In some worlds being smart and attractive is considered some sort of impossibility, but then again so is magic.  Kadira has it all, spells she can use to protect herself, the brains to use them well, and a face more than pretty enough that she often doesn't need to use them at all, if she would only try.  Cursed by this same perception of impossibility Kadira has never learned to use her appearance to help herself and often finds that she ignores the social queues of others in favor of her own objectives.