My Celestial Ascension

As soon as the announcement ended, news of the Second Crown Prince Fedrick's death spread like wildfire across the Imperial Capital City and even beyond. The citizens were shocked to learn that the prince had been a traitor to the Empire, plotting a coup d'état to overthrow the reigning Emperor.

Within hours, the entire Empire was buzzing with the shocking revelation of Fedrick Lionheart's betrayal. No one had ever expected that a prince known for his laziness and indulgence could orchestrate such a plot. For many, it was unthinkable.

The Imperial Capital City descended into chaos. Security tightened as guards patrolled the streets, vigilantly watching for suspicious individuals who might be hiding among the populace to incite further unrest. Whispered speculations about the betrayal echoed through every district of the city—even the noble quarter was not immune to the shock.

"I never imagined His Highness Fedrick could be a traitor to the Empire. It's hard to believe!"

"Indeed. Do you think other noble houses were involved? Some of them have never hidden their disdain for the Imperial Family."

"Possibly. But let's not forget the Second Crown Prince's reputation. Everyone knows he's as dumb as a pig—more interested in chasing women and indulging in pleasures than anything else. It's not hard to imagine him being used as a puppet."

"Exactly. His body might have grown, but his brain stayed small. A fool like him was bound to be manipulated."

"Do you think this has anything to do with the Ruthless Lioness? She returned to the city just before Fedrick was exposed as a traitor."

"Hmmm… It's plausible. I can almost picture her slicing his head off without hesitation."

"She wouldn't tolerate a traitor, that's for sure. If anyone ended Fedrick's life, it was likely her."

Despite the growing murmur of speculations and conspiracies among the citizens, the soldiers made no attempt to quell the whispers. Their focus remained on spotting suspicious individuals who might threaten the city's fragile stability.

Meanwhile, Emperor Philip traveled to the cemetery reserved for noble families, where he intended to bury his son. Behind his carriage, guards solemnly carried Fedrick's body in a covered cart.

Inside the luxurious Imperial Carriage, Emperor Philip sat in silence, his expression unreadable. Daniel, seated across from him, fidgeted awkwardly, unwilling to disturb the suffocating quiet.

The air inside the cabin felt icy, charged with the Emperor's powerful magical aura, which seemed to amplify his grief.

"I never thought there would come a day when I'd have to bury my own son with my own hands…" Emperor Philip murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow. His gaze seemed distant, his pain etched into every word. "This is a cruelty beyond words."

"Royal Father, please don't dwell on it too much. Brother Fedrick was a traitor, a betrayer of the family. He planned to attack the Imperial Palace. He didn't see us as family the way we see each other," Daniel said, his voice low as he struggled to hide the deep hatred simmering in his heart. He knew that expressing it now would only worsen the heavy atmosphere.

"I know… I know what he planned for us. But even though he betrayed us, I am still his father—the one responsible for bringing him into this world. His betrayal cuts deeply, Daniel," Emperor Philip replied, leaning back in his seat, his emotions pressing heavily against him.

Daniel didn't respond. Instead, he sat silently in the luxurious carriage, gazing out the window as it rolled steadily forward.

'That idiotic bastard!' Daniel thought bitterly. 'He didn't care about our feelings when he made such a repulsive decision. I'd slap him if he were still alive. But it's too late now—one of Yuan's wives killed him.'

An hour later, they arrived at the burial site. A group of soldiers immediately began preparing the grave. It was a secluded spot, away from the graves of noble ancestors.

Once the soldiers finished, Emperor Philip and Crown Prince Daniel stepped forward with a local priest to proceed with the burial.

"I hope you find peace in the afterlife, Fedrick," Emperor Philip murmured, pouring a handful of soil onto the coffin. Daniel followed suit.

'I hope you become a better person in your next life… Farewell, brother.' Daniel thought as he dropped the soil and returned to his father's side.

The soldiers quickly completed the burial, pouring soil over the coffin with their shovels before placing a gravestone bearing Fedrick's name and age.

When everything was finished, the group left the cemetery, returning to their carriages.

—

Meanwhile, back at the Imperial Palace, a commotion broke out inside the chamber where Concubine Agatha was confined.

"What should we do? Should we inform the Empress about the disturbance Lady Agatha is causing in her room?"

"I think we should inform her immediately. If anything happens to Lady Agatha in confinement, we'll be blamed. What if she makes a rash decision and takes her own life out of guilt?"

