The rattling of the carriages came to a halt on the second evening of their journey as they had reached their destination.

Yvonne rubbed her drowsy eyes when her mother patted her awake just as their carriage came to a halt.

Glancing outside the window, the darkening sky with the last traces of the setting sun falling on the mansion was what her eyes beheld.

'Home sweet home!' She smiled when the familiar structure came into her sight.

Their journey had come to an end as they had now reached their St. Claire's mansion in Amarthea.

The coach driver held the door open for them and the first to alight was Fryght who jumped out and ran away in haste.

Yvonne watched with wide eyes as the grey pup was out of her view in no time.

Howard too was surprised as the docile etcher who was sleeping in his arms had hurried away as soon as the doors were opened.

"Why does it look like he is escaping?" The young boy's mutters made their father's shoulders flinch for a second.

'I do not know about 'why' but I might have an idea about 'who' Fryght is escaping from…' Yvonne fixed her gaze on her father after this thought came to her mind.

Feeling her keen gaze landing on his face, Rutherford cleared his throat as he looked away in an attempt to avoid her accusing eyes.

"He must be eager to return to his spot." He explained but was doing a bad job at alleviating the suspicions in Yvonne's mind as she continued to leer at him.

'Master, Fryght ran in the opposite direction.' Demon spoke in her mind, revealing information contrary to what her father had just disclosed.

"Papa…" Yvonne shook her head at him, disapproval clear in her voice.

Demon had keen senses and could locate creatures surrounding them.

This was also how he had noticed the guards who sometimes watched their activities but never approached them nor had ill intentions towards them.

Thanks to this, he had never mentioned this matter to his Master as he assumed them to be harmless guards who were keeping them safe.

While a few of those were the secret guards of their family, two were from a higher family with elite status which even Demon had failed to notice if they did not come too close to their mansion.

However, even if he could not sense these elite guards, he had sensed where Fryght usually stayed.

Based on what he had heard from his Master, they had come up with one theory.

Fryght often remained indoors and never appeared before the rest of the family unless Rutherford allowed him to.

From this, they had speculated that the hound watched over the 'Lower Hall' which Yvonne had mentioned to Demon before.

Demon too had confirmed this theory as the place where he could often sense Fryght was somewhere deep underneath the mansion.

While her etcher could sense the other's presence, he could not decipher the path to the Lower Hall.

Thus, to this day, Yvonne was still curious about the path to that secret dungeon but had no way of reaching it.

Right now, Fryght had rushed in the direction of the garden in the backyard which was in the opposite direction of where he was supposed to be heading.

Rutherford often kept him enclosed in the Lower Hall but living above ground for so many months, the etcher did not wish to return to that place any longer and his desires were clear to make out from his actions.

Thus, before his master could command him, he had scurried away but the foolish etcher had forgotten that his master could command him through their minds.

However, Rutherford was at the center of scrutinizing eyes belonging to his family members that he had failed to give out his commands.

"Vonna, that is his duty." He explained while carrying her.

The carriage had come to a halt but the family had not yet alighted so he decided to first enter their mansion then continue this conversation.

Holding onto his wife and child, the master of the household got down first after which Howard was next.

With the family of four now standing before their mansion, they all smiled while gazing at the building they had not seen for months now.

The servants who had stayed behind here were ecstatic to see them and the ones who had followed their Masters to their native fief were eager to reunite with them.

However, that was a matter for later as right now, they hurried to stand in a line and greet and welcome their Masters.

Once this was done, Butler Limo was listening to the report of what had taken place in their absence while Jax headed towards Demon to unfasten the reins on him.

'Get some rest, Demon.' Yvonne smiled at her etcher who nodded before walking in the direction of his stable.

This reminded the child of something as the other etcher had also run in the same direction.

"Papa," She called out to her father who was hoping that she had forgotten but it looked like she was bent on continuing their earlier conversation.

Even Raylene and Howard had gotten attached to the cute-looking beast and wished to see him more often than before.

In fact, the Countess had forgotten the existence of her husband's etcher as it rarely ever made an appearance.

However, when they stayed in the summer estate, they all had witnessed just how cute Fryght was which made them want to see more.

This desire made her flutter her eyelashes, requesting him to let the pup be and not hide him away once again.

Left with no other choice, the doting father let out a loud defeated sigh as he nodded his head in acceptance of their wishes.

"He can come outside whenever he wants but he cannot ignore his duties." Rutherford declared in a stern voice, however, that voice wasn't directed towards them.

Unknown to them, there was someone else who was eavesdropping on their interaction.

"You heard me, didn't you?" The Earl scoffed as he turned in a certain direction.

From the corner of the mansion, the pup who had run away was seen peeking its head out.

Hearing his question, Fryght nodded hastily before rushing towards Howard once again.

The young heir of the family leaned forward and caught the pup who had pounced into his arms.

The little girl was still in her father's arms as she watched with jealous eyes as Fryght licked Howard's face, making him giggle uncontrollably.

'Why won't he be that way with me?' She sulked and pouted as Fryght seemed to be averse to the very idea of getting close to her.

Sensing her troubled thoughts, Rutherford chuckled and poked her rounded cheeks to gain her attention.

This made the little girl turn away from the pleasant scene of Howard and Fryght playing around and towards her father.

"Fryght only behaves that way with people without etchers." He whispered in her ear, revealing the reason why the little beast never liked to stay close to her.

Just like how Demon could smell Fryght's scent on Rutherford which made him dislike the Earl, in the same way, Fryght did not like Yvonne for she reeked of the horse's scent.

Being a hound, he had a great sense of smell, and Demon's scent was too strong for him which made him avoid the little girl who was that beast's master.

Since Howard had no etcher yet, Fryght liked to play with the young boy but that would change once he formed a bond with his fated etcher in the future.

Then, this scene would become rare as Fryght would soon distance himself from the boy just as he does with Yvonne now.

Realizing the reason behind the hound's actions, Yvonne nodded in understanding but there was still a tiny part of her that wished that she too could pet the pup as Howard did.

'When will I ever see a puppy as cute as him!?' She lamented as Fryght was the prettiest pup she had seen in a long time.

Sadly, their friendship was not fated, and hence, she could only watch from the sidelines as Howard enjoyed the company of the little beast.

'Master, that nasty bird is nearby…' The grumbling and miffed voice of her etcher sounded in her mind, which made her turn in a certain direction subconsciously.

Yvonne knew just who Demon was referring to and a smile formed on her face after listening to this news.

"Papa, now that it is decided that Fryght can also roam around the estate as he pleases, I will take my leave." She announced and patted his shoulder to be let down.

Rutherford and Raylene were confused with her sudden actions but nodded as she bowed and ran into the mansion.

'Is she still sad?' The father wondered then shot a glare at Fryght who had caused this mess.

The poor etcher who had been rolling on the ground, playing with Howard, flinched at the glare and whimpered before hiding behind the young boy who was still clueless about what was happening around him.

Thus, Yvonne's sudden actions had put Fryght in trouble but would she be able to stay safe now that the same pup with keen senses would stay above grounds every day?

Oblivious to how the consequences of what she had brought about today would affect her, the little girl was busy washing up as she waited for her feathery friend to arrive at her bedroom window as she always did.