Chapter: 851
Jenny was laid out like a deflated balloon, and in her embrace were several little furballs that could barely keep their eyes open.
‘Wow, that’s a lot.’
I stared in awe at the unexpected number.
I knew that when dogs gave birth, it was usually more than one at a time. I also understood that larger breeds tended to have more pups than smaller ones. Given Titi’s lineage, I thought I would at least see a decent number.
But this? It easily exceeded my expectations. I was thinking, seven or eight would be a fantastic outcome, but—
‘Fourteen!’
Fourteen. That’s double the seven I had sneakily wished for. Even if Jenny is a large breed, how on earth did that many come out all at once?
I felt my head spin. It was a happy occasion, but I felt strangely off-kilter. Was I praying too earnestly for “Please let Jenny have lots of puppies”? With so many deities watching over me, it could be that one of them had indeed answered my request.
I’m also an adult (almost promoted) and an honorary priest, after all. My prayers must carry more weight than those of ordinary worshippers.
– Woof!
“Ah!”
Titi barked, snapping me back to reality.
Okay, there’s no need to panic. I should just be joyfully happy. Jenny is healthy, and all fourteen pups are safe and sound. No need to overthink it.
“Congratulations, Titi! You’re a dad now.”
Titi, sitting by Jenny like a proud bodyguard, perked up as I gently patted his head, wagging his tail with fervor.
Naturally, Titi would be the happiest of all. He’s made a special connection with Jenny, his first love, and now he gets to see all these little ones.
I could never have imagined waking up one day to fourteen puppies. Titi now has more kids in a day than I’ve had in years.
“So many people asked to have a puppy from you, Titi. With this many, I can send them all out!”
At my words, Titi’s tail suddenly froze, and he fixed me with those big, black eyes.
That’s strange; weren’t those eyes just shining with joy a moment ago? Why do they seem to glisten with something unusual now?
‘Maybe it’s just my imagination?’
Most likely, just my imagination. Or perhaps Titi is so filled with the joy of fatherhood that he’s getting a bit emotional.
“Well then, Titi, let me just take a quick peek at your—”
– Woof!
Just as I reached toward the little pups, Titi interjected boldly, barking loudly.
It was such a powerful shout it made me jump. Of course, as a sturdy large dog, his barks are loud, but this was different from his usual cheerful yips.
This bark sounded more like a protest.
“Titi?”
– Woof! Woof! Woof!
I was taken aback. After years of knowing Titi since we met, he’s always been my faithful pet and family member. He’d never barked at me like this before.
…
‘No way.’
I hesitated, reaching out again.
– Grrr…
Now, he was in full-on guard mode, warning me not to come any closer. A look that said he might not remain calm if I got too close!
– Eek, eek…
But then, when I gently placed my hand on his head, it turned into a distressed whimper.
He’s alert, yet he won’t bite. Even amidst his protective instincts, Titi is still Titi, and nearly made me chuckle.
‘This isn’t right.’
But now, the key issue is figuring out what’s causing Titi’s unease, not just his usual calm demeanor. After a quick pat on his head, I withdrew my hand, and he relaxed, wagging his tail once more.
Still, he positioned himself between Jenny and the pups, instinctively guarding them.
– Woof!
This bark was different, full of concern rather than aggression.
I finally realized: he was thanking me for backing off, grateful that I wasn’t going after his little ones.
“Oh.”
I let out a small, bemused sigh.
“You really don’t want to let go, do you?”
– Woof!
The reason Titi had pushed back against me, his owner, was clear. It was a straightforward yet heavy reason—he was showing fatherly protective instincts to keep his first pups safe and sound, ensuring they wouldn’t be sent off elsewhere.
‘What do I do about this?’
Seeing Titi seated stubbornly in front of his puppies put me in quite the predicament.
I could sneak the pups away if I wanted to, but how devastated would Titi be if I pulled that stunt? He might protest by barking at me for weeks or even go on a hunger strike. Either way, that’s a gruesome future I’d rather avoid.
“Your Grace, perhaps we should allow Titi and Jenny to be together with the pups for a while?”
Luciano’s wife, witnessing this standoff between master and dog, cautiously offered a suggestion. We should let Titi and Jenny bask in this joy for now, leaving the little ones undisturbed.
“That sounds reasonable.”
I nodded, albeit with a hint of bitterness.
These puppies were just born today. That means it’s the first time Titi and Jenny are meeting their pups. As the owner, it wouldn’t feel right to interfere at this moment.
And of course, it’s simply absurd to look at them today only to say goodbye tomorrow. As Luciano’s wife said, they should be allowed to enjoy their family time, at least for a few weeks.
And I know it. I know it well.
‘If only I hadn’t said I’d send them away.’
Oh, the bitter irony. If I’d simply kept my mouth shut about sending off the puppies…
No, realistically, I didn’t plan to send them off immediately. What good would it do to separate them from their mother when they can’t even open their eyes?
I just… wanted to touch the newly born pups…
‘Will Titi get angry if I try again?’
Already, I was public enemy number one for Titi. If I reached out again after he had just been put on high alert, it could make things awkward between us.
Not stealing them, just wanting to touch? Titi wouldn’t accept such a flimsy excuse. A smart dog like him would immediately suspect that the moment I got any chance, I’d snatch the pups away.
Being too smart becomes a painful problem.
Titi, who usually spends every day returning home from Luciano’s mansion, is now going to stay there full-time for a while.
With Jenny just giving birth and fourteen adorable little furballs around, it would be cruel for me to keep commuting. In fact, it seems like Titi should start working our shifts while at Luciano’s place instead.
“Dad! Where’s Titi!?”
But when night fell and Titi still hadn’t returned, it was like the sky had fallen and the earth split apart for the kids.
Of course, sometimes Titi would take little vacations to Tailglehen County, but in those instances, I’d warn them a few days ahead of time. I’d let them know Titi wouldn’t be around for a bit, urging them to enjoy their time and say their goodbyes.
But now? No warning about Titi suddenly vanishing? It’s no surprise if the kids start wailing uncontrollably.
“Titi just went for a short break. He’ll be staying at Helen’s house for a while.”
“Huh? At Sister Helen’s?”
“Yep, at Helen’s house.”
Thankfully, it alleviated the situation a bit; the place Titi was staying was very familiar to the kids. They had visited that area many times and wouldn’t fret too much.
Though, being in a place that was easy for Titi to access but not our home is different. No matter how accessible it is, if a family member is somewhere else besides home, they’re bound to wonder about it.
“Jenny just had her puppies, so Titi’s staying there to help take care of them.”
At my explanation, the kids’ eyes widened with surprise.
Even in representing the group, Pedi, along with all the other little ones who had gathered around, were wide-eyed.
“Puppies? Titi has puppies?”
“Are they little Titis?”
“I wanna see! So cute!”
Seeing the swarm of excited children rushing forth, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I couldn’t wait to see how they would react to fourteen little fluffballs.
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