Although Henrik could not see it with her back turned, Olivia’s eyes started to flutter open as she heard him approach, that brief flicker of emotion across her face suddenly vanishing behind a cold, iron mask. She knew that it was not the assassin that approached; although the footsteps were quiet and swift they were not completely inaudible to her ear.<br/><br/>When she heard that cold, emotionless voice she knew at once that it was the Aserit prince and she turned slowly, a pleasant, disarming smile lighting up her soft features as she gripped her gown and slowly bent her knees into an elegant curtsy. Her sweet smile and her radiant eyes betrayed no hint of surprise at his knowing her name or distaste for being in the presence of an Aserit. As always her features not only hid her emotions, they masked them behind a beautiful veneer of warmth and friendliness. “Yes, my lord,” she replied, rising up slowly. “It’s been far too long since I had the pleasure of feeling the rain.”<br/><br/>When Henrik introduced himself she was not surprised. She had suspected that this was indeed the infamous Prince Henrik, although given the cold, unreadable nature of most of the Aserit princes she wasn’t going to allow herself to jump to conclusions until she was sure. Despite the coldness of his voice Olivia was content to play the wolf in sheep’s clothing, her smile never leaving her face as her posture changed to better highlight the natural curves of her body.<br/><br/>At least she was until he mentioned his desire to speak to her, in private. Almost instantly Olivia’s demeanour began to change, her posture growing straight and imperious while her expression became more serious. Even the warmth in her eyes seemed to vanish in the span of a single blink, the blue spheres suddenly taking on a cold, ruthlessly analytical edge. Her gaze never left Henrik’s, although her thoughts began to turn towards the guests waiting inside the banquet hall. “Prince Henrik,” she replied coolly, almost dismissively. “Surely you don’t think that it would be becoming of the Prince of Aserit to seek an audience with the Prime Minister of Nydewia so soon after our supposedly unexpected arrival. Just imagine the scandal that would ensue.” Slowly a slender, ebony eyebrow arched up, her eyes suddenly flickering with cruel ambition as she added “Unless of course this is the type of meeting that would require necessary secrecy anyway?”<br/><br/>She didn’t care that Henrik would see the pure, naked ambition that drove her forwards. He was smart enough to see it anyway, and she could tell that it was what had drawn him to her in the first place.