INT. BALLROOM OF THE ROYAL PALACE - NIGHT

The same music is heard, but now it's louder.

Several elegantly dressed people are dancing on the floor.

The guy who sings is FERRANT (15), a minstrel with long blond hair who looks a bit like Jesus. Ferrant is wearing an orange and blue striped suit. Behind him, there are other musicians. They're all performing on a stage characterized by golden tones. The curtain is the same color as the stage.

About the ballroom, it's a spacious room with candlesticks that are hanging on the walls. The floor is wooden, and some golden chandeliers with candles instead of light bulbs hang from the ceiling.

There's a mural on the ceiling, and it represents the grassy pathways of Nevergolden.

However, Randall, Leo, Hervy, Charles, and Hérique are distant from the dancing people. They're talking with each other as they are standing in a circle. The knights are all wearing the elegant version of their uniforms.

CHARLES: I want to live in this palace, so don't you dare hold me back when it comes to Lady Isabel.

HERVY: You can take her.

HERIQUE: I've never even seen her.

CHARLES: I have, and she's not my type. But the money her family owns... That's my type! At the worst, I marry her and then cheat on her. I'm sure I'll find something better.

HERVY (laughs): Like the prostitutes of the town?

CHARLES: Obviously. But also any girl of the kingdom.

As Charles keeps making misogynistic comments, Randall doesn't seem to listen to him because he's looking at a girl who is having a fierce argument with Rohesia. The girl is called ANASTAS (15). She has long blonde hair and a slightly pronounced jaw. Anastas is not wearing an evening dress like all the other girls, but she's dressed like a tomboy with loose trousers and boots. She is holding a lute.

Randall walks towards her. The fight with Rohesia stops. And Randall starts talking to Anastas.

RANDALL: What happened? I saw you were fighting with Lady Rohesia.

ANASTAS (trying to contain her anger): Nothing. Lady Rohesia says I don't have enough experience to be in the orchestra.

RANDALL: Uhm... Well... The Staffords are somewhat obsessed with the tradition that orchestra members must be at least forty years old. They were all friends of Desmond.

ANASTAS: Are you telling me that there will never be a place for me?

RANDALL: Sadly, these are the traditions, the protocol.

ANASTAS: The protocol. The stupid protocol is always there wherever I go.

RANDALL: I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I have seen you playing here, at the palace, sometimes, and--

ANASTAS: And what?

RANDALL: I think you're great.

ANASTAS: Really?

RANDALL: Your name is Mina, isn't it?

ANASTAS: Yes.

RANDALL: I'm Randall. (After a pause) Do you want to dance?

At that moment, Gregory arrives.

GREGORY: Uhm... (more)

Gregory gives a quick look at Randall, and then he turns to Anastas.

GREGORY (CONT'D): Mina... King Theon is going to make a speech.

RANDALL: King Tybalt.

GREGORY: Right. I didn't remember the name. They say that we have to go to the hall.

RANDALL (sarcastically, a bit annoyed by Gregory's interference, but he tries to hide it): Sure... Let's go to see King Theon.

ANASTAS: We'd better go.

As they start walking towards the ballroom door, they see many other people moving in the same direction.

GREGORY: Finally, I will know what he looks like. I guess he's old, like forty years old...