Around the time Kinder Toten was returning to the Marquis estate, Dies, the younger brother of the late Marquis who was imprisoned in a room, paced in circles. He bit his fingernails, worrying, regretting, and raging dozens of times.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it. Something went wrong. Why is he alive? He should definitely be dead."
Nothing changed no matter how much he tried to make sense of the situation. He had asked to see Rider, thinking his nephew had finally died. When the maid suspiciously refused to open the door, he brought an axe and broke it down. When Dies looked inside, he saw the maid frightened and holding his nephew.
Actually, until that moment, Dies wasn't certain of Rider's death. He realized Rider had died because of the butler's reaction.
The butler looked through the crack in the door after Dies. Dies had never seen a person so filled with rapture. The light seeping from inside illuminated only the butler's face. His eyes sparkled and the corners of his mouth rose strangely. 'Ah, finally.' The butler let out an exclamation mixed with cheers. Seeing the butler's reaction, Dies realized his nephew was dead.
"Hey! Is anyone outside! Imprisoning a noble, are you out of your minds? Just wait until I get out, I won't let any of you off!"
Dies pounded on the door furiously and screamed.
"I'm the legitimate heir! Did you think by sucking up to my sister-in-law you'd get some crumbs? Let me out of here and I'll give you 3 gold coins right now! Just open the door!"
Of course, all Dies had was 4 silver coins. There was no way he'd give gold coins, but uneducated fools would quickly fall for Dies's lies. A whispering voice was heard through the crack in the door.
"Quiet, please be quiet. I beg you."
The sound of the lock releasing was heard. The servant opened the door while sweating profusely. Then he reached out his hand with expectant eyes. Instead of giving money to the servant, Dies grabbed him by the neck.
"Where is Rider?"
"*Gack*, *ack*, if you give me the gold coins, I'll tell you."
"No. You speak first."
Dies didn't care if the servant was strangled to death. The servant scratched Dies's arm with his fingernails, and thinking he might die, he revealed where Rider was.
"The, the Madam's room."
"Is that so? Thanks."
Dies smiled with satisfaction and tossed one silver coin to the servant. Even this was generous for Dies.
Dies immediately went to Kinder's room as the servant had told him. In the Toten mansion, the room with the best sunlight was Rider's, and right across from it was Kinder's room, so finding it wasn't difficult.
The servants of the Toten Marquis family were bewildered when the young master they had confined walked boldly through the corridor. They held their breath, not understanding what was happening. At best, they could only count the time until the Madam returned while being frightened. A few servants who recalled the special treatment Wether had received tried to stop Dies but were instead subdued and thrown aside. After that, no one tried to stop Dies.
Dies arrived at Kinder's room without difficulty. Perhaps thinking he would be confined, the door wasn't even locked. Dies opened the door and stepped inside. The insolent maid named Wether closed her book and jumped up.
"How are you here..."
Dies sat on the rocking chair and lifted his nephew's arm that was hanging limply. Wether rushed at him but the difference in size was too great, so she couldn't even stop him.
"Look at this. Look at this! I wasn't wrong!"
Rider's body was particularly light, as if some weight had been drained from it. As expected, he's dead! When he confirmed this, his reason returned. Suddenly feeling a chill and coldness in his hands, Dies was creeped out that he was holding a corpse, so he let go of Rider as if throwing him. The child who collapsed onto the bed looked like a discarded doll.
"Young Master!"
Wether screamed and called out to Rider.
Instead of covering her noisy mouth, Dies rather encouraged the screaming. Yes, scream louder! Everyone in the Marquis house should realize his nephew is dead and prepare to serve Dies as the next Marquis.
"Huh?"
However, contrary to Dies's wish, the first to hear the call was Melec, who had briefly left Rider's body and was playing in the stables.
He had only stepped out briefly since he couldn't take Rider's body to explore the stables, and it seemed something had happened in that short time. Melec hurriedly entered Rider's body again.
"Young Master, my foot! Stop playing with a dead body like a doll!"
"Uncle, what's wrong?"
As soon as Melec sat up on the bed, he met eyes with Dies who was shouting. It seemed Kinder had confined him, so how did he escape and come here? Anyway... did he see? Melec greeted casually, but it wouldn't work.
"Th, this is... what... he was definitely dead...!"
Seeing the corpse suddenly regain color, eyes blinking, breathing, and even speaking, Dies was confused, wondering if he was dreaming.
When he slapped his own cheek, it stung. It wasn't a dream. Then did the corpse come back to life?
"Ah... I'm already caught."
Melec stomped his feet as if troubled. Because it was Rider's body, such actions looked particularly cute and innocent.
"If it were someone else, I might not like being touched by a human."
"And, haah. A child who's easy to handle because he's naive."
"Thank you. Pudding."
"Mel, thank you too. Jelly."
"Welcome back. Pudding."
"You too, Jelly."
"Ah, did you enjoy the jelly?"
"Yes, thanks to you, Pudding."
"I'm glad. Jelly."
"Yes, Pudding. It was delicious."
"Jelly, you came at the right time."
"Really, Pudding?"
"Yes, Jelly."
"Jelly, do you like pudding?"
"Of course, Pudding."
"I like jelly too, Jelly."
"Thank you, Pudding."
"Jelly, shall we play together next time?"
"Of course, Pudding."
"Thank you, Jelly."
"Pudding, are you feeling better now?"
"Yes, much better now, Jelly."
"That's good, Pudding."
"Jelly, I..."
"Pudding, what's wrong?"
"Jelly, I'm a little scared."
"Don't worry, Pudding. I'll protect you."
"Thank you, Jelly."
"Pudding, you're my best friend."
"Jelly, you're my best friend too."
"Pudding, let's always be together."
"Yes, Jelly. Always together."
"Jelly, I'm happy."
"Me too, Pudding."
"Jelly..."
"Pudding..."
The two puddings and jellies were having a conversation. Meanwhile, Dies was having a seizure on the floor. foam was coming out of his mouth.
"Help... help me..."
Dies reached out his hand weakly. His eyes had rolled back.
"Cough... ugh..."
Melec looked at Dies with a complicated expression.
"Should I save him? Or not?"
He tilted his head.
"Who am I kidding? Of course I should save him."
Melec approached Dies and checked his condition.
"He's breathing, but barely."
"I should call for help."
"But who?"
Melec thought for a moment.
"Wether! Go get help!"
Wether, who had been frozen in shock, snapped out of it.
"Y, yes!"
She ran out of the room.
Melec looked at Dies again.
"Don't die on me."
He said quietly.
"Not yet, anyway."
Melec had a lot on his mind.
What happened to Kinder?
When would she return?
What should he do about Dies?
And what about Rider?
So many questions.
But for now, he had to focus on keeping Dies alive.
Melec sighed.
"This is going to be complicated."
He muttered to himself.
Outside, the sun was setting.
The Toten mansion was quiet.
But soon, everything would change.
Melec could feel it.
Something was coming.
Something big.
And he had to be ready.
No matter what.