Despite the long walk up to my house, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. I couldn't have hoped for the day to have gone better.

I'd have to tell Rhoam- er- my father- about it! Surely he'd be proud that I could go to public school without wildly embarrassing myself.

I walked through the entry hall and pushed open the door to his office. "Sorry I'm late but-"

Instead of finding the familiar form of my father bent over his desk, he sat in a plush office chair before a journalist and camera operator.

"Uh… I'll come back later," I said, and tried to discreetly remove myself from the room. The journalist didn't seem to like that idea.

"You're Zelda, aren't you?"

I glanced at my father for help, but for some reason, he was avoiding my gaze.

"Uh…" I said, "yep. That's me. Zelda." I walked farther in the room. From my new vantage point I could see that the journalist was hylian. He wore jeans and a sweater vest like mine, with a repeating windfish pattern.

"Ah, we match," the journalist said, "How about you take a seat and join the conversation. My name is Allon."

My father waved for me to do so, so I sat down on one of the several cushioned office chairs around his desk.

Allon motioned for the camera operator to aim at me. "So, the reclusive Zelda Harkinian," he said, "finally out and about."

I blinked. "What?"

"I mean, I could probably count the number of times you've been outside since your mother died on one hand."

"I go to state functions and government meetings," I pointed out. I squeezed the arms of the chair for support.

"Then, the times other than something our governor here wants you to attend. Tell me, do you get along well with your father?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is there any sort of… conflict between you?"

The arms of my chair became crushed under a whole new magnitude of force. How was I supposed to answer a question like that? A journalist could twist your words and make it sound like you "confessed" to anything. A glance at my father told me I needed to say no.

"No," I said, "why do you ask?"

Allon shifted in his chair, "oh, you know, rumors."

"Rumors of what?" Rhoam cut in, in his voice that somehow landed on the edge between threatening and amiable.

"Just rumors. Anything that draws viewers, as you well know."

My father relaxed- just an imperceptible amount. That made me frown. Why would he have been concerned? Maybe it was his new assistant rubbing off on him.

"Moving to a different topic, Mr. Harkinian," the journalist said, "How are you feeling about the upcoming election. You've won… how many in a row now?"

"Three." he answered.

Three elections. Nine years of being in power. Of course he'd feel threatened by any sort of blow to his reputation this close to crunch time. The idea of "crunch time" made me laugh. Crunch time lasted for nearly two months.

"I see you are amused by the subject, Miss."

I shook my head. "My thoughts were just wandering, and I remembered something funny." I tried for a reassuring smile. Oh Din, I am bad at interviews.

Allon smiled. "I remember doing that more than once during my first press meetings. We can cut that part out of the final interview, if you'd like."

"Oh. Thank you," I said, surprised. Allon wasn't nearly as vicious as my father has painted journalists as.

"About the election," Allon said, turning back to my father, "I notice you didn't answer my question, how are you feeling about your chances of winning?"

"Fairly good," he said. "I have confidence this win will be another in a long line."

"You're very confident then. Any specific strategies you'd like to share?"

"In years past I've focused much of my energy on securing the favor of the rich; but this year, I'm going to better approach the common hylian."

"For example…" Allon prompted.

"For example, I'll be working to make hyrule as safe as possible for those who can't afford expensive security measures."

I dimly remembered that the chief of security's name was Ahganim. Aghanim the chief of security-assistant, I thought. I didn't like him very much. He smelled like burning hair.

"I wasn't aware Hyrule had a security problem," Allon said.

My head was getting tired from sharply turning between the two of them, so I sat farther back in my chair and started mostly looking with my eyes.

Rhoam pointed to his computer. "We might not have a security problem right now. But I can't help but notice all of the vandalism happening in Gerudo lately. That could spread. But I want to stop it."

I suddenly was very conscious of the fact that I'd drank a very large glass of milk an hour ago. A smile was much harder to muster.

"Are you alright?" Allon asked.

I coughed. "Just…" I looked at my father. He shook his head again. I looked back at Allon. "Just thinking about the homework I need to do. Today I went to public school for the first time in… ever. Turns out it's much harder to be efficient about doing homework when you have to travel between classes."

Allon's eyebrows shot up, "so the tabloid pictures were true then."

"The… the what?"

My father waved a hand to get Allon's attention, "I thought this interview was about the election. Not invading my daughter's privacy."

Allon shifted in his chair again, "I'd hardly call that-"

"Don't." Rhoam said. This time his voice had firmly crossed the line from amiable into threatening. "Zelda, how about you work on your homework in your room?"

I stood up, "Thank you. Goodbye. Goodbye Allon, camera operator person."

Camera-operator-person flashed a peace sign, then pointed the camera back at Rhoam.

A picked up my backpack from the doorway, and left the office.

That was weird, I thought. Though that was to be expected. The only interviews I'd participated in were ones I'd been told about beforehand, and been filled in on the things to mention and avoid.

I climbed the staircase to the upper floor. It occurred to me that I could text Urbosa about the day. I pulled out my phone and discovered Link had texted me.

See you tomorrow! The text read.

I wasn't really sure how to answer it, so I sent a gif of someone in a hero costume waving. Then tried to cancel it. Too late.

Okay that was weird, I sent, sorry.

As I was trying to put my slate away, it pinged. Link had written, don't worry about it. Can't talk now but have a good day.

Now in my room, I put the slate away and emptied my backpack.

It had been a long day, but overall a good one.