Chapter 439 - Yvonne's Illusion
As Yvonne sat under the shade of the tree with her brothers, she knew that there was something wrong but she could do nothing to alert them.
The sight before her was different from reality and was something that was visible only to her.
Seated on the ground, she watched the scene unfolding before her eyes as though she was watching a movie as a spectator.
However, this wasn't shocking enough to scare her as she had once experienced something similar to this when she had first moved into this world.
At that time, she had watched the first interaction between the male lead, Fritzen, and the female lead, Hilda when they met and fell in love at first sight.
That was a dream where she had watched the scene unfolding while in her previous body of an adult but this time, things were different.
This time, she was not dreaming as her eyes were wide open and she was still in her child-like body.
Not to mention that this time, the main character of her illusion wasn't Hilda, and nor was it Fritzen like last time, instead, it was someone she was quite familiar with.
As she watched in silence, she saw a beauty with deep violet hair standing as she gazed at the waterfall ahead of her and let out an audible sigh.
Her back was towards Yvonne but the little girl could already guess who that person was.
'Adult me?' She thought and received her answer when the young lady turned around with a gentle smile on her face.
"Thank you for bringing me here…
" She whispered to someone but Yvonne could not see anyone as whoever that person was, they seemed to be hidden behind her.
The young lady standing before her was already an adult, unlike her who was still in the body of the five-year-old.
Yvonne could find the traces of similarities between the face that she was witnessing right now and the portrait of Grandma Hannah that she had seen during lunch.
Unlike Grandma Hannah, adult Yvonne had a slightly smaller face which accentuated her cuteness even when she had blossomed into an adult.
'Who is she talking to?' Yvonne wondered as she had not yet seen anyone around 'adult Yvonne'.
As the little girl could not turn her head in any direction at present, all she could do was wait for the person to step forward so that she might discern whom 'Adult Yvonne' was talking to.
"You seemed miserable back at the Capital so I brought you here.
" A man's crisp voice echoed in her ear which she found familiar yet not so familiar at the same time.
She could hear footsteps coming her way, indicating that the person who had just spoken was walking closer to her.
As she stayed still while in her trance, Yvonne watched as the man whom she had just heard walked past the tree under which she was seated.
None of the boys with her moved a muscle which proved that they were unaware of the sight that she was witnessing right now.
From the corner of her eyes, Yvonne could discern long legs moving past her as they stepped toward 'Adult Yvonne' who was also watching this newcomer.
Yvonne's eyes widened when she caught the glimpse of the person who had reached Adult Yvonne's side.
"Thank you.
" Adult Yvonne whispered as she gave the man another gentle smile but this time, it was laced with sadness and pain.
The man standing before her gently raised his hand towards her face but Adult Yvonne took a step away before his finger could touch her skin.
However, the man did not halt as he stretched his hand out once again and tucked a few strands of hair that had flown out of place due to the cold breeze in this place.
The young lady smiled respectfully and distanced herself from him which caused the man to clench his fist that was raised in the air after which he dropped it to his side.
Turning around, he watched the beautiful sight of the waterfall in silence as he stood beside an equally beautiful young lady.
A sneeze coming from the lady brought his attention back to her as he hurried to take off his coat and placed it over her shoulders.
"I think we should leave now.
" Adult Yvonne remarked as she promptly took off his coat and returned it to him.
Yvonne could notice how his jaw clenched as the young lady rejected his gesture of offering his coat to shield her from the cold breeze.
"If that is what you want.
" He accepted her words without trying to force his thoughts onto her.
The little girl was still under shock after recognizing the man beside the adult version of her but she decided to remain skeptical about it.
'Maybe it is someone else.' She thought to herself and hoped that she was right.
However, in the next moment, Adult Yvonne's words proved that her initial instincts were right all along.
"Young Master Topher… It would be best if we stop meeting now.
" The young lady requested while lowering her head in apology.
This statement shocked the young man with bright red hair and dashing features but the lady had walked away from his sight before he could state his opinion.
"Do you agree with the King's decree?
" He muttered in a raspy voice but there was no one there to hear his words.
Yvonne's mind was trying to wrap itself around what she was watching when she noticed that the young man whose features matched those of the Master Topher whom she now knew, was walking away in the direction that Adult Yvonne had left in.
'That was adult me and Topher!?' She grimaced at the thought of what she had just observed a moment ago.
With the departure of the two figures, she regained control over her senses and turned around to look in the direction where the two adults had left.
However, she could not see them but instead, she found her three brothers and her etcher looking at her with concern and worry in their eyes.
She was oblivious to what had been taking place in reality around her as she was too engrossed in the illusion that was taking place before her.
Thus, she had failed to hear the voices of her brothers calling out to her.
Howard had asked whether she was ready to return to the Mansion but even after calling out to her, she did not react to his words which frightened him.
The twins too were looking at her with worry evident in their eyes.
'What was that just now?' Yvonne wondered as the mirage had disappeared and she was back to reality.
Upon repeating his words, Howard finally received an answer from her.
"I was lost in my thoughts.
" She explained vaguely why she had not answered them and agreed with their suggestion to return to the mansion.
The twins and Howard shared a look but did not say anything as they rose from the ground and began walking in the same path that they had used to come here.
Along the way, Yvonne appeared to be dazed as she walked absentmindedly yet she never stumbled or chose the wrong path.
The four with the etcher returned to the stable first where they left the etcher before they returned to the Mansion.
"I would like to take a nap now.
" Yvonne excused herself the moment they entered the house and before they could reply she walked away in the direction of the room that was assigned to her.
Roman watched with furrowed eyes as the little girl whose back grew smaller as she moved away from their position before he turned towards Howard.
"Do you think that she is alright?
" He questioned as he did not get a good feeling after what had happened in the woods.
Howard was not sure so he shook his head as his little sister did appear to be out of sorts ever since Knox had proposed to take them to his hideout spot.
Knox too was silent, troubled by Yvonne's knowledge of the paths through their woods and also about the weird daze that she had been in while watching the waterfall.
"Let's keep an eye on her to make sure that she is fine.
" He suggested and received willing nods from Roman and Howard who had similar thoughts in their minds.
With this, the brothers decided to watch over their little sister who appeared out of sorts today.