"How can no one know where she is? How is that possible?" Trixie yelled at the King who was sat by his desk, maps and small figurines of soldiers covering it's surface.
"There are more pressing matters at hand, Beatrice." The King replied.
"What could possibly be more pressing than finding the heir to the throne?"
"Saving the lives of the people of this Kingdom, protecting Resvya from ruin. We are running out of funds, just like we always knew we would if a war should come to our doorstep. Soon this war will kill our entire nation, that is unless I can somehow procure the funds to save it." He replied as he moved pieces across the map again, trying to find a new point of attack, a new strategy.
"So obtaining enough money to fund your war is more important than locating your daughter?" Trixie said in outrage and disgust, even though she knew that was not what he had meant.
"Of course not, but I cannot think of the fate of one when I am faced with the task of protecting the fates of so many. I guard the hope of my people, no matter if they are weak or mighty, rich or poor, it is my duty. I know you mean well, but what you are asking of me is to spend the last of our gold on searching nationwide for Yekaterina rather than ensuring a hundred of our men do not starve for the next month. These men have families, wives, husbands, children, people who love them just as you love Kathinka. It is my duty to protect them, just as it is yours to protect her. I want her home desperately, truly I do, but these are the decisions I must make as King, and right now we simply cannot afford to spend any funds on searching for her." The King explained.
"Then I shall go myself." Trixie stated stubbornly, knowing it was a child's statement and not one that would amount to anything.
"Beatrice... You know you cannot. I know this is difficult. The pain you must feel is sure to be unbearable, but you must remain strong, for her. She will find her way back to us, I know she will. Yekaterina is strong as a bull and brave as a lion, and she loves you as much as one can love another, she will return to you. Trust in her, believe that she will find her way back to us. Would she truly be your Katya if she did not manage to overcome every obstacle to be with you?" The King spoke, with more care and admiration for his daughter than Trixie had ever heard him have before.
"No, no she would not. I trust in her, I trust she will return. I just... I feel so helpless... She is out there fighting a war and I am doing nothing." Trixie admitted, letting the King know her true frustrations.
"Well, perhaps there is something you could do... Although, I fear it is not something you will enjoy doing, and frankly Yekaterina would likely hate me for suggesting it at all."
"I will do anything, just tell me how I can help." The Princess responded desperately.
"Write to your father." The King said.
"My father?"
"I know it is much to ask, but truthfully the pact of our nations was honored when you married Katya, and so the next move should have been for Resvya to be provided with gold, and Midrosen with soldiers. We can still make that deal, we can still support each other. Resvya has other resources to offer too if men is not what Midrosen should want, but we desperately need an ally with enough gold to keep this war going. You are our best hope at gaining that ally, Beatrice. I know he has deeply hurt you, you have every right to refuse my request, but if you truly wish to help then this is how you can do it." The man explained.
Trixie was hesitant, after all this was the man who had blamed her for her mother's death, a man who had acted as if her love was perverted and revolting, a man who had cast away his only child as if she was rotted meat. But gaining more funds meant that they could possibly have resources enough to search for Katya, and nothing was more important to Trixie than that.
"I shall do it, for the sake of Resvya, for the sake of Katya." Trixie replied.
That evening she sat down at the King's desk and wrote a letter which was to be sent to Midrosen as quickly as possible. She sealed the letter with both the Royal Seal of the Resvyan Crown and her own personal seal so her father would know that it was sent from both the King of Resvya and his own abandoned heir.
Dear Father
This letter must come as a surprise, but I am writing to you in our hour of need.
The Resvyan people need your help, our help, and as respectable members of the Midrosen Royals I believe it is our duty to uphold the pact between our nations. I know you must not see me as part of your line any longer, but I am writing to you in the hopes that you might see reason and honor the agreement you made before I was born.
The last time I saw you, you shamefully blamed me for mother's passing, a statement I know she would never have forgiven. You have lived with the great sorrow of loosing a wife, and I understand now just how large that sorrow must have been, as I am faced with the very real possibility of having lost my own wife too soon. Yekaterina is missing, lost somewhere in the Resvyan battlefields, and we cannot search for her due to a lack of funds. Rations for the soldiers must come first, and so her life and the life of hundreds of innocent men are all currently at risk. So I beg you to help us, even if you do not accept me or my marriage, help me do anything to find and save my love as I know you would have done anything to find and save yours.
I know you once swore to protect me in all ways you could, so surely there must be some part of you that still cares for me, your only child. Mother did not believe in the laws you are holding onto and damning me for breaking, so for your love of her please ignore that antiquated law and honor your pact with Resvya as I know she would have wanted. She wanted a child more than anything, so please honor her by helping me now, when I need it most.
Help me, father.
Hate me all you want after this, just please help me and all of Resvya now before it is too late.
Your daughter,
Beatrice
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?
