Chapter 598 - Elevated Opinions
While Yvonne was busy cursing at her tutor for ratting her out then glaring at the King for exposing her identity in the presence of these Ministers, the man who was being cursed sneezed thrice continuously.
In another location inside the same palace, Marquess Samed accepted the handkerchief from his nephew who was seated next to him.
"Who might be cursing me?
" He muttered to himself as he wiped his nose and heard a chortle coming from the other side.
He did not even have to look up to know who it had come from.
"You upset so many people that it is surprising you aren't sneezing all day long.
" Duchess Beatrice Tanner, Marquess Samed's elder sister sneered with a gloating look on her face.
This younger brother of hers had given her a tough time after she and Duke Tanner had imprisoned him in the Tanner estate for the summer.
He had been unable to sneak out no matter how many times he tried as every time, their skilled guards caught him.
However, when the plague had started, he wasn't even grateful that because of her efforts and that child's warnings he had avoided getting caught in one of the infected fiefs.
He still continued to be annoying as ever which had only made the Duchess sneer at him every time she thought about the troubles she had gone through for this ungrateful little brother.
"It must have been you!
" Marquess Samed grumbled while glaring at his sister who was just as dominating as she was when they were younger.
His ingratitude thoroughly infuriating the Duchess, she narrowed her eyes, ready to teach him a lesson if only they weren't inside the Palace right now.
"You continue to act that way even when you fou-
" The elder sister's glowering rant came to a halt when Marquess Samed leaped forward and clamped his hand over her mouth to stop whatever it was that she was about to say.
"Shh!
" He gestured for her to not speak any further and only removed his hand when she nodded in acceptance.
"The walls have ears...
" He whispered mysteriously which only made her roll her eyes and harrumph at him before pushing him away from her.
Marquess Samed sighed in relief, not minding that his sister had just shoved him away as his purpose had already been achieved.
Once again, Duchess Beatrice scoffed at him, unable to understand why she had such a strange man as her little brother.
The little boy sitting with them shook his head as this was a common sight for him to see.
Glancing at this pair of siblings, he recalled that his elder brother was still nowhere to be found.
He had vanished a while ago from the room where they were seated and had not yet returned.
However, he soon shook his head as his elder brother did not need anyone to worry about his safety as he himself was a threat to others' safety.
Thus, he turned his attention back at the argument that had resumed and was going ahead at full speed.
'Will Vonny be here?' Taylor Tanner, the one stuck between the squabbles of the adults, had his mind wandering soon enough as he hoped that he could meet his sworn sister here today.
___
Back inside the Throne room, that same sworn sister was feeling her head spin.
She had paused cursing her tutor momentarily only to be whisked away into a conversation with the few Ministers present here with them inside this room.
After the King's announcement that it was Miss Yvonne whose contributions to the changes being made to Previous King's policies were being delivered through the mediator, Marquess Samed, none of them doubted the authenticity of these words.
Their trust in the King was absolute and if their King had made this known to them then there was no falsity in his words.
However, the King went a step further to support his claims and even revealed the reason why Miss Yvonne had asked to remain unnamed until now.
"Miss Yvonne desired to do good without expecting praise for it.
" He mentioned the excuse that she had given to Marquess Samed back when they were discussing the policies.
She had used Asmodeus's teachings as a shield to stay away from the limelight but now that same teaching was getting her in deeper trouble.
The Ministers and even the Royal Steward who heard of this were extremely impressed with the child who wished to remain anonymous even when her contribution was so great.
Thanks to their elevated opinion of the child, the Ministers surrounded her and began discussing various matters with her.
There were only three ministers present but all of them were nobility even if they all did not hold a title to their name.
The oldest among them was a man in his sixties, Syrac Carter, the father of the current Marquess Carter who held the position of Minister of Planning.
Next in line was Cosmet Leopold, Minister of Economy, a man in his mid-fifties and a distant cousin of Marquess Leopold.
Finally was the youngest, Marquess Jace Kiron, late thirties, and the Minister of Architecture.
Yvonne's eyes scanned them and knew of their identities as she had learned about the Council of Ministers consisting of nine men.
While most of them were from higher stratum in nobility, Dukes and Marquesses or people related to them.
There were only two from the lower half, one a relative of an Earl and the other an old man from a Viscount's family.
She knew of these thanks to a trusted source as the one who had given her this information was none other than her tutor, Marquess Samed.
'That man is a two-edged sword.' She scoffed at him as he was both useful in uncovering secret information and at the same time was terrible at keeping the said secrets.
Turning her attention away from her tutor, she focused on the three men who were placing their questions before her.
As she was left with no other choice thanks to her identity as the helper being exposed, Yvonne grumbled inwardly as she answered them.
Most of their queries were about how she had thought up the various steps to help them remedy the voids in the policies left behind by the Previous King.
Yvonne was diligent while answering them as she explained that she had noticed this during her lessons with the Marquess, pushing half the credit to him for teaching her so well.
Sadly, her modesty was only making them gain a better impression of her and it was visible in their starry eyes.
While the child was busy conversing with these learned men of the King's Council of Ministers, her family was gushing over her.
Rutherford's anger at the King faded by a large proportion after hearing the topic of their secret conversation for which he had dragged her away.
He was still wary of the King but seeing how his Vonna was able to interact with these men without any troubles, his anger from earlier calmed down.
He had been upset when she had asked the Marquess to keep her involvement a secret back then yet she was able to convince him to do as she wished.
However, seeing how she was gaining the approval and praise of these elders, he could not help but feel that this was the right thing to do.
As much as he wished to keep her hidden away from the world, he knew that she was meant to be in the spotlight where people could see just how brilliant of a child she was.
Thus, he was no longer furious at the King as he watched his child among the acclaimed intellectuals of this Kingdom.
Two others shared the same beliefs as the Earl and they were the Countess and the young heir of the St. Claire family.
Howard had heard about her assistance in this matter and also about her reluctance to take credit for it.
Back then, he thought she was being foolish for rejecting that honor which she could have received for her aid but now he was glad that the praise that was due to her was finally being given to her.
Then came Raylene who was overjoyed that her Vonny was not being discriminated against because of her gender and this was thanks to the King.
Since King Ophire had expressed his joy with Yvonne's involvement and even went ahead and praised her first, it was obvious that the others would see her in the same light.
While her contributions were outstanding, if the King had shown his displeasure towards her then even the others would have followed suit.
Thankfully, their Ruler was not one to propagate such discriminations and had not disparaged her due to her gender.
'My Vonny truly will make Mother's dream come true someday.' She believed with all her heart that her deceased mother, Hannah Valente's dream of proving that women were just as capable if not more than men would be possible through Yvonne.
Similarly, the one seated on the Throne was also delighted to see that this young girl wasn't too timid and was able to hold her own in the company of these distinguished men.
The three men were more than satisfied with the little girl and even proposed to continue being in contact with her, offering her their aid if she ever needed it.
Raylene was surprised to see them showing such favor towards Yvonne and was ecstatic as these powerful men who were worthy of advising the King were looking forward to meeting her again.