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After she’s taken in the charhs and et your father’s prescriptions, and then you’ll be in better spirits to humor my daydreams”

I look behind us one last tier lurking “Let’s hurry,” I tell her, then force a wide smile “And afterward, I’ll watch the announcement with you”

She laughs, a high, squealing sound that tickles my ears “I knew you secretly wished it Oh, the prince is much more handsome in person Just wait, you’ll see” She bounces as she opens the door “Your first translimpse of the royalty we only dream of—”

“Hadley, please—” I cut her outburst short “You can’t tell my father He wouldn’t approve”

She waves away my worry as she ushers me inside the shop “He’ll never know”

While the apothecary retrieves my father’s prescriptions, I peruse the shelves, ai labels while my mind revisits the transmission I witnessed in person when I was ten

The snap of a h my memories and I squeeze my eyes shut

Today’s trans to calm The prince’s announcement of his chosen princess will be extremely different from the transmitted punishments All of Karm will celebrate

I blinkht I never told her about what I saw that day for fear just talking about it would ht when I say I’ve never seen a transmission I haven’t Not on a monitor

After I pay for theand bury them under the fruit in my basket Luckily the apothecary, Mr Levine, is a close friend ofthe Virus, I know he’d never report him

I thank Mr Levine, then turn to meet Hadley at the door

“Miss Zara,” he calls out

Pausing in the doorway, I glance at

Hadley and say under ” I step back to the counter “Yes?”

Mr Levine’s weathered eyes sweep my face, and he frowns “Please tell your father I asked after hi season” He widens his eyes “Mayhap I could send aon one of my hunts soon Say, next week?”

It only takes a moment for me to understand his cautiously selected words “I believe he would like that very much,” I say “Thank you, Mr Levine”

“Of course” He smiles “Best hurry home before it comes”