Chapter 269 - Discouraging Statistics

Yvonne's heart was filled with warmth when she observed how every single one of them was willing to stand up for her and protect her from the evil intentions of the nobles.

'I will never forget this kindness you have shown to me today.' She vowed and would make sure to be of aid to them if they ever needed it.

Her biggest worry was that information about the result of these trials might leak outside and cause a storm in the noble families with her right in the eye of the storm.

This concern was wiped away after her mother had expressed her anxious thoughts and everyone had agreed to lend her a hand.

"Don't you worry, Vonny! I will ensure that no one will speak a word against you!" Taylor Tanner thumped his chest as he promised her.

The little girl giggled at his strange yet cute actions and nodded as she accepted his promise to keep her safe.

"Then I will be in your care, Young Master Taylor." She replied with a quick bow.

The elder brother who was forgotten glared at his friend for trying to steal his spot in the little girl's heart.

'We are just beginning to solve our issues and he wants to get between us already!?' Howard sneered at the sneaky boy who was scheming to gain Yvonne's favor.

"Big Brother will defend you so there is no need to depend on some outsider like him!" He exclaimed in rejection of Taylor's kind offer.

The two boys were now glaring and sneering at each other and sparks could be seen flying between them.

The mother and daughter pair who sit between the boys let out a helpless chuckle as they watched the two behave in his manner.

"Why don't we all keep today's matter a secret and defend Miss Yvonne together?" The wise and slightly impatient Topher suggested when he noticed that this fight might take longer if it wasn't interrupted right this instant.

Damien and the rest of the guests shot the heir of Duke Tanner an appreciative glance for what he had just done.

The main culprits bowed their heads in embarrassment for disrupting the peaceful atmosphere under the stern glare of the Duke's heir.

'Fine!' Taylor scoffed as he dropped this matter.

'Only because Big Brother Topher said so!' Howard also admitted defeat begrudgingly.

Once the tranquility had returned to the table, they resumed eating their lunch in silence.

Fresh and warm dishes replaced the dishes that had gone cold due to their long conversation.

Yvonne ate with gusto as she was indeed starving after working hard underneath the hot rays of the sun.

Everyone had high praise for the Countess and her chef for the delectable banquet that had been prepared for them.

Though Marquess Samed and the three boys were surprise guests who had popped by uninvited, there was no shortage of food as nobles always served more than they could finish.

After lunch came to an end, warm tea was served to the guests to help them in their digestion.

As they took silent sips of the tea, there was a doubt that popped up in the little girl's mind.

"Captain?" She called out as she placed her tiny cup on the table.

Desmo looked in her direction and met her curious amethyst eyes which were blinking at him.

"Why have you never mentioned 'Awakening' before today?" She played her doubt before her trainer.

'Shouldn't he be teaching me everything there is to know about training? If Awakening was so important then how come he never even breathed a word about it to me before today?' She analyzed the lacking method of teaching of her tutor.

Captain Desmo narrowed his eyes when he saw her looking at him with skeptical and suspicious eyes.

Pressing down his annoyance as her shield of protection, her father was also present at the table, he took a deep calming breath before revealing another piece of information.

"Awakening is only possible for boys to achieve." He repeated what Marquess Samed had discussed earlier.

"Not only do they awaken a portion of the dormant powers, but they would also have the eligibility to gain an etcher." He disclosed vital details.

Howard had learned of this information in his classes at the Academy but listening to the same coming from the Captain was making him excited for what the future might hold for him.

Desmo had noticed his enthusiasm but he did not stop divulging further details about it.

Once a young boy awakened, he would be eligible to gain an etcher.

However, while it was already a great feat to awaken, it was much harder to gain an etcher.

If one were to invest time and research each case of awakening and gaining an etcher then the statistics would certainly be discouraging.

While only 80% of the boys could awaken their dormant powers, only 15% of those who had awakened could have the good fortune of gaining their etcher.

"It is not easy for one to find their etcher as they are extremely rare." He continued and turned to the seat at the head of the table.

Noticing his line of sight, everyone turned to find the Earl shooting flirtatious glances at his wife when he thought no one was watching.

'These two cannot sit still for a single afternoon?' Yvonne denounced her parents' love life with a sigh and rubbed the space between her eyebrows.

Raylene lowered her head and fixed her eyes on the cup in her hand when she found that everyone was now watching them.

Her pink cheeks had failed to depict the raging storm in her heart which would come crashing down on her husband when they got the chance to be alone.

'Just you wait, Ruthy!' She glowered at him as she tried her best to minimize her presence.

On the other hand, Rutherford let out a cough as he glared at his friend who had gotten him in trouble.

"As I was saying…" Captain cleared his throat as he swallowed the snarky cackle that was about to erupt from his lips.

He had no idea that his friend was shooting loving glances at his wife, all Desmo wanted to do was use the man as an example in his teachings.

"The Earl found his etcher during his training." He revealed then pointed at his nose.

"I, on the other hand, found my Precious while on a mission where she saved my life." He was oozing love for his beloved beast.

The love faded and there was a smug expression as his eyes pointed at the man who sat next to him.

"While some cases are like our Marquess here." He snickered as he used this man as the last example.

'I have a bad feeling about this!' Yvonne and her tutor had the same thought at the same time.

"Some awaken but never find their etcher, bound to be disappointed their whole lives." Desmo sighed though the gloating in his eyes contradicted his sad tone.

Marquess Samed gritted his teeth but could not say anything to refute the Captain as what he had said was the truth.

"So you boys need to hope and pray that you find your etcher soon because not everyone can be as blessed as Yvonne who found her etcher before she awakened and without looking for it." He announced his final lesson for the day.