Chapters 3 through 12 of the light novel detail the tragic past of the protagonist, Camellia, and her subsequent reincarnation and early life.
Chapter 3 opens with a young girl, around ten years old, appearing suddenly in a park under a dark, stormy sky. Dressed in a simple white dress, she lets out a piercing scream, filled with rage, hatred, and sorrow, lamenting that she "failed again" and "couldn't save" something or someone. Rain washes away her tears and the faint memories she possesses.
Chapters 4-12 then flash back 1500 years to a pastoral kingdom. The narrative is told from the perspective of Camellia, who was then a young girl named Camellia, the youngest daughter of the Eastern Margrave. Her older sister, Yuya, the eldest daughter and betrothed to Crown Prince Lucius, is accused of causing a plague that has devastated the kingdom. Camellia recounts how their family opened their estate to care for the sick, leading to their parents' deaths from the illness. Despite their efforts, a rumor spread that Yuya was the cause of the plague, fueled by Chloe, a "Miko" (priestess) who claims to hear the gods and can perform miracles. Chloe, who was once a temple maiden with unrequited feelings for Lucius, has now risen to prominence, charming Lucius and accusing Yuya.
The narrative then shifts to Camellia's past life before her reincarnation as Yuya's sister. She remembers being born in a distant land with black hair and eyes, as the sixth daughter of a powerful chieftain. Her mother, a beautiful peasant girl, was taken as a wife by her father, but after Camellia's birth, she and her mother were ostracized and forced to live in a barn. Camellia's father called her a "steel ugly woman" due to her dull, iron-like hair. Her mother was weak and lived in dreams, unable to protect them. A gardener offered them kindness, and Camellia found solace in watching a swordsmanship instructor, referred to as "Grandpa," demonstrate his sword techniques with a staff, cutting branches with incredible precision. When her mother fell ill, Camellia prayed desperately to the gods, but her prayers went unanswered, and her mother died. Grandpa left two cut camellia flowers at her mother's grave, one for her mother and one for Camellia. After her mother's death, Camellia also fell ill, and Grandpa's voice was the last thing she heard before her consciousness faded, wishing for a reincarnation where she could love and be loved.
This leads to her immediate reincarnation as a baby, found by Yuya in a field of flowers. Yuya names her Camellia, after the flower. Camellia learns that Yuya, her twin siblings, and she are all adopted or orphaned children taken in by the Eastern Margrave, who protects children of the "Feshil people" who appear without warning. Camellia cherishes this newfound family, though she laments her dull hair compared to her beautiful siblings.
The story then returns to the tragic execution. Chloe demands Yuya be sacrificed to appease the gods. Yuya offers herself to save Camellia, but Chloe insists the entire Eastern Margrave family must be executed. As Yuya is burned at the stake, she apologizes to Camellia. Enraged, Camellia's eyes turn silver, and she unleashes a brutal massacre, using a ceremonial sword to slaughter the guards, nobles, the King and Queen, and finally Chloe. She continues her rampage with saws, wiping out the entire kingdom's population. The legend of the "Camellia-cutting Princess" is born.
After the massacre, Camellia, now a young girl again, appears in a canola field, having lost all memories except the knowledge of her name, "Nanohana" (Canola Flower), and the ability to see the "essence" of things. She is taken in by the Fukami family, where she is named Camellia by the grandfather, Senjou, and lives with his grandson, Akino, and his granddaughter, Tsubaki (Camellia). Camellia, now named Hana-chan, struggles with her past and the loss of her powers, while Tsubaki, who also has memory loss and a somber demeanor, finds comfort in Hana-chan's presence. A pivotal moment occurs when Hana-chan buys a ribbon for Tsubaki, which is later revealed to be a "saw-like" ribbon. This choice, along with other events, sets in motion a chain of fate for the country.
Later, Hana-chan and Tsubaki are pursued by men "possessed" by dark entities. Hana-chan's powers are diminished, and Tsubaki, despite her own struggles, tries to protect Hana-chan. They are separated, and Tsubaki is captured by the possessed men. Meanwhile, a man named Jin'ei, seeking to appease an underground entity, is also on the run with a mysterious black-haired girl he drugged. Their paths converge as the "Camellia-cutting Princess" reappears, her powers unleashed by her rage, leading to a catastrophic confrontation. The narrative concludes with the "Camellia-cutting Princess" killing Jin'ei and Midou, and rescuing the black-haired girl, while Tsubaki, now understanding her connection to the "Camellia-cutting Princess," is left to confront her destiny.