Chapter 169 : Pretty blue eyes.

Nectar was pleasantly surprised by the dining hall. There were about two long rectangular tables facing each other, surrounded by paintings and sculptures. There were also four grand staircases that led to the four wings of the castle.

Nectar pouted slightly as she looked back up at the polished brown railing [ I would have loved to slide down that ] Nichole pulled on her hand, " This place smells amazing ". Nathaniel nodded, " If only it could be my scent ".

Though the food had been set, the tables was far from complete. They saw Reli and Melanie and pulled her even harder, " Can we give over and say hi "? She nodded [ My arms feel numb ] " Just be careful ".

She nodded and they ran through the crowd to get to them. Liam was with Mario and June while Fauna ran after Jewlica who was running towards Archie. Tera had her hands full with August who kept trying to touch everything.

She was about to leave when she heard Athena call out to her. She smiled as she turned to her, " Good evening, Lady Athena ". Athena giggled lightheartedly, " Greetings to Sister Empress ".

Nectar noticed Jiro and squinted her eyes slightly, " Have we met before? You look oddly familiar ". Athena was about to introduce the two when she suddenly brightened, " I remember. You're the one who caught Jewlica in the market place ".

Jiro nodded with a smile [ Didn't expect her to remember that ] and Athena sighed, " Sister Empress, this is our Continent's Star Reader, Jiro ". Nectar blinked in a daze, " You're a lot younger than I remember ".

Jiro laughed and so did Nectar, but nervously [ Nice going blabbermouth ] " Then we must have met somewhere else ". She nodded, trying to think of something " Yes. I believe I've seen you in Actso. But you might not have seen me ".

Jiro nodded [ I'll think about that later, I never forget a face ] There was a soft laugh coming from the right, " I've been looking all over for you master ". Athena's smile slightly disappeared as she sighed, " Sister Empress, this is my sister and star reader apprentice, Alice Losra ".

Nectar was more than surprised when she saw Alice. She looked exactly like Athena, except for the blue eyes. She smiled politely, " I didn't know you had a sister Athena ". She suddenly held her chin and looked her in the eye, " That's a pretty pair of blue eyes you've got there ".

She pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ears, " I could gouge them out for myself ". Alice flinched slightly as Nectar let go of her, " I'm so excited to meet you ". Alice couldn't get herself back together again as she watched Nectar walk away [ She's a lot different from the information I got ]

~ ~ ~

Luscious and Fay had been among the first to get downstairs. With nothing to do that wouldn't get him in trouble with Fay, he turned into a humming bird and flew on the chandelier.

It was fun watching Fay search for him [ She always has this bulging vein on her temple when she gets upset ] " I'll just stay here till she calms down ". So he'd been watching people stream into the dining hall and would say they're name, trying to memorize who they were.

Then he saw Nectar and couldn't help but snicker, " Of course she's not in a dress ". He continued his observing when he's eyes landed back on Nectar. At first he thought he was seeing two of Lady Athena, but when Nectar hugged the other one, he calmed down.

He saw her whisper something into her ear and the woman flinched ever so slightly. She was suddenly all smiles again, " Sometimes I forget she's an empress ". She walked away but something seemed off about her.

He hopped to the other side of the chandelier and saw she was beginning to stagger out on to the terrace. Curiosity got the best of him and he flew after her, hiding in the shadows [ How many secrets are you hiding? ]