. Realizing that stress shouldnt be good for her so he decided to keep his mouth shut and killed his ego which considering his temper was a big thing.

He started to feel angry at Elijah who was on the way of having his third child. What was he thinking? Did he not know he was sleeping with his wife?

Then it hit him that if she had been in bed with his brother then is it possible that she is carrying his child? Did Elijah use protection with her? The more he thought about them together the more angry he got.

He shook his head hoping that was not the case. He went to sit on his bed when Henrick walked to him and said "my lord, your bath awaits you."

He looked at him saying "I don't need it. Leave me alone."

Henrick curtseyed and left

Next morning when he woke up he was still angry. After his bath he went to the courts but his mind was not with him and he was unable to concentrate. Even though he was angry at Elijah but felt relieved that he at least was there to listen to the reports and complaints from their peasants. During the court session he noticed Elijah glancing at him occasionally but he refused to look towards him and let him handle the problems of their tenants.

While Klaus was in court, Hayley feeling in daze of what had happened last night, unable to meet Elizabeth's eyes in the morning as she was helped getting dressed up, had tried to occupy herself with listening to her telling her about the latest news about their estate and then buried her head in a book. Around noon the door opened and a smile appeared on her lips as a young girl entered the room. She said "good afternoon Grace. How are you?"

Grace walked to her saying "I am good aunty Hayley. How are you?"

She remembered last night and what led to it, her conversation with Elizabeth and said "I am good. How is Camille?"

Grace put the book on the table saying "mother is knitting something new for the baby."

Hayley asked smiling as she opened the poetry book Grace had put on the table "are you looking forward to having another sibling?"

Grace said "yes and I want to have a brother this time."

Hayley asked "why?"

Grace said "because mother and father wants to have it."

Hayley felt her heart starting to race at Elijah's reference and hastily said "boy or a girl, pray that it is healthy."

Grace nodded and continued "I wish I could be taught from your father. Uncle Klaus says that he was a great scholar."

Hayley said smiling "yes he was. Tell me what poem are we discussing today."

While they were discussing the poem, Klaus was sword practicing with Marcel. When Marcel struck an attack causing his sword to drop from his grasp, he looked up laughing "good fight Marcellous" and then the smile slipped from his face as he saw Elijah walking towards them. He said "you are losing your touch Niklaus."

Seeing him there fueled his anger so he asked "you want to fight?"

Elijah said laughing now "yes. It has been a while since I have beaten you in this."

As they started, his anger at Elijah started building up again and he started to get more aggressive with each strike which didnt go unnoticed by Elijah and Marcel as Elijah continued to shield himself from his attacks.

In one particular attack as Elijah blocked his attacked he stepped back and lunged at him again. Elijah ideally lowered his shield looking towards him wondering why was he so angry but then his heart jumped out of his heart when he charged him with his knife taking advantage of him lowering his shield but as he held his breath the sword stopped at his heart.

Klaus stepped back staring at him as Elijah took off his mask. Their eyes met, his not wavering and then he saw realization dawn in Elijah's eyes. When Elijah hastily said "Niklaus…" Klaus cut him off by saying coldly "you beat me one last time brother. Not ever again."

He handed his sword to Marcel and went back in the castle leaving him in a fit of guilt and shame.

He didnt feel like touching her with the knowledge that she was with Elijah but he knew that he had to produce an heir for his family- at least had to try to provide one so he shedded his clothes and put on his robe, walked to the adjoining room and opened it.

Hayley was walking towards her bed in that night gown feeling anxious wondering if he will come tonight or not when the door opened and he came in startling her. As he closed the door behind her she said "are you here to have your husbandly rights?"

Without saying anything he walked to her and stood right in front of her.

Hayley started to feel nervous when he didn't say anything. There was so much anger and accusation in his eyes that made her guilt of cheating on the vows of her wedding. He took a step towards her making her back towards the bed. The door opened but they both didnt notice it. Someone saw them but retreated. Klaus kept on advancing towards her until her legs hit the bed and she sat on it and then laid on it as he laid on her. He said "I am going to ask you this one time and only one time."

Her mouth was dry and she wondered what was he going to say but when he asked "when was the last time you were with my brother?"

She stared at him for a moment and then words were out "a month ago" understanding what he meant and thanked her luck that she had not gotten pregnant from that grieve stricken night hookup.

She suddenly noticed his shoulders relaxing which took her by surprise but the next moment he was kissing her a bit less aggressively then last night and roaming his hand on her night gown which he had not done a night ago eventually pulling it up and taking her. She couldn't help the moan that escaped her mouth as his lips pressed against her neck, making him break the contact and look at her face but he continued to thrust in her and when he came he saw her biting her lips looking into his eyes.

He got up from her, pulled his robe together and left the room without saying anything leaving her feeling miserable but still she felt a hope of sunshine that maybe he forgave her and that is why he was here tonight too.

From that day onwards he came to her room every other day and did his duty without any passion or love but with each day they both started to feel something. As the days progressed he realized that he needed to provide her pleasure in order to make her come for him, only that will ensure the conception as per the guideline he has be taught so he started to make efforts to make her come for him. With the result that she started to climax to both of their surprise and then one day she climaxed along with him uttering a loud moan which she had been controlling arousing him more.

With each day whenever he was with her, her already guilt filled heart had started to make her miserable at the realization that she gave what was his right to someone else. She would lay on her bed praying for forgiveness after he would walk out of the room and before they both knew it a month passed by.

During this month they didnt talk, not even once, his and Elijah's distance had increased and he felt relieved that he never tried to approach him which he thought was good thinking what would they have talked about. On one hand he was frustrated that he had not heard any news from her but on the other hand even with all his anger and resentment towards her, he had started to look for that time of the day wanting to hear her moaning while he pleased her.