When did you become wise?

“This is so pretty.” Joan fawned blinking with feigned innocence.

“Your parents might also be coming.” Caster paused “Do you want to ….”

“No need.” Joan interrupted and feigned a regretful expression “They won’t accept me anymore.” The real reason was she wanted to enjoy the glory Caster’s reservation would bring. She knew that her poor parents would be seated somewhere in the outskirts of the room if they ever made it to the event. She also knew she couldn’t sit with Caster, but she could still sit in the best seat for commoners.

The seating arrangement was divided into classes, the prominent seats for grand dukes, grand dames, dames and dukes along with their families. The next seats would be reserved for nobility and the rest for commoners. Among commoners, there was no distinction between servants and freemen, except who ever registered first would get a better seat. There was a box which was close to nobility reserved for families of the contestants, but again it was a first co