Olivia’s soft features lit up when Juliette asked her to join her at the table, although she mentally cursed herself for using the improper title. She had always prided herself in possessing the perfect etiquette and had spent weeks in advance of her anticipated arrival at Theiri going over entire texts on deportment and custom, only to commit a faux pas when it mattered to her the most.<br/><br/>Although having an almost superhuman ability to read the body language of others Olivia completely missed the subtle signs of nervousness that Juliette was showing. All of her attention was instead going towards projecting an air of confidence to hide her embarrassment over making such a simple mistake as she gracefully sat down next to the Princess. “My sincerest apologies, milady,” she said, bowing her head reverently for a moment as she flashed a charming smile, her tone sweet and melodious without even the slightest hint of shame. She would not allow herself to make even one more mistake in Juliette’s presence.<br/><br/>As Juliette spoke to her she felt herself sitting in awe of the woman before her; not only was her beauty enough to leave her entranced, she also projected an aura of poise and control that completely captivated her attention. In Olivia’s eyes this was no illegitimate upstart seated before her, but a true noble worthy of the King’s legacy. That feeling of giddy excitement washed over her again as she mentioned that she was enjoying the book, and a new, strange sensation came over her. She felt a feeling of warmth spreading across her cheeks and it took her a few moments to realise that she was blushing very faintly. This had never happened before!<br/><br/>Quickly recollecting herself so that Juliette wouldn’t notice, she nodded. “You do me a great honour with your praise, milady. I have been engaged in military strategy since I was just entering my teenage years and used to occupy the position of Chief Strategist before I took up permanent residence at Court.” Although physically weak and unable to lead from the front, Olivia was perhaps the only non-combatant to ever rise to such a lofty position in the Nydewian military, with her strategic skills turning the forces of her adoptive father from a large horde of nomadic warriors into an elite and regimented army unit that now formed a key component of King Haidar’s army.<br/><br/>She decided to leave out the fact that she had first started work on the book she had given Juliette during the infamous Northern Campaign against Theiri; although King Haidar had earned all the glory and was forever remember afterwards as a demon of the battlefield by the Theirians, she had heard rumours that the Theirian Army had started to refer to the mysterious strategist as the Prodigy of Fatima after the crushing ambush she staged there.<br/><br/>As Juliette spoke of her father she nodded, her eyes softening sympathetically. “You have my deepest condolences, milady,” she replied before hesitating. Finally she added, her voice filled with pure sincerity, “I loved your father deeply. When I was young I studied all of his works and always dreamed of meeting the man. For what it’s worth I see you as a worthy successor of his legacy.”