When The Gold Is Gone ✔ ~ trixya

Chapter 12: The Secrets We Keep

Trixie walked back towards her room with a spring in her step, her feet feeling as if they were floating above the ground she was walking on. But soon she landed back on earth, the sound of whispering voices catching her attention.

"Poor thing, completely oblivious." A female voice said.

"Yes, she's got a storm coming once she learns the Prince's secret. Gotta pity her, being dragged into this mess and all." Another agreed.

The Princess searched the hallway until she noticed two maids in a nearly hidden corner watching her. She walked towards them with haste, speeding up once she saw them attempting to slip away.

"Hold it right there. What was that you were saying?" Trixie said loudly as she stepped closer. The two maids stopped and walked back towards her, clearly intimidated by the Princess having caught them.

"It was nothing, I swear, Your Highness. We were just talking nonsense, you see." The first one said.

"No, I heard you, you mentioned a secret. What secret? I demand you tell me at once." 

The second maid looked down at her feet, seeming conflicted about telling the Princess, but eventually she started to speak.

"It's not our secret to tell, Your Highness. But... I'll just say that the Prince isn't the Prince Charming you may have dreamed of."

Trixie considered the words carefully, searching her mind for what it could mean. She already knew he was rude, but that had stopped, had it not? Could he be toying with her? Did he love another? Had he betrayed her even before their wedding night had come?

"What does that mean? Is he unfaithful? Is he a drunk? Has he traversed brothels?" She questioned.

"Well... that too." The first maid replied, her voice small.

"He has visited brothels?" Trixie asked again, her disappointment clear.

It wasn't uncommon, she knew that well, but she still couldn't stop her heart from breaking at the thought of the man she was falling for so deeply, bedding another woman. It felt like the deepest of betrayals, a knife being twisted in her heart at the thought that their love story was cursed before it had even truly begun.

"I hear he's been at the one by river's end, Your Highness. It's where most men of his station go to take care of their needs. But I haven't been there meself, so I can't be sure of him visiting or not." 

"Thank you for being honest with me. You may both go on your way." Trixie said after a moment, realizing she needed to go elsewhere to learn the full story. 

"Thank you, Your Highness." The two maids said before hurrying down the corridor. 

Trixie continued on her way too, but the spring in her step was gone. Now she instead felt as if her feet were sinking into the floor, barely moving as she forced herself to continue the walk towards her room. She kept her gaze cast downwards, not noticing the young woman who was hurrying down the hall with a tray of fresh fruit. 

It was the loud noise of a silver tray hitting stone bricks that pulled the Princess out of her thoughts, as well as the feeling of being knocked to the ground.

"Oh god, I am so sorry, Your Highness. Are you alright?" A familiar voice asked, an arm coming to help her back on her feet moments after.

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you. I am so sorry, I was not paying atte-"

Trixie stopped her sentence once she saw who it was that had helped her. That was Alexej's personal maid, she realized.

"Your name is Judy, right?" The Princess asked.

"Ehm.. yes. Yes, it is. You Highness, I am truly sorry for staining your dress and knocking you over, it was not my intention." The girl responded, clearly thinking that Trixie was about to go to the King and Queen and complain about the incident.

"I know, and I am sorry to. I was not paying attention. May I ask you something?"

"Of course, Your Highness."

"Does Alexej visit brothels?" The Princess asked plainly.

She could see the shock on Judy's face from the question, but she knew the maid was likely to know the truth, and Trixie desperately needed to know what that truth was.

"Listen, it's not what you think, Your Highness... He's not a bad man."

"Just answer the question. Yes or no."

"Yes." Judy admitted with a sigh.

"Great... I should never have trusted him... Why would he have changed?" Trixie mumbled bitterly, mostly to herself. "Thank you for your honesty." She added before she started to walk away.

"He loves you!" Judy yelled after her, making Trixie stop and turn around.

"What?"

"He loves you, I know he does. He always has." Judy said.

"Always? Oh please, he treated me horribly the last time I was here." Trixie scoffed.

"Well, even then, he loved you. Trust me. A woman knows when the person she loves is in love with another."

"You love him?" The Princess asked in shock.

"Yes, I've loved him for as long as I can remember. But he was never interested in me. No matter how hard I tried, I could never live up to the girl who stopped sending letters. No matter what I did, he just kept pining over you." Judy replied. 

Trixie could hear the sadness in her voice, her anger softening a little. Judy noticed the change, but she did not wish for any words of sympathy. She knew The Princess would never truly understand how it had been for her. How Judy had waited patiently on the sidelines without ever asking for anything, without even hoping for a forever with the one she loved. From the cover of the crowd she had gazed lovingly at a Prince who would never look at her the same, for Katya's eyes were always following the beautiful foreign Princess, always stuck on Beatrice, even though she did not know or understand Katya like Judy did. And yet, Judy was not bitter, no matter how much she wanted to hate Beatrice, she just couldn't. For the Princess was not at fault in any of this, and Judy knew that. So she loved Katya without ever saying so, even encouraging her to go after the Princess instead because she knew that Katya had always and would always love Beatrice, even if she herself had not realized it.

"I..."

"Don't, please do not tell me you're sorry, or that you pity me. Just, consider my words. You might not believe me, but please think about what I have told you." Judy said. 

"Alright, I will think about it." Trixie replied.

"I have to go. I wish you a pleasant sleep, Your Highness. Good night."

"Good night." The Princess replied as she saw the maid hurry away. 

She was left in a state of confusion, her head spinning from all the truths she had learned. The Prince had been to brothels, and by doing so he had effectively betrayed her. His maid and long time friend was in love with him. And most importantly; there was a secret that he and clearly others were keeping from her. A secret so large that it made others pity her.

That night she tossed and turned in her sleep, and in her dreams she imagined what she would say once she met Alexej in the morning. For there was no way she would not stay silent.
He had the truth, and she needed to know it.