"Are you serious? *This* guy? You want to keep him alive so he can spend his entire life in the Toten Marquisate?" Jelly tilted his head, incredulous. "And when exactly are you planning on going home, then?"
The word *home* touched something deep within Melek. Now he truly had a place he could call that—even if he slept in the stables.
"Pudding, what do you think of this one? Is he edible by your standards?"
"Of course."
However, having filled his stomach before arriving at Toten's estate, Pudding was no longer hungry. This turned out to be a genuine stroke of luck for Dies.
Jelly, honoring Melek's request, released Dies—though not without complaint. He struck the man sharply on the back of the head, grumbling that Daisy was far better at such things while he himself lacked the proper experience.
Pudding slashed his claws in disgust at Dies, who lay pitifully sprawled across the floor. Since his true target was elsewhere, he acted even more harshly than usual—even more than he did with Jelly.
"Is Mr. Pudding in a bad mood today?"
"Of course. He took quite the beating."
Jelly began animatedly recounting the events at the palace to Melek, and Pudding occasionally corrected him with a swift swipe of his claws.
While the three demons conversed peacefully, Weather felt utterly out of place. Even with her remarkable courage, the sight of a cat speaking human language made her head spin. She wondered if all undead corpses were acquainted with talking cats. Nothing like this had ever occurred in Weather's experience, so she had no frame of reference.
*Someone please explain*, she thought desperately.
Fortunately, thanks to her years in her homeland, Weather possessed strong nerves and could cope with even such a shock. Still, more than anyone else, she desperately awaited her mistress's return.
---
"Madame Toten, we have arrived safely."
Kinder's carriage reached the Marquis of Toten's mansion at last. She thanked the knights who had escorted her the entire way. It was already late, and protocol suggested they should be treated to a meal, but Kinder didn't want to allow strangers into the house—and the knights were eager to return to their captain, Gabriel. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they parted ways.
"Madam!"
Upon Kinder's return to the mansion, Weather greeted her with overwhelming joy. Although they shared a tremendous secret—and considering that today was the first time Kinder had even learned her name—it was an unusually warm welcome. Weather was simply relieved to escape the demons' incomprehensible chatter, but Kinder, unaware of the underlying motive, assumed Weather was merely a very friendly person.
"You've done well, Weather. Why didn't Ryder come out to meet me instead?"
"The thing is..."
Weather, about to report how much had transpired during the lady's absence, spotted Hena following behind Kinder. Her mouth fell open in surprise.
"This is... Lady Rohanson's maid?"
Weather, stammering, addressed the other servant with instinctive respect. Strictly speaking, Weather—who had served in the marquisate and been appointed housekeeper only today—held the higher rank. But there was something *unusual* about Lady Rohanson's maid, and deference flowed naturally.
"Has Lady Rohanson arrived as well?"
"No. I'm alone."
Hena shook her head, looking thoroughly exhausted. Kinder, thinking she would have much to teach Weather about household management, answered for her.
"Circumstances required that she accompany me."
Before being apprehended by the knights of the imperial palace, Evangeline had asked Kinder to ensure her maid's safety. When Kinder had rushed to intervene, she found exactly what Evangeline had feared: Hena was being attacked by knights taking out their fury on her. If Kinder hadn't stepped forward and claimed Hena as her own maid, the girl might have lost her head—just like the coachman.
The memory of that headless corpse sent a chill crawling through Kinder's stomach. When she had demanded an explanation, she'd been told the driver had committed suicide—an obvious lie to conceal the truth. At least the maid had been saved. Kinder clung to that small mercy, letting the thought settle her churning insides.
"And Ryder?"
"He's in his room... but... something happened." Weather's voice dropped. "Mr. Dies suddenly burst in and tried to harm the young master."
Before Kinder could ask again in rising fear, Weather explained in detail what had occurred during her absence. After hearing the rough outline of events, Kinder pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose.
"But I *strictly* ordered that no one was to help Dies under any circumstances..."
Still, it was fortunate. Whatever inhabited Ryder's body wasn't human—Dies posed no serious threat to it.
Kinder's first task was to restore order to the mansion. She promised the servants who had suffered while trying to stop Dies that they would receive treatment and bonuses. The servant who had opened the door claimed Dies had simply deceived him, but his excuses made no difference. Too exhausted to deal with punishment, Kinder ordered him locked up for now.
Then she went upstairs to find Dies.
At the sound of the door opening, Melek—who, judging by his flushed cheeks, had been animatedly chatting about something—came running toward Kinder with a clatter of footsteps.
