The Emperor who loves me dearly - Chapter 88

“Please wait for us in the Emperor’s chamber, your Majesty, I shall introduce someone to Celestia before anything else” Astrid requested.

A few hours from now, all that Celestia knew will be the cause of her greatest downfall. However, for that to happen, she must first meet her.. .

Logan gave a small nod and passed a quick look at Celestia. He remembers her clearly, the way she speaks, smiles and even laughs on their small banters yet the once colorful memories they shared are now in black and white. It’s liveliness faded away, like an old memory, he cannot even remember why did he love her.

Love…

Amor Gevaar…

He passed through her, he will meet her again soon, but that will be the last meeting.

‘We are the two paths that should never have crossed’

—

“Hello daughter” a mellow voice greeted Celestia. It was a woman in her mid-forties. Her blue eyes glinted recognition upon seeing Celestia.

D-daughter?

She looks at the empress, is this Astrid’s mother? Then why is she looking at Celestia and calling her daughter in the process?

Celestia’s eyes went back and forth to the woman and Astrid and that’s where realization hits her.

Although a distant and vague memory, she remembers slightly, the first queen of Thusha Kingdom, her mother–Esmeralda Wresea.

“I-it can’t be” she replied as the information sinks her.

Her eyes began to fog up, can this day get any more shocking? She just wants to wake up from this dream, this nightmare rather.

The woman in an elegant black gown walks towards her slowly.

“My poor daughter, as much as I want to save you from this pain, there is no such way” her words were warm but the way she delivers it is full of coldness as if she has been practicing for this day to come.

Covering her in a hug, Celestia can’t help but weep louder, an antagonizing cry that filled the room.

“Shush, everything will soon be over” Esmeralda comforted Celestia using her monotone voice.

‘The prophecy will never come true…if you are dead’

‘I’m sorry’

“W-why did you leave me?” Celestia sniffs. She thought she was stronger than before, but it seems like she returned to becoming a child after seeing her mother.

“Some things are better left, unsaid, dear” her mother calmly responded as her hands went through her golden hair. The same color of hair the three of them shared together.

“Will you save a dying tiger, knowing that if restored to full health, it will kill a lot more innocent lives? Or will you sacrifice it in exchange for thousands of lives?” Esmeralda uttered as she lifts Celestia’s face.

According to the prophecy, this child of hers will be the reason why the four empires who lived in harmony for thousands of years will wage into a war.

Esmeralda can’t fathom how, and why would the four great emperors be thrown into chaos. They’re like brothers.

She saw how they grew up together, such strong bonds and the cause of breakage will be her firstborn daughter, Celestia.

Looking at the face of her daughter, surely, this beauty is worth thousands of war yet she, Esmeralda will never allow one to happen.

“Anna, you may come out now” Astrid commanded.

Celestia’s eyes grew wide as the familiar shadow began to move from behind the wide door.

A-Anna? As in her maidservant before?

Truly, it was her friend from before, after causing her stepmother, Marie, to have a miscarriage, she is nowhere to be found. And now, she’s here, in an assassin’s clothing, very different from the maid she thought she knew.

“Your highness” she bowed.

“Where are they?” Astrid inquired.

“The king and queen of Thusha are now under our care, they are with your children”

Celestia gasped and broke free from Esmeralda.

Her father and stepmother are here?!

The kingdom of Thusha has fallen prey.

Why did she not think of this before? If this cure, removes love in one’s system, Thusha will be the first enemy of the biggest empire.

However, one fact completely caught Celestia’s mind.

“Your children?” Celestia asked, her mind is in disarray. Astrid never had a child, much less, children.

Astrid smiled sweetly.

“Yes, mine. Aiden and Eden” she replied, stating a fabricated lie smoothly.

“What did you say?!” Celestia is now seething in anger.

First, Astrid took Logan away from her.

Second, she trampled on their Kingdom.

Third, she kidnapped her children.

In Celestia’s mind, Astrid Vega is already dead. Her blood boils as everything fits together.

“You are with her” Celestia said not in a questioning manner but more of stating an obvious answer. She looks at Esmeralda, then to Anna.

THEY ARE ALL WITH ASTRID.

And ever since before…this day has been planned. From how Anna approached her when they were still little, up to now.

It was all planned.

How sad for Celestia to loathe her stepmother before when the true wicked soul is her true mother, Esmeralda Wresea.