Chapter: 750
Since the Emperor’s hearty laughter, a few things happened.
Actually, nothing much at all. Ever since that day, I hadn’t really left the mansion, and Titi’s little love story was progressing smoothly without any hiccups. There was no need for me to step in.
“How’s it going?”
– Woof!
Today, Titi visited Jenny, adorned with all sorts of ribbons and bells. As I gently patted Titi’s head, her bright eyes sparkled, and she barked joyfully.
Right, everything seems to be going well. If Jenny had been cold towards Titi, she would have looked sad, but instead, Titi has been getting happier as the days go by.
Moreover, the kids who went to Luciano’s mansion with Titi were all consistently reporting, “Titi and Jenny are having a blast!” This is how relationships evolve; from acquaintances to flirting, and then to being in love. It’s a perfect pattern!
“I heard Jenny hasn’t met any other dogs either. Titi is Jenny’s first dog friend, so if they keep playing together, they’ll develop a nice bond.”
– Woof!
Titi wagged her tail enthusiastically in response to my encouragement and advice.
Just like Jenny is Titi’s first dog friend, Helen is the first outside friend for our kids—Jenny also gets to experience her first dog friend moment with Titi. This isn’t just a coincidence; it feels like fate.
So I believe that, although Jenny is shy and somewhat indifferent towards Titi now, they’ll eventually become a happy couple.
‘Please.’
For my sake, I hope so. The news of Titi finding her spring has already spread to both our family and in-laws. People who were already eyeing Titi’s cleverness have begun to seek out her puppies.
Requests have already started coming in, asking for just one puppy if she gives birth to a whole litter. My parents in Tailglehen, as well as my in-laws, and even Erich, who’s on his honeymoon, are all interested.
Of course, if she has many puppies, it’s best to send them to those who can take care of them well. It’s much more manageable to distribute them than to have a bunch of big dogs all at once.
However, based on the requests I’ve received so far, it seems Jenny needs to have more than 10 puppies.
‘Maybe over 20 puppies…’
That conclusion is only considering the requests I’ve gotten. When factoring in Luciano sending puppies out or keeping a few, it could easily turn into a chaotic situation with 20-plus puppies.
20 puppies… and all birthed by just one, not from multiple females…
‘Is that even possible?’
No matter how many pups a dog can have in one go, can it actually reach that miraculous number?
I tried to think positively but couldn’t arrive at a good conclusion. Unless Titi decides to marry multiple partners like me, that seems tough.
– Woof?
Looking at Titi with complicated feelings, she tilted her head and barked softly.
I don’t know if I should feel regretful or relieved, but I don’t think Titi will be like me and have multiple partners.
Our Titi—based on her recent behavior—has shown unwavering loyalty.
“Hang in there.”
– Woof!
So I just offered her some routine encouragement.
Hang in there, Titi. Hang in there, Jenny.
*
While having a meal with the Minister of Internal Affairs, an unexpectedly serious topic popped up.
“By the way, have you heard about this?”
“What are you talking about?”
When a Minister says “Have you heard about this?” it’s akin to saying, “You need to know this.” My hand, which was moving the fork, froze as I looked at the Minister of Internal Affairs.
“I hear the Minister of the Information Department is forming a faction by getting in touch with the new bureaucrats.”
“The Minister of the Information Department?”
I frowned instinctively upon hearing that a scoundrel of his caliber was trying to form a faction.
A minister with investigative powers is forming a faction? Contacting new bureaucrats instead of the existing nobles and bureaucrats? And he hasn’t given me any indication about it?
‘That guy wouldn’t…’
None of it made sense. I was simply confused hearing something utterly incomprehensible.
I’ve known that guy for years. He’d rather flee from his faction than start his own!
When the Crown Prince was newly appointed, him being part of the Crown Prince faction was not voluntary. He borrowed the authority of the Crown Prince to take down the former head of the Information Department and somehow became trusted by the Crown Prince.
Even now, ruling as the head of the Northern faction wouldn’t be much different. He wasn’t there out of ambition; it was the Emperor’s tacit pressure pushing him to lead the Northern faction.
‘Faction my foot.’
That’s why my furrowed brow relaxed as I couldn’t help but smirk.
His chances of forming a faction? Even at its highest, that probability is lower than him resigning from his position. That’s how utterly ridiculous it sounded.
“Ah, so the Minister of Finance doesn’t believe it either.”
