Hey guys, so after a long hiatus I am back with an update. I do not know if this will last, but hopefully my writers block is gone for good and I can start working on my other fanfics as well. I do not know if this chapter will make sense, but I think that it turned out fine.

Enjoy!

Caroline sat in his grace's bedchamber and looked out of the window. Though it was dark, the full moon and stars gave her enough light to see that there was a beautiful garden beneath.

Placing her elbows on the windowsill, she sighed dreamily as she thought about skipping through the garden without any slippers on. How would it feel to have such amazing freedom? Would it feel as she thought it would it feel or even better?

"I guess I'll never know." Caroline said aloud as she thought about her situation.

"Never know what?" A feminine voice said from the doorway as Caroline looked in that direction with her eyes wide.

"Um, Lady Rebekah, hello." Caroline said as she stood up and gave the girl a curtsy of respect and greeting.

"You can just call me Rebekah and there really is no need for the curtsying and whatnot. However, I would like it if you told me your name. I don't fancy speaking to people that I know nothing about."

"With all due respect, my lady, I would rather stay anonymous. Call me whatever you wish." She urged before she looked down at the floor.

"Well then do take off your mask. It is lovely, but I would feel more comfortable if I knew how you looked like."

"My lady…" Caroline started, obviously readying herself to decline.

"You may wish to remain a mystery to my big brother, but you don't have to with me. I would really like it if you allowed me to see you."

"But, I- I don't wish to disgust you." Caroline confessed as she bit down on her bottom lip.

"Disgust me? I may be the sister of a Duke, but trust me when I tell you that I do not judge based on appearance."

"I don't know… I don't wish for you to tell the Duke my de- deformities."

"Deformities! What deformities do you speak of? I am certain your face is clear of any blemishes."

With a sigh, Caroline shook her head.

Really, she knew not how she looked like without the mask. It seemed that the mask was now a permanent trait of hers. Unfortunately, that is what happened when one's stepmother made sure to lower her stepdaughter's self-esteem whenever a situation was presented.

Nevertheless, the blonde understood that if her father cared enough for her, she wouldn't be in this mess. But no… He hated her just as much as her stepfamily did because she survived and her mother didn't.

"Are you alright?" Rebekah asked, unsure of herself as she moved closer to the masked young lady.

"Of course," Caroline reassured, trying to sound strong, but instead sounding just about ready to break down in tears.

"No you aren't." Rebekah sighed as she approached her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "If you do not wish to take off your mask, then I understand. Forgive me for pressuring you." She apologized as a blush appeared on her cheeks.

"There is nothing to forgive, my lady- rather, Rebekah." Caroline corrected as a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. "I'm just not quite ready to part with my mask. To be honest, I don't know if I'll ever be ready."

"Have you worn your mask for a certain amount of time?"

"Oh, I'd say I was about two when my stepmother announced that I was to wear a mask for the rest of my life."

"She sounds like a terrible person." Rebekah announced as she began shaking her head in disgust.

"She is," Caroline shrugged. "But life has dealt me this and though I do not wish for it, I don't have much of a choice."

"Is your stepmother raising you by herself?"

"As a matter of fact, she hadn't raised me at all. The employees at the house have had that responsibility hoisted upon them."

"And your actual parents? If you don't mind my asking, of course."

"Well, my mother passed away just as I was brought into the world. And my father is alive, but he doesn't worry himself over my life."

"That's horrible." Rebekah said as she put her hand over her heart and shook her head. "You're so young, but you've already seen so much heartache."

Caroline shrugged as she stood up and looked down at the floor. The mask remained secure on her face and at that moment she couldn't help but want to rip it off of her face. Would it truly be so bad if she went against her stepmother's wishes?

"I don't know why I'm telling you this." Caroline finally said.

"You're telling me all that you have because you feel the friendship blossoming between us. After you leave our home, I want you to know that the door is always open for you. Whenever there is something that you wish to talk about or simply want some company, come by and I'll happily admit you inside for some conversation and tea."

"I thank you for your remarkable kindness, my lady." Caroline said as she smiled at the girl that looked to be around the same age as her.

Though Lady Rebekah came from nobility and money, she was kindhearted and generous as well as humble and honest. Those were definitely traits that a lot of the aristocracy did not have. After all, her stepmother was a perfect example of such a person…

"You are very welcome, dear. Now, do forgive me for keeping you in that wet clothing for longer than necessary. I will return shortly with some dry clothes that should fit you about right. However, be warned that your ankles may show. After all, you are taller than me." Rebekah said matter-of-factly. "You may go behind the screen if you wish and start changing out of your wet clothing. I will return in less than five minutes and I am sure you shall be warmer without anything on for the time being."

With a grateful smile, the blonde nodded before she went behind a screen. She heard the turning of the doorknob and Rebekah's retreating footsteps.

As Rebekah exited her brother's bedchamber, she ran directly into him and gave a little yelp.

"What the bloody hell are you doing sneaking around, Nik? Surely, you could have waited in the study until I finished with our new charge."

"I wanted to make sure that she was doing alright. And do forgive me for saying this, but I was worried that you were going to give her the cut direct."

"I beg your pardon? I happen to be one of the kindest people out there, thank you very much. And the only people that I give the cut direct are those that I cannot stand. Our charge happens to be very kind yet shy."

"Has she told you anything of herself?"