"You're right. Those are serious problems, especially now that the fearless women are here. We can't afford to make mistakes."

"In that case, you two stay on guard. I'll go inform the Empress immediately," one guard said, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Alright. Go quickly and explain the situation to the Empress," the others agreed. Without wasting time, the guard left to inform Empress Selena of the commotion in Concubine Agatha's chambers.

At that moment, Empress Selena was walking in the palace gardens with Yuan's wives, Miss Zara, and Little Zoe. She was enjoying a pleasant conversation with Miss Zara, touched by her deep love for her daughter.

As they strolled, Selena glanced at Anna and Grace, intrigued by how alike they looked. Though their hair and eye colors differed, as did their demeanors, their resemblance was uncanny.

"So, Miss Anna and Miss Grace, are you two perhaps twins? I've never seen a pair of twins like you before. Everything about you is identical—as if I'm looking into a mirror," Selena said, her voice a mix of intrigue and surprise. She had her suspicions but couldn't come to a conclusion.

"You could consider us twins, but we're not exactly twins. We're one individual, now separated," Anna replied, a mysterious grin playing on her lips.

"Twins, but not twins? What kind of answer is that? I'm confused!" Selena mumbled, her brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of Anna's cryptic explanation.

'What does she mean by that? If they're not twins, how can they look like perfect mirror images of each other?' Selena pondered, her mind swirling with confusion.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she decided to shift the conversation.

"By the way, are you two really Yuan's birth mothers? I can't wrap my head around how two people could give birth to one person—it's baffling," Selena asked, her curiosity evident.

"Not just Yuan. Lily here is also our daughter. She's six years older than Yuan," Anna said with a proud smile, while Grace nodded silently, her expression calm and neutral.

"What?!" Selena exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. She turned her wide-eyed gaze to Lily, who was grinning from ear to ear.

Concubine Priscilla, standing nearby, had a similar reaction. Her eyes darted between Anna, Grace, and Lily, utterly speechless.

'Unbelievable… They're the mothers of two grown children, and yet they look so youthful—like they're still in their early twenties. It's truly astonishing.' Priscilla thought, still reeling from the revelation.

'What kind of beauty regimen do they follow to stay so young? I'd love to know…' Selena mused, feeling a flicker of envy.

Both Selena and Priscilla couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Anna and Grace's youthful appearances seemed to defy logic, especially considering their status as mothers to adult children. After all, what woman wouldn't wish to stay young forever, regardless of the world?

—

Just as the group enjoyed their pleasant conversation, a sharp voice interrupted them.

"Empress! I have urgent news!"

The women turned to see a guard running into the garden, his face marked by urgency.

"What is it? Has something happened?" Selena asked, raising her brows as she addressed the guard.

"Empress, Concubine Agatha is causing a commotion in her chamber! She's throwing things around, and we fear she might take drastic measures out of guilt," the guard reported, bowing slightly as he spoke.

"I see…" Selena sighed deeply. "Return to your post. There's no need to worry—she has no sharp objects or poison in her room. She can't harm herself."

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the guard and returned her attention to the group, though a trace of concern lingered in her expression.

"Just ensure she can't escape her confinement. Also, make certain that no suspicious individuals get close to her chamber," Selena instructed the guard firmly before dismissing him.

A couple of minutes later, Yuan and Rose returned to the garden, walking hand in hand. They looked like a perfect couple from every angle, their happiness evident in their radiant expressions. Seeing Rose smiling so cheerfully around Yuan brought warmth to everyone present.

"What took you two so long to return?" Concubine Priscilla asked with a playful smile, her eyes twinkling as she focused on the pair.

"We were just chatting and enjoying each other's company. It was quite romantic, if I'm being honest," Rose replied with a soft smile, her cheeks tinged with a light blush.

"I see…" Priscilla nodded, her own smile gentle and understanding.

After spending a few more minutes enjoying the tranquility of the Imperial Garden, the group returned to the Palace. They awaited Emperor Philip's return from the cemetery, where he had gone to bury his son, Fedrick.

Valeria, however, had matters weighing heavily on her mind. She intended to have a serious discussion with her brother before departing. She couldn't shake the feeling that Fedrick and Agatha were not the only ones involved in the betrayal. This suspicion was likely why Empress Selena had ordered such strict security measures around Agatha's chamber.