[center][h1][b][color=00aeef]Chres Sansus[/color][/b][/h1][/center]

Interaction with [@HokumPocus]

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Chres smiled at Octavio's comment, honestly just relieved that Chres didn't have to put out another Sil related fire. He caught Sil out of the corner of his eye, poking the lynx's belly. 

[color=a2d39c]"Heehee."[/color] She giggled. [color=a2d39c]"Tubby horsey."[/color]

[color=00aeef][i]Tonight.[/i][/color] Chres thought. [color=00aeef][i]I'll talk to her tonight.[/i] [/color]

A fly zipped past Sil, catching her attention. And just like that, she sped off after it. Familiar forgotten. 

[color=00aeef][i]Aaaaand... the next night...[/i][/color] Chres thought with dread. [color=00aeef][i]Along with every other night after...[/i][/color] He sighed hopelessly, as he listened to Octavio's story.

It was more of a tale than Chres expected, albeit the abridged version no doubt. Short, though it may have been, it was more than enough to add more pieces to the puzzle that was Octavio. 

The man had some high profile connections. High enough to grant him access to a royal ball. A new question tickled the back of Chres mind. Who exactly was this royal family Octavio was referring to? Fortunately, Octavio had already given Chres multiple clues. 

The ball had been for a princess's coming of age ceremony. The Nation of Hearing and Touch did not have any princesses. Meanwhile, the Princess to the Nation of Taste was only five years of age. This left only two possible candidates. The royal family to the Nation of Sight and the royal family to the Nation of Smell. 

The Royal family to the Nation of Sight was already a likely candidate. Octavio had previously hinted that he had been to the Shining Palace, maybe even more than once. To add to this, the man's nationality was likely that of the Nation of Sight. It was also well known that the princess to the Nation of Sight had only just come of age the previous year. Despite this, there were issues with this theory.

First off, King Y’lleant was not known for putting on fancy displays of wealth. In fact, until just recently, King Y’lleant had been known as a king of the people. He tended to include the people in times of celebration. Setting up elaborate festivals, which at their grandest would last for days at a time. To add to this problem. Chres seemed to remember hearing that the Princess had requested to not celebrate her coming of age the previous year, due to rising tensions with the Nation of Touch. 

No... The Royal Family to the Nation of Sight seemed an unlikely candidate to be hosting the ball Octavio spoke of. Rather, a better candidate would the royal family to the Nation of Smell. King and Queen Aziere.

Not only did King and Queen Aziere have a plethora of daughters, they were also quick to marry them off to nearly any wealthy suitor. Additionally, the family was known for fancy displays of all sorts, including elegant balls. It was rumored that this was more for show than for anything else, as the royal family was not the actual seat of power behind the Nation of Smell. The true power, behind the nation, lay in the hands of the country's many Mistresses of Merchants. The King and Queen never did anything without first consulting them.

Yes. In all likelihood, Octavio had been referring to a ball hosted for one of King and Queen Aziere's daughters. But this conclusion only served further confuse Chres, in regards to Octavio's identity. What kind of high profile man was Octavio? What kind of connections did he have to both have access to the Nation of Sight's Shining Palace and to be invited to a Ball, as a potential suitor, for a Princess to the Nation of Smell? 

Octavio may have added more pieces to the puzzle, but he certainly hadn't made solving the puzzle any easier. That being said, he may have let slip one additional hint.

[color=00aeef]"That was... a more elaborate story than I had expected."[/color] Chres admitted honestly, as he gave Octavio a friendly smile.

A brief moment of silence followed before Chres continued talking. [color=00aeef]"If you don't mind me asking, who was this friend you mentioned? How come she never showed?"[/color]