The story picks up with Sophia, the seven-year-old first princess of the Kingdom of Yuginis, reflecting on her past life as a witch who died at the age of 200. She regrets not living a happier life and wishes to retain her knowledge and be born into a more fortunate family in her reincarnation. However, her current situation is far from ideal. Despite being the granddaughter of the King and the sole child of the Crown Prince, Sophia lives in a small, sparsely furnished room in the West Palace, neglected by servants. Her only dress is for formal occasions, and she wears hand-me-down clothes otherwise. She realizes the royal court is "rotten" and plans to leave, but fears being tracked by her registered magic.
Sophia's monthly audience with her grandfather, the King, has been a perfunctory exchange of "Is everything alright?" and "Nothing is wrong." She recalls being constantly told she was a "failed princess" and that her cousin, Eliza, daughter of the third prince, was favored. This manipulation kept her silent about her mistreatment. The third prince, her uncle Edgar, having been demoted to Duke, has no claim to the throne, unlike Sophia.
During her audience, Sophia breaks her silence, asking the intimidating King for a hug. This unexpected request shocks everyone. She uses the opportunity to request privacy, cleverly manipulating the King's hand gestures to dismiss all but the Captain of the Royal Guard and the royal physician, Renkin. Once alone, Sophia reveals her emaciated state, covered in bruises, with dry skin and protruding ribs, clearly suffering from malnutrition and abuse. The King is horrified, and Renkin begins a medical examination, discovering a severe bruise on her back from being pushed and stepped on by a maid. Sophia explains her situation, requesting surveillance to gather evidence, as she cannot prove her claims alone. The King agrees to place her under discreet watch for a month.
Sophia then details her harsh daily life: no royal education, with teachers dismissed after three days; performing chores like cleaning and fetching water due to the absence of servants; wearing old, ill-fitting clothes; and receiving only one meager meal a day, sometimes not even that. She also reveals that the food served at family banquets is deliberately spoiled, making it inedible. The King, deeply angered and concerned, promises to assign guards and assures her she is not alone. He also grants her request to call him "Grandfather" again, a small comfort. Sophia identifies her uncle Edgar and Eliza as the instigators, with the lady-in-waiting acting on Edgar's orders as one of his mistresses.
The following days are filled with continued mistreatment. Sophia's spoiled meals are replaced with a small, delicious meal of baked goods and milk, seemingly provided by her guards. However, she is still subjected to physical abuse by servants, including being pushed and having her clothes doused with water. Her guards, however, discreetly intervene, protecting her from harm and drying her clothes. Sophia overhears servants discussing Eliza's potential succession to the throne and her father, Duke Edgar, using royal funds for Eliza's education. She also learns that Eliza is aware of the spoiled food and deliberately taunts her.
A week later, Sophia is attacked again at the laundry, but her guards intervene. She also encounters a young maid named Ellie, who seems to be of noble descent and is also being targeted by Duke Edgar. Sophia overhears servants discussing the Duke's infidelity and Eliza's supposed kindness and competence, contrasting it with Sophia's perceived "failed princess" status. The chapter ends with Sophia contemplating how to gather evidence and protect herself, while her guards continue to discreetly watch over her.
