Chapter 645 - Yvonne's Response

"Would my thoughts even be heard before the King? And not snubbed ruthlessly just because I am a girl?" 

To say that everyone was stunned to hear her words was an understatement.

In fact, even Marquess Samed was shocked to hear her retort in this way to the Duke.

Back when they had first discussed this matter, this child had told him that she did not wish to gain any credit for the good deed that she was doing.

This was the same reason he had revealed to the King and in return, requested for the child's name to remain anonymous.

However, now the same child was saying something entirely different.

Yvonne had sensed the unease on her tutor's face but she did not look his way as she had a plan in mind.

Since everyone now knew of her involvement, she had nothing to hide.

Not to mention that the ones who were 'coincidentally' present during her family's meeting with the King were also the ones who brought this matter up just earlier.

Therefore, she had already deduced that something was odd.

By now, she had sensed what the King was trying to achieve through everything that had taken place today so she decided to use it to her advantage.

'Why should I suffer a loss after everything that I have been through today?' She sneered at the wretched day she had been through.

Therefore, instead of using the former excuse that she had given to her tutor who then repeated it before the King, she disclosed a whole other reason.

King Ophire too was stunned to hear her but seeing that she wasn't in a panic or flustered, he waited to see what she had in store for them today.

The main reason why Yvonne had made up that excuse in the first place was to stay away from the Palace and everyone who resided in it.

'See where that led me…' She scoffed at her rotten luck for she was seated before those same people and even had a one-on-one conversation with everyone she wished to avoid.

Therefore, there was no more reason for using that same excuse.

She had already deciphered the King's intention for everything that he had done today.

If he wished to make her an example for the rest present here, she would do as he pleased.

Since she approved of what he was trying to achieve, why not give him a hand?

This way she could even get on the King's good side and who knows, maybe even change a few norms of this Kingdom.

Therefore, she had changed her answer before the Duke.

"I had heard that not all men are like my Papa." She proclaimed while staring right at the Duke.

Duke Brodie's brows furrowed when the little girl compared him and all other men here to the Earl.

Even Earl Rutherford St. Claire had no clue where she was going with this and could only wait to see what she was up to this time.

"My Papa does not snub me when I have something to say." She continued without worrying about what others would think.

Having said this, she shot a smile at her father who, though at first was a little rigid and set in his ways, soon melted under her adorable act and let her do as she pleased.

Rutherford felt his heart swell with joy at her praise and his stiff face formed a smile as well.

"If I have something to add to a conversation, he lets me and even listens to what I have to say." She added in a clear voice.

The little girl's eyes then turned to her mother who was smiling at her, proud of her and everything that she had done until now.

"Even my Mama… Papa never stopped her from doing what she wished for." She revealed then finally, returned to looking at the Duke.

"Does the Duke do that as well?" She questioned with her eyes slightly narrowed, the same way that he had looked at her earlier.

Duke Brodie was stumped for words as he had never done any of that to his wife or child.

While he loved his wife, she never had any reason to speak in matters concerning their household or fief.

Therefore, he did not have a positive reply to give to the child who had tossed this question before him.

Yvonne knew that she had spoken enough so she decided to end this quickly.

"My Papa did that and so did my tutor." She announced before the silent audience then turned to the King.

King Ophire had been looking at her all along so their eyes met the moment she turned his way.

"When I suggested those changes to be made, he did not toss my ideas aside thinking that those were mere ramblings of a child who did not know right from wrong." She explained what had taken place.

"However, not everyone thought that way." She sighed like an old lady which amused the King as his brow raised while he continued to look at her.

No one dared to interrupt the child who was now conversing with the silent King.

"Therefore, when Marquess told me that he had brought it over to Your Majesty's notice, I panicked." She disclosed as her lips pursed to prove that she was upset.

She indeed had panicked but for a different cause which she would never bring up before these people.

In the past, she had been hoping for the Marquess to do all the work after she revealed the faults in the policies to him but he had done something unexpected.

He had come back the next day and made her create an elaborate plan for what they had discussed the other day.

When they were sharing a peaceful meal, he had revealed that this was supposed to be handed over to the King which had thrown her mind into chaos.

Since she could not state outrightly that she did not wish to come in contact with the King and stay out of his sight, she used an excuse to avoid any chance of meeting them.

Thus she chose a safe alternative, stating that she wished to stay hidden from the public eye after reading their God Asmodeus's scriptures.

The good deed she was doing was not for the sake of fame and fortune but for the sake of doing something good.

This was the excuse her tutor had also parroted before the King.

Her eyes flitted to her tutor for a second before they returned to the King.

"Pardon me for not revealing the truth, Your Majesty. I had done so to not be criticized… " She bit her lip as she stated the 'true' reason for why she had wished to remain anonymous in the past.

"However, it looks like that was something inevitable." She muttered before lowering her head, appearing to be saddened by the questioning gazes she had felt ever since this matter had been brought up.

Yvonne's words rang in each and everyone's ears and they did not know what to do next.

Marquess Samed fell into a contemplative daze after hearing the child's words.

'I did feel that she was trying to avoid the Royal family back then…' He frowned as he thought back to the time when he first heard her reason for staying concealed.

He had thought that she was being ridiculous for trying to stay out of the public's eye instead of basking in the glory that would come her way once her involvement in this grand task was revealed.

However, now things were beginning to make much more sense to him.

He had forgotten that just as much as these men hated women involved in important decisions, they also disliked even hearing their opinions in matters that held great value.

If Yvonne had been declared as the one who had suggested those changes then he doubted that they would have the same response as they did after knowing that those ideas were his.

Similarly, Howard who had been against this reason for his sister staying anonymous had finally understood why she had done so.

He had called her a fool for not claiming the credit for what she had done but failed to realize that the moment it was disclosed that the ideas were proposed by a girl, they would be thrashed.

King Ophire, however, wasn't as naive as the rest to believe what she had made up at a moment's notice.

Nevertheless, this was aiding his cause so he did not expose her.

'Though she would have to reveal the real reason to me later on.' He decided on what his next move would be but for now, he would let her do as she pleased.