Editing Huntsong Chapter 23 — Seraphel, Cara (section)

==Synopsis==
[[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] announces to the Court of Dusk of her intention to leave to Ovela. King Allorev thanks her for her presence, though he seems slightly strained, while Kadane is dismayed that she’s leaving, claiming that “cursed [Princesses] should stay together.” Seraphel has still yet to see the Queen, who is still suffering from a “bad season.” While enjoying the entertainments present at the Court of Dusks, Seraphel is delighted to see that the main performance from the Synphasia is [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]]. 

On top of being nervous about her performance and not knowing how to behave in front of royalty, Cara is slightly put off by the black-and-white decor of the palace, as well as the spiderwebs hanging everywhere. Joeired assures her that she only has to sing, as the royals had been expecting [[Rolairenes|Rolare]] instead of her. Unfortunately, the Court of Dusk makes their opinions clear about Cara. Liletrec flatly states that the [Singer] better be good or “be it on the head of the theatre,” while Kadane calls Cara a “pink-haired prat.” King Allorev is far more easy-going, having heard of the [Singer] from [[Itreimedes]], and asks her to sing a song for Gedal, his youngest son. Thinking of how to get the four-year-old’s attention, she asks the [Prince] what kind of song he would like. Cara is caught off-guard when he says he wants to hear about the moon.

Allorev is amused when Gedal asks to hear a song about the moon. However, Gedal starts crying, claiming that he wants to live on the moon because the other princes and princesses don’t like him or Noelictus because it’s “gloomy.” Feeling sympathetic towards the little [Prince], [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] activates her [Lesser Illusion] Skill. Producing a flute’s sound, she creates an image of the moon from Earth, and starts singing. While generating illusions of the sea and fish around the room, she senses that the performance needs more, but her concentration is split between singing and the illusions. Fortunately, Joeired literally steps in, jumping in the center of the court and starts dancing, pretending to be moving underwater while following the fish around. The performance delights Gedal, who changes his mind about living on the moon as it would make everyone “sad.”

Cara performs her pop songs, which are a hit with the nobility. [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] is pleased to see her friend’s success, though her happiness is tempered with the knowledge of her impending wedding. Kadane is also perturbed, having heard about Seraphel’s fiancé, Fallien. Seraphel tries asking Kadane if she could prevail on her father to send an escort of Veteran Hunters to Ovela. The Noelictan [Princess’s] reaction is strange, her expression briefly going blank before laughing the request away. Seraphel tries pushing the issue, but Kadane just leaves, using a goblet as a face cover by biting it with her spider mandibles. Dismayed by the unexpectedly stern refusal, Seraphel and [[Dalimont]] decides to break out the “Calanferian diplomacy.”