My favorite room in a party has always been the quietest, farthest room from the festivities, and I’m sure Mum plans on cutting the cake soon, which will require me to be energetic, and bright, and sociable. And I can be exactly none of those things without a moment to breathe and prepare myself for round two. For about a minute, I simply sit and breathe, then I wander over to the curtains. If I part them, I’ll catch a glimpse of the crowd below, camping out in hopes they can glimpse me right back. I could do it. I could greet them. Maybe I even should, to connect with some of the people who still love me despite everything.

But I so prefer being alone.

Yet, when the door behind me opens, and I turn around to find Danni standing behind me, I feel anything but annoyance. I offer her a wordless smile, and she closes the door behind her and joins me to stare at the drawn curtains, as though we’re surveying a breathtaking view. From a mountaintop chalet, perhaps.

“Apparently the fireworks are starting soon,” Danni says.

“Ridiculous waste of money,” I say. “When I’m queen, there will be no fireworks.”

“You know what? I’m down with that. Taxpayers should not be funding fireworks displays. Or acrobats. Or champagne towers, honestly.”

“Absolutely agree. I will abolish all of it.”

“Good.”

“No more fireworks throughout the kingdom. In fact, no merriment at all.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of lowering the budget cap on royal birthday parties.” Danni grins. “I didn’t mean you should go all Footloose on the poor country.”

“No, no, I like the merriment ban. I’ll call it the Blythe Law, just so everyone knows where it came from.”

“I would like to go on record and say I was never in favor of a total fireworks ban.” She clears her throat, and looks away suddenly. “Um, also. Just a heads-up. I told Molly I have feelings for you, but I said they’re unrequited.”

I break into a silent laugh, and press my fingers to my lips to still them. Danni notices, and she tips her head to one side, quizzical. “Did Molly already tell you that?”

I will tell her exactly what Molly knows. Though I think I’ll leave out the misunderstanding, lest she takes on any responsibility for me unwittingly outing myself to Molly. But for now, that’s not what I want to discuss.

I want to take her hands in mine, but I don’t. Instead, eyes blazing, I turn to face her. “I think you just gave me my best friend back,” I say thickly, and her eyes widen in surprise.

“You and Molly made up?”