Chapter 10

The next day after meeting my kind older brother and sister for the first time.

I woke up and, sensing a presence, I looked to the side.

"…………"

A small brown dog was staring at me intently.

It was a long-haired breed with floppy ears and thick legs for its size. It was about as long as I was as a baby, so it must be a puppy.

"Daou?"

Around the puppy, spirits had gathered. The fluffy spirits clustered around the fluffy puppy, making it look like an incomprehensible creature.

There are always many spirits in the room, but they don't gather around other people.

It seems the puppy has been favored by the spirits.

In my past life, I met countless mean people, or rather, after my parents were killed, I only met mean people.

But I had never met a mean animal.

Whether it was a carnivorous bear or a lion, they were all kind to me in my past life.

So, I didn't find the puppy scary at all.

"Daou?"

"Hmm hmm"

When I spoke to the puppy with meaningless words, it seemed to think I was calling it. It wagged its small tail happily and came to sniff me. Its black, wet nose and black eyes were adorable. However, it was quite dirty and smelled like a dog.

"Daou? (You'll be scolded, you know?)"

"Kyun. Hmm hmm hmm"

Every time I made a sound, the puppy wagged its tail happily.

It was cute. Goats are cute, but puppies are cute too.

It must be a puppy that my parents are raising. Even if a servant had a dog, they wouldn't bring it into the mansion.

"Daou~ (Still, how did it get in here?)"

How did this puppy get into this bed? It would be difficult for the puppy to get in by itself. Someone must have put it in here so I wouldn't be lonely.

...It must have been my older brother or sister. The puppy is so cute, and I'm very grateful, but it's too dirty. I'm worried that my brother or sister might get scolded by my parents.

After a moment of silence, watching the puppy,

"Haha"

The puppy was reaching out its front paws as if trying to catch the spirits, floating in the air.

It seems the puppy can see the spirits too. It might be like a dog version of my past life's companion.

"Daou"

When I made a sound, the puppy came closer as if asking what was wrong. The dog smell wasn't unpleasant; it was nostalgic.

"Hmm hmm"

The puppy sniffed me and wagged its tail.

"Daou"

When I made a sound, the puppy's tail wagged more vigorously. Watching it made me feel happy.

"Kyakya"

"Hmm hmm hmm"

When I laughed, the puppy seemed happy too.

Putting a puppy in a baby's bed is unconventional. Still, I was grateful to whoever did such an unconventional thing.

It's really cute.

While enjoying time with the puppy, my mother came in with a maid. She had been unwell after giving birth to me but came to see me every day, sometimes multiple times a day.

At first, her complexion was so poor that I was worried. Recently, her complexion has improved, and she sometimes gives me breast milk. It's reassuring to see her recovering.

"Daou!"

"You're in a good mood, Rulia. ...Oh?"

My mother tilted her head when she saw the puppy.

"Eh? When did a dog get in here?"

The wet nurse in the room was flustered.

"Daou? (You didn't notice?)"

I was surprised.

"It's a puppy."

"What were you thinking, bringing a puppy into Miss Rulia's room!"

One of the maids scolded the wet nurse.

"S-Sorry"

The maid ignored the apologizing wet nurse and picked up the puppy by the scruff of its neck.

"Kyun"

The puppy made a pitiful sound, tucking its tail between its legs in fear.

"Daou! (Don't bully it)"

I said, but it didn't understand.

"It's quite dirty. I wonder where it came from?"

"Support its bottom properly. The puppy is pitiful."

"Y-Yes"

The maid, reprimanded by my mother, held the puppy correctly.

My mother stared at the puppy intently.

"Hmm. I don't recognize this puppy. Is it someone's pet? Or did it come from outside?"

"It's unlikely that a stray dog would get into Miss Rulia's room."

"Yes, that's true. Hmm"

"I'll investigate who brought the puppy in."

"Yes, that's important."

I was picked up by my mother. She is very beautiful. I can understand why my father is so infatuated with her.

"Change Rulia's bedding too."

"Understood. This dog is dirty, so it's a hygiene issue."

"Kyun"

The puppy made an anxious sound. If this continues, the puppy will be thrown away.

"Daou! (Please don't throw it away)"

To let my mother know that I like the puppy, I reached out to it. But it wouldn't understand.

"What should we do with this dog?"

"Well, we should wash it."

"Eh? Wash it?"

"Yes. Rulia seems to like it. Besides, it's very cute."

"Daou? (Huh?)"

I didn't expect my mother to understand.

"Kyakya!"

I laughed happily, and my mother smiled at me.

"Kuun"

Suddenly, the puppy wagged its tail. It seemed to understand the words.

"I'll keep this puppy."

"...Understood."

The maid didn't seem convinced but didn't argue.

To the maid who was carrying the puppy out,

"Take good care of it. It's my cute puppy."

My mother emphasized.

With my mother saying this, the puppy will be fine. She will surely come to play with me soon.

By the way, who put the puppy in my bed? Considering the puppy's size, it shouldn't be able to climb up by itself...

While thinking about this, I drank my mother's milk, burped, and fell asleep.