Page 74 of Legacy of Glass
He half expected Olivia to argue, but she merely nodded agreement. Relief filled him. He didn’t want Olivia anywhere near the abductors. Not even to rescue Marigold.
Chapter24
Olivia
Olivia floated through the palace. She had grown increasingly comfortable in her life as a temporary royal—due in large part to Julius’s constant and reassuring presence. But as her happiness in her new life grew, so had her guilt at not having found any hint of her missing friend.
But now they had a lead, and her hope had brightened anew. She felt sure they were on the cusp of uncovering her friend’s location.
And to make matters even better, she had received word that Daphne was finally due to arrive that day. She didn’t know what time, but she intended to wait on the front steps until her cousin’s carriage rolled in.
As it turned out, she had barely arrived at the front doors when a carriage entered at the distant gates. Olivia hurried down the stairs, waiting with bated breath to see who would emerge.
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of her, and a royal footman stepped past, moving at a much more dignified pace than her own excited rush. He opened the door and pulled down the steps, but no one emerged.
He waited, hand held out to assist any occupants to alight, but still no one appeared. Olivia, abandoning patience completely, rushed forward and peered through the open carriage door.
For a second, the interior appeared to be empty. Then her vision adjusted to the dim lighting, and she spotted a small figure huddled in the corner. The young woman’s dark dress allowed her to blend in with the shadows inside the carriage, and she was slumped with her head against the wall, almost as if she was?—
“Sleeping? Really, Daphne?” Olivia laughed because she should have known. Thanks to the Oakden Legacy, Daphne was always sleeping. “You’ve arrived, you know. It’s time to wake up.”
Daphne slowly opened her eyes and smiled calmly at her newly royal cousin. “Olivia? Have I reached the palace, then?”
“Of course you have!” Olivia reached in and pulled her cousin out, ignoring the footman.
The two girls embraced.
“I would ask about your journey,” Olivia said, “but you clearly slept the whole way.”
“It was most relaxing,” Daphne agreed. “I haven’t had such a long stretch of time without someone pestering me to hurry since…” Her mouth pursed. “Possibly ever.”
Olivia laughed again, full of delight just from her cousin’s presence. “I’m glad my invitation could provide such a respite for you.” She held Daphne at arm’s length and examined her. “I haven’t seen you in person for more than a decade, but I would have recognized you just the same.”
“You, on the other hand, look much fancier.” One side of Daphne’s mouth twitched up. “You were knee-deep in dirt last time I saw you. But are you really a princess now?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “No! As I keep telling everyone. And as you very well know! I wrote you all about it.”
“Did you?” Daphne yawned, turning to watch the footman unloading her trunk. “Your letters are so long that you can’t possibly expect me to read the entire thing every time. It’s far too fatiguing.”
“Daphne!” Olivia shook her head and linked arms with her cousin, pulling her toward the stairs.
Daphne eyed the flight distastefully but ascended without complaint and without losing her breath.
“So how long until I have a chance to feast my eyes on the handsomest prince in six kingdoms?” Daphne asked. “You perceive me positively agog.”
Her words, paired with her placid expression, made Olivia snort. “What in the kingdoms are you talking about, Daphne?”
“Me?” Daphne turned a wounded expression on Olivia. “You were the one who informed me of that vital piece of information. You tried to hide it in the second of three postscripts, but my keen awareness drew me straight to the most salient point.”
They reached the front door, and Olivia propelled Daphne through.
“See! You do read my letters all the way to the end. I knew it.” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Your replies are far too astute for someone who skipped half of what I said.”
“It’s all the napping.” Daphne looked around the white marble interior of the palace with interest. “It sharpens the brain.”
Olivia gave her an impulsive hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s nice to have one ofmypeople here.”
“Yes, it sounded like you’d gotten yourself into quite the fix.” Daphne’s eyes settled on Olivia. “I could hardly fail to respond to your desperate plea for an ally.”
