--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have something else to do now.” I…" description: "\"“You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t.” Mika fixed me with a look that said, for all my knowing what a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg" --- # You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at… ![“You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t.” Mika fixed me with a look that said, for all my knowing what a princess should know, I was really and truly stupid. “He’s been waiting for you,” she said. My heart did a tiny flip. “Kiernan?” “Who else?” Mika…” quote by Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg) > ““You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t.” Mika fixed me with a look that said, for all my knowing what a princess should know, I was really and truly stupid. “He’s been waiting for you,” she said. My heart did a tiny flip. “Kiernan?” “Who else?” Mika snorted. I had been thinking about him constantly; he intruded into every other thought, even my sadness over Orianne. But I hadn’t seen him, not since the coronation. Maybe I had been right, I had begun to think when he never appeared on Philantha’s doorstep: he had given up on me. “Are you still worried about what his parents will think? You’re the princess’s chief advisor now,” Mika scolded. “You can hold your head up in any room in the country. But if you’re worried about it, I suppose I could grant you a title…” I laughed without meaning to, shaking my head. “No, no,” I said. And then, more seriously: “I don’t think I’m worried about that anymore. I saved the country, didn’t I? Surely that counts for something.” But then, doubt crept in again. “But he hasn’t come,” I said plaintively. Mika put a hand on the gate, as if she would leave, but then she turned and sighed. “He’s letting you make up your own mind, because that’s the only way you’ll ever really let him in. This time,” she said, “you’re going to have to go to him.”” [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The protagonist wrestles with self‑doubt and expectations while confronting love and duty, realizing personal worth isn’t tied to titles. **In simple terms:** She doubts herself but knows she’s earned respect. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence beyond external validation. Themes self‑doubt love duty identity confidence Mood hopeful reflective determined Type literary dialogue character‑driven When to use this quote - political intrigue - romantic tension - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts self‑worth agency expectation authority Questions to Reflect On - What defines your worth beyond status? - How can you act despite lingering doubts? A Different Perspective External titles cannot fully validate inner value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowing Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-princess-5752086/) [Mika Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mika-fixed-5752088/) [Mika Scolded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mika-scolded-5752085/) [Shaking my head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking-my-head/) [Sighed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sighed/) [Sighed Letting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sighed-letting-5752087/) ## Related quotes > [“You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t.” Mika fixed me with a look that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shook-mine-back-at-her-perplexed-2/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“What?" The dread in her tone told Rob she knew what. "How much longer?" "Thirty seconds." She laughed with a panicked urgency. "I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/what-the-dread-in-her-tone-told-rob-she-knew-what-how-much-longer/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [“So if you're trying to play games with me, I should let you know up front that it's not going to work. "What?" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/so-if-you-re-trying-to-play-games-with-me-i-should-let-you-know-up/) [Tehereh Mafi Unravel Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/) > [“I love you.” The words come out almost in a panic, as if there’s no time. As if he’s about to walk into Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-winfield/i-love-you-the-words-come-out-almost-in-a-panic-as-if-there-s-no-time/) [Ryan Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-winfield/) > [Whenever I meet people for the first time, I get them to talk for ten minutes. Then I size them up from the exact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/whenever-i-meet-people-for-the-first-time-i-get-them-to-talk-for-ten/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Do you think that sometimes, there are those that are meant to be together?" he asked, not breaking his gaze. I thought for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tania-penn/do-you-think-that-sometimes-there-are-those-that-are-meant-to-be/) [Tania Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tania-penn/) > [“I was washing the dishes and the sneaky bastard crept up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. And kissed me. Right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-was-washing-the-dishes-and-the-sneaky-bastard-crept-up-behind-me/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“You saving me,” I mutter, shaking my head. “It makes so much goddamn sense. There isn’t a person in this world who could save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-del-mia/you-saving-me-i-mutter-shaking-my-head-it-makes-so-much-goddamn-sense/) [Leighton Del Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-del-mia/) > [“Okay, that sounds really fucking creepy when you put it like that. My ‘family’ member just had my cock in his mouth. See how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/okay-that-sounds-really-fucking-creepy-when-you-put-it-like-that-my/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [“Shaking my head, I backed away from her. “I need a refund.” She frowned. “On what?” “On you,” I told her. “Item not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-c-jones/shaking-my-head-i-backed-away-from-her-i-need-a-refund-she-frowned-on/) [Christina C. