Pudding kept her head lowered as she carefully led Reed and the others through the candy-lined corridor. Her nerves were stretched tight. Behind her walked a force powerful enough to destroy this entire country.
Inside her head, she scolded herself over and over.
"Pudding, Pudding, what were you thinking? Why did you run out there? Look what you've gotten yourself into now."
She sneaked a glance back at Reed, then forced a small smile in his direction.
Reed returned it with what he believed was a very friendly smile. At least, friendly by his own standards.
"He smiled at me! I heard he eats children, ten in one meal. Is he going to eat me? Waaaa…"
At that thought, tears poured from all three of Pudding's eyes like overcooked noodles sliding off a plate.
"But I was really brave earlier. Maybe people won't hate me as much anymore? Maybe Mom will even like me now. Hehe…"
And just like that, she cheered herself up again.
Reed watched as the little girl went from shaking in fear, to sobbing uncontrollably, to smiling for no apparent reason. He could only conclude that children's thoughts truly wandered wherever they pleased.
Her third eye darted nervously from side to side, fingers clutching the hem of her skirt. Residents along the corridor peeked out curiously at the uninvited guests, but the moment they met Reed's crimson gaze, they shrank back into the walls in terror.
"This is it…"
Pudding pushed open a massive chocolate door, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "This is the finest guest room in Totto Land…"
Reed stepped inside as the blood mist behind him slowly dispersed.
The room was extravagantly luxurious. Marshmallow clouds formed the chandelier overhead. A chocolate fountain burbled softly in the corner. Even the bed curtains were woven from spun sugar. It reminded Reed of an old gourmet fantasy show he had once seen.
"Not bad."
He casually dropped onto a toffee-colored sofa, which creaked in protest.
Pudding lingered at the doorway. After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly pulled an exquisitely wrapped chocolate box from her apron pocket.
"Th-these are chocolates I made… If Lord Reed doesn't mind…"
Her voice grew softer and softer as she nervously shut her third eye.
The room fell silent.
Tesoro raised an eyebrow. Moria smacked his lips as if about to comment, only to be stopped by a lightning-fast glare from Enel.
Reed looked at the trembling chocolate box and reached out to take it. Inside were six delicately shaped chocolates, each carefully decorated with different dried fruits.
"You made these?" he asked, picking one up.
Pudding lowered her head, her voice choking. "Y-yes… They probably don't taste very good…"
Reed popped the chocolate into his mouth.
A rich sweetness melted across his tongue, balanced by a hint of tart raspberry jam at the center. The flavor was surprisingly refined.
"…They're pretty good," he said quietly. "Thank you, my lovely little Pudding."
Those simple words were enough.
Pudding's three eyes flew wide open as tears spilled down like shattered pearls.
"Waaah… waaah…"
She rubbed her eyes desperately with the back of her hands, unable to stop crying. "Th-thank you…"
Reed raised an eyebrow. "Why are you crying?"
Of course, Reed was playing dumb. He knew exactly how to speak to a kind-hearted child to get the best result. Yes, Reed was undeniably shameless.
Still, it was strange. A nation founded on the idea of happiness for all races, yet it discriminated against a three-eyed child. The irony of the world's design was almost flawless.
"B-because…" Pudding sobbed, "except for Brother Katakuri, no one has ever… no one has ever said my chocolates taste good… No one has ever said I'm cute…"
Her third eye drooped sadly. "Everyone says… says it's disgusting…"
The room fell silent again.
Reed looked at the crying girl for a moment, then reached out and gently rubbed her head.
"What's wrong with having a third eye? It's pretty cool. Besides, plenty of your sisters look unusual too. Why should you feel inferior? What makes them better than you?"
Pudding froze, even forgetting to cry.
A completely new perspective popped into her small mind.
Compared to convincing Sanji's family, this was much easier. In his case, it was weakness. In Totto Land, it was appearance. Or more accurately, having one extra eye. And in a land full of oddities, that was an easy problem to fix.
"R-really…?"
"Yeah."
Reed picked up another chocolate. "I think you'll become an excellent chocolatier someday."
Pudding broke into a radiant grin, all three eyes curving into crescent moons.
"I-I'll go prepare some snacks for everyone!"
She dashed out the door happily, nearly crashing into the frame. She spun back to bow deeply before hurrying away.
Tesoro stroked his chin. "Captain, since when did you become so gentle?"
Reed lounged lazily on the sofa. "I've always been reasonable, all right? That kid is kind by nature."
Enel snorted. "Hmph."
"You dare?"
Reed's voice suddenly turned cold.
Outside the window, Cake Island lay quiet and peaceful under the night sky. Pudding hummed as she ran toward the kitchen, her three eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Deep within the castle, Charlotte Linlin finally broke free from the Blood Prison Scroll and unleashed a world-shaking roar.
"Reed!"
Morning sunlight streamed through frost-covered windows. Reed lay sprawled on the marshmallow bed, the last piece of chocolate pudding from the night before still between his teeth.
Suddenly, the golden Den Den Mushi in his arms buzzed loudly.
"Hello? Oden, why are you calling all of a sudden?" Reed answered lazily.
"Reed!"
The Den Den Mushi instantly took on Kozuki Oden's anxious expression. "Her Devil Fruit ability awakened all of a sudden! She says she saw a terrifying future!"
Reed shot upright as blood mist churned around him. "What exactly did she see?"
"She said… she saw the Crimson Sun devour Wano," Oden said solemnly. "She's extremely weak right now, and she keeps saying she has to see you."
"Understood."
Reed hung up. "Prepare to set sail. We're heading to Wano."
"Yes, Captain!"
Tesoro frowned as he strode after him.
In the corridor, Pudding nearly collided with Reed while carrying a freshly baked chocolate cake. She stared in surprise at the Crimson Dawn crew preparing to leave.
"Lord Reed? Is something wrong…?"
"An emergency came up. Tell your brother to postpone the banquet."
Reed walked past her, then suddenly stopped. From the blood mist, he produced a tiny crimson captain's hat and gently placed it on her head.
"I promise. I'll come back and eat your chocolate next time."
Pudding stood frozen in place, hands clutching the cake, as his figure disappeared down the corridor.