(Panting) “I’m… I’m sorry, are you still open? I just need a couple minutes, I know the exact book I need.”

“Do you happen to have any extra books you just haven’t- you know- sorted through? Some books in a personal collection?”

(Pointed) “You can either leave, go back home, pretend you didn’t hear anything, didn’t remember that I’m an old classmate of yours, and continue to keep your head down and avoid the Empress for as long as you can.”