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-c-jones/) > [“How can I possibly describe what I feel for you, Brennus?” I ask, shaking my head and feeling the painful ache inside of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bartol-indebted/how-can-i-possibly-describe-what-i-feel-for-you-brennus-i-ask-shaking/) [Amy Bartol Indebted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bartol-indebted/) > [“You need some help, Rosie?” His footsteps quicken behind me, and before I can respond, I feel his calloused hands on my waist. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/you-need-some-help-rosie-his-footsteps-quicken-behind-me-and-before-i/) [Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/) > [“Don’t,” I whispered on a hiss, shaking my head at the same time tears sprang to my eyes.. “Don’t. Do not tell me more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/don-t-i-whispered-on-a-hiss-shaking-my-head-at-the-same-time-tears/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Of course, when we got home, we found that Dagda had peed on my down comforter. He had also eaten part of Mom's maidenhair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-tiernan/of-course-when-we-got-home-we-found-that-dagda-had-peed-on-my-down/) [Cate Tiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-tiernan/) > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## More by Eilis O'Neal > [“You really told them you wanted to marry me?” I asked. The smile had taken over his whole face now. “I told you before:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-really-told-them-you-wanted-to-marry-me-i-asked-the-smile-had/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“How can you be nervous? Don't you see? We're in a library.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/how-can-you-be-nervous-don-t-you-see-we-re-in-a-library/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“I turned the page, but there was no more about the princess. Instead, it went on to an account of a merchant’s wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/i-turned-the-page-but-there-was-no-more-about-the-princess-instead-it/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“You can’t be just a scribe, or a wizard. Nameless God,” he cried, raking a hand through his hair. “I wish they had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-can-t-be-just-a-scribe-or-a-wizard-nameless-god-he-cried-raking-a/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“Little cat's paws of trepidation frolicked up my spine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/little-cat-s-paws-of-trepidation-frolicked-up-my-spine/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“It had been different when I was the princess. Then I had looked at his flirtations with other girls and at least told myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/it-had-been-different-when-i-was-the-princess-then-i-had-looked-at/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“If I thought being kissed by Tyr had been what kissing was all about, I had been wrong. This kiss trampled Tyr's kiss, threw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/if-i-thought-being-kissed-by-tyr-had-been-what-kissing-was-all-about/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“I had worried that he might think of me differently, once he learned about my new powers. That the thought of being accidentally roasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/i-had-worried-that-he-might-think-of-me-differently-once-he-learned/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“This was what I had now. Just this. I had to make it enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/this-was-what-i-had-now-just-this-i-had-to-make-it-enough/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“He wouldn’t have forgotten. It might be too much the fear of losing me so much that he had withdrawn his heart to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/he-wouldn-t-have-forgotten-it-might-be-too-much-the-fear-of-losing-me/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“I love you, Sinda,” he said, not shakily but with certainty. “I have for--oh, years--before I even knew that I did. I loved you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/i-love-you-sinda-he-said-not-shakily-but-with-certainty-i-have-for-oh/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“The day they came to tell me, I was in one of the gardens with Kiernan, trying to decipher a three-hundred-year-old map of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/the-day-they-came-to-tell-me-i-was-in-one-of-the-gardens-with-kiernan/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“You can't be just a scribe, or a wizard. Nameless God," he cried, raking a hand through his hair. "I wish they had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-can-t-be-just-a-scribe-or-a-wizard-nameless-god-he-cried-raking-a-2/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“He loves you. It’s plain for anyone to see. He came after you, didn’t he? Admitted he was wrong to abandon you?” I shrugged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/he-loves-you-it-s-plain-for-anyone-to-see-he-came-after-you-didn-t-he/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [“We’ll keep you safe-- I’ll keep you safe.” Kiernan pushed himself up off the bed and came to sit next to me. “Come on,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/we-ll-keep-you-safe-i-ll-keep-you-safe-kiernan-pushed-himself-up-off/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) [Explore all 43 Eilis O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) ## More Shaking my head quotes > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Of course, when we got home, we found that Dagda had peed on my down comforter. He had also eaten part of Mom's maidenhair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-tiernan/of-course-when-we-got-home-we-found-that-dagda-had-peed-on-my-down/) [Cate Tiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-tiernan/) > [“Don’t,” I whispered on a hiss, shaking my head at the same time tears sprang to my eyes.. “Don’t. Do not tell me more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/don-t-i-whispered-on-a-hiss-shaking-my-head-at-the-same-time-tears/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“You need some help, Rosie?” His footsteps quicken behind me, and before I can respond, I feel his calloused hands on my waist. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/you-need-some-help-rosie-his-footsteps-quicken-behind-me-and-before-i/) [Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/) > [“How can I possibly describe what I feel for you, Brennus?” I ask, shaking my head and feeling the painful ache inside of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bartol-indebted/how-can-i-possibly-describe-what-i-feel-for-you-brennus-i-ask-shaking/) [Amy Bartol Indebted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bartol-indebted/) > [“Shaking my head, I backed away from her. “I need a refund.” She frowned. “On what?” “On you,” I told her. “Item not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-c-jones/shaking-my-head-i-backed-away-from-her-i-need-a-refund-she-frowned-on/) [Christina C. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-c-jones/) > [“Okay, that sounds really fucking creepy when you put it like that. My ‘family’ member just had my cock in his mouth. See how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/okay-that-sounds-really-fucking-creepy-when-you-put-it-like-that-my/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [“You saving me,” I mutter, shaking my head. “It makes so much goddamn sense. There isn’t a person in this world who could save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-del-mia/you-saving-me-i-mutter-shaking-my-head-it-makes-so-much-goddamn-sense/) [Leighton Del Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-del-mia/) > [“I was washing the dishes and the sneaky bastard crept up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. And kissed me. Right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-was-washing-the-dishes-and-the-sneaky-bastard-crept-up-behind-me/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“Do you think that sometimes, there are those that are meant to be together?" he asked, not breaking his gaze. I thought for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tania-penn/do-you-think-that-sometimes-there-are-those-that-are-meant-to-be/) [Tania Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tania-penn/) > [Whenever I meet people for the first time, I get them to talk for ten minutes. Then I size them up from the exact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/whenever-i-meet-people-for-the-first-time-i-get-them-to-talk-for-ten/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“I love you.” The words come out almost in a panic, as if there’s no time. As if he’s about to walk into Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-winfield/i-love-you-the-words-come-out-almost-in-a-panic-as-if-there-s-no-time/) [Ryan Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-winfield/) > [“So if you're trying to play games with me, I should let you know up front that it's not going to work. "What?" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/so-if-you-re-trying-to-play-games-with-me-i-should-let-you-know-up/) [Tehereh Mafi Unravel Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/) > [“What?" The dread in her tone told Rob she knew what. "How much longer?" "Thirty seconds." She laughed with a panicked urgency. "I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/what-the-dread-in-her-tone-told-rob-she-knew-what-how-much-longer/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [“She swallowed nervously, blinking. “Are you… proposing to me?” I laughed, shaking my head. “No, darling. It’s better than a marriage proposal.” Her eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dari-a-malaunt/she-swallowed-nervously-blinking-are-you-proposing-to-me-i-laughed/) [Dari A. Malaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dari-a-malaunt/) [Browse all 82 Shaking my head quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking-my-head/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t.” Mika fixed me with a look that said, for all my knowing what a princess should know, I was really and truly stupid. “He’s been waiting for you,” she said. My heart did a tiny flip. “Kiernan?” “Who else?” Mika snorted. I had been thinking about him constantly; he intruded into every other thought, even my sadness over Orianne. But I hadn’t seen him, not since the coronation. Maybe I had been right, I had begun to think when he never appeared on Philantha’s doorstep: he had given up on me. “Are you still worried about what his parents will think? You’re the princess’s chief advisor now,” Mika scolded. “You can hold your head up in any room in the country. But if you’re worried about it, I suppose I could grant you a title…” I laughed without meaning to, shaking my head. “No, no,” I said. And then, more seriously: “I don’t think I’m worried about that anymore. I saved the country, didn’t I? Surely that counts for something.” But then, doubt crept in again. “But he hasn’t come,” I said plaintively. Mika put a hand on the gate, as if she would leave, but then she turned and sighed. “He’s letting you make up your own mind, because that’s the only way you’ll ever really let him in. This time,” she said, “you’re going to have to go to him.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eilis O'Neal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shook-mine-back-at-her-perplexed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shaking my head" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shook-mine-back-at-her-perplexed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/eilis-o-neal-15415_quote_you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shoo_1543319.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have something else to do now.” I shook mine back at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t.” Mika fixed me with a…” — Eilis O'Neal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eilis O'Neal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You have something else to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shook-mine-back-at-her-perplexed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/you-have-something-else-to-do-now-i-shook-mine-back-at-her-perplexed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```