"Mrs. Kinder! You've arrived!"
Kinder had never seen Ryder run before. *What if he fell and hurt himself?* Instinctively, she stopped him and pulled him into a protective embrace.
"M-Mrs. Kinder?"
"It's dangerous to run like that."
"Ah, I almost damaged your son's body. I'm sorry..."
"...Please be careful."
Although the face was that of her beloved son, the expression was entirely different. Ryder had never smiled as frequently as Melek did, had never been so talkative or carefree.
Kinder set Melek down and silently regarded Dies, sprawled motionless on the floor.
"Fortunately, he's alive."
He lay still as death, but the steady rise and fall of his chest made it clear he was still breathing. It was good that he hadn't died—Kinder hadn't yet announced Ryder's recovery. If Dies perished now, the elders would assume Kinder had been acting behind their backs, scheming to seize control of the Toten Marquisate for herself.
Therefore, Dies could only die *after* Ryder had officially asserted his rights as heir.
"It was Melek who begged to spare him."
Kinder turned at the sudden voice. The man who spoke in that insolent tone was the same one who served Lady Rohanson—the one who possessed those strange abilities. He should have been held accountable for remaining in the mansion without permission during the owner's absence, but he was Lady Rohanson's vassal. Besides, remembering how he had nearly strangled her for making noise, Kinder remained silent out of fear.
"Mr. Jelly."
Instead of Kinder, Hena offered the greeting.
"I was waiting to collect you. Let's go quickly—your sister looks like she's about to collapse from worry."
Hena immediately shook off her previous despondency. She had been forced to remain at the Toten Marquisate, unable to see Kanna, and the discovery of a way to travel unnoticed was nothing short of a blessing.
"Madame Toten, thank you for bringing me to the marquisate."
Hena, though she was merely fulfilling her mistress's errand, sincerely thanked Kinder for her concern. She picked up Pudding and vanished alongside Jelly.
Kinder, watching them disappear along with that unusual cat, released a heavy sigh of relief. The mere presence of Rohanson's people wore her down considerably.
Now, until news arrived from Evangeline or Gabriel, it was time to tend to her household.
Kinder summoned the servants waiting outside the door and ordered them to carry Dies to the basement. Since he had managed to escape his room, this time they would have to lock him somewhere more secure.
Melek, watching the limp form being carried away, tugged at the hem of Kinder's dress.
"And you, Mrs. Kinder... will you also kill this man?"
"Yes. After Ryder's position becomes more secure—so that no complications arise when you depart."
Melek hesitated at these firm words. Then, glancing up at Kinder with uncertain eyes, he asked:
"And if... I don't come back, would you spare him?"
"Are you planning to live your entire life in my son's body?"
"No, no! That's not what I meant..."
When Kinder's voice sharpened, Melek waved his hands, stammering.
"But this man is your family, isn't he? Killing family is so sad. My friend also harmed his loved ones, and I know how much he suffered afterward. In the end, Mrs. Kinder... you will break."
Melek hoped his concern would reach her. Kinder, hearing the anxious tremor in his voice, softened and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Melek. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. After all, you're helping me."
Ryder's body had been provided to Melek by none other than Kinder herself.
"But you don't need to worry. I never had a particularly close relationship with Dies. That should be evident from the fact that he tried to kill Ryder, shouldn't it?" Her voice steadied. "Ryder was my only family. Now that he's dead, I have no one left."
Kinder was driven only by Ryder's final words and her sense of duty to preserve the marquisate.
Melek patted the back of her hand, as if offering comfort. Kinder felt a pang of sadness—she actually *liked* this kind monster. Feeling the cold skin against her own, she thought of Grandma Weather.
*Perhaps*, she mused, *I've found myself another doll to replace my son.*
---
"This Rohanson girl killed my son?"
The emperor's wrath was indescribable. Though the Crown Prince had been considered the unloved son, he remained the sole heir and future ruler of the empire. The crime of murdering the heir to the throne could not be punished lightly.
Those present at the reception expected Evangeline to be executed the very next day. But contrary to these expectations, several days passed—and Evangeline Rohanson remained only a suspect.
The Rohanson mansion closed its gates. Rumors spread that the Count, fearing collective punishment, was already preparing to flee, abandoning his daughter to her fate.
When the time came to pass judgment on Evangeline Rohanson—disowned even by her own family—the only one who stood in the emperor's way was Captain Gabriel of the Knights of Pharos, blinded by love.