Kaia pulled her daughter in her warm embrace and stroked her back gently. "I know it's tough, Olive, but you can do it," she said in a reassuring voice. "You have to do it because at this moment our choices are next to nil." A soft knock on the door disturbed the mother and daughter conversation. "Come in Giles," said Kaia to the maid who was supposed to dress up Olivia for the upcoming meeting. She squeezed Olivia's hand and then with quivering lips got up.
Giles was Olivia's maid ever since she had known. Slightly older than her, Giles fussed around her a lot and Olivia intended to take her with her to Silver Vales. She would ask her mother about it, and hoped that she agreed. Giles helped her undress and as usual went about fussing over her. She helped her take a bath and once she had wrapped a towel around her, she said, "I wanted to say something to you…"
"I know," said Olivia, stepping out of the bathtub. "It's about who is going to marry me."
