Chapter 691 - Tantrum From A Well-Behaved Child

Yvonne bit her lip when she heard her mother's accusation.

It was true that she had indeed made her worry about her well-being, however, it was something unavoidable.

From the very beginning, she had vowed to become stronger so that she might not only be able to defend herself from any unforeseen dangers but also protect those around her.

To achieve the amount of strength that she wished to possess, she would have to face such opponents as she had done today.

Therefore, she would not be able to promise her mother that she would stop sparring with others to stop her from worrying about it.

"Mama, do you remember why I started training with the Captain?" Yvonne changed strategies and inquired about a certain event that had taken place in the past.

Back when she had first revealed that she wished to learn how to wield the sword for self-defense purposes, she had given them a valid reason for making that request.

"You said that you wanted to be able to protect yourself when your father and brother are not around," Raylene replied after giving it some thought.

Yvonne smiled and gave her a nod in acceptance of that answer as what she had said was indeed the truth.

This was the excuse she had used to get her way back then and now she was bringing it up to remind her mother why she had done so.

"Mama, my match with Young Master Topher was to check if I would be able to do so when no one was around to save me." She explained why she had accepted that offer from the Tanner family's heir.

If she wished to discern her strengths, she needed to first find out how much she had progressed and also where her weaknesses lay.

"Thanks to this match, I now know where I need to improve." She clenched her fists at this statement.

Topher's level was still higher than hers and if it weren't for Demon's interference, it was without a doubt that she would have lost that match.

Therefore, she was glad to discover which aspects she needed to work on and vowed to do her best to overcome those weaknesses.

Raylene was conflicted after observing her daughter's determined appearance.

On one hand, she wished for her to do her best in whatever she puts her mind to but on the other hand, she fretted for her well-being.

These conflicted thoughts, Yvonne had also noticed which made her sigh.

Stretching her hand out, she held her mother's soft finger and looked up at her with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Mama, I will try my best to not get hurt so please don't be sad." She whispered in a sweet voice that clawed at the mother's heart.

Her main aim was to alleviate her mother's guilt as even if Raylene had been around, Yvonne would have agreed to spar with Topher.

This was a fact that would not have changed, with or without Raylene's presence.

Therefore, she hoped to explain to her mother that she had done nothing wrong and there was no reason for her to blame herself.

"And Mama, look! I'm unhurt!" She exclaimed before letting go of her mother's finger and twirling around in place.

This sight made Raylene let out an amused chuckle as she seared this moment into her memories.

Sometimes her daughter made her worry and sometimes, she was a breath of fresh air that relieved all of her stress.

This realization made the mother shake her head before leaning close to her child.

"I am your mother, Vonny." She reminded the child while cupping her rounded cheeks.

"And it is my duty to worry for your health. Even if you are old and married." She added, caressing those soft cheeks.

Yvonne had a smile on her face at first for the loving gesture but the mention of marriage had made her freeze.

However, she could not display any fluctuations in her expressions right now as her mother's face was too close to hers and she might catch them right away.

Therefore, despite her annoyance at what had been mentioned, she puffed up her cheeks and pouted her lips in defiance.

"Vonny will not get married!" She rejected the idea of marriage before her mother.

However, Raylene only squished her chubby cheeks, concluding that her daughter was only feigning anger at this moment.

While appreciating her adorable behavior which warmed her heart, she thought of her husband who had missed this sight.

'Ruthy would be over the moon to hear that.' She shook her head as his heart would leave in joy if he were to hear the same coming from their daughter.

"We shall discuss this again in the future." The Countess neither accepted nor rejected the child's declaration.

'What is there to discuss!?' Yvonne groaned inwardly and this time anger shone across her eyes.

However, once again, the mother deemed this to be a tantrum from her usually well-behaved child and did not think about it too much.

They had already spent a lot of time in her room so Raylene decided that it was time for them to leave.

She glanced down at her dress and found that it had been soiled since she had carried Yvonne all the way here.

Therefore, she too would have to change into a new dress before heading to the Dining Hall.

Yvonne blushed in embarrassment for what she had unknowingly caused but Raylene shook her head, asking her not to worry too much about it.

She then called for Mrs. Jacinth, commanding her to escort the Miss to the Dining Hall.

Bidding goodbye outside the child's room, Raylene hurried to her room to change and make her appearance as the hostess at the Dining Hall.

'At least I managed to soothe her.' The little girl smiled at the hastening back of her mother.

She stood with her Nanny and her other maid, and once her mother was out of sight, she too followed in the same direction.

However, instead of going downstairs, she came to a halt in front of her brother's room.

'Might as well go down together.' She decided then raised her hand to knock on the door.

However, her actions could not be completed as a voice had stopped her from doing so.

"Miss, the Young Master has already left along with the other Young Masters," Roselie informed about what she had seen while waiting outside the room earlier.

After stepping outside, she and Mrs. Jacinth had caught sight of Howard rushing out of his room and even the twins followed him soon after.

They did not even come to Yvonne's room to ask if she was ready as they appeared to be in a hurry to someplace.

'I think I know…' The child shook her head, inferring what might have caused this rush.

Therefore, she no longer knocked on the door but turned around and walked towards the staircase.

When she and her maids reached the dining hall, she could hear muffled voices coming through the closed door.

Jax had been waiting outside and upon seeing her, he announced her arrival before pushing the door open for her.

As soon as the doors were opened, Yvonne's eyes scanned the room and found that almost everyone had arrived.

She raised her feet and walked in, smiling at those who made eye contact with her.

The seat at the head of the table was left empty for the Earl who had not yet arrived and even the seat on his left meant for his wife was now vacant.

On the opposite side, Marquess Samed, the one with the highest social standing here, sat on the right side of the Earl's seat.

Next to him were Viscount Valente and his wife followed by their twins.

On the opposite end of the elongated table sat Topher, the young heir of the Tanner family.

However, instead of the heir, Yvonne's attention fell on the younger son of that same family whose eyes were watery and his face sulking endlessly.

'What's wrong?' She queried with her eyes while tilting her head to the side.

Taylor put on an aggrieved and pitiful face when he noticed her attention being focused on him.

"Won't Vonny sit with me?" He muttered, making his voice sound equally pitiful which made the other boys choke at his stellar acting skills.