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“Thanks, Mom”

“Your gift is co,” she whispered, then turned back to Father “Are we all ready, then?”

“Indeed we are” He held out an arm, she took it, and I walked in their shadows As always

“About how ht of the video cameras was hot in my face

“The nairls will actually arrive the Friday after that,” I answered

“Are you nervous, sir?” a new voice called

“About irl I haven’tcrowd chuckled

“Doesn’t it set you on edge at all, Your Majesty?”

I gave up trying to align the question with a face I just answered in the general direction it caht “On the contrary, I’m very excited” Sort of

“We know you’ll make an excellent choice, sir” A camera flash blinded me

“Hear, hear!” others called

I shrugged “I don’t know Any girl who settles for me can’t possibly be a sane woman”

They laughed again, and I took that as a good stopping point “Forgive , and I don’t wish to be rude”

Turning raphers, I took a deep breath Was the whole evening going to be like this?

I looked around the Great Roo brightly to show the splendor—and I saw there wasn’t nitaries in one corner, reporters in another—no place I could just be quiet and still Considering the fact that I was the person being celebrated, one would think that I could choose the way in which it happened It never seemed to work out that way

No sooner had I escaped the crowd than ripped my shoulder The pressure and sudden attention made me tense

“Smile,” he ordered beneath his breath, and I obeyed as he dipped his head in the direction of souests

I caught the eye of Daphne, here fro of the party lined up with our fathers needing to discuss the ongoing trade agreehter, our paths had crossed tiain, and she was perhaps the only person I knew outside of ree of consistency It was nice to have one familiar face in the room

I gave her a nod, and she raised her glass of chane

“You can’t answer everything so sarcastically You’re the crowned prince They need you to lead” His hand on hter than necessary

“I’ht—”

“Well, you thought wrong By the Report, I expect to see you taking this seriously”

He stopped walking and faced ray and steady

I s he’d want that for the sake of the crowd “Of course, sir A tement”

He let his arne to his lips “You tend to have a lot of those”

I risked a peek at Daphne and rolledall too hat I was feeling Father’s gaze followed my eyes across the room