The story begins by establishing a world where a "Saint" arrives from another world every thirty-four years. Historically, these Saints have been described as unattractive and morally corrupt, yet they are compelled to undertake a perilous journey to the west. This year marks the thirty-fourth anniversary of the previous Saint's arrival.
The narrative then shifts to Chino Yuna, a young woman who, while returning home from university on a misty day, inexplicably finds herself transported from an asphalt road to a forest path. The surroundings are rustic and Western-European in style, with a wooden bridge, small houses, and no modern infrastructure. After failing to return to her original location, Yuna encounters an elderly farmer who, surprisingly, she can understand and speak with. The farmer takes her to a local church, where Father Harrington explains that she is a "Saint" who has arrived from another world, a phenomenon that occurs every thirty-four years.
Father Harrington informs Yuna that she will be able to use magic and has a crucial duty: to retrieve the "Thirty-Four Line Scripture" from a place called "Uthna" in the far west, and bring it back to the Royal Capital's Silver Cathedral. He also reveals that she cannot return to her original world. Yuna, overwhelmed and anxious, expresses her feelings of loneliness and fear, but also admits that the loss of her parents has lessened the sting of being unable to return home. Father Harrington, seeing her distress, gives her a black veil to wear, as her appearance is too different from previous Saints, suggesting she is not conventionally beautiful by their standards.
The scene then shifts to the Silver Cathedral in the Royal Capital, where the escort unit for the first Saint, Alice, is in disarray due to the unexpected arrival of a second Saint, Yuna. General Edward Lang, the unit's commander, is absent, leaving the less capable General Orville Hatch in charge. Hatch, who had been relieved that the beautiful and docile Alice was manageable, is now stressed by the prospect of dealing with another Saint, potentially one like the historical accounts. He orders the organization of an escort unit for Yuna, intending to avoid accompanying her himself. The task falls to the young knight Douglas Shaw. Shaw, initially reluctant, agrees when offered command of a small unit. He questions Hatch about his authority if the new Saint proves unreasonable, and Hatch, eager to delegate, allows Shaw to handle Yuna's transfer based on his own judgment, prioritizing Alice.
Shaw and his knights arrive at Rebecca Church to escort Yuna. Shaw, who is young and handsome, immediately questions Yuna about her veil, becoming aggressive when she explains it's due to her appearance. Yuna, recalling past negative experiences with critical relatives, struggles to articulate her feelings, leading to further misunderstanding and hostility from Shaw, who accuses her of being manipulative and unpleasant. Yuna, feeling increasingly isolated and misunderstood, is further distressed by Shaw's harsh words and the coldness of his men.
During their journey, the group stops at a diner. Yuna, feeling unwell and ostracized, requests to eat separately, which is granted by the kind diner owner's wife, Anne. However, Shaw and his men continue to treat Yuna with disdain, assuming she is trying to manipulate them. Yuna, increasingly demoralized, is assigned a separate room at an inn. Shaw continues to berate her, accusing her of seeking "other services" and being a "worst woman."
The next day, Yuna is summoned to the Silver Cathedral to meet with Cardinal Roman Astrea. Before entering, she overhears two knights discussing her negatively, reinforcing the idea that she is seen as monstrous and a nuisance. She decides to remove her veil, hoping to pass as a servant, but is recognized by Shaw, who, after a brief, tense encounter, is called away by his companions.
Yuna is then led to a waiting room where she meets Anne, the Cardinal's aide, who treats her with kindness and offers her tea. Yuna, feeling a glimmer of hope, is then summoned to meet Cardinal Astrea. During their conversation, Astrea questions Yuna about her alleged disruptive behavior and accusations of insulting Father Harrington and sexually harassing Shaw. Yuna denies these accusations, explaining her interactions with Shaw were purely practical and that she was misunderstood. She struggles to recall specific details, which Astrea interprets as evasiveness.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Astrea discusses the situation with his aide, Osborne, who believes Yuna is simply "different" and perhaps too self-aware, but not malicious. They acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, with two Saints and a divided escort unit. The King has decreed that Alice will be the primary Saint, with Yuna as a secondary figure, assigned fewer guards. Hatch, unwilling to be assigned to Yuna, manipulates the situation to avoid her, leaving Lang to take on Yuna's escort, a task he accepts with resignation.
Yuna, after her difficult meeting with the Cardinal, returns to her room, feeling dejected. She receives a message from Alice's attendant, inviting her to meet Alice before their departure. She is sent a maid outfit, which she accepts, feeling it's appropriate given her current treatment.
As Yuna heads to the meeting, she overhears more disparaging remarks from knights about her appearance and behavior, further crushing her spirit. She removes her veil to avoid being recognized as the Saint, but is almost discovered by Shaw again, only to be saved by his companions. Finally, she is led to a waiting room where Anne, the Cardinal's aide, greets her kindly.
