The protagonist, Maria, possesses fragmented memories of a past life, which she finds largely unhelpful due to her perceived lack of intelligence. She is currently enduring a lengthy lecture from her older brother, Earl Rayfold Rascal Desmond, known as "The Dark Earl" for his rare dark magic and imposing, aristocratic demeanor. Their tutor, seemingly indifferent, sits nearby. Maria finds solace in her brother's middle name, "Rascal," which reminds her of a cartoon character, a private amusement she cannot share.
Her brother's anger stems from Maria's unconventional post-graduation plans. While noble daughters typically enter court service or marry, Maria, due to her timid nature and past-life memories, feels ill-suited for the treacherous court or the social maneuvering required of a noble wife. She argues that she cannot fulfill either role and proposes moving to Fall Region, a remote territory of their family. Rayfold is initially taken aback but insists she remain at home. Maria counters that their family, though noble, is not wealthy enough to support her idleness, referencing a past instance where Rayfold himself dismissed a marriage proposal, deeming a woman who lived off her family's wealth a disgrace.
During dinner with Rayfold and their younger brother, Mill, Maria reiterates her intention to work at a clinic in Fall Region, as it lacks healers. Rayfold, visibly displeased, questions if their family's poverty is the reason. Maria admits their financial situation and her inability to contribute financially through marriage, feeling she would otherwise be a burden. She even offers to have her name removed from the family registry if it would be a scandal for a countess to work among commoners, which enrages Rayfold, who vehemently declares she will never be removed from the Desmond family and threatens to imprison her if she ever suggests it again.
Later, Mill visits Maria, questioning her decision to leave the capital. Maria reassures him about Fall Region's safety but struggles to articulate her true reasons. She reflects on her past life, recalling a splatter novel that eerily resembles her current world, and her fear of a bloody, destructive end. In the novel, she is killed by Rayfold, who then becomes known as the "Bloody Dark Earl." She realizes that her decision to leave the capital is to escape this fate, a truth she cannot reveal for fear of being deemed insane or confined by her brother.
The next day, Rayfold summons Maria to his room for another lecture. He reveals he knows she has been rejecting all job offers, including those for tutors, and that her decision to work in Fall Region is to escape the capital. He then confesses that he never intended to force her into anything and that he realized she was trying to distance herself from him. He admits he knew she was aware they were not blood-related, a fact he discovered recently and was deeply hurt by. Maria, realizing he was unaware of their non-sibling status until recently, apologizes profusely. Rayfold, visibly shaken, embraces her, then apologizes for his actions, a rare occurrence. He dismisses her, leaving Maria confused by his unusual behavior.
As Maria prepares to depart for Fall Region, Rayfold appears with a large bundle of teleportation arrays he created himself, insisting she return every weekend. Maria is touched by his concern, though she negotiates for monthly visits instead. She reflects on her past life and the events that led her to this point, including the suspicious deaths of her parents and her growing friendship with Lilia, who will become a saint. Her primary motivation for leaving the capital is to avoid her predicted fate and the machinations of the Crown Prince, as depicted in the novel.
