The story begins with the protagonist waking up as a baby under a bridge, with no memory of how he got there or why he was transformed. After crying himself hoarse, he is found by an elderly man named Lawrence, who, intrigued by the baby's unusually calm and intelligent eyes, decides to take him in. Lawrence, revealed to be Duke Lawrence Graham Rockwell, a powerful figure in the empire, adopts the child and names him Mateo, meaning "gift from God."
Six years pass, and Mateo, now a bright six-year-old, lives a life of luxury as the Duke's grandson. He is doted on by his grandfather and attended to by maids, experiencing the opulent lifestyle of nobility, including daily teeth brushing with expensive toothbrushes and the use of fine perfumes. Mateo spends his days reading in the vast library, driven by a desire to accumulate knowledge for his future, as he is aware he is not the true heir to the Rockwell name.
One day, Duke Lawrence visits Mateo, bringing with him a gift: a Red Dragon egg. He explains that he "confiscated" it from the Emperor, intending it as a gift for Mateo. The Duke's plan is for Mateo to raise the dragon, believing it will become his greatest friend. Upon touching the egg, Mateo's latent magical power causes it to glow intensely and hatch prematurely. A small dragon, which Mateo names Eva, emerges and imprints on him as its parent. A mage, brought by the Duke to measure Mateo's immense magical power, confirms that Mateo's magic accelerated the hatching.
Later, Mateo and Eva visit the town. Eva, still small, is drawn to a cake shop. Mateo, understanding Eva's desires through their unique bond, orders cakes for her. While enjoying their treat, they witness a woman being harassed by a man. Mateo intervenes, and with a simple command, Eva transforms her foreleg into a massive dragon limb, incapacitating the attacker without causing fatal harm. This display astonishes the onlookers and the woman, who thanks Mateo.
Upon returning home, Mateo learns that his grandfather has established a school specifically for him. The Duke's motivation is to nurture Mateo's unprecedented magical talent, which has been measured to be exceptionally high, and to cultivate individuals who will spread Mateo's greatness. The school is lavishly funded and equipped with the best teachers and potential companions. The Duke also reveals his intention to have Mateo compete with the granddaughter of his close friend, Marquis Ruth Bell Wolf, to determine whose grandchild is wiser, a prospect Mateo finds daunting.
The narrative then shifts to Mateo and Eva exploring the city. Eva, now able to communicate more clearly through Mateo's understanding, expresses her desire for more cake. Mateo arranges for daily deliveries to their mansion. During a walk, they encounter the