'Grandma's dream?' Yvonne tilted her head in confusion, unable to grasp what her newfound grandpa was trying to imply here.

However, instead of clearing the confusion in the air, Grandpa Valente rose from his seat and held his hand out towards the little girl.

As everyone else watched in a stupor, the little girl stretched out her hand and before they knew it, the pair of grandfather and granddaughter were out the door.

Once the two had left the room, the rest awoke from their daze and quickly followed them to figure out what exactly was going on.

Viscount Valente and Rutherford rushed ahead while the women and children soon followed.

Once they exited the mansion, their eyes were fixed on the sight that was before them.

A huge black horse stood in a confrontation before a snow-white hawk in flight whose feathers had a dark hue of grey at their ends.

Next to the seemingly ferocious animal and bird were the two who had rushed out earlier.

While the hawk appeared to be hovering over the old man, the horse was standing before the little girl in a steady protective stance.

Viscount Valente and the twins could discern that the horse was guarding the little girl which made them recall what the young heir of the Earl had just said.

{That etcher is Vonny's!}

Howard's words echoed in their ears and awe filled their hearts to learn that such a tremendous and rare circumstance did exist in this world.

"Demon, easy." Yvonne's childish voice commanding the horse helped in snapping them out of their daze.

Turning their eyes towards the horse and the girl, they found the monstrous horse which could only be an etcher nod as he took a step away to stand beside the girl instead of before her.

However, the snow hawk which was leering at the horse as it guarded the old man did not back down.

This was because though it was defending the old man, the old Patriarch was not the etcher's master and hence could not control or command the bird to do as he pleased.

Therefore, the true master of the etcher had to step up before the bird could attack the horse.

"Hakka, stand down." Viscount Marcus Valente, the true master, gave out his command.

In the next second, the bird which was leering at Demon flew straight towards his master and perched on his shoulder.

Marcus scratched his etcher's chin which succeeded in calming him down.

While Howard was gazing at the beautiful bird on his uncle's shoulder, the rest were paying attention to the little girl.

The twins, Roman and Knox ran towards their grandpa but their eyes were filled with curiosity as they watched the horse.

Bright crimson red eyes which contrasted the pitch dark coat of the massive horse appeared both intimidating and regal in their sights.

However, the most surprising sight was their little cousin raising her hand towards the same horse who bent forward to accommodate her short height.

The horse who was addressed as Demon which fit his appearance perfectly was submissive and gentle with the girl.

There was no terrifying aura surrounding him which they had witnessed upon their arrival at the scene.

"Your daughter is amazing, Raylene." Trisha whispered into her sister-in-law's ear as they stood far away from the scary horse.

Though Raylene was used to seeing the etcher by now, she was still not free from the fear that gripped her heart at times due to its frightening aura.

Yet, hearing her daughter being praised, her heart filled with pride and joy as she nodded in acceptance of those kind words coming from Trisha Valente.

Roman and Knox were now standing before the horse as they alternated their eyes between the scary beast and the cute little girl.

"Why couldn't it be a cute bunny?" The elder, Roman wondered out loud as this was truly a mismatch.

The younger brother nodded and rubbed his chin in deep thought.

"A pretty bird would also be fine." Knox added which received a nod from his elder brother.

Yvonne turned towards these soft murmurs coming from behind and pouted her lips.

"Demon is the cutest etcher and I wouldn't want any other etcher in his place!" She asserted while puffing up her cheeks.

When Demon heard the high praise coming from his master, he rubbed his muzzle into her neck, causing her to let out an adorable giggle.

The twins who had been in shock after hearing the etcher being called 'cute' were now thinking the same about their cousin.

'Cute!' They declared while observing how the human and the beast interacted with each other.

Hakka, the snow hawk, squawked at his master who had also been staring in their direction to get his attention.

"Ah? Hakka is the best in my eyes too!" Viscount Valente reassured his jealous etcher who finally quietened down.

Howard chuckled at this and his desire to find his etcher intensified after looking at the beautiful camaraderie that his sister and uncle shared with their respective beasts.

Earlier, when Hakka, the snow hawk, had been away in the woods behind the estate and had not been present when the long line of carriages had entered this land.

Thus, upon his arrival, his senses heightened and he flew straight in the direction of the etcher who had intruded on his territory.

While the two etchers were in silent confrontation, the Butler had rushed to inform his Master, the Viscount, about the same which had led to this outcome.

Now as the two families stood before the little girl and her etcher, any doubts about the claims that had been made earlier were all cleared.

The huge horse had listened to her words and had backed down from the fight against Hakka which proved that she was indeed his master and etched.

Now that it had been proven that Yvonne St. Claire, a little girl, was truly the etched of this massive etcher, they turned towards the old man who had spoken vague and confusing words earlier.

"What did Grandpa mean earlier?" Yvonne inquired first as she was the most curious one of them all.

Facing his four grandchildren, his two children, and their respective spouses, Grandpa Valente smiled though it appeared to be a sad and lonely smile.

"Your grandmother… I wish she was alive to witness this day." He muttered in a gentle voice as his eyes dimmed a little at the thought of her absence.

The atmosphere which had been happy and jovial earlier had now turned gloomy with the mention of the old Matriarch who was no longer among them.

However, in the next moment, Grandpa Valente smiled through his heartache and glanced at his granddaughter who had unknowingly fulfilled her dead grandmother's wish.

"Your grandmother hated the fact that only men could gain etchers." He revealed the things of his past.

His wife, Hannah Valente, was a courageous and brave woman who knew that she was just as capable as any man.

Though a woman of noble blood, she was willing to support her brothers in their duties and also helped in anything that she could lend her support to them.

Being the older daughter, the boys looked up to her but when she was of marriageable age, she could not avoid the inevitable.

No matter how much her parents loved and pampered her, allowing her to do as she pleased while at home, they expected her to behave like the model young lady in high society.

Unfortunately, Hannah was born in a time where the rules were even more regressive than they were right now.

Her desire to stay with her brothers to aid them was rejected ruthlessly and she was married off to a rich Viscount.

However, luck had shone upon the woman as her husband was not one of those men who treated women as a stepping stool to get ahead in life.

Neither was she a means for him to gain heirs as she was treated as his equal in their relationship.

What she did not know was that the then Viscount Valente had fallen in love at first sight with the young lady Hannah when he saw her climbing up a tree at a tea party to rescue a kitten.

Hannah was glad that there was no one around to witness her unladylike behavior but she had failed to notice him as the young man had hidden himself to conceal his presence.

When their parents arranged for them to get married, he had a part to play in this as he did not wish for the woman he had fallen for to marry someone else.

After marriage, he had treated her as his partner and not like she was his responsibility or his burden to bear for the rest of his life.

This caused Hannah who had taken over the role of the Viscountess to be extremely impressed with her husband.

As years passed, they fell in love with each other due to their friendship and also the fact that they could share every thought they had with each other.

It was not long after their marriage that she got pregnant and gave birth to her first-born son, Marcus.

The noblemen surrounding them were happy and glad that the baby was a boy as a girl would truly be an unlucky omen for them.

Though disgruntled, the couple did not express their thoughts and went about with their lives.

However, when Raylene was born a few years later, the same people from earlier were now vying to gain a childhood betrothal with the baby who had just entered the world.

{Is a girl just to be married off and nothing else?}

Grandpa Valente repeated the words that his deceased wife had asked him the night that their daughter was born.