Chapter 29 : The empress is strange .

Fauna and Tera were surprised by the large room they were given. They were about five windows and they even had their own bathroom. There were two single person beds on each side of the room next to large long windows.

There were pieces of furniture scattered around and and a large empty book case. The curtains were a deep blue with white underones. The room was painted a cool shade of light blue that seemed very calming.

The sisters were further shocked by the closet. Though it wasn't as big as their former master's, it had more clothes than they'd worn in the 17 years of their lives. They were to shocked to be excited even as they looked at each other.

If not from the numbing pains on their backs from the lashing they'd received earlier, they would have thought this was some sort of dream. Fauna recovered faster as she jumped on the right bed smiling.

Tera frowned, scolding her younger sister " Don't do that. What if we get in trouble "? Fauna rolled her eyes, waving her off " We've escaped death, even though it was narrow. Why can't I celebrate "?

Tera growled slightly " O66, get down from there this instant ". Fauna flipped her hair back " That's not my name anymore. You heard her majesty, my name is Fauna now ". Tera sighed as she rubbed her temples " Be serious, what do you think she wants from us "?

Fauna was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling " You heard the empress, to take care of those kids ". Tera walked to the other bed " Do you think it could be that simple "?

Fauna grumbled, sitting up " Why do you have to over think everything? She seems like a straightforward woman ". Tera shrugged " No one in this god forsaken palace is normal ".

Fauna nodded in agreement " Then she is a lot more plain, though she seems very strange ". Tera nodded in agreement as she sat on the edge of the bed " Why do you think she named us "?

Fauna covered her ears, shutting her eyes " Stop ruining the surviving thing. You're almost making me wish I was dead ". Tera rolled her eyes but Fauna went on " It feels nice to have a name though. I've never heard of a name like Fauna or Tera before. It sounds exotic ".

Tera put her head in her hand " Stop going off point. This is serious "? Fauna sighed again " You should really stop worrying...Tera. She is quite easy to understand if she wants to be ". Fauna raised an eyebrow " And how do you know that ".

Fauna turned slightly serious " Because she wouldn't go through all this if she didn't need us ". Tera was even more confused " You mean those kids? I doubt she really meant it ".

Fauna sighed as she laid back down " You never take the right things seriously ". Tera shrugged " Its not like she'd have our heads if something really happened to them ". Fauna smirked, nodding her head " Don't lie to yourself, we both know she would ".

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile the kids had gathered in Mario's room. They were as surprised about this new development as Fauna and Tera but weren't worried as much since Jewlica had approved of them.

They sat cross legged facing each other. Mario spoke first " Do you really think the empress won't send us away "? June puffed her cheeks " Don't be like that, she never even mentioned anything like that so how can you jump to conclusions "?

Mario shrugged and Nichole spoke up " Though I'm not entirely sure, I think she just wanted to find someone to take care of us ". Nathaniel who was leaning against the bed rest agreed " Sister Qidu wouldn't go through so much work if she really wanted to get rid if us ".

Mario was about to object when Nichole covered his mouth " I know your worried but let's enjoy this, even if its for a little while ". Mario didn't want to be negative but someone had to remind them. It wasn't like he doubted Nectar, he just couldn't enjoy himself, if he didn't think of anything that could go wrong.

He wasn't sure he always did that and it was one of the reasons why he didn't have many friends in the orphanage or didn't get picked. If something could go wrong, Mario would be able to think of it but now he didn't think anything would go wrong.

He'd expected some sort of downside but there was none. Though Nectar was a bit odd, she wasn't temperamental like the other noble women he'd met. She loved to bicker with Liam and he seemed to enjoy it too.

Though they were yelling at each other, there was no sort of hostility around them and that confused him sometimes. She truly seemed to care about them, like when August got hurt and even making Dodwen apologize.

Mario would never have thought that a noble would ever apologize to them but Nectar was just fool of surprises. As the eldest, he had the responsibility of taking care of the others and that included worrying about their safety.

But they were really pleading with him not to ruin this for them,even if it was only for a while. So he sighed and nodded, agreeing with Nichole. She was so excited she jumped on him, hugging his head to her chest " That's awesome, thank you Mario ".

The others laughed at Nicole's action but no one noticed Mario's red face pressed to her stomach.