Cookie moved carefully so the girl could keep pace with him instead of running.
Sniff, sniff, sniff.
Cookie pressed his damp black nose almost to the ground as he followed the scent.
Dewy wet marks dotted the ground where his nose touched.
Then, with a “Yap!” that seemed to say follow me, he wagged his tail soothingly and looked back at the girl as if to reassure her.
Each time, the girl, her face clear and calm, nodded and followed behind Cookie.
Even on a street thick with heavy perfume, the girl’s delicate fragrance guided Cookie’s nose smoothly in the right direction.
But it didn’t last long.
Once they left the tidy thoroughfare of Seventh Street for the open square, a jumble of smells mixed together, and it became difficult to track the girl’s scent any further.
But Cookie wasn’t the sort to freeze up in a panic.
Hmph. There are always ways.
He tugged gently at the hem of the girl’s dress.
The girl obediently let herself be led.
Cookie brought her to an empty bench. He started to nod his head to say sit, then—
Ah. Will that look too human?
He remembered Clara saying she was afraid he might be taken by bad people, and he hesitated.
Instead of nodding, Cookie hopped lightly up onto the bench and parted his mouth to let his tongue peek out.
“Woof!”
Sit here for a moment!
The girl tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to say something.
So Cookie stamped a paw once. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he stood up and plopped back down again.
“…?”
The girl pointed at the bench and looked at Cookie.
Cookie almost nodded; instead, he wagged his tail to mean yes.
The girl hesitated, then sat. Even at her young age, the way she arranged her skirts so as not to crush them showed ingrained poise.
Yes, that’s it! Rest here for a moment!
Cookie barked happily a few times.
A faint smile appeared on the girl’s face for the first time. When she shyly held out a hand, Cookie lowered his head and offered his muzzle.
An indescribably sweet and gentle sensation spread through her palm.
A wet nose, a fluffy touch.
The lovable warmth of living life.
The girl stroked Cookie’s head softly, then, braver now, petted his body. To reassure her, Cookie flipped onto his back and exposed his belly.
But the girl didn’t know why he was doing that, and looked around in flustered confusion.
Passersby, watching the pair, smiled.
Most were commoners, though, and they didn’t dare speak to a girl who looked like a noble’s daughter.
I didn’t mean to scare you!
Cookie quickly rolled upright.
Then, standing close by the girl, he stepped back a little and barked low toward the square.
“Woof woof!”
Find me a dog who can help! I’ve got a noble girl who’s lost her way! Golden hair, blue eyes!
The square was so crowded and noisy that his barks were nearly drowned out. But surely some dog with keen hearing would catch them.
After a moment, a few street dogs threaded through the pedestrians.
Thankfully, Cookie knew their faces.
“Arf!”
Gum, Choco-Cake, Pawpad—have you been well?
They were names given for the smells each liked best.
Cookie wagged his tail and hopped down from the bench.
He and Gum exchanged a polite sniff from behind as a greeting.
You’ve been well, I see.
What a relief.
“Arf, arf!”
Yo, Cookie. Yeah, you look healthy. Nice poop-scent, too. So what’s up? And who’s the kid?
Gum, a young chihuahua—the hidden boss of the shopping district—answered in a crisp tone.
Found her by chance; looks like she doesn’t know her way home. I’m going to take her back. Have you seen her before?
The sudden appearance of dogs left the girl wide-eyed.
Gum’s wagging tail went still.
He licked his nose with his tongue, head cocked as if he didn’t get it.
Hey, Cookie. Judging by her clothes she’s a noble kid. We don’t need to get involved with that sort. Her servants or knights will come fetch her.
Cookie wrinkled his nose.
“Arf!”
Gum! Are you some scoundrel who can ignore a child in danger? I didn’t know you were that rotten! She was nearly kidnapped!
“Scoundrel” was a word Clara used often; it had stuck in Cookie’s mind, and he tossed it out frequently without much thought.
At Cookie’s brisk indignation, Gum’s bodyguard—an Afghan Hound named Pawpad—bristled and raised his tail high.
Gum stopped him.
Easy, Pawpad. Cookie is a lady. Don’t do anything that would be a nuisance. Whoa there, Cookie, it was just a remark. Don’t take it too hard.
Gum felt a soft spot for Cookie, who sometimes shared rich scraps with street pups.
So you’ll help?
Pant, pant.
Cookie’s expression relaxed again.
Yeah. I do know who she is. She’s a young lady of the noble House of Irnosie.
Irnosie! I, road, know! Cookie, I, tell, you!
Choco-Cake, a Shih Tzu, piped up.
You sure?
Mm! I, that house, gardener, like! Love! Gives, meat! Good human!
Choco-Cake’s mouth hung open, drool dripping.
Cookie placed his fluffy brown paw neatly on the girl’s knee, eyes bright.
Let’s go with them. We’re going home now.
Meanwhile, the House of Irnosie was in an uproar.
The duke’s sister—Erna Irnosie, whom he cherished more than any treasure—had vanished without a trace.
“My lady! Lady Erna, where are you?”
“If you can hear us, knock on something—anything! Lady Erna!”
The servants dropped everything, searching every corner of the mansion and spilling out into the streets to look for her.
Duke Rupert Irnosie, who had been at the Imperial Palace on state business, threw everything aside the moment he heard and rushed back. His face was set in cold stone.
The servants who were responsible for caring for the young lady prostrated themselves, begging forgiveness for their mortal sin.
“All of you, stand. Do you think this will make Erna reappear? You know your time is better spent searching for her.”
At his icy rebuke, the servants trembled.
“Steward. If you don’t know something this basic, it seems the staff are still not properly trained.”
“I apologize, Your Grace. I have no excuse.”
The steward couldn’t raise his lowered head.
The duke, though curt, usually treated his servants well; his current severity was terrifying.
As a child, Erna had been lively. Like any little rascal, she threw harmless fits, whined, and brightened the household. Laughter had never left the Irnosie estate then.
That happiness shattered in an instant.
On a family outing one day when Rupert was away on business—
Bandits ambushed the Irnosie carriage.
The family knights fought bravely, but the villains’ traps brought them down.
The duke and duchess, making themselves the bait, managed only to spirit Erna away to safety.
Erna survived, but the trauma of watching her parents die before her eyes left her with mutism.
Rupert brought in every kind of specialist to heal his sister.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace… My abilities are insufficient to treat Lady Erna’s condition.”
“No method seems to work. This appears to be an issue of the lady’s heart.”
There was no progress.
So Rupert cherished Erna all the more.
He hoped he could fill the void left by their parents.
He was just about to mount and ride out to search for her when—
“My lady!”
“My lady—sob—where have you been?”
“Merciful heavens—thank you!”
Excited shouts rang from the garden near the front gate, where servants were searching for traces.
Rupert hurried to the gate.
Just as they had said, Erna stood quietly before the gate like a little fairy.
“Erna!”
Rupert ran to her and swept her into his arms.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Erna nodded. Her gaze was fixed down the road in the opposite direction.
As if looking at something.
When Rupert brushed her cheek, the girl finally turned back to him.
Then her chin bobbed, ever so slightly, up and down.
“Thank goodness.”
Rupert held her even tighter.
Since their parents’ deaths, she had been the sole reason and driving force of his life.
The puppy saved me and left.
When he set his sister briefly down, Erna waved her hands and signed.
“A puppy?”
Rupert’s brows knit in puzzlement.
Yes.
A puppy, not a person?
He decided he needed to hear more.
“What kind of puppy was it?”
Erna’s lips parted. They moved—and from within came a clear sound.
“Cookie.”
