Inside the glittering Pudding Castle on Whole Cake Island—home of Charlotte Linlin's 35th daughter, Charlotte Pudding—the air still smelled faintly of sugar and cream.
On a pink silk canopy bed, Pudding sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. Her face still carried traces of sleep, her pink nightdress slipping slightly off one shoulder, revealing skin far too soft for her age. Her thick bangs, tied lazily into a single ponytail, were slightly tangled from sleep.
Only here, within the safety of her private chambers, could she show the thing she hated most—her "ugly" third eye.
Beside her, the Homies Nitro the jelly and Rabian the carpet lingered like loyal pets. They were gifts from her mother, Big Mom herself—companions in a life where friendship rarely existed.
Since the day Straw Hat Luffy set out to sea on May 5, Year 1520 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the world had plunged into chaos. By early October, Souta Kiryuu's pirate fleet had stormed into the New World, igniting what became known as the Great New World War.
On October 10, came the infamous slaughter at Fortress G-18—a battle so devastating it was said to grind men into meat.
Two titans fell that day: Emperor Whitebeard, and Saturn of the Five Elders. Their deaths shook the entire world.
That day would forever be remembered as the Tragedy of Ten-Ten.
No side—Government, Navy, or Pirate—escaped unscathed. And from that carnage rose a new god, a new ruler of the seas:
The Dragon God—Souta Kiryuu.
In the months that followed, the world's balance of power was rewritten. Countless legends vanished, and countless new names were born.
Now, it was February 1, Year 1521. Pudding was just shy of her fifteenth birthday.
Tomorrow would be her mother's grandest event yet—the February Tea Party, attended by hundreds of guests and, more importantly, the day when Souta Kiryuu would personally choose one of Big Mom's daughters as his bride.
Pudding was one of the main candidates, along with her sisters Smoothie, Galette, and Custard.
Smoothie's strength was unquestionable, her power alone enough to impress anyone. Galette and Custard were both beautiful and formidable in battle.
Pudding… well, her only notable trait was her Memory-Memory Fruit. The third eye of the Three-Eye Tribe meant little to the Kiryuu Pirates. Why would it? Souta's crew already included the world's top scientist, Vegapunk, and the brilliant archaeologist Nico Robin—both perfectly capable of reading the ancient texts.
"Nitro, do you really think Souta Kiryuu will choose me?"
Pudding pinched the soft jelly Homie between her fingers, her lips pouting slightly. Compared to her sisters, she was weaker, younger, and had little to offer.
Her fruit power was her only real advantage. But her mother valued her Three-Eye heritage far more—enough to offer her up like a tool in a political game.
Pudding's heart twisted. She dreamed of escaping Whole Cake Island, like her sister Lola had once done—to find love freely, far away from this sugary prison and the siblings who mocked her cursed eye.
Yet at the same time, the thought of Souta Kiryuu—the "monster who slaughters gods"—made her tremble. The wanted posters terrified her. Whether it was the Government's "Test Subject" bounty or Morgans' headline calling him the "God Slayer," both left her uneasy.
"Of course, Lady Pudding! You're adorable! Anyone would fall for you," said Nitro, his gelatinous body wobbling in delight under her gentle squeeze.
"Adorable?" Pudding whispered, touching her forehead. "But everyone hates this."
Her voice darkened as her finger pointed to her third eye. In an instant, the sweet, shy girl melted away, replaced by something colder—sharper. Years of mockery had taught her to wear masks. Now she shifted between innocence and malice with practiced ease.
"L-Lady Pudding…" Nitro stammered as he and Rabian watched nervously.
Then, just as quickly, her expression softened again. The smile returned. She hummed as she brushed her hair, lowering her bangs to hide the eye and tying her hair into two playful pigtails.
By the time she finished dressing, she looked every bit the sweet, delicate princess everyone adored.
Among Big Mom's many daughters, Pudding was often called the second most beloved, right after the 36th daughter, Flampe—the president of Katakuri's fan club.
Dressed beautifully, Pudding mounted her flying carpet Rabian and headed toward the main Cake Castle.
Whole Cake Island was bursting with life. Ministers from all thirty-four islands of Totto Land had returned, preparing feverishly for tomorrow's tea party.
Since the fall of Whitebeard, Big Mom's crew had annexed many of his former territories, now ruling over more than fifty islands. Her influence had swelled, and with it, her strength—fueled by the souls her subjects willingly offered.
"So many new Homies! Mama must have used all the souls from the new territories," Nitro said in awe, watching the bustling streets below.
"Everything's so grand! Mama's really pulling out all the stops for the Dragon God's arrival—and for the underworld emperors too," Rabian added, his eyes sparkling like the stars on his woven fabric.
Pudding stayed quiet. She could sense her mother's unease beneath the festivities. Big Mom wasn't just hosting a celebration—she was afraid. Souta Kiryuu's rise had even the Yonko trembling.
Perhaps, Pudding thought, earning the Dragon God's favor would mean more than earning her mother's trust.
In the grand palace of Cake Castle, most of the Charlotte children had already returned, gathered around a massive breakfast table.
At the head sat Perospero, the eldest son and newly appointed Sweet Commander, now serving as the family's strategist. He led the morning meeting, assigning tasks with his usual self-satisfied flair.
At his right sat the mightiest of them all—Katakuri, legs crossed, flicking a candy bean between his fingers. His cold, stoic face drew silent awe from every younger sibling in the hall. To them, he was the perfect brother—the pride of the Charlotte bloodline.
Nearby, Smoothie sat with her two sisters, eating elegantly and ignoring the noisy chatter around them.
Across the table, Cracker leaned toward Custard, whispering about tomorrow's event. Their other sibling, Angel, glanced at Custard with open envy—her sister's beauty and poise were undeniable.
Custard and Galette were the true jewels of the Charlotte daughters—famed for their charm and grace across the seas.
Custard, with her violet short hair and form-fitting purple suit beneath a soft pink cape, exuded both strength and sophistication.
"I haven't eaten any Devil Fruit," she said lightly, sipping her juice. "Souta Kiryuu probably won't pick me anyway."
She smiled faintly. "Galette's the type men like—strong and seductive. And with that Paramecia fruit of hers, she's got the edge."
The truth was, Custard didn't want to be chosen. She didn't want to leave her siblings—Cracker and Angel were her closest family.
On either side of Katakuri sat Daifuku and Oven, his twin brothers, looming like personal bodyguards.
In the Charlotte family, half-siblings were countless, but true blood always stuck together. Every cluster of triplets or twins formed their own tight little alliance.
The three Sweet Commanders—Katakuri, Smoothie, and Cracker—were all triplets. Only Perospero stood alone, the eldest, unmatched and unpaired.