The ballroom was filled with guests and decorated with pink flowers and ribbons in a fashion which Katya felt truly screamed Trixie. Everything about the birthday was perfect except for the one unwanted guest who was standing in a corner of the room, holding a glass of champagne. Still, there was nothing to be done about that, so Katya put on a confident face and waited by the entrance for Trixie's arrival.
"His Majesty King Erik of Midrosen and Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of Midrosen." The Lord Chamberlain announced.
Trixie appeared by her father's side dressed in a light pink, long-sleeved, tulle gown, with embroidered cherry blossoms moving along it's skirt and up towards the fitted bodice. Her hair was elegantly curled, hanging rebelliously freely as always, and she wore a silver crown of twisted metal vines with diamond flowers. She looked straight out of a fairytale, the Resvyan thought.
"Your Majesty." Katya said, bowing politely.
"Prince Alexej." The King replied.
"Princess Beatrice, happy birthday. You look beautiful."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Trixie replied.
"I will leave you two and go make my rounds." The King told them, to which both girls nodded and gave a short bow before the man left them.
"Will you let me have your first dance?" Katya asked flirtatiously.
"I thought you would never ask." The Princess replied with a bright smile as she took her lover's hand.
"Save one for me too, I would not want to miss my chance to dance with such an exquisite beauty." A voice interrupted.
"Oh, Prince Henri... Are you trying to flirt with my wife-to-be?" Katya said.
"Of course not, Your Highness. I would not dream of interfering with what I hear is a love story like those writers conjure up in their minds."
"Well, we are very in love." The Resvyan replied.
"Prince Henri, I do not believe we've been introduced." Trixie interrupted, seeing how much Katya was already letting herself become affected.
"Unfortunately not, no. It is a true pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness." Henri said with a bow.
"Likewise, and I am honored that you have traveled so far to celebrate my birthday and our wedding." The Princess replied, holding back any comments regarding her true feelings surrounding the situation.
"I am honored to have been invited, and I hope this occasion can start a new chapter in the history of our nations."
"As do I." Trixie said.
"Well, we really should start the festivities. Your Highness?" Katya cut in, bowing and holding out her hand for Trixie to take which she did seconds later.
"Certainly." She said, following Katya onto the dance floor.
As the two elegantly waltzed to the music of the small orchestra, Prince Henri made his way over towards where King Erik was standing in the corner of the room. He had little time to discuss what he needed to, and he would not miss his chance.
"Wonderful party, Your Majesty." The Prince greeted.
"Prince Henri." The King greeted. "Yes, it most certainly is. They make a handsome couple, do they not?"
"Yes, quite. I am just slightly unnerved by some rumors I heard upon entering the city... but I am sure it is nothing."
"Rumors? What rumors?" The King questioned.
"I am not sure it is my place to tell you, but you see we visited the brothel by river's end on our way here, and we heard some curious tales regarding Prince Alexej." Prince Henri said in hushed tones, doing his best to conceal how pleased he was to share his discovery.
"Well, I would not expect him to never takes whores, even as the father of his bride. A man is a man after all." The King replied.
"Yes, but that was just the thing, you see... the women who have been with him... they claim he is not a man."
"What ever do you mean?"
"I am sure this will sound most preposterous, but please know I tell you with the utmost care for your daughter and Kingdom. The Prince has decieved you both and is no Prince at all, you see it was not his sister that died all those years ago, it was Alexej." Prince Henri said.
"That is ridiculous, it can't be..."
"I had quite the same reaction, but those I heard talk at the brothel were quite clear in their claims. The Prince they entertained time after time was a woman. He is his sister Yekaterina."
"Excuse me for a moment." The King said, storming out into the gardens to take it all in. He emptied his cup as he paced back and forth, thinking of all the years of planning and all the lies that must've been told time and time again for this plot to be true. And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was.
Once he had calmed down he returned, walking back towards the visiting Prince. He looked towards his daughter, and felt anger burning inside him at the thought of her being betrayed in such a horrid way, forced to break the law of her own Kingdom.
"Are you certain of these claims?" The King asked Henri.
"I did not want to say it at first, as I truly do not want to bring heartache to such a lovely celebration. But I am unfortunately as certain as I can be without seeing the Prince nude, Your Majesty. There are whispers within the castle too, confirming the claims. I am truly sorry to bring you such horrid news, but I do believe it to be the truth."
"Then you must speak of this to no one for now, while I work out a solution. Of course, I can not let Beatrice get trapped by such a scheme, but I will need to be clever about this due to the treaty." The King said.
"Of course, it will stay between us."
YOU ARE READING
When The Gold Is Gone ✔ ~ trixya
FanfictionA Prince. A Princess. Two Kingdoms. And a marriage arranged from birth. But what happens when the Prince's sister Katya is suddenly forced to take his place?
