The story begins with the tragic life of a young girl born under a dark star. Raised in squalor by an abusive mother who worked at a seedy bar, her only solace came from drawing and watching late-night anime. Despite her harsh reality, she found immense joy in receiving a notebook and pencil in elementary school, only to become a target for relentless bullying due to her impoverished state. Her life was a constant cycle of physical and emotional abuse from both her mother and classmates, who called her derogatory names. Her favorite escape was the anime "Melody of Burning Hair," a tale of a cheerful duchess named Melody who navigates a glamorous world of princes and nobles.
A pivotal moment occurs when her precious notebook is destroyed and defaced. Her mother's cruel laughter and mocking words about her being a "maggot" spark a deep-seated question about why such beings are despised. As she enters middle school, the abuse continues, but the uniform alleviates her clothing concerns. However, her mother's jealousy over her daughter's burgeoning appearance leads to a violent confrontation. In a tragic accident, the girl's own cutter fatally wounds her, and she dies in her squalid room, lamenting her existence as a mere maggot.
She is reborn as Alice Lenier, a noble daughter in a Western-style world, blessed with loving parents and material comfort. However, her past life memories cast a shadow over her happiness. At seven, her knight father dies in the line of duty, and her pregnant mother succumbs to grief and childbirth complications. Alice dedicates herself to caring for her sickly infant sister, but tragically, her sister dies. Devastated, Alice curses the gods and her own powerlessness. Her sole desire becomes her sister's resurrection, a salvation she knows lies in the darkest depths.
Alice realizes her current world and its names align with "Melody of Burning Hair," and her neighbor, Duchess Melody, is the anime's heroine. Her own name, Alice Lenier, belongs to a noblewoman who is secretly a combatant for the demon-worshipping organization "Twilight Gatekeepers." Knowing the anime's plot, Alice proactively seeks to join the organization, believing it holds the key to her sister's revival. She manipulates her way into a gathering of high-ranking clergy, one of whom is secretly the organization's second-in-command. Whispering a secret phrase, she pledges her soul to the demon king, promising her loved ones' resurrection in return for her service.
Months later, Alice enters a convent affiliated with the organization, undergoing years of training. Upon reaching the top hundred members, she gains the ability to transform into a demon. Choosing her own epithet, she declares herself "The Queen of Flies," a stark contrast to the anime's "Queen of Butterflies," whose abilities she finds repulsive.
Years later, at sixteen, Alice has risen to the ninth-ranked executive of the "Twilight Gatekeepers." She attends a royal ball, a significant event in the anime's plot, where she encounters Sasha, her guardian, and Melody. Despite her reservations about social events and her aversion to men, Alice is forced to participate. During the ball, a minor incident involving spilled drink leads to a confrontation with Eliza Cornou, a character known for her malice. Alice intervenes, not out of heroism, but to prevent an unpleasant scene. This leads to an encounter with Prince Albert, the anime's hero, and later, with Camus, the second prince and a high-ranking member of her own organization.
Alice's interactions with Albert are fraught with tension, as he seems to see through her facade, recognizing a hidden sadness in her eyes. Her attempts to avoid dancing with him are thwarted, and she is ultimately carried away by Sasha, her guardian, who is concerned about her injured ankle. Back at her residence, Sasha lectures her about her interactions with the princes, emphasizing the importance of her marriage prospects and the political implications of her potential alliances. Alice, weary and frustrated, retreats to her room, where she prepares to meet her new subordinates.
Upon arriving at the organization's hidden base, Alice is shocked to discover that her assigned subordinates, Needle and Sword, are both men, despite her explicit request for female companions. Needle, a skilled tailor, and Sword, a formidable warrior, are introduced. Alice, despite her initial dismay and Sword's disrespectful demeanor, attempts to establish her authority. She assigns them the task of redecorating her personal quarters, hoping to assert her leadership. The chapters conclude with Alice reflecting on her difficult day and the challenges ahead as she navigates her dual life as a noblewoman and a high-ranking member of an evil organization.
