Chapter 43: Ducal families
As the Royal Party went on, families continued to arrive one after the other, the hall continued to brim with discussion and laughter.
But Asher noticed something unusual. Within the banquet hall, he hadn’t really seen anyone of true importance. Not a single Duke or Marquis. It was strange.
The sons and daughters of the three Dukes had arrived, but none of their family heads were present, just like in the case of Darissa. She stood here, radiant and poised, but her father, the Marquis, was unavailable.
Asher didn’t believe the Emperor would host such a grand party just to invite a bunch of children and merchants. It made no sense. Even the children of Barons were here, but the Barons and Baronesses themselves were nowhere to be seen.
Although some adults were within the banquet hall, mingling and sipping wine, Asher guessed they weren’t truly high up on the social ladder. Their presence was more like that of chaperones or those on the lower social ladder.
Suddenly, Asher’s head rose as his senses tingled. The ceiling above, from which chandeliers hung like frozen stars, was made of literal glass. Asher’s figure reflected on the glass when he gazed up, his eyes narrowing.
But he was sure, the real banquet was going on above them.
Although he couldn’t see or sense anyone above, he didn’t think his instincts were wrong. He was absolutely convinced the patriarchs and matriarchs of every noble house, and those of extreme importance, were above them, separated by layers of glass and status.
’Separating the adults from the children,’ Asher thought as he sipped the wine in his hand in silence, walking calmly through the hall. He had managed to escape the numerous introductions for now.