"I don't think I've changed,

" John said and Roselyn felt like a weight had been removed from her chest.

"I just think that I hadn't met the right woman and that's was the reason why I didn't discover my soft side yet. But now that I met my soulmate I discovered this new side of me which I quite enjoy.

" John said having Roselyn blush and her heartbeat accelerated. Soulmate? She liked how that word sounded.

She liked even more if those words were said by the one and only man she had never loved.

"So you don't regret having signed the agreement even if it may have disappointed your father?

" Roselyn asked wrapping her hand around John's neck. He nodded no with his head.

"I will never regret the best idea I had in my life. And as I promised I will never leave you, either will I try to harm you in any way.

" John whispered closer to her ear as he played with her hair and pushed her closer to him.

"We will overcome this hinder like we always did. And if we won't, it won't change our relationship.

" John said comforting her and Roselyn smiled.

"Roselyn?

" Ethan knocked over the door to make sure not to walk in and find unpleasant surprises.

"Come in,

" Roselyn replied and Ethan walked in.

"Your mother visited you…

" Ethan said and Roselyn for a second forgot how to breathe as she realized she was preoccupied with John so much that she forgot that her mother may be shocked and disappointed as well. It was a risky gesture for her mother to visit the castle and surely proved how furious and extremely needy of explanation she was. in other cases, Ginevra would ever dare to visit the Royal House unannounced and not minding her manners.

Roselyn's face became paler as her hands began to shake nervously.

"T-t-thank you,

" Roselyn murmured while she inwardly cursed the scientists in the world for not having invented teleportation yet. She would wish she was anywhere else but there right now.

After reassuring John that she didn't need help and she could confront her mother alone she finally took a long breath to fill her lungs with both air and courage and finally reached the living room where Ginevra was waiting for her daughter to arrive standing with a furious bloated face.

Her forehead was creased and as soon as Roselyn arrived seeing her mother's furious gaze made her regret her decision and she had to force every inch of her body not to turn around and leave.

"Rose… I can't believe …

" Ginevra spat and her tone of voice was so irritated and sounded more as if she was expecting it rather than being surprised. After all her horse to bet on had always been Sharon and that was the plausible reason why John didn't pick her instead of Roselyn.

"Where is Sharon? She must be heartbroken!

" Ginevra continued not even leaving her daughter the time to reply to her.

"I don't know where Sharon is… I am sorry mom I can expl…

" but before Roselyn could finish her sentence her mother pointed an accusing finger against Roselyn's chest and raised her voice.

"Leave like a good lady, apologize and leave your place to someone who truly deserves it! Your sister!

" Ginevra's voice thundered in the room and Roselyn's fists clenched she could feel the blood boiling through her veins and she had to control herself not to explode and insult her mother allowed but try to keep those insults to herself.

She swallowed down and took a long breath before finally replying to her mother's fury.

"I love John. Our attachment may be forced and planned but our love isn't, mot anymore. Like it or not I am not leaving.

"

Roselyn was surprised to hear how modulated and calm her voice came out when she was on point of exploding internally.

"You're going to destroy our entire family's reputation for your crazy ideas.

" Ginevra's eyes filled both with anger and tears when she looked at her daughter in the worst way a mother could look at her daughter.

The unending pounding in Roselyn's head couldn't be born anymore and Roselyn felt like she was going to explode in anger when the familiar heat in her forehead appeared from the anxiety and nervousness.

"I have to remind you that now you're referring to the Queen of Scotland so please mind your manners,

" Roselyn whispered clenching her teeth and gazing at her mother challenging.

"I am speaking to my daug…

" before Ginevra could finish Roselyn gestured to her and interrupted her

"your daughter now is the Queen of Scotland so whether you agree or disagree with her decisions you're highly suggested to mind good manners.

"

Roselyn could feel her anger and wickedness arose from her body as soon as those words slipped out her mouth.

Her mother shook her head vigorously and screamed aloud all her anger before marching with heavy noisy steps toward the door.

Roselyn knew that her family was on thin ice, she also knew she was making burned land around her and the only remaining person who she might have could be Abigail. Yet she wasn't sure Abigail would forgive her for the umpteenth secret she kept from her.

When her mother finally slammed the door close John reached Roselyn to make sure she was fine as he could hear them screaming from the other room.

John glowered seeing Roselyn's eyes narrowed and her fists still clenched.

"Do you want me to kill her?

" He said without hesitation nor resentment. Even if a minimal part of Roselyn sought revenge and wanted her mother dead for what she said she came to her senses as soon as she calmed down and giggled.

"No. It's alright.

" Roselyn reassured him.

"I wish my family was as understanding as your father but it seems like I was never considered part of the family.

" Roselyn breathed out and her facial muscles from being tensed relaxed. Roselyn's lips' corners curved down as she sighed.

"I didn't expect a pat on the back but neither did I expect such a bad treatment from my mother,

" Roselyn murmured when she felt tears falling down her face.. She was feeling so emotional all of a sudden.