Chapter 448 - A New Vision

"Okay fine! You can follow me." Yvonne sighed after failing to convince Demon to return to his stable for the last time.

No matter how much she commanded Demon to return, he insisted on coming along with her so she was the one who had to relent in the end.

Therefore, right now, a pair of etcher and etched were headed deeper into the woods.

Now that she had Demon by her side, Yvonne had nothing to fear as she trudged along.

The two followed the familiar path from earlier.

Yvonne using the memory that she had somehow unlocked when she was here with her cousins and Demon using the scent of their presence earlier.

With these tools, they would have no issues returning to the same spot.

The sounds of constant running water growing closer as they stepped further ahead indicated that they were on the right path.

Soon, the sight of the setting moon's light reflected on the water at the very top which cascaded down the waterfall was what met their eyes.

Yvonne marveled at the sight that was even more magnificent than what she had seen during the day.

Demon stood behind his Master as she stepped closer to the shallow pool of water.

She could not get any closer or the fluffy slippers would get drenched and that would not be a pleasant thing to experience.

'Like getting your socks wet.' She shuddered in disgust as she had always hated that feeling in the past.

Therefore, she stood at the same spot and took in the view of the high waterfall which brought fresh water into the pool before her.

Right now, she was standing in the same spot that she had seen Adult Yvonne in her vision.

The realization of which brought many thoughts to her head.

Demon could notice that his Master was lost in thoughts so he was well-behaved and made no sound lest he disturbed her.

Closing her eyes, Yvonne tried to conjure the images she had seen in that vision.

When she was here with her brother and cousins, all she had seen was the short interaction between the adult versions of Yvonne St. Claire and Topher Tanner.

Since she was still a child, she could only assume that this was another premonition like the one that she had in her dream about the man who was gentle to her while she trembled during the thunderstorm.

Though confused, she had put this matter at the back of her mind until she had time to mull over it.

And right now was the time that she thought was perfect to decipher what was the meaning of that vision.

As her eyes remained shut, images from earlier reappeared but that wasn't all as more was added to them.

In the dark recesses of her mind, a new vision was originating and this time, she could witness it from the very beginning.

___

"Why should I marry the Grand Duke!?" A lady with violet hair screamed while alone inside a room.

Thinking of what had taken place, the young lady plopped in bed and sulked to no end.

Just earlier, she had gone to visit her best friend, Princess Felicia, in her Palace but instead was summoned to the Main Palace and sent directly to the Throne room to greet the King.

The might and regal King sat before the throne as he looked down on the young lady who was curtsying elegantly.

Nodding his head, King Ophire smiled when she raised her head.

"You have grown into an elegant and poised young lady, Miss St. Claire." He praised with sincerity which made her blush and smile before she bowed in gratitude.

As her head rose once again, her smile faded when she saw the three people standing at a short distance from the Throne where the King was seated.

Two men with similar colored blonde hair stood with their heads high as they watched the scene.

The color of their hair was the same but their eyes were surely different.

While the younger man with narrowed eyes had sparkling blue eyes, the one who seemed a little older had emeralds for eyes that were looking right at her.

However, she was not in any mood to appreciate their appearances as her attention had been attracted by the person who stood between them.

A dainty lady with dark brown hair and similarly dark eyes was also watching her but when their eyes met, the owner of those brown eyes shuddered as though she was frightened.

This simple gesture of the lady with fluffy brown hair made the two men who stood on either side of her take a step forward, covering her body with theirs to shield her.

'What a faker!' Yvonne thought while narrowing her eyes.

"Miss St. Claire, I have watched you grow up with my daughter so I know just how good a child you are." The King's words brought her attention back to him.

This praise from the King elicited a scoff from the man standing at the side and she knew exactly who it was coming from.

King Ophire glared at his rude son, Fritzen, as a warning to behave.

The lady standing next to him also received a similar glance before he turned his eyes back towards the young lady before him.

Yvonne was pleased with this outcome but she did not allow the joy to appear on her face.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for such high praise." She accepted his praise with another smile.

However, thinking of something, her smile dropped and a disheartened aura overshadowed her.

"It was all thanks to Governess Bloom that I am able to receive such praise from you." She muttered in a soft voice, her sadness apparent in her tone.

These words succeeded in reminding them of the death of the old Governess who had not only taught the three young girls but also had been a nanny to both King Ophire and Grand Duke Draco.

The air turned gloomy with her single sentence and the one closest to the old lady, Draco, furrowed his brows at this reminder.

King Ophire shot a worried glance at his brother and sighed as there was nothing that he could do about the death of his nanny which was due to natural causes in her old age.

However, he had to get this meeting moving so he cleared his throat which managed to get their attention.

Yvonne looked up at the King and waited for him to speak, wondering what might be the reason for calling her here when she did not have much interaction with him.

"Your coming of age ceremony will be held soon and I would like to give you a present in advance." He announced which made her eyes widen in surprise.

Since Yvonne was younger by a whole year than her friends, Felicia and Glennise, she had been unable to have her coming of age ceremony along with them.

This year, she would soon turn sixteen which would allow her to enter the social circles as an adult who would be addressed as 'Lady' instead of the formerly 'Miss'.

Being bestowed a present by the King was a blessing that most yearned for but were never lucky enough.

Therefore, Yvonne bowed her head when she saw that she was fortunate enough to gain his favor.

Watching the King stand up from his seat meant that he was about to make a Royal proclamation which made everyone straighten their backs.

"I hereby announce the union of Miss St. Claire and Grand Duke Draco Roschester with me as the witness." He declared in a loud voice, succeeding to freeze everyone around them.

Yvonne's eyes widened at the 'present' that she had been bestowed by the King.

Similarly, the other person who was named in the announcement also was staring at his elder brother with wide eyes.

The shock on Draco's eyes was clear for everyone to see which implied that he too was hearing this for the first time.

However, that expression soon faded as he stepped forward until he reached the spot next to Yvonne.

Without glancing at her for even a second, he bowed his head before the King.

"I accept your words and am grateful, Your Majesty." He replied and his voice held none of the fluctuations that one would expect to have in such a situation.

Yvonne's heart, which had just calmed down, waiting for the Grand Duke to express his objection to the King's decree, was once again in turmoil.

'You like that woman so why are you accepting it so easily!?' Her eyes displayed her thoughts as her gaze fell on the group of three who stuck together like glue each day.