The story begins with the protagonist, who has just died in their previous life and been reincarnated, waking up in a dusty, cold storage room. They are pushed by two girls in beautiful dresses, hitting their head and triggering a flood of memories. The protagonist realizes they are now Princess Lucienne La Verrier, the third princess of the Kingdom of Verrier, and this world is identical to an otome game they played in their past life.
In this game's world, the current king is a tyrant, and his lavish spending has bankrupted the kingdom, leading to an impending coup. Lucienne's existence is a secret: she is the illegitimate daughter of the king and a deceased countess, treated as a pariah by the queen and her children. She is starved, dressed in rags, and confined to this storage room, subjected to abuse. The game begins when Lucienne turns fifteen and enters the academy, but the protagonist, now Lucienne, is much younger, possibly under five, as the coup hasn't happened yet.
Driven by hunger and a throbbing headache from the fall, Lucienne goes to a well behind the royal quarters to get water. While cleaning herself, she is discovered by a boy. This boy, who seems to be a noble due to his attire, can see her despite her attempts to hide. Lucienne, fearing for his safety if caught in the forbidden women's quarters, hides him and tells him she saw nothing. The boy, intrigued by her intelligence, leaves.
Soon after, the Queen finds Lucienne and physically abuses her. The boy witnesses this but is ignored by the Queen as he passes by. Lucienne, remembering a hidden character from the game, an assassin named Lefevre Nicholson, realizes he might be the one who helped her. Lefevre, observing the Queen's cruelty, secretly treats Lucienne's wounds while she is unconscious. He notes her royal amber eyes but lack of magic, making her an anomaly. He decides to keep an eye on her, intrigued by her resilience and the fact that she is not affected by his skills.
Lucienne wakes up to find her wounds treated and realizes Lefevre was her benefactor. She begins to rely on him for small acts of kindness, like food and medicine, while continuing to endure the Queen's abuse. Lefevre visits her regularly, bringing her supplies and offering comfort, developing a possessive interest in her. He sees her as a "cute" and "interesting creature" and begins to "feed" her, both literally and figuratively, with treats and attention.
The narrative then details Lucienne's continued suffering at the hands of the Queen and her children, who mock and torment her with magic, even as she is being cared for by Lefevre. Lefevre, observing this, subtly intervenes to protect her from serious harm, though he allows her to be humiliated. He also reveals his intention to claim Lucienne for himself once she is of age, planning to isolate her and make her dependent on him.
As the story progresses, Lucienne's bond with Lefevre deepens. She learns about magic and her own lack of it, making her vulnerable. Lefevre, in turn, becomes increasingly possessive, seeing her as his exclusive possession. He plans to marry her after her coming-of-age and keep her isolated from the world, ensuring her complete devotion. The chapters highlight the stark contrast between the opulent lives of the royal family and Lucienne's brutal existence, and the growing, complex relationship between the young princess and the enigmatic assassin. The impending coup looms, promising a drastic change in their circumstances.
