I was born into a Ducal house.

As the only child of the Duke, I was showered with love and grew up in abundance, lacking for nothing.

My father, the Duke, was also a researcher. I asked him many times what he was researching, but he never gave me a proper answer. He strictly warned me never to enter the laboratory, let alone the basement.

It was strange.

However, my father was always kind to me. He gifted me anything I wanted and always prepared a special present for my birthday.

Of course, sometimes there were slightly odd gifts.

One of them was a doll I received for my birthday when I was young.

It was an incredibly beautiful doll. With a delicate face, fine hair, and an elegant dress, it was crafted so exquisitely that it looked like a living person. I fell in love with it at first sight.

I named the doll Shady.

From that day on, Shady became my most precious friend. We had tea time together every day, I combed its hair, and I hugged it tight when I went to sleep at night.

Looking back now, there were several strange things from the start.

Shady was excessively large and heavy. It was impossible for me, a mere child, to move it alone. I always needed the help of servants to move it between rooms or lay it on the bed.

But at the time, I just thought it was a very large doll.

Because Shady was beautiful, was by my side, and above all, was a precious gift from my father.

But... in the end, I threw that doll away.

It was a night quieter than usual.

Just as I was about to fall asleep hugging Shady as always, I heard a strange sound from somewhere.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. But I heard it clearly.

The sound of a heart beating came from inside Shady's body.

A doll couldn't possibly have a heartbeat. That was a sound only heard from a living creature.

I felt goosebumps all over my body and scrambled away from Shady. The face that had been only beautiful now looked so alien and grotesque.

After that day, Shady was no longer the doll I loved.

Crying, I ordered the servants to throw the doll away. I told them never to bring it into my room again, that I didn't care where they dumped it, just to get rid of it immediately.

And so, Shady vanished from my side.

I lived my life forgetting about that doll.

Time passed, and the bizarre childhood memory gradually faded. I never thought of Shady again.

And today is October 31st.

In the Imperial Palace, the annual Festival of Abundance was in full swing. The ballroom was filled with lavish decorations, music, and the laughter of nobles. I thought today would end as just another ordinary day.

At least, until that doll appeared before me again.

What I discarded long ago... perhaps it wasn't just a simple doll.