Chapter 1

I failed to ascend and fell into the demonic path, and I was sealed at the bottom of the Eastern Sea for a full five hundred years.

Just as my soul was about to scatter,

my soul drifted free of my body, and I saw my sister Lucienne instructing her own children.

"As long as the goal is reached, what do the means matter?"

"The reason your mother could become the Flower Goddess is that I took your aunt's place."

One of the girls asked in a soft, childish voice:

"I heard my aunt was the recognized candidate for Flower Goddess among the Flower Fae. How did you manage it, Mother?"

Lucienne smiled smugly.

"I drugged her. She fell into the demonic path, and so the chance to ascend naturally passed to me, her sister by the same father and mother."

"And with it, the chance to marry into the Celestial Clan became mine too."

The girl asked next, "So where is my aunt now?"

"Her? Once she fell to demonhood, she could have been cleansed and purified by your grandfather's divine power."

"But I told her it was your grandmother who drugged her, that she had gone mad and killed someone by accident."

"Your grandfather flayed her and drew out her sinews, then sealed her in the Eastern Sea, where the fires of purgatory scorch her day after day."

"By my count, the day her soul scatters is only a few days off now."

Watching their family so happy together, basking in the offerings of the Six Realms,

my fingers dug hard into my palms.

If I could live this life over again, I would take back the life that was rightfully mine.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day before I ascended to become the Flower Goddess.

1

Mother carried a bowl of lily and lotus-seed soup into my room.

"Seraphelle, the Ascension Rite is tomorrow. Lotus-seed soup calms the spirit. Drink it and get a good night's sleep."

Looking at this bowl of lotus-seed soup Mother had cooked with her own hands, my nose stung and tears fell.

In my past life, Lucienne told me that Mother had drugged this bowl of lotus-seed soup, that it was what drove me fully mad, so that with my own hand I hollowed out Mother's inner core.

The desperate, uncomprehending look in Mother's eyes before she died still hangs before me.

I threw myself forward, holding Mother close, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Mother only assumed that, with my ascension so near, I couldn't bear to leave my family.

She patted my back over and over to comfort me. "Silly child, you're the most gifted fairy of the whole clan. Becoming the Flower Goddess is an honor bestowed by the Celestial Clan. I'm overjoyed as it is—what is all this nonsense?"

I wiped away my tears, wanting to say a few more words to Mother.

Lucienne came in.

She balanced an incense burner on her fingers, feigning concern.

"Sister, this is Spirit-Calling Incense I went specially to the Hall of the Southern Sovereign to obtain. It can greatly increase your powers—just the thing for your ascension tomorrow."

Watching the smoke curl up from the burner, it suddenly hit me.

In my past life, this was the incense she had drugged.

I clenched my fists, forcing down the hatred surging up inside me.

I had not ascended yet; I couldn't turn against her now.

I formed a hand sign, and the fire in the burner went out.

"Thank you, Sister. This incense is precious, and I have no use for it. Keep it for yourself."

Lucienne's expression froze for a moment, then her voice softened.

"What a thing to say, Sister. I obtained this incense just for you. I don't have the talent to ascend—it would only be wasted on me."

As she spoke, she leaned close to me, cajoling and wheedling.

"Sister, I know your cultivation runs deep and you don't need such outside help."

"But out of consideration for how I climbed all one hundred and one Celestial Steps and went to such trouble to obtain it—just give it a try."

In my past life, I couldn't stand against her.

When I woke the next day, my powers had indeed grown greatly, and I was deeply grateful.

But when the moment of ascension came, my once pale-golden spiritual energy suddenly slipped out of control and turned into great swaths of dark purple.

My mind, too, gradually grew clouded.

It must have been because of that incense.

I pushed the incense burner away and coldly refused.

"Sister, ascension is a great matter. To avoid any complications, I won't use this incense."

Lucienne's face turned ugly, and she raised her voice.

"Seraphelle, what do you mean by that?"

"We're sisters. I've thought of you at every turn—do you really think I mean you harm?!"

Expressionless, I said flatly:

"Those are your words, not mine."

"If you have no wish to harm anyone, Sister, why get so worked up?"

Lucienne's face turned ashen in an instant.

The atmosphere in the room was terribly awkward, and Mother quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Lucienne, what Seraphelle says makes sense too. Ascension is a great matter—it's best to be careful."

Lucienne stamped her foot in fury and flung out a line: "Mother, you've always played favorites, ever since we were little!"

Then she turned and left.

Inside, I breathed a sigh of relief. This time around, surely there wouldn't be any problems.