When The Gold Is Gone ✔ ~ trixya

Chapter 1: Opening The Gates

7 long years had passed since Princess Beatrice had last set foot on Resvyan soil. She could hardly even remember how it had all looked during her last visit, but the coastal town of Novy still somehow felt familiar to her. The calm sea breeze that blew through her long blonde hair reminded her of days she had spent playing and running around with the Resvyan Royal twins.

Of course, now there was only Alexej.

The death of Katya had been a shock to them all, and Beatrice remembered feeling as if her entire world was falling apart when she learned of her friend's dreadful fate. A leap of faith that had ended with a tragic fall. The princess had always wondered if Alexej had been there during the accident, everyone she had spoken to had sworn he had not, but Beatrice couldn't help but think it odd that the ordinarily inseparable twins should have somehow been apart right at the moment when the accident took place.

Not that Yekaterina had never done wild things on her own, she was always the bravest and most impulsive of the three. Beatrice had envied her a great deal for that, and for her personality in general. Katya had the ability to make everyone she met instantly like her, so deeply charming despite constantly pushing her boundaries and disobeying Royal protocol. Whilst Beatrice was taught to be poised and gentle, and was too obedient to go against this, Katya was wild and rough around the edges, always finding a new rule to break. Even if instructed to, Beatrice did not think the Princess of Resvya would have grown to be any less of a free spirit.

However, now they would never know.

It would be strange, the Princess thought, to walk around the familiar halls of the castle and not hear Katya call her nickname out joyfully.

Trixie.
That was what the girl had called her.
Trixie Pixie.

According to Katya, Beatrice sounded far too boring and ordinary, whilst Trixie sounded like the name of a woodland fairy. So the Princess had insisted on only ever calling her as such, and in a sense Trixie still felt as if that was her real name, whilst Beatrice was just a silly title.

Beatrice was The Princess, the poised and proper girl who did everything she was supposed to.
But Trixie was who she was beneath all the Royal garments and rules, the girl who loved to sing and sew, the young woman who was curious about the world and anxious to explore it.

Trixie was the real her.

"Your Highness, your carriage is ready." The princess heard her private secretary say.

"Thank you, Ron." She replied.

Trixie followed the man to a beautiful white carriage with golden decor and light pink interior pulled by two white horses, the very same she had ridden in so many times as a child. As she entered she let her fingers trace the gold lettering on the door, smiling at where the initials of her name were so carefully painted and at the pair of messily carved initials that sat right beneath.

A.M.Z
Y.P.Z

Alexej Mikhail Zamolodchikov and Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova. 

Katya had done it on a particularly long trip whilst their governess had been too preoccupied with informing their driver that he had gone down the wrong path to notice. It was the perfect symbol of what the girl had been like, and it nearly made Trixie shed a tear as she sat down. She wondered how difficult it was for Alexej to deal with it all, all the memories that would invade all senses. But she supposed he had also had more time to get used to being around it all. Still, she hoped they might find comfort in each other's company, just as they had found joy in each other's company when they were young. 

There were years until their wedding still, but it was growing nearer day by day so the very least she could hope for was that they'd be happy in the match. She would not yet wish for love, after all she had barely seen or talked to the boy outside of occasional photos and a few letters for the last 7 years. But she would hope for companionship, friendship. 

The carriage took off and soon the town of Nova grew small whilst the large stone castle of King Ivan Dimitri of House Zamolodchikov grew larger. The barriers surrounding the castle were taller than the Princess remembered them, she remembered black metal fences with intricate ornaments, but now she was met with thick grey stone walls. She found herself wondering if the change had been made to keep the world out, or to keep the Royal family and their staff in. 

"We've arrived Your Highness." Ron said as the carriage came to a halt.

From within the carriage she could see lines upon lines of staff members, as well as King Ivan and his wife, Queen Anna. The Prince however was nowhere to be seen.

At the time she stayed positive, thought it a mere coincidence, convinced herself that he was just otherwise engaged. However time would show this as the first of many times the Prince would disappoint her, and the first of many days where she would feel alone.