Why would Elend bring a dangerous book like this one to the ball? We’ll talk a little bit about that in the next chapter. However, I can offer some further insight.
The thing is, Elend goes and meets with his friends after balls, and they discuss political theory and the like. Elend is the leader of those meetings, and guides the discussions, and so he feels that he needs to be ready to present interesting ideas and arguments to keep the conversation going. That’s why he’s always reading at balls and taking notes—he’s getting ready for the night’s meeting. He’s the type who is always preparing, right up to the last minute (I’m the same way.)
So, it makes sense for him to bring the books he wants to talk about with him to the ball. He’s been sheltered, and doesn’t really believe that he’ll ever get in trouble for what he reads, and so he has a habit of being careless with his reading material. Hence, we end up with him in a room full of obligators and nobility, reading a banned book.
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