Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 987



987 – Reassemble – 1

Even after Titi’s mercy and generosity, walks, the best meals, and comfortable beds were provided without interruption.

Titi allowed the independence of the offspring due to the wicked tricks of the ugly adults. It would be cruel to show Titi something like, ‘I got the offspring, so it’s okay now.’ In vulgar terms, what’s the difference between that and spitting out after just sucking the water?

That is why, even after Titi was granted independence, I spent time with Titi no differently than before─no, even more devotedly.

Anyway, since the wives and children are not at home, I have nothing to do. I will have tea time with the servants and take a nap with the saints.

“Shall we go to the lake today?”

-Wow!

At my words, Titi’s tail wagged enthusiastically.

The lake is the hideout and hideout of the Imperial Counts. It is too cold to leisurely fish, but it is possible to take a walk around the lake.

And for Titi, what’s important is not fishing, but walking. Even though Titi likes anything as long as he can be with his owner, he prefers to walk around rather than sit still. This is the fate of large dogs, so there’s nothing he can do about it.

– Woof woof!

“Tea, Titiya!”

However, I forgot for a moment that Titi likes water more than walking.

Retrievers are animals that are very familiar with water, to the point that they have webbed feet. They are creatures whose instinct is to get into water when they see it. Thanks to this, Titi entered the lake without hesitation even in the middle of winter.

It felt like watching ducks rather than dogs leisurely wandering around the lake.

‘I don’t think I’ll catch a cold, do I?’

My heart was burning as I watched that tea.

If it had been fall, I would have let it go, but I didn’t think it would happen in the snowy winter. If our Titi had caught a cold and was coughing, the kids would have been sad.

Maybe you’ll blame me for catching a cold because of your dad. I got it from Titi, but anyway, it could be my karma.

‘Let’s rescue him now.’

After thinking about it for a moment, I took a step forward.

It’s a problem to go into the water in this weather, and the process afterward is also a problem. You have to go home in the winter wind with your fur completely soaked. You might catch a cold and even frostbite.

So I took off my shoes and dipped my feet in the lake.

‘Oh my.’

The road was cleared.

Come to think of it, Titi was blessed by the next saint. It’s like she’s under Enen’s protection, so she won’t catch a cold or frostbite.

“Titiya. Come out and play for an hour.”

– Woof!

Titi, who was swimming far away, answered my words.

I couldn’t help but sigh in relief at the strength in his voice. I definitely don’t have to worry about catching a cold.

‘You’re playing well.’

Our Titi, more than that. Every time I see it, I feel like it swims faster in water than running on land.

‘Should we at least build a swimming pool?’

When the weather gets warmer, should we build an outdoor pool in the garden or backyard? Considering how much Titi dedicates herself to our family, I’m willing to build not just one, but ten pools.

Of course, if you simply want to secure water that can be poured into a fountain, it would be enough, but no matter how big you make a fountain, it will not be as good as a swimming pool.

‘I have to make it as soon as spring comes.’

A swimming pool created when the snow melts and the cherry blossoms bloom.

I like it because it has a certain charm.

The ladies who had gone out began to return one by one.

Mar, who attended the gathering of both the direct and collateral branches of the Valenti family, Trixie, who spent time in the elf residential district after receiving greetings from the elders of the Imperial Magic Community, Lize and Lin, who spent a cozy time with their families as usual, and Eri, who gave Veronica to her grandmother.

Lastly, all of them, including Pine, who went on a pilgrimage to his hometown with the guys from the Mukwangdae.

“It’s cold outside, isn’t it too much?”

“It actually took a little longer because I had to keep up with my pace.”

I burst out laughing at those words.

If it were normal for Fine, she would easily be able to do a forced march in the middle of winter. However, the current Fine is pregnant, with a large belly. It would be difficult to ride a horse, let alone a forced march, so she had to travel by carriage and teleport.

The old Mukwangdae guys also knew that, so they moved while taking care of Fine. If Fine, who was like family to them, were to go wrong during the move, they would be heartbroken, and if Fine were to go wrong, their nephew and my child would be in big trouble.

“Let’s go again when our bodies feel lighter. Seeing it in the winter is different from seeing it in the summer.”

“I’m planning on taking the kids with me then, is that okay?”

“Okay. Of course.”

Finedo smiled faintly at the cheerful answer.

The place that was Pine’s hometown. And the place that was or is the hometown of Mukwangdae. For Mary and our youngest (Jin) who will be born soon, it is like the family hometown, so they deserve to go together.

“But Mukwang─ no, have all the kids from 1st and 2nd grade returned?”

