Trix woke up less than a minute later. A crowd had gathered around her and she found herself in Felix's arms. She had never fainted in her entire life. Yes she had been knocked unconscious when she was kidnapped but this was different.
"Princess, are you alright?" A man called out.
"Yes. I simply lack rest. I will be fine." Trix tried to get up but Felix stopped her. She could see the concern in his eyes.
"Maybe I should take you home Trix." Felix said with a frown on his face.
"I'll be fine. Please take me to Lord Hector so I might congratulate him and his future wife."
"I am here Trix. Please don't tire yourself." She looked to her right and there was Hector holding bottles of cure
Trix woke early the next day feeling cheerful and rested. The events that had transpired the night before had begun like nightmare that ended as a sweet dream. She layed in bed remembering in her mind the dances she shared with Lord Felix, their late night stroll, and even how he had opened up to her that night. She was happy he was there. She would have felt alone and had would have done something irrational.Trix knew that she would have to face the reality of last night's events, but she lay on her bed trying to delay it. Soon Fausta and Cassia came into her chambers to wake her. The two maids were whispering and giggling as they entered her chambers. She could hear the mention of Felix's name and hers."I am up. There is no need to wake me." Trix called out from her bed."We
"People of Rome. It is on this day that we shall be rejoicing." A lone man in the square called out as the crowd gathered. "It is on this day that the gods have smiled upon us. The Princess Vitatrix, daughter offered Emperor Patricus and Empress Eliana, has been betrothedto Lord Felix, son of Senator Felix. To commemorate this occasion the emperor has commissioned that a week of celebration be held. Feasts and Fights in honor of his daughters engagement." The crowd cheered. Among them were three women, they had their faces covered and they wore simple clothing. Little did the people of Rome realize that this was their Princess Vitatrix and her Lady's maids Cassia and Fausta. The girls had gone to the market place as Trix wanted to see the people's reaction to her engagement. In reality the engagement had happened a week ago but
The night was a blur to Trix. She knew that music was played, that food was served, and gifts given. The only part of the night that stuck to her was the one dance she shared with Hector and the moment he had handed her over to Felix. This is not what she wanted, to be around someone you love but not be able to love him. It hurt her.As her engagement to Felix was to be celebrated in the following days she knew she had to put on a mask of false joy. She knew that any woman would be happy to be engaged to Felix. He was kind, intelligent, rich, he was perfect. But despite his perfection Trix could not find it in herself to love him. Was this the price she had to pay for being with her family? Or was it just some cruel twist of faith that had led her to be in this situation at that particular moment?"Trix are you listening to me?" S
"So a secret cult of Roman senators who are calling themselves the Society of the Eagle were behind your abduction and poisoning. To add to that you believe that Lord Felix is one of them. Do you have any idea how absurd that sounds Trix?" Hector questioned her. They had agreed to meet in her chambers after the matches at the arena."Don't look at me as if I'm crazy Hector. I actually heard them." Trix said."Do you have any idea who they are?" Hector sighed."That's why we are going to my father's library to look them up. Also I've asked some of the guards go look into it." Trix said gleefully."Are you trying to build your own spy network?" Hector teased."Well I will eventually ne
The hall was filled with men and women of the nobility. Many stared as Trix entered the room, the ladies gossiped on why instead of her betrothed she had come with the heir of House Julian. Others were simply unaware of who Hector wad and assumed him to be Lord Felix the younger. Trix scanned the room in search of Felix, he was not there."I cannot see him." She whispered to Hector."I'm sure there is a reason for his absence. An urgent matter perhaps?" Hector patted her hand as they made their way to the head of the hall where a table wad prepared for the imperial family. They stood as the emperor greeted the guests and only sat when he sat.At this Hector moved to make his way to a seat near his grandfather and fathet when the emperor called him. "Surely you will sit with us Hector.
She had to marry Felix. She had to do it for her people, but how can she marry him when the man she truly loved stood right in front of her?"Trix why did you agree to marry him if you did not want to?" Hector asked."Because if I do not my father will be forced to find another heir. It will most probably be that little boy, oh I can't even remember his name." She continued to sob."Trix I'm sure there are many other men out there who you might like more than Lord Felix. Why marry him?" Hector asked.Trix bit her lip. Should she tell him? She loved only one man. She wanted to marry only one man."Hector, I love someone else." She managed to say.
