A half-finished game.

After greeting the Blood family relatives, Aurora went to the back garden in an area not visited by many people.

She met all of her two-faced relatives, exchanging pleasantries with them bored Aurora to death.

Aiden was there at the gathering in the great hall, Aurora met Aiden but she didn't talk to her father.

She completely ignored Aiden at the gathering.

Now, at the secluded back garden area, Aurora was admiring the Black Roses.

These roses are very unique, it takes 10 months for them to fully bloom.

Here in the village, there are many legends attached to this unique flower.

The people in the village say the black roses represent grief, death, evil, darkness etc.

As Aurora was admiring the beautiful roses, she suddenly sensed someone's presence nearby!

"Quit sneaking around and stop hiding, Avalon!" Aurora called out, but the person didn't reveal themselves.

"I hate that 'Apple' scented perfume you're wearing." Aurora said scrunching her nose.

"What the fu*k do you do to improve your senses, sis?"

Aurora heard an unhappy voice from behind.

Turning around, Aurora shrugged before replying to the owner of the voice.

"I was born like this."

(A/N: It's true, Aurora was born with heightened senses. Perks of being a reincarnated individual. Like, Sabastian with heals, Aaron with two bodies and curse of idleness.)

"Tsk, how lucky and talented you are, cousin."

A boy same age as Aurora stood in front of her, he had short, choppy blond hair that is slightly longer on its right fringe and light green eyes.

He was wearing a black short-sleeved hoodie that has no zippers that reach below his hips. Underneath his hoodie, he was wearing a navy blue t-shirt and dark blue jeans that are tucked into his black boots.

"Suffocating aren't they? They say the sweetest words laced with venomous poisons, it doesn't affect you straight away but gradually poison your consciousness." Avalon said walking towards the stone chess table.

"I've never felt what you are describing, Avalon, and as if their words could weaken my defences. They can only bark, can't bite." Aurora replied to Avalon.

Hearing Aurora, Avalon looked at Aurora with his mouth open and had an awestruck expression on his face.

"Did you just call everyone at the manor, dogs?"

Aurora only shrugged at Avalon's question, before turning back to the roses.

"Want to play a game?" Avalon said, setting up the chess pieces on the chess table.

"Where's your girlfriend, has she not arrived? And that lackey of yours, I'm surprised that he is not with you. He never leaves your side." Aurora asked Avalon.

When Avalon finished setting up all of the pieces, Aurora called out.

"Pawn, d4."

Hearing Aurora, Avalon moved white piece pawn to D4.

"She hasn't arrived yet and I dumped her 2 weeks ago. Knight g8 to f6." Avalon called out his move as he moved his black knight to f6.

"As for, Ronny? He is in his room. Probably jet-lagged I guess."

"Pawn, c4. What about you? Why are you here, Avalon?" Aurora asked, curious why her cousin came to bother her.

"Pawn, e6. Why? Can't I meet my beautiful and lovely, cousin sister? I missed you, you know."

"Knight g1 to f3. I didn't miss you, and I don't care."

"Pawn, d5. Awww, You did miss me! So nice, you're the best sister in the whole wide world!!!"

"Knight b1 to c3."

"Where's Aaron by the way? I haven't seen him here anywhere. That fool didn't come? Bishop f8 to e7."

"Bishop c1 to f4. Don't pretend you don't know!" Aurora snorted hearing Avalon.

"Castle to king's side. He's still mad at uncle? Wow, such a wuss!"

"Pawn, e3." Aurora.

"There's a crazy rumour, that his partner is a beautiful girl! Knight b8 to d7."

"A Rothschilde I heard, but which one? Bishop f1 to e2." Aurora inquired.

From the rumours, Aurora found out that it's a girl from the Rothschilde family. But who is it, she doesn't know.

Since Avalon brought up the topic of the girl, he must have found out which Rothschilde girl Aiden has prepared for Aaron.

"The rumour has it, she is mute! Pawn d5 takes Pawn c4."

"Is that all you can give me? Useless, tsk! Castle to king's side."

Avalon rolled his eyes before replying.

"I only found out about it recently, cousin. I don't know much about it. Pawn, a6."

"Pawn, a4." Aurora.

"Though I can't give you much info about Aaron's matters since I don't know about anything else but I can give you some juicy information on others if you're interested! Also, there are all kinds of gossips in my belly almost begging to come out! Knight f6 to d5."

