When The Gold Is Gone ✔ ~ trixya

Chapter 6: A Heartless Night

The night sky had appeared overhead and Trixie couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness that the exciting day was over. She loved leaving the castle grounds, feeling free again, and feeling seen again. Out there she got to forget the constant awkwardness of the castle and be around those who would not want her to be anything other than what she was, those who saw her for who she was.

"You certainly seemed to enjoy yourself." Alexej said in a tone which clearly showed that he did not think that to be a good thing.

"Is there anything wrong with me enjoying visiting the people I am meant to help lead in the future?"

"Not at all, it's just quite pathetic to see how desperate you are for attention." The Prince said as he climbed out of the carriage. 

Trixie followed suit before turning to the staff members and asking them to leave her and Alexej alone for a moment, not feeling comfortable having them watch the argument which she could feel coming. She had hoped today would be different, hoped it could be a turning point, but she saw things more clearly now. 

No matter what she said or did, he would not view her any differently, he would just continue to hate her. She could see it in his eyes, burning like a wildfire.

And she hated that.

Of all the people in the world to hate her, she hated that he hated her. 
If there was one thing she wished for it was for her and Alexej to still be friends, she loved being his friend. But no matter how hard she tried he just pushed her aside now. 

She wished Katya was still alive.
Katya always had a way of making things better.

"What is wrong with you?" Trixie said with anger in her tone, unable to hide her feelings any longer.

"Sorry for being honest." He replied nonchalantly whilst leaning against the castle wall.

"Honest? Well, if you love being honest so much answer me this; what did I ever do to make you hate me so?" The Princess said. She had tears in her eyes, she wished them away but she couldn't help it.

"I don't hate you."

"Oh please, do you take me for a fool? Do you honestly think I haven't noticed how you have avoided me all summer? Did you think I wouldn't hear your little nicknames for me?"

"I don't know what you're referring to." Alexej replied, trying to put the issue to rest so he could leave the conversation swiftly.

"Your guards love me, you know? They told me straight away that you keep calling me a whiny and spoiled child." Trixie said.

"Well, is that a lie? You have not yet even reached the age of fifteen, so you are a child. And are you not currently whining over the fact that there is one person in this world who won't give you the attention you crave, despite the fact that you get constant attention from most you meet? And are you then by doing this, not acting spoiled?" 

"Well, excuse me for expecting the man I am suppose to marry to pay me some attention! Excuse me for expecting my fiance to show some kindness towards his future wife when she traveled to see him after years of being kept away!" The Princess yelled, her tears flowing like a river down her cheeks.

"Do not blame me for that whole ordeal! I never made the promise to marry you. I never had my voice heard."

"So that's it then? You want to end our engagement?" Trixie asked.

"That is not my decision to make." Alexej responded with barely more than a whisper.

"But if it was.." Trixie pushed. "Would you want it to end?"

"Yes."

Beatrice felt her heart drop.
There it was.
The confirmation of what she had feared the most.

She didn't know why he hated her so much, so much that he wanted to end their engagement. Somehow the boy who had been her friend was so repulsed by her that he wanted their alliance to end, and he disdained her so much that he made sure she would know it whilst also knowing that their engagement would never be called off. No, they would be forced to marry no matter what their feelings were. That was the reality of a Royal union.

And oh, what an unhappy union theirs would be, Trixie thought to herself.

"Very well then... I shall ask my father not to send me here for the upcoming summers so I will no longer be a burden to you, and I will keep my distance for my last weeks here. With any luck we will not need to speak again until the day of the wedding." Beatrice said, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand as she started to walk away.

"Beatrice I-" Alexej began to say, reaching out to hold onto the girl's arm, but Trixie abruptly pulled her arm away before he had the chance.

"Do not touch me." She said harshly. 

The next weeks went by in silence. Even on Beatrice's birthday the pair did not speak a word to each other, and the Prince did not see her off once the time came for her to return to Midrosen. They acted like complete strangers, barely acknowledging each other at all.

It would be years before they met again.

But on a warm day in July, a month before the twentieth birthday of Princess Beatrice, a ship with the Midrosen signature white rose on it's sail could be seen from the coast of Resvya.

It was the day anticipated by most and dreaded by two.