"Nothing that you need to know, big brother. However, she hasn't given me her name yet and I very much doubt that she will. She is very mysterious and I think with good reason. Nevertheless, I hope to get at least her name."

"Has she taken off her mask? Is she as beautiful as I think she is? Oh, what kind of question is that? Of course she is beautiful."

"Niklaus Axel Mikaelson, surely this cannot be. You are actually interested in a woman of good breeding and quite taken with her if my assumption is correct."

"Oh, stop it. Now run along and get the girl a change of clothing. Although, I assumed you already had it."

"I did, but I seem to have left it on the wing chair. Nevertheless, I shall be back posthaste. For now, remain out here and allow her to have some privacy."

"But…" Klaus started, but his younger sister gave him a look that quickly shut his mouth.

"The girl already feels indebted to us and she's changing out of her wet clothing. Surely, you won't interrupt her solitude and make her embarrassed."

"Of course not," the Duke stated as he looked at his younger sister through narrowed stormy blue-gray eyes.

"That's my good big brother." Rebekah announced as she smiled at him innocently.

"Remember that, little sister." Klaus replied as a chuckle escaped his lips and he pushed his sister in the direction of her bedchamber.

Once he heard her bedchamber door close, he turned the doorknob to his own bedchamber quietly without peeking in.

"My lady, is everything alright?" He questioned and he heard the unmistakeable sound of a soft curse escaping the young lady as her foot connected with the screen.

"I- yes, your grace. Please do go outside. It is not proper, your grace." She told him, her words coming out in a jumble.

"Are you certain, my lady? I couldn't help but hear you stub your toe on the screen."

"Yes, yes. I am perfectly alright. Thank you for asking." She said as she dismissed him with her words.

Laughing, Klaus closed the door to his bedchamber and began shaking his head. It seemed that the lady already had herself wrapped around his finger. He couldn't seem to get enough of her and he knew absolutely nothing about her. Nevertheless, he would find out who she was and why she wore that mask.

Blushing furiously, Caroline slid to the floor and put her knees against her chest. Her little toe was throbbing, but she dared not make another sound. Surely, the pain would go away in a minute or so?

With that thought in mind, she thought about how the Duke poked his head into the bedchamber. What would have happened if he entered while she was sitting naked on his chair? How would she have reacted? Would she have ran for cover or would she have remained in the seat casting her feminine wiles in his direction? Really, these thoughts weren't supposed to be going through a young lady's head. But how could they not when she read novels that spoke of what went on between a man and woman?

"Oy," she said aloud as she put her face in her hands and shook the scandalous thoughts from her head.

This certainly wasn't the time to be thinking about the latest novel that she read that happened to talk much of the relationship that a man and woman shared…

Thankfully, she heard Rebekah's footsteps and the turning of a knob which made her quickly get to her feet. She peeked her head out of the screen and smiled when she saw a day dress in Rebekah's hands.

Rebekah made her way to the screen and handed her the baby pink day dress with a smile of her own.

"This is one of the more simpler styles that I own and one that I never wore. I hope you fancy the material and design. I had a wonderful modiste make that."

"Thank you for your generosity, my lady. You have no idea how thankful I am to you and the Duke. You have both been nothing but kind."

"Think nothing of it, dear. Now, don't forget to call my Rebekah. I don't much like all the 'my lady' nonsense."

"Yes, my- I mean, Rebekah." Caroline replied before she excused herself and moved behind the screen.

Stepping into the day dress, she realized that there was no chemise and frowned. However, she quickly shook her head. It was good enough that her ladyship was giving her a day dress to begin with.

"You must be wondering why I did not give you any undergarments, but it's quite simple. This particular style does not need anything else."

"Okay, thank you." Caroline said as she pulled on the dress and did the buttons up in the front. Then, she noticed that Rebekah was indeed telling the truth and smiled to herself. The silky texture against her skin made her feel as light as a feather and quite happy. After all, the clothing that she usually wore had hard and scratchy texture.

Just as she was going to come out, Caroline frowned as she placed her fingers on the mask that shielded her face. She wanted to feel pretty, but the mask was keeping her from doing so.

Lost in her thought, she didn't hear the sound of the doorknob turning and the Duke entering. At that moment, she shut her eyes and thought of her mother whom she knew nothing about, but loved nevertheless. Surely, if her mother was alive she would think her daughter beautiful? Perhaps the deformities that her stepmother spoke about were barely visible?

Hoping for the best, Caroline removed the mask from her face and made her way out of the screen. Stepping into the sunlight, she looked over at Rebekah and gave her a hesitant smile.

"Bloody beautiful," she heard a masculine voice say and felt her breath catch in her throat.

"You- your grace," she said as she felt the blush coming to her cheeks.

Surely, he would send her away? Surely, he didn't mean those two words- bloody beautiful?

There you have it, my lovelies. So, I am sure there are some questions that y'all may have, so I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

Some of you are probably wondering why Caroline never searched for a scar or any deformities with her hands and that has to do with the fact that she was afraid of what she may find. Also, her self-esteem is at the very bottom because of her step family, but I will make sure to have her grow confident. Another thing is why she was forced to wear a mask from a very young age. That really has to do with her being the most beautiful of her step family including her stepmother and stepsisters. If there are any other questions, feel free to ask them in the review section and I shall answer them in the next chapter (maybe).

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~Hana :p