diff --git a/templates/book_chapter.yml b/templates/book_chapter.yml
index 5d655d1..7691ceb 100644
--- a/templates/book_chapter.yml
+++ b/templates/book_chapter.yml
@@ -378,6 +378,9 @@ steps:
       NEVER give a deceased character a living Location, Physical, or Emotional field.
       NEVER assign a deceased character future obligations or arcs.
       If a character was DECEASED in the previous state, copy their entry forward unchanged.
+      IMPORTANT: If a relative, sibling, or successor of a deceased character appears in the
+      prose, they are a NEW character — do NOT create or update the deceased character's entry
+      based on this relative's traits. Keep the deceased entry exactly as it was.
 
       CRITICAL: Keep total output under 3500 characters. NO prose — structured data only.