The narrative picks up with Rina Granwell, a Black Knight, waking up in a hospital with blurred vision and an inability to speak. She discovers her right side is severely impaired, with her right arm and leg unresponsive and lacking sensation. A nurse and then a magic doctor attend to her. Through a system of tapping the doctor's hand, Rina communicates that she can hear, but her vision is blurry, and her right side is immobile. The doctor explains that Rina was brought in after confronting and defeating a dragon in the Abyssal Valley to the east. She sustained severe injuries and dragon poison, requiring extensive healing magic during her transport by Blue Knights.
Rina gradually recalls the battle: a large dragon with dark scales and ram-like horns, which attacked with its tail and poisonous breath. She remembers defeating it but not the specifics of the fight or her injuries. The doctor confirms her life was saved by the efforts of three White Mages at a fort who administered healing magic and antidotes during her transport. While her physical wounds have mostly healed, the poison is responsible for her lingering symptoms. The doctor assures her that detoxification will be the focus of her treatment.
Some twenty days later, Rina's vision and speech have returned, and her right arm shows some movement, though her right leg remains largely unresponsive due to the deep penetration of dragon poison. She receives a packet containing "retirement recommendation" documents: a resignation request, a disability pension application, and a dormitory departure notice. The Black Knight order, recognizing her inability to return to active duty, has initiated her discharge. Rina, a commoner and an orphan, acknowledges her lack of demand for a teaching or mentoring role within the order, unlike many noble-born Black Knights. Despite her relatively short career at twenty-six, she accepts her fate, finding solace in the fact that she survived and will have her limbs, even with lingering effects. She plans to recover fully, move to a quiet village, and live a peaceful life tending to plants and animals.
Rina is visited by her former master, Alexandre Valanita, a formidable older man, and his wife, Leila. They are concerned about her condition and the retirement documents. Alexandre sternly questions Rina about her equipment from the dragon fight. They discover that Rina's armor and weapons, except for a gifted robe from Leila, lacked magical enchantments. Rina confesses this was due to a lack of funds. This revelation shocks Alexandre, who reminds her that Black Knights are expected to be married to skilled magic-users who provide enchantments, as such enchantments are amplified by the partner's affection and desire to protect them. This leads Rina to recall her own arranged marriage.
Rina explains that at twenty, she was ordered by the King to marry Joshua Granwell, a talented official and magic-user, the Assistant Minister of State. This was a political marriage, as Rina, a commoner and orphan, lacked the noble backing that would make her a desirable match for a magic-user seeking honor and prestige. Joshua, a high-ranking noble, was also unmarried due to his dedication to his work. Their meeting was brief, and the marriage was finalized through paperwork. Joshua's family, his mother Shirley and sister Maricia, are initially unwelcoming, viewing Rina as an unwelcome commoner. They agree to the marriage only as a formality, with Rina's family name lending prestige to their house. They demand that Rina pay a significant portion of her income to them and avoid close contact with the family, ensuring she doesn't die prematurely and tarnish their reputation. Rina realizes her hopes of forming a family bond were misplaced.
After her discharge from the hospital, Rina travels to the capital. She visits the administrative office to obtain divorce papers and then a stationery shop to buy writing materials. She stops at a familiar diner, where the owner and her daughter welcome her warmly. Rina writes letters to her former master and his wife, and to Liam MacLeod, a senior Black Knight and her "brother-in-arms," detailing her recovery, her departure from the order, and her future plans. She also includes her dragon-hunting records for Liam's research.
Rina then proceeds to the Black Knight Order's headquarters to submit her resignation and departure documents. She is met with respect and gratitude from the staff, who acknowledge her service. She retrieves her belongings from her dormitory, which are minimal, reflecting her solitary life as a knight. She says goodbye to the dorm supervisor, Clemens, who expresses his regret at her departure. Rina walks towards the carriage square, embracing her newfound freedom as just "Rina," no longer a Black Knight or a Marquis's wife.
