Chapter 2: The Rose of Treno
TIME SKIP: 8 years later
"Beatrix! Where is she?" Eleanor called for her thirteen year old daughter. "Beatrix! Where are you?" She felt her patience decreasing by the second as she walked quickly through the house and garden. "Where has that girl gone to this time?" she muttered.
"Lady Beatrix! Your mother has been searching for you for hours!"
Louise, the nanny, came up to Beatrix. Beatrix looked over at her caretaker since childhood.
"I am coming, Louise. Just give me a moment".
Since her brother's death, Beatrix had changed and grown. She was experiencing the usual maturation that girls went through at her age, growing taller and developing breasts. Chestnut brown hair came to thick, bouncing curls on her shoulders. She was slender and fit, the result of her secret sword-fighting lessons with her private tutor over the years. But her eyes stayed the same, the same chocolate-brown eyes, full of fire. That fire in her eyes was also in her tongue, making remarks at those who tried to woo her and teach her to be a proper noble lady. Her name spread far and wide, for she was known as the "Rose of Treno", a legendary beauty.
"Your mother needs you to get ready for your ball, Lady Beatrix. Come along quickly!"
Beatrix huffed. She hated leaving the knight's arena where she was training. She felt that training for war and personal defense was more important than talking to other nobles.
"What does a teenager know about the affairs of the world?" she thought to herself.
But she went along anyway, knowing that she was going to regret leaving.
That evening, it was Beatrix's birthday gala. Celebrations among nobles, such as birthdays, were more for the parents' enjoyment rather than for the child's. Lords and ladies from Treno, Alexandria, Lindblum, and various other places were gathered in Beatrix's family mansion. Her parents had gotten a new gown for her as a birthday gift, made from purple silk and decorated with tiny pearls. They had also given her a corset, which Louise helped her into. Apparently, this restraining piece of clothing that prevented her from breathing was "in fashion" right now. Beatrix willingly wore the garments to satisfy her parents, but she mentally wished that she could get rid of the stifling clothes. Her father and mother had told her to stand and greet the various guests that came in the ladylike fashion that she had been taught.
"Smile, greet, offer hand to be kissed, repeat" she thought to herself as the guests continued to enter into the ballroom from the front door.
There was also much eating and drinking at the party. All kinds of food from all over Gaia were on the table, including a huge chocolate cake decorated with raspberries in honor of Beatrix's thirteenth birthday. Servants brought around trays containing small glasses of champagne for the guests and for the host family.
After an hour or two of chatter, eating, and some dancing, Beatrix's father got up in front of the guests and started to speak.
"I am so glad that each and every one of you has showed up to celebrate my daughter Beatrix's thirteenth birthday. She is also very gracious that you have come." Beatrix put on a smile as the guests clapped. Her father continued his speech.
"Today is not only to celebrate my daughter's birthday, but also to announce an engagement. Tonight, I am giving the lovely Beatrix to her fiancée, Matthew of Treno." The entire room applauded loudly at his announcement. Beatrix stood, aghast, as her fiancée came up to her.
He was certainly handsome, Beatrix thought. His blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and green eyes looked down into her own brown eyes. He was tall and strong-looking. However, his age suggested he was about twenty-four, much older than his soon-to-be bride. He took her hand and kissed it gently. Finally, Beatrix's father raised a hand to silence the audience.
"Beatrix and Matthew shall be married in three months. Let us congratulate this happy couple!"
Every person raised their glass to the thirteen year old Beatrix and her much older husband-to-be as Matthew held her hand. At that point, Beatrix could take no more. She pulled herself away from Matthew and ran from the ballroom, picking the skirt of her dress up and heading up the stairs to her bedroom, angry tears starting to stream down her face. She got to her room and slammed the door, locking it.
Downstairs, the guests were gossiping.
"How unladylike!"
"She's so ungrateful!"
"Her parents are doing this for her own good!"
Beatrix's father and mother stood silently, anger and embarrassment burning inside of them.
As the festivities died down, guests started to leave, offering good wishes for Matthew and advice for Charles and Eleanor about what to do with their daughter. Matthew took his leave from the party and headed to his carriage.
When all the guests had gone from the house, Charles and Eleanor started heading up the stairs to Beatrix's bedroom.
