A roar surfaced, like the cry of an animal before it slumped onto the ground. Viscount Marden clutched his shoulder, where blood was profusely pouring out, and pain sparked. His body felt like it was scorned over a fire, as he gritted his teeth.

"YOU BITCH!"

Adeline's hand slightly trembled. She had never turned her gun to a person before. Her breakfast threatened to resurface. She turned and slammed the door opened, eager to leave. She had what she came for. There was no need to stay any longer.

But then she saw her Aunt, standing outside with a shocked look. In her hand, she carried a tray of tea, but no snacks. Typical Aunt Eleanor. Whenever Adeline was around, there was seldom food except for water or tea.

"You ungrateful brat!" Aunt Eleanor cried out, dropping the metal tray of tea. She rushed to her husband, sinking onto the ground with him, as he let out moans and groans of pain.

"Call an ambulance and the police!" Viscount Marden yelled at his wife, despite her loving and warm embrace.

"I-I'm on to it," Aunt Eleanor shakily said. She reached into her pockets, trying to fish for the phone.

Adeline cast them a final look. She had never seen them on their knees before. Sitting on the ground, they were suddenly so small… As a child, she'd think they were the most intimidating people ever. Not even her parents scared her as much as they did.

"What? Are you going to walk out like your mother?" Aunt Eleanor was momentarily distracted by Adeline's nearly disappearing figure. She pointed an accusing finger at her niece, her eyes burning with angry tears.

"We've raised you for an entire decade and this is what you do to us?! You shoot your uncle, ignore his bleeding shoulder, and disrespect your caretaker! Is this the Adeline your parents would be proud of?"

Adeline's chest stung with guilt. She didn't respond, knowing her cold composure would crack. Thus, she turned around and began to walk out of the door.

"With how horrible of a human you are, no wonder why Asher disappeared! He must've left after realizing what type of person you were."Adeline spun around. Did Asher disappear? Where to? But she just saw him a couple of days ago! He was at the Ball, she had saved him. Where could he have possibly gone to?!

"Hah, judging by that surprised look on your face, you didn't know where he went. And neither do I. but I wouldn't be surprised if he never wants to see you again, especially after you left him for a vermin of a king."

Adeline glared at her Aunt. Asher wouldn't do that. Asher wouldn't leave her. He treated her like a younger sister, protecting her with everything in him. He wouldn't leave without an explanation.

"Why are you doing this?" Adeline finally asked. "You said you love me, Aunt Eleanor, yet you're using your words like a weapon. Does it please you to hurt me like this?"

Aunt Eleanor glowered at her niece. "I cared for you like a child of my own, and this is what you do to us?! You dare to shoot your Uncle, my husband, and then disrespect me in our own house? Do you know how much money we've spent taking care of you? We fed you, clothed you, bathed you—"

"You did the bare minimum of any guardian," Adeline said. "If you didn't want any responsibility for me, you shouldn't have fought so hard for my custody in court."

Aunt Eleanor was floored by her niece's ruthless words. "You—"

"Oh shut up and call the ambulance! I'm only to bleed out any moment here," Viscount Marden growled. "How can you be so useless?"

Aunt Eleanor gritted her teeth. She hurriedly pulled out her phone, typing in the emergency phone number. In the corner of her eyes, she saw Adeline beginning to walk out again.

"I knew I should've married your younger sister over you. Your husband is dying here and you're arguing with that despicable niece of yours?" Viscount Marden hissed at her, whilst squeezing his eyes shut with pain.

Viscount Marden could feel his face paling with each second. His wounded shoulder had gone limp and he was resting his other half of the body onto her. But his wife was too thin and frail, her silhouette shaking to hold him up.

"What did you just say?" Adeline asked, her voice filled with horror and surprise. Did her ears betray her? Did she truly hear that correctly?

"What?" Viscount Marden laughed. "You didn't know?"

Adeline stared at him with astonishment, her hands shaking. Her mother was supposed to marry her Uncle…? What did he mean by that?

"Of course you don't know anything, you never do." Viscount Marden let out a scoff whilst shaking his head at her stupidity. "The irony of your situation always humors me."

"Stop it," Aunt Eleanor hissed. "You will not bring up the past in front of me!""Just call the damn ambulance, woman. Can you get any more irritating?" Viscount Marden groaned. Even breathing was becoming difficult for him. His entire body was aching with agony.

"What irony?" Adeline sharply asked.

"And why should I tell you?" Viscount Marden scoffed.

Adeline raised her gun. "Because your other shoulder is working. It'd be a shame if so much blood is drained that you'd have to amputate both arms."

Viscount Marden's face paled. He glared at her. She wouldn't! But then, he was reminded of the horrific pain in his shoulder and knew she would. A woman with a gun was a dangerous thing. Especially a scorned woman.

"Haven't you ever wondered why we took care of you like our own?" Viscount Marden sneered.

"No, you will not tell her such a thing!" Aunt Eleanor shrieked just as the caller picked up. But she hanged up a second later, not wanting this conversation to escalate. She had sworn when Addison was put into the grave, that she'd take the sins of the past and bury them with her.

"Twenty years ago, I was supposed to marry your mother after having my way with her in the bedroom, but if it wasn't for your god awful father—"

"SHUT IT!" Aunt Eleanor shrieked, slapping a hand over her husband's mouth.

Adeline's knees nearly gave out. Her mother… slept with Viscount Marden? She was told her parents' love story was the greatest that Kastrem had ever witnessed. But who would've thought that her mother's side of the family, had a history like this?

"Shortly after, I wedded your mother," Viscount Marden sneered. "But why would I do that? She was just a poor Baron's daughter with no dowry to her name."

"Sebastian Marden you will not—"

"That's right, Adeline. It's just as you believe." Viscount Marden ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Your mother was pregnant. It was a shot-gun wedding. And who's child do you think she was pregnant with?"

Adeline's world began to spin and crumble. Memories came running back to her. Her Father���s affectionate pats on the head, his laughter as he carried her in his arms, his gentle smile when he spun her around. Her father loved her dearly, but there was always a slight grimace on his face.

Why else… had he tried to strangle her that night? He wished she wasn't born. Was it because her Mother slept with the Viscount?

"You're my child, Adeline. Royal blood does not run through you. It never did in the first place!"magic

Adeline nearly sank to her knees in despair. She could not believe it. She didn't want to believe it. All this time, she had believed her Father was her Father. All this time she had questioned why her father's relatives hated her. It was all making sense now.

Adeline was not a Rose. She was a Marden.

The truth shattered her.