Hector woke in his bed. A figure sat beside him. A woman? His vision was blurred and he could not move. What had happened last night? He remembers a man saying something to him then suddenly losing consciousness. How was he on his bed? Had a servant found him?Hector lost consciousness once more.He could feel the light as it streamed through a window on the roof. Then a knock came from the opposite end of the room. He tried to move, but his body failed to cooperate. The knock grew louder and more urgent. Had he be given some poison?"Hector open the door this instant!"Came Trix's voice from the other side. Hector wanted to shout for help. His lips did not move. He was frozen. He eyes were shut. Darkness engulfed him once more."Hector it's the emperor! Are you in the
Trix sat by Hector's side. She watched him go from bad to worse. He had a raging fever and the poison had not yet been found. The doctors told her that he might not make the night."Hector I'm here, I love you. Don't leave me. I only agreed to marry Felix because you were betrothed to Marcella." Trix confessed. She did not know if Hector could hear her. All she knew was that she needed him to get better she needed him. A life without Hector would not be a life worth living."My Lady, the doctors are here to see him." Fausta said with downcast eyes. In the past days the staff at the palace learned to be wary of their princess. She had more than once snapped at them and they understood her frustration. They had the best medical resources possible and yet a cure had not yet been found. The love of her life was dying and she could not do an
Hector ordered for the nation's top spies to report to him that night. They had agreed that a larger force would not be practical, nor would it make sense to attack with put confirming that Trix was indeed being held captive in Felix's villa."Seeing as everyone is now here this is your mission, we will march out before dawn and camp in the woods behind the villa." Hector explained pointing at the map on the table. "From there the spies will advance first to confirm if the empress is indeed being kept captive there and if she is still within the grounds. We will all be dressed discreetly. The forge has made a new light weight armor that we can test out, it should be well hidden under our cloaks and disguises."The men all nodded in understanding."Expect the place to be
Hector marched into the hall where the senators and other leaders of Rome had gathered. Two weeks had passed since the attempted rebellion of Gaius and Marcus where Trix had disappeared. The senators were in a frenzy, they still believed that Trix was on a military tour. They began to worry, the reign of the empress was young and very susceptible to people who wish to take over the empire themselves. Many were pressing for Trix to wed in order to show a stronger front. Hector debated with many of them explaining that this would only show their lack of confidence in their empress. Vitatrix may be a woman but she was proving to her people that women were not weak.After the attempt no other unrest outside of the ordinary was reported. It was as if Marcus and his men had vanished. Gaius had been killed in the fight and his son was making right his father's mistake. Not surprisingly C
Trix stood frozen between Jacob and her aunt. She knew Jacob had heard what Aria had called her. How foolish of them to let their guard down."We will discuss this later Jacob." Trix whispered."If you are who she says you are then you must get out of here." Jacob said."Not without everyone being safe. If I escape they will use this as leverage." She explained."Silence!" Marcus commanded. "As you see there is no empress, her future consort is my prisoner, I told captive majority of nobles in Rome. So now you will have over the crown to me.""The empress will return." A man in the crowd shouted."Sh
"Are you ready?" Jacob asked straightening out his tunic."Almost. Give me a moment." Trix called out. She had worn a simple cream colored dress with a red belt. She had chosen to wear something simpler over the violet dress Aria had offered for her to use."Who do you think will be coming to the party?" Jacob asked."Most probably every noble in Rome. This is Lord Felix we are talking about. He is good friends with the empress and it would not hurt to be on his good side." Trix walked out from behind the screen dressed and ready. "That is why I must remain simple. If someone recognizes me our mission will surely end tonight.""You look amazing." Was all Jacob managed to say as he looked at his pretend wife.Trix blushed and smiled sweetly at him. "Well we must get going. It would be a shame to miss all the events tonight."Jacob nodded and offered his arm to her. She gladly took it and they made their way to the banquet hall. The hall was brightly lit with nobles from across the empi
Trix was worried at Felix's reaction. She knew that if Gaius was aware of her presence in his home, she will be used to gain the throne. "Sir, you have me confused with the empress. I merely look like her." Trix managed to say. She watched as Felix glared at her, clearly not convinced on the fact that only a double stood in front of him at that moment. "Very interesting." Felix said looking her over. "Aaron, I mean Jacob, it has been quite a while. I had my men look for you all over the city." "Sir I felt like a burden living in your villa. I chose to find my way." Jacob reasoned clearly ashamed by what he had done. "None the less I still open my doors to you and your wife. Live on my land as a friend. Although I think you've foun
Trix could not believe what she was hearing. Lord Felix was arranging his marriage to Gaius daughter, a woman clearly of much lower rank than him. It was uncharacteristic."I would be honored my lord for such a union to occur." Lord Gaius said with a grin. "It most definitively would further strengthen our plans.""What plans?" Felix asked the older man."My plans for my children sir." Gaius said quickly covering up what he had let slip, leaving Trix much more confused than ever."Ah, a father good must indeed look after his kin. Tell me sir when might I meet your daughter?" Felix asked."We could arrange for a small gatherin
Trix silently made her way through the halls to the library she needed a way to see if her friend Felix was behind all these plans, and she knew someone that could help."Niece, how are you?"the Lady Aria greeted her as she entered the library."Your husband is complicating my plans."Trix said as she collapsed on a couch."To him we are nothing but our husband's property." Her aunt shook her head."He has hired a tutor to educate me." Trix explained. "The tutor will figure out that I am educated.""This is a dilemma." Aria said. "Worry not, I shall find someone we can trust."Trix nodded and forced herself to trust this
"Was your day fruitful?" Jacob asked as he entered their room.Trix looked up and smiled at him."I guess it was then. What did you do today Krista?" He asked as he set his daggers aside."I met a new friend." Trix said with a large grin on her face."Why am I worried about this new friend of yours?" Jacob asked."Her name is Lady Aria, wife to nobleman Gaius." At this Trix winked towards Jacob's direction."And did you tell her who you were?""Wife to one of Gaius' men. She isn't as dumb as they think Jacob." Krista said."No one
"You know who I am?" Vitatrix asked as she stood nervously across the room from the noblewoman.Aria nodded and smiled. "Don't worry Gaius has no clue. Just as he is clueless to the fact that I am loyal to the house of Cesar."Vitatrix cautiously moved closer yo Aria. "How do I know that your words are true?" She asked."Because I am from the same house you are from. Sister to the man you called your father." Aria revealed leaving Trix in shock."If he was your sister then people would know. And being my closest of kin you would benefit from my death." Trix bluntly said."True, but I ran away from home to get away from all that mess. I wanted a peacful and comfortable life and this i