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.
