The story begins in the Kingdom of Olivinis, a land said to be blessed by spirits. In the capital's central plaza, thousands suffering from an epidemic gather, their hopes fixed on the Princess, a "Saint" adorned in a lavish dress and tiara. She invokes divine power, commanding spirits to perform a mass healing miracle that astonishes the populace. Unbeknownst to them, a second carriage nearby holds the true source of this power: a young girl named Luisa, a former princess, now enslaved by a "Collar of Subjugation." This magical artifact compels her to obey any command, preventing her from resisting.
While the public Princess performs her charade, Luisa is forced by a cruel man to replicate the healing magic. Luisa is the daughter of the former king and niece of the current one. Ten years prior, her parents were murdered by her uncle, the current king, who then faked Luisa's death. He keeps her alive and enslaved because her immense power as a true Saint is invaluable for defending against monsters, healing plagues, and bringing rain. Luisa lives in a stable, is starved, and physically abused to break her spirit and prevent her from being recognized. Her only solace comes from the spirits, particularly the Spirit King Roa, who offer her companionship and the magical energy she needs to survive. Spirits, being non-physical, can only influence the world through living beings, and Luisa, as a true Saint, can wield the Spirit King's power directly, unlike ordinary mages who borrow minuscule amounts from weak spirits. Despite the abuse and the spirits' pleas to break free, Luisa endures, believing her suffering saves the people her parents cherished.
Days after the epidemic healing, Luisa is brought to the "Church of the One God's" headquarters. In a large, stone chamber containing a massive magical artifact and connected cylindrical metal boxes, she is ordered to channel her magic. The boxes contain spirits, and as Luisa complies, she hears their agonizing screams. The priests reveal their horrifying new technology: killing spirits to create "Spirit Stones," akin to magic stones from monsters. They justify this by claiming spirits should be controlled by humans. When ordered to kill more spirits, Luisa, for the first time in ten years, defies the Collar of Subjugation, enduring excruciating pain and the threat of soul destruction. The spirits, trapped in the boxes, encourage her, but Roa warns her she will die if she resists further. Faced with the choice of killing the spirits she cherishes or dying herself, Luisa chooses suicide, magically striking her own heart. Her death prevents the priests from extracting Spirit Stones, but her final spell erupts in a massive explosion, destroying the facility and freeing the captured spirits. The disaster that follows, including three years of rain in cities and drought in farmlands, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, leads the populace to believe the Church angered the gods. This, coupled with the oppressive monarchy, sparks a successful coup. The royal family, including the false Saint Princess, is publicly executed by stoning, with the Princess blaming Luisa. Luisa, however, is reborn as a baby, her soul preserved by Roa's sacrifice.
Reborn as a baby named Luria, she retains her memories and her ability to see spirits. She quickly learns her parents are nobles, her father a prince. She desires a quiet life away from politics, preferably in the mountains with goats and other animals, reminiscent of the kindness she received from them in her previous life. Her father, Graf, a prince, is protective of her, especially after a high-ranking priest of the Church of the One God attempts to have her taken away, deeming her red hair and eyes inauspicious, linking her to the "Wicked Woman of Calamity," Luisa. Graf fiercely refuses, protecting his daughter. The Church, however, remains a threat, and Graf, his wife Amalia, and their children, Gilbert and Lydia, vow to protect Luria. Luria's siblings, Gilbert and Lydia, are introduced, showing their affection for their new baby sister. A small, dirty puppy also appears in Luria's room, seemingly brought by her siblings, and Luria's mother, Amalia, decides to keep it, noticing Luria's fondness for it. The narrative then delves into the kingdom's history, revealing that the current ruling Farnese family came to power after a coup two hundred years prior, overthrowing the previous royal family who had angered the spirits through their actions. The Church of the One God, though weakened, still holds considerable influence and harbors a revisionist view of history, downplaying their role in the past calamities. The story concludes with Luria's family discussing the potential threats from the Church and the importance of protecting her.
