ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ || ᴋʟᴀᴜꜱ ᴍɪᴋᴇᴀʟꜱᴏɴ

Invisible string

"You look very pleased with yourself." Klaus remarked, watching her with a curious tilt of his head

"It's cake." She said, licking a trace of honey from her thumb. "How could I not be pleased?"

"I'm glad it worked. I nearly dropped it twice on my way over here. Kol nearly stole it once too. I thought you might need something to sweeten the evening."

"Did I look that miserable?"

"Not miserable." He said quickly. "Just... tired. Overwhelmed."

"You see too much." She gave him a small smile

"I notice too much." He corrected softly. His eyes dropped to the ring now glinting on her finger. "Your smile doesn't quite reach your eyes when you wish to be left alone."

"I didn't think anyone paid attention to such things. Not even my mother notices." She shook her head, almost disbelieving

"I notice everything about you." Klaus murmured honestly. "Perhaps more than I should."

Her cheeks warmed, and she tried to cover it by taking another bite of cake. "Well, you're full of surprises, Niklaus."

"And here I thought you would be disappointed." He smirked faintly

"Disappointed?" She repeated, frowning at him.

"Yes." He admitted, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I know what they say about me. What my father says... That I'm not enough. That Elijah would have been the wiser choice."

Isabelle was silent for a moment. Then, gently, she set the plate aside and turned toward him. "I did not choose Elijah, I chose you."

Klaus finally lifted his eyes to hers, searching, as if he almost couldn't believe her words. "And you don't regret it?"

"No."

For a moment, they only looked at each other. Then, needing to break the tension, Isabelle let out a little laugh and nudged his arm with her shoulder. "Besides, who else would sneak me cake and have rings made in secret?"

"Careful, Isabelle. You'll ruin my reputation." Klaus let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head

Her eyes sparkled and she leaned back against the wall beside him, closer this time. "Then it shall be our secret."

♠️♠️♠️

The house was quiet. Too quiet. After the noise of the feast, the laughter, the endless congratulations, the silence seemed almost heavy.

Isabelle sat on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her lap. She didn't move, didn't even look around the room. Klaus, standing a few paces away, kept himself busy at the fireplace, though the fire was already lit as he did anything to keep his hands occupied

After a while, Isabelle stoodand walked over to the box where her belongings had been placed. She ran her fingers over the folded gowns before pulling out a white nightgown and Klaus noticed and immediately straightened.

"I'll step outside." He said quickly, clearing his throat. "Give you privacy."

"Thank you." She nodded without looking at him.

He left the room at once, shutting the door behind him. Isabelle exhaled slowly, her hands trembling as she changed into the gown. Her gold wedding dress lay across the chest like something belonging to another woman, not her

Klaus returned a few minutes later, dressed in a plain linen shirt and dark trousers, his hair slightly messy. He hesitated at the door before stepping inside. She was already in bed, sitting upright against the headboard

For a moment, neither spoke. Then Isabelle broke the silence. "This is strange, isn't it?"

"It is." Klaus blinked, then gave a half-smile

"I've planned this wedding for weeks and yet... I never thought of this part. Of being alone with you."

He moved closer, slowly, almost cautiously and sat at the foot of the bed, leaving space between them. "Nor I. I've thought of you... more times than I'll ever admit but I never thought of what it would truly be like. Not until now."

"And what do you think now?" Her breath caught a little but she didn't look away

"That I don't want to ruin it. Any of it." His expression turned serious. "I want this marriage to be more than duty, Isabelle. More than our families binding names together. I want it to be... ours."

"You do?" Her lips parted slightly, clearly surprised at his honesty

"Yes." He said softly. "Tell me you want that too."

Isabelle was quiet for a moment, then she nodded. "I do. I don't want to live in a house where every word is cold and empty. I've seen enough of that with my parents. I want something different. I want kindness and I want honesty. I want... a friend, at least, if not more."

"Then let it be that. I cannot promise perfection, Isabelle. I've never been the favored son, never the one anyone expected much of but if you'll have patience with me..." His voice cracked but he forced himself to go on. "I'll try to be the husband you hope for."

Her eyes softened and for the first time that night, she let herself relax. "And if you'll have patience with me, I'll try to be the wife you need."

Klaus glanced at her hands, twisting nervously in her lap. Without thinking, he reached out and covered them with his own. She was startled slightly, then looked at him. His hand was warm, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding

"Isabelle." He said quietly. "Whatever comes of us... know that I am grateful it is you."

"And I, you." Her throat tightened but she managed a small smile

For a moment longer, they simply sat there, hand in hand, two strangers bound together, trying to find their way to something more

♠️♠️♠️

NOTES

—The foreshadowing in these chapters is crazy. You guys pay attention 😭

—It's so sad that everything is gonna change