When The Gold Is Gone ✔ ~ trixya

Chapter 23: A Choice For Love

Despite the promise of keeping the rumors secret they were quickly shared with anyone who would listen, spreading around like wildfire, and soon enough the Kingdom of Resvya was left in chaos. The people were begging for a statement from their rulers, their silence furthering the nation's feeling of betrayal.

"Princess Beatrice, what do you think of these awful rumors? You must be quite shocked to learn of them." Prince Henri said when he ran into the clearly stressed Princess in the castle courtyard.

"Quite, but that is why we are having a meeting once the King and Queen return tomorrow. I am sure it will all be explained. But yes, I was horrified to hear the claims." Trixie lied. "But they are only rumors after all."

She tried to seem convincing, tried her best to hide the truth. But her mask was easy to see through, her eyes revealing her true emotions.

"You know, don't you? You know the truth and yet you are still prepared to marry her. You would chose such a disgusting lifestyle? A life that defies the laws of your own country?"

"Who said it was the truth?" Trixie argued. She wanted desperately to argue against his statements regarding her sexuality being disgusting, but she had to be careful.

"Do not lie to me, or you will be sorry. Don't you see, Princess? Your father will never let you marry her now." The man said, stepping closer to her.

"And what has that got to do with you?"

"Well, your father and I have made a deal. You see, he wants to break your engagement but was hesitant because of the union and the danger of his country being crushed in war by mine, so I kindly offered to take your hand instead. We will create a new union together, a much stronger one then the one you would have had with Princess Yekaterina." Henri said, spitting out Katya's name as if it was a curse. 

"Marry you? You think I will ever agree to marry you?" Trixie said in shock and digust.

"You will have no choice, Princess. Not if you want your Kingdom to survive the war. The war will come either way, and when it does you will want to be on the right side of it. Forquesse has strong allies, we are prepared for a war, but your country is not without the help of the union."

"I would find a way, any option is better than your hand in marriage." 

"Oh come now, Beatrice. I am sure you will grow to like me, and I will grant you sons. Unlike your ungodly current relationship, I will be able grant you healthy children, heirs for our Kingdoms." The Prince said.

"Thank you for the offer, but I do not want nor like children. I am perfectly happy without them. And I would rather die than marry you." Trixie spat before she walked back inside the castle.

She was furious, but she would need to keep a calm head before the meeting. First of all she needed to find Katya, and then a priest. Her plan was madness, but she saw no other alternative as they were clearly running out of time. If her father was already taking such drastic steps then simply hoping for it to be sorted at the meeting would be too risky. No, she needed to do something now, something that would prevent her from being married off to Prince Henri.

Trixie stormed through the halls until she reached Katya's bedroom, practically yelling at the guards to announce her presence which they did moments later. The door swung open and without another word the Princess walked past her lover and into the room.

"Trixie, what is the matter?" Katya asked, knowing it had to be more than just the rumors.

"He is marrying me away."

"Who?"

"My father, he is marrying me away to Prince Henri." Trixie clarified, tears now threatening to escape her honey-brown eyes.

"What?! How can he do such a thing?" Katya said.

"Henri, he said there is a war coming, the Forquesse have been preparing for it. My father... he must have been told too and that must be why he is so desperate to enter into another alliance. I knew he would not accept me being with a woman, and that even rumors of such a thing could cause him to break our union, but I never imagined that he would do this..."

"I am so sorry, Trixie... But if a war is coming then you must do what is right for your Kingdom, and you must protect yourself. They are strong, stronger than Resvya. You would be safer there than you would here." The other girl said, her heart aching for every word that left her lips.

"No. No, I cannot."

"Trixie..."

"No, I refuse! I love you! I am yours. I will not give up on us... What we have is so strong, so true... We are one. A love like ours is worth risking everything for. So no, do not ask me to give up and go into the arms of another." Trixie said.

"I love you too, so much... But this frightens me, Trixie... I can not keep lying to my people, I will have to come forward. And when I do, they will need to see that I am still a future ruler they can depend on. If there is a war, then I will need to fight in it. I am trained to lead our troops, and I will have to. And I... I am so frightened that my doing so will lead to you getting hurt. You know there is a risk that your father will not allow you to come home if you choose me, and you will not be in a country with a strong alliance to anyone if you stay... I just, I want you to know what you are choosing before you risk your life to stay with me."

"I am choosing you. And if you must fight then I will accept that, I will still choose you. I choose you because my life is not worth living without you in it." Trixie said, stepping closer to the other woman. She reached for Katya's jaw with one hand, caressing it gently before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. "This is right, you know it is."

"I know, I just wish to protect you." Katya replied, leaning her forehead against that of the Princess.

"Marry me. Today." Trixie whispered.

"What?" 

"Marry me today so we are already wed once the meeting begins in the morning. We can find a priest and marry legally here, no one would be able to break our union. Marry me so my father can not give my hand to someone else. Marry me like you promised because it is what we both truly want." 

"Are you certain?" The Resvyan asked.

"Yes, without a doubt." Trixie replied.

"Then yes, I will marry you."