"Miss Yvonne St. Claire everybody!" The Duchess's voice made the young boy turn in the direction of the girl who had an equally surprised look on her face.

Damien did not have to observe her for long to understand that she was being dragged into doing this.

'But why is the Duchess forcing her to perform?' He wondered while narrowing his forest green eyes in the direction of his best friend's mother.

The lady at the center of his attention was gazing at the little girl and her mother which led to another discovery on his part.

'So her mother is also involved?' He discerned after noticing how the two women had made eye contact while nodding at each other.

Damien's eyes then turned towards the little girl who had glanced in the direction of the birthday boy who was just a short distance away from him before she lowered her head.

Along with him, every guest present then watched how she smiled at the Duchess before stepping towards the piano which was unveiled.

While Yvonne was left in awe of the piano's grandeur, Damien was not so impressed but he focused his attention on the girl as she took her seat before that same piano.

'Does she even know how to play?' He wondered as he had only seen her display her skills in horse riding, archery, and swordsmanship in the meager times that he had appeared in their estate.

Therefore, he placed keen attention on her and watched in silence how she took deep breaths while extending her hands towards the piano.

Most of the people present here were classmates of Topher and their families which meant that the majority of the audience were young boys who studied with them.

"Isn't that the girl they were saying was too sick to even climb out of bed?" A murmur came from behind.

Damien frowned after hearing this but his eyes were still fixed on the girl who did not appear to be sick to him.

In fact, he had noticed how she had scowled when her name was called, implying that she was lively as always.

"Even my mother was talking about this! They say that she won't last for long…" Another voice was heard with compassion and pity evident in his tone.

This news managed to shock Damien as he turned his eyes towards his best friend who might have more knowledge about this matter than him.

While he had his eyes turned to his right where his friend was standing with his brother and the other boy from the St. Claire family, soft music began to echo in the hall.

This succeeded in diverting his attention towards the little girl who was claimed to be sick and watched how her fingers slid across the keys.

There was precision and finesse in the way her fingers were moving across the tiles.

Her little fingers were slow at first before they flew across the keys, transforming the slow pace of the music into a piece of high-tempo jolly music.

Music fit for a celebration that could elevate people's spirits soon filled the hall and smiles appeared on everyone's faces as they were entranced by the music.

All but one person was seen smiling while witnessing the jovial music being played by the little girl.

Damien's head was already a mess after hearing the news of the little girl's sickness but now, as he watched her tiny body sway while she immersed herself in her music, he felt something strange gnawing at his heart.

His hands balled into fists and his jaw clenched and they remained that way until the music came to an end.

Damien's forest-green eyes seemed darker than usual as they followed the little girl walking back to her mother.

"She was amazing for a sick child!" One of the boys exclaimed while the others with him were quick to voice out their admittance.

Snapping out of his trance, he glanced over his shoulder to make a mental note of the ones who had been speaking before he looked away.

The little girl was now being surrounded by her mother, brother, and the Duchess with Topher and Taylor following to join them.

Therefore, he raised his feet and decided to move in their direction as well.

___

'Why did I have to do this?' Yvonne grumbled while walking back to her mother.

Raylene was overjoyed when she saw that her daughter was more than just talented in the art of music.

Duchess Tanner was quick to reach them and she too agreed with the Countess who was praising her child.

Soon, her brother and the two Tanner boys also arrived at her position and were also in high praise for the performance that she had displayed before them.

Though Taylor and Howard were sulking earlier for she had performed as a special gift for Topher, they did not hesitate to shower her with praises when they met her.

The birthday boy too was all smiles as this was truly a special gift compared to what the others had given.

"You are very talented, Yvonne." He remarked with an appreciative nod of her talents.

Yvonne remained humble amidst the compliments and smiled while accepting them without letting them get to her head.

'This was nothing at all.' She smirked as she was capable of playing better if only her fingers weren't so tiny and stubby due to her young age.

As everyone was deep in conversation, discussing her performance they did not notice someone walking up to them.

"Miss St. Claire seems perfectly fine to me." A voice came from behind, making everyone turn in its direction.

Yvonne's eyes met those dark forest green eyes for the first time in months and continued to gaze into them.

'Ah! No more headaches!' She rejoiced and stared at him for a few more seconds to ensure that no sudden aches might arise later on.

The little girl had not experienced those unexplained pains ever since she had discovered it on the day of her assessment which was also when she had awakened her dormant powers with Demon.

"What does Brother Damien mean?" Howard retorted with a query after hearing those strange words coming from the newcomer.

While Raylene and Beatrice were aware of the rumors going around in the social circles about the little girl, these four boys had been left in the dark.

Therefore, even Topher and Tanner had puzzlement apparent in their eyes after hearing his words.

'What makes you think that I won't be fine?' Yvonne tilted her head while looking him right in the eye.

"I just heard that Miss St. Claire is sickly and cannot step out of her bed." Damien revealed what he had come across from those gossiping boys.

Yvonne's along with the other three boys' eyes widened at these words and they all turned towards her in shock.

'Why are you looking at me like that?' She scowled while narrowing her eyes.

They had been the ones who had come in contact with her the most while she remained cooped up in her estate so how could they even believe such a thing?

"As you can see… I am perfectly fine." Yvonne declared while looking down at her body before turning her gaze towards them.

Her teeth gritted against each other when she saw that the boy standing before her had the audacity to roll his eyes at her.

"As I recall, that was my opening statement, Miss St. Claire." He reminded her while shaking his head.

Just before Yvonne could go ballistic on him for his sarcasm which was uncalled for, someone else had spoken up.

"Vonny, we do not know how but there were some rumors concerning you being spread among the ladies." Raylene came clean about everything that she knew.

How her daughter's reluctance to attend these parties by using her ill health as an excuse was now being used against her to make her seem like a sick patient who could scarcely move.

'What is wrong with these people?' Yvonne widened her eyes in surprise.

All she wished to do was live peacefully at home but even that was being misinterpreted by the people of their society.

'And what would they gain by spreading such a stupid rumor?' Yvonne narrowed her eyes as she tried to figure out who was to gain anything by spreading this news.

While she was mad at how her desire to be away from society was being misused, the boys were furious at what they heard.

Howard, Taylor, Topher, and even Damien for some part were all aware of just how healthy she was.

The fact that she had an etcher was enough to prove that she was in a perfect state in terms of health.

Therefore, this news was both shocking and infuriating to them that there were people who could stoop low enough to create and spread rumors about her.

Howard and the Tanner boys were frowning after hearing the Countess's explanation but the other boy had a contemplative look on his face as he took in the information he had just heard.

When Damien first heard those boys gossiping about Yvonne, he too had thought that she was ill.

However, that assumption changed after he watched her perform with such vigor and vitality which would have been absent in someone who was supposedly ill.

'Just as I had thought…' Damien shook his head that his doubt of someone spreading false information about her was proved right with what the Countess had disclosed.

This was also the main purpose for his arrival here, to initiate the conversation that had brought this matter into the open.

He had come over here to inquire what the truth of this matter was but it appeared that he had led the others with him to discover a grand scheme being made against the little girl.