“Is there anyone who believes such talk? We’ve seen that guy plenty of times.”
“That’s true. I just thought it was an interesting rumor and wanted to share it; I didn’t mean for you to believe it.”
“Indeed, it was amusing.”
I nodded towards the now-laughing Minister of Internal Affairs, who leaned slightly forward.
“But it seems the Minister of Justice might believe it.”
“The Minister of Justice?”
His words were confusing enough to furrow my brow again.
The Minister of Justice isn’t a rookie who just started their position, nor is he ignorant of that scoundrel. In fact, due to the nature of the information department, they must frequently interact with him. Criminal cases end up with them far too often.
So why is the Minister of Justice believing odd rumors about him forming a faction?
“I initially thought the Minister of Justice was losing it, but it got a bit complicated.”
“Complicated, how?”
“Apparently, the Minister of Information is maintaining a close relationship with a Second Manager from the Ministry of Justice.”
“Is that so.”
I gasped at those words.
Of all things, a bureaucrat from his own department, especially a Second Manager, being in contact with that scoundrel would make anyone anxious. If it were a high-level member of the department, I’d think it was for work, but a Second Manager has no connection. No wonder the Minister of Justice was shaken by the rumors of a new faction forming.
‘Is there really something going on?’
It felt unsettling. The chances of him forming a faction were incredibly slim, but the chances of him building connections are also quite low. While he might smile and greet acquaintances, he’s not the kind of person who would be described as ‘friendly’ enough for such close relations.
But somehow, those low probabilities have become reality. This is not something to be taken lightly.
“Minister of Internal Affairs.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Do you know who that Second Manager is?”
Looks like I need to dig into this a bit.
“Let me know the results when you find out. I’m a bit wary of investigating the Minister of Information.”
“I feel the same about looking into the Minister of Information.”
“Ha-ha, doesn’t the Minister of Information fear the Minister of Finance?”
Suddenly, a laugh escaped me.
If that’s something to be afraid of, then there’s a problem. If they aren’t afraid, how far could they go?
As I dug deeper, more confusion piled on.
The bureaucrat linked with that scoundrel was Luciano Niden, the Second Manager of the Ministry of Justice. A young bureaucrat in his early thirties, who just five years ago was an ordinary guard.
Calculating the time as a guard, he was around during the time I and that scoundrel were incarcerated.
‘What a strange connection.’
Once a prisoner and a guard, and now five years later meeting as faction leader and faction member. What a bizarre twist of fate.
Though it’s not a formal faction yet, they maintain ties close enough to raise suspicion of one. That guard took vacation time to visit the Second Manager’s residence multiple times, even bringing his kids along. This is no ordinary relationship.
‘What in the world could be going on?’
It’s possible that Luciano received a recommendation from that scoundrel and continued to rise through the ranks? I can understand that. He’s someone who swept up graduates from the Academy. Picking someone up from prison wouldn’t be that bizarre.
But maintaining such a close relationship beyond that recommendation? No matter how many times I think about it, I can’t comprehend it. What could have happened during those five years to forge such a bond? Did the guard sneak him out a few times while in prison?
‘…I need to find out directly.’
After a moment of thought, I picked up the comms device.
If I can’t understand it, I should ask the person involved. If the rumors are spreading, he must not be hiding anything, and I should get some straightforward answers.
*
– Ha-ha-ha!
I looked at the Minister with a grim expression as he was cracking up.
Damn it. I can tell it’s not your usual situation, but is it really worthy of that laugh?
– Thanks to Titi, a connection formed! The Minister of Justice will definitely clutch his neck!
“Please, call it a connection formed during difficult times.”
I mean, we met while I was in prison and he was contemplating resignation. We were comrades bonding during times of anguish.
So claiming it’s a connection thanks to Titi feels a bit exaggerated. We were connected through recommendations—to prison.
– Have you even met once since your release?
“…That’s not the case.”
– Then you did form a connection thanks to Titi.
I couldn’t refute that logic and quietly bit my lip.
How frustrating. It’s infuriating to lose an argument to that muscle-bound buffoon…!
– Anyway, I get it. It’s not about forming a faction; you just wanted to set up a match for your pets.
“Why would I want to form a faction? What am I, some kind of fool?”
– Just think, if you lead the new bureaucrats, you could topple the old ones!
“So what?”
– Then someone would take your place!
With that thought, my anxiety eased significantly.
Just imagining it is already a delightful thought.
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