"No, thank you. I don't like gossips. Bishop f4 to g3."

"Pawn, c5." Avalon.

"Bishop e2 takes Pawn c4." Aurora.

"Pawn c5 takes Pawn d4." Avalon.

"Pawn e3 takes Pawn d4." Aurora.

"Knight d7 to b6." Avalon.

"You're not here to gossip, are you? Just say what you want to say already! Bishop c4 to b3."

"What, sis! You don't like me being around you? Pawn, a5."

"Knight f3 to e5." Aurora.

"Okay, okay... Bishop c8 to d7. Times are changing, the Blood family is restless. A 'Blood War' is imminent!"

"..." Aurora narrowed her eyes hearing Avalon.

She called out her next move.

"Knight c3 to e4"

"Bishop d7 to c6. Children marked by fate must face their reality!"

"Knight e5 takes Bishop c6." Aurora.

"Pawn b7 takes Knight c6. And those who have sinned must pay for their sins!"

"Rook a1 to c1." Aurora.

"Knight d5 to b4." Avalon.

"Queen, e2." Aurora.

"Knight b6 to d5." Avalon.

"Rook f1 to d1." Aurora.

"Rook f8 to e8" Avalon.

"Queen, f3." Aurora.

"Rook a8 to a7" Avalon.

"Bishop g3 to e5" Aurora.

"Bishop e7 to f8." Avalon.

"Queen, g3." Aurora.

Avalon getting up from the chair, turned towards Aurora.

"Children of the sinners will also bear the sins of their parents. Anyway, I was here to tell you that I was not part of the assassination attempt on you and Aaron."

Aurora turned back and faced Avalon.

"They approached me to be a part of it, but I declined. Probably hurt their pride, so they framed me. Idiots, haha!"

Looking down at the chessboard, Avalon sighed.

"Let's continue this game some other time, shall we? I'm tired, will go and take a nap before the party. Have fun admiring the flowers!"

Aurora didn't say anything to Avalon.

She only stared at her cousin for a few moments before turning back to the flowers.

Avalon shook his head when he saw Aurora turning away from him.

Seeing that she was admiring the black roses, Avalon told Aurora about the legend of the Black Rose.

"The Black Rose, legends has it that a village girl was born with a power to heal any kind of wounds, cuts, injuries. She told her friend and her lover that she can heal people with her magic. She trusted them not to tell anyone, but one day a child got hurt in the village and the two asked her to save the child. Though, reluctant at first. After some persuasion, the girl agreed to heal the child. The whole village then found out about her powers. From then on, whenever someone got injured, the villagers come to her so they could get healed. One day, a plague spread to the village. The girl could heal wounds, cuts, injuries but she could not heal the sick who are ill from the plague. The child that she once saved died from the plague, the mother of the child was heartbroken. She accused the girl with the magical healing powers, of being a witch! The grieving mother told the villagers the plague came to their village because of the girl. The grieving mother reasoned with the villagers that the Gods punished them with the plague because they sought help from the witch who worships the devil! The villagers were angry at the girl for causing the plague, so they wanted to sacrifice the girl to appease the Gods. Scared for her life, she ran. She ran until she came up to a cliff. The villagers chased her to the cliff. Crying, she pleaded but they did not listen to her. From the crowd, her friend and her lover emerged. Her friend and her lover, just like the villagers accused of her being a witch. She begged her friend and her lover, but they did not listen. The girl was heartbroken. Her trust was betrayed, and she was accused of something she did not do. What did she do wrong? All she did was help people. Even after accused of being a witch and a demon worshiper, she couldn't help herself but wish to free the village from the plague before she jumped from the cliff and committed suicide. After her death, all the roses in the village turned black. It's only in this village, black roses could be found. The roses have healing properties. It can heal wounds, cuts and injuries. Also, if you drink blood by mixing the rose with the blood. It works as an anti-body medicine."

Hearing no response from Aurora, Avalon turned around and started walking to leave.

"Avalon." Aurora called out to Avalon.

Avalon stopped in his tracks before he turned around.

"Thank you, but I owe you nothing!" Aurora said to Avalon.

Hearing Aurora, Avalon smiled.

"I'm a villain in your story sister, just an honourable one until you formally join this chaotic battle for the throne."

He said to Aurora before he left leaving Aurora in the garden alone.