Chapter 268 - We Will Protect Her

Rutherford smiled at his son who was staring at him with curiosity brimming in his eyes.

However, the most curious of them all was Yvonne St. Claire as she needed to know what was so special about their fight that the siblings had managed to awaken together.

The father could discern the inquisitive glint in his children's eyes and did not make them wait any longer.

'They have Ray's eyes.' He thought while staring at the similar look on their faces.

"My boy, don't you love your sword and want to get better at it each day?" He tossed a question at his son.

Though before Howard could answer this question, there was someone else who had much to say in this regard.

"Every single day! He's swinging his sword around all day long without taking a single break!" Taylor groaned in an exaggerated manner at his best friend who truly was a sword junkie.

Listening to his narration of what takes place in the Academy, everyone chuckled and shook their heads at the little workaholic boy.

Howard shot his friend a strong glare and then looked at his father as he blushed and nodded his head in acknowledgment.

'I know because I see my past image in your eyes.' Rutherford admitted and felt a sudden surge of sadness encompass him.

After all, even though he had a similar love for his sword, he had to give it up because the responsibilities of the heir were above the sword in his father's eyes.

Yvonne was watching him keenly so there was no way that she could have missed the gloomy expression that he had just for a second before it faded away.

Rutherford smiled at his wife who was aiming her concerned eyes at him as she too had caught sight of his bleak appearance.

The Earl nodded to indicate that he was fine and turned his sights to his son.

"Your desire to improve was intensified when you fought your sister and saw how much she had progressed in such a short amount of time." He revealed and alternated his gaze between the two children.

Howard tilted his head as he tried to make sense of what he was hearing right now.

It was true that he had a deep desire to excel in everything related to the sword.

It was also true that when he was going against his little sister who had never held a sword before last month, his yearning to progress at the same exceptional rate was also high.

Therefore, now that he was mulling over the plausible explanation for why he had awakened during their duel, he had to accept that his sister might have had a part to play in this endeavor.

'He awakened because of his desire to progress at my pace?' The little girl was ecstatic that she was able to influence someone else without even making a conscious effort.

'He wanted to become a knight and I am sure that this awakening is going to help him achieve his dreams faster.' She was sure that with her help and his own capabilities, he would surely fulfill his dreams.

Sadly, the smug look on her face as a wide grin formed on her lips looked like an eyesore to someone who was seated on the other side of the table.

Damien scoffed in disgust for the girl who was taking immense pleasure in knowing that she was a catalyst to her brother's awakening.

'Someone is too full of themselves.' He sneered and averted his eyes lest he gets further annoyed.

Yvonne had no clue that her moment of celebration was regarded as something disgusting by the other boy.

Though even if she did know what was in his thoughts, she would have simply shrugged and tossed his words aside as he was not someone that she needed to pay attention to, at least not right now.

Howard was still trying to find his words on what to say next when he heard his father speaking up again.

"As for you, Vonna…" He called out to the girl who had a pleased look on her face.

Yvonne fixed her eyes on her father and waited for him to explain what her reason for awakening might be.

'Though I already know what my reason might be, I shall wait for him to reveal it.' She bestowed this blessing on her father even when she was well aware of the reason.

Rutheford chuckled when he saw her nod at him as though she was permitting him to speak.

'She is cute when she behaves like this.' He was not mad at her, instead, he found her behavior endearing.

"The reason for your awakening is…" He began as a wide smile appeared on his face.

"Your immovable desire to learn and succeed in the trial made you push your body to your limits and that was when you awakened." He disclosed why she had awakened at the end of the third trial.

'Just as I had thought!' She nodded in acknowledgment of her father's explanation.

Every trial she completed, she had the immense desire to succeed and also the nerve-racking stress of what might happen if she lost.

This made her push herself in each trial and the last one had only tipped her over the limit of her capacity.

Her eager attempt to dodge Howard's strikes and her sneaky plans of attacking him had brought out a surge of power through her body and this was when she had awakened the dormant powers residing in her.

Yvonne was still in her thoughts when she heard her mother speaking for the first time in a long while.

"But girls aren't supposed to have an awakening in the first place." Raylene expressed her doubts as she stared at her husband.

Rutherford nodded as this was truly an anomaly that had never been heard of before today.

"Our Vonna is a special child, Ray." He exclaimed with pride and joy bursting with each word.

Though Raylene was also happy with this outcome, there was still a fear in her heart as to what the people in the society would think of her child who was different from the others.

"We will protect her well." He promised when he saw apprehension visible on his wife's face.

Lifting his head, Rutherford scanned everyone seated at the table and nodded in gratitude when he saw the consenting faces.

"The Countess may be free of fear for now." Marquess Samed assured her that nothing wrong would happen to her daughter.

"We will ensure that no one wrongs our pupil." Captain Desmo chimed in as he too wouldn't stand by to watch the noblemen mess with the girl.

The three boys who sat at the table with them also nodded willingly as they too did not desire for such a little girl to face criticism from the stiff-necked nobles of this land.

'Even if I do not like her, I would not wish for something bad to happen to her.' Damien sighed as he was not such a cold-hearted person.

Recalling the time that she had wept bitterly in his arms, he felt reluctant to see her shed such tears ever again.