“Yes. It was only after taking the time to go with me that I was able to return to work as soon as I got back to the system.”

“It’s a shame. I wanted to at least have a meal together.”

It’s really unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do. I know that the departments in the special task force are busy in one way or another. Just going on a pilgrimage to my hometown with Fine, as Fine said, is a great achievement.

So let’s postpone the dinner invitation until another time. We are not far apart, and we are citizens of the same system, so I think the opportunity will come someday.

If I don’t have time, I can just barge into the Office of the Inspector General. We can eat together in the office cafeteria, after all, a meal is a treat. Even if he’s a bit of a boss, it’s better than not even seeing his face.

“Oh, give Mary to me. It was hard taking care of Mary.”

After promising to check the quality of the restaurant in the building soon, Fine handed over Mary, who had been holding her.

Mary was sleeping soundly, perhaps exhausted from her first long-term trip. Still, perhaps she was happy to receive so much love from her uncles and aunts, and even her sleeping expression was incredibly bright.

‘I hope you continue to have fun in the future.’

Although Mary doesn’t have a maternal grandfather or grandmother, she has more uncles and aunts than anyone else. She has many honorary relatives who shower her with love.

May this joy last a lifetime. May Mary treat those who are like her mother’s family as her family too.

***

After the siblings gathered under the leadership of my older brother, I, the second eldest son, decided to lead the next banquet.

If I say it’s not a burden, it’s a lie. Aside from the banquets my brother hosted, there are no precedents to refer to, and even my brother’s banquet was a difficult banquet to imitate.

We had a long-awaited, candid conversation, the gift my brother prepared, and the intrusion of my nephews and nieces. Honestly, if these three things hadn’t been there, my brother’s banquet wouldn’t have gone well.

However, it is neither sincere nor touching to reuse elements that have already been used. If a banquet that could end as a one-time event is to be continued three, four, or five times, I, as the connecting point, must do it properly, so I should not welcome my siblings with such a trivial banquet.

‘The success or failure of the second part will determine the success or failure of the sequel.’

If the third and fourth parts fail, then it would be understandable, but if the second part fails, there will never be a sequel. Rather, they will be treated as if they did not exist, as if they were the ones who ruined the first part.

That’s why I racked my brain and thought hard about it,

“I would like to invite a large number of people suitable for a banquet hall.”

We decided to hold a banquet on a scale that would be incomparable to our brother’s banquet.

Of course, my siblings and their spouses, as well as my children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and if I have any grandchildren, even my grandchildren.

“Everything, huh?”

At my words, my wife blinked blankly.

It must have been an unexpected statement from the wife’s perspective. People who hadn’t even exchanged letters for almost 20 years finally met again last year. This is only their second meeting since then, and they’re already bringing in their children and grandchildren? It’s absurd.

We also made a tacit agreement that we would meet again as a couple, even when we were looking forward to our second meeting. At least if we became close, our children and grandchildren would be able to meet with smiles.

‘We got closer faster than I thought.’

But surprisingly, things between us siblings progressed faster than we expected.

Since the first banquet, exchanging greetings has become a basic habit, and sometimes gifts are exchanged, and younger siblings who live nearby even meet each other.

It’s amazing. Maybe it’s the friendship that my father had been suppressing, finally exploding after decades.

“Because my brother and I were not good, we as children were not able to interact with our cousins. Even ordinary people get along well with their cousins, but it was absurd for us, who had the last name, to live without cousins. I want to correct this mistake even now.”

The wife closed her eyes and pondered over the words full of sincerity.

“Is this really okay?”

Then he carefully opened his mouth to ask if it was okay to hold such a radical and huge banquet.

“Of course.”

“Then I agree. I will spare no expense in providing support, so prepare the best banquet.”

Those words made me laugh.

Yes, that’s right. I have to prepare the best banquet that my abilities allow.

That is the path for the wife who believed in me, and the path for the siblings who have awakened their faint friendship.

As soon as I got my wife’s permission, I sent invitations to my brothers and sisters. I also told them to bring their children and, if possible, their grandchildren, not just their spouses.

Everyone was surprised, but they didn’t show any discomfort or refuse. I wasn’t the only one who felt that we had become closer. I thought it was time for the exchanges between cousins ​​to begin.

“Yes? All of them?”

And when I mentioned attending the banquet to my children, they reacted quite strongly.

“I knew that our family was preparing a banquet, but I didn’t think everyone would show up…”

“I’m not ready to ask my cousin yet.”

“This guy.”

A laugh escaped from the mouth of the word ‘request’.

It may sound like a very mysterious thing to say, but I know that it’s just something the guy says to ease his tension.