The story follows Lize, a young girl who is a talented but exploited magic tool craftsman. Her older sister, Artemisia, a beautiful and ambitious woman, uses Lize's skills to advance her own social standing. Artemisia dreams of marrying Prince Albert, who is impressed by the magic tools she presents, believing they will elevate his country's technological prowess. However, Prince Albert notices that some of the magic tools bear traces of another person's magic signature, which Artemisia dismisses as a family business arrangement.
Lize lives in a state of constant fear and abuse from her family. Her sister physically assaults her for minor imperfections in her work, and her parents verbally berate her and withhold food. Lize's primary skill is her ability to perfectly mimic other people's magic signatures on magic tools, a technique she learned from her grandmother, a renowned but eccentric former royal. This skill is crucial for Artemisia's plan to present herself as the sole creator of these impressive items.
Artemisia receives a new, highly complex request from Prince Albert: a magic tool that must be entirely her own creation, with no trace of anyone else's magic. Lize is terrified, knowing that perfect imitation is nearly impossible, even for her grandmother. The pressure to complete this task, along with her daily chores and the constant threat of starvation and abuse, pushes Lize to her limits. She works tirelessly, fueled by the desire for a better life, symbolized by the simple pleasure of white bread and meat.
After days of intense work, Lize finally succeeds in creating a magic tool with a perfect imitation of her sister's magic signature. However, her mother shows no praise, dismissing her skill as only useful for forgery. Lize is denied the meat she craved as a reward, further deepening her despair.
Artemisia, meanwhile, successfully uses the magic tool to secure her engagement to Prince Albert. The prince is captivated by her beauty and her supposed talent in magic tool creation, seeing it as a key to his country's future.
The engagement announcement requires Artemisia's family to attend a ball. Artemisia demands Lize create a new, elaborate dress for her within two days, a task that seems impossible given its complexity. Lize, driven by the fear of further punishment and starvation, works relentlessly, sacrificing sleep and pushing herself to the brink. She manages to complete the dress just in time.
At the ball, Lize, exhausted and underfed, collapses after drinking a sweet juice, causing a scene. Artemisia, embarrassed, distances herself from her sister, claiming Lize is ill-mannered. Lize is taken to a private room and examined by a powerful magician, Dior, the Duke of Rospitaria. He discovers Lize has severe "magic burns" on her hands from prolonged use of magic tool crafting tools, a condition that should be fatal. He is shocked that she is still alive and orders her to stop crafting magic tools immediately.
Lize, terrified of her family's reaction and the potential loss of income, hesitates. Dior, recognizing her talent and the abuse she suffers, takes her under his protection, effectively kidnapping her from her family. He reveals that her family is exploiting her, selling her creations while keeping her in poverty. Lize is brought to the Duke's mansion, where she is treated with kindness and given nourishing food, a stark contrast to her previous life. She is assigned the job of walking the Duke's spirited wolf spirit, Ferilus, and is strictly forbidden from doing any magic tool crafting.
Meanwhile, Lize's parents, realizing they cannot replicate her work and are facing financial ruin due to missed deadlines and their own lack of skill, attempt to retrieve her from the Duke's mansion. They are rebuffed and threatened by the Duke's guards and his wolf spirit.
At the Duke's mansion, Lize begins to recover, enjoying the simple pleasures of good food and companionship with Ferilus. She learns that the Duke's intention in taking her is not romantic but to legally gain custody of her, thereby protecting her from her abusive family. The Duke then proposes a marriage to Lize, not out of love, but as the most effective way to sever her family's claim over her and ensure her safety and well-being. Lize, though initially confused and overwhelmed, begins to find a sense of belonging and safety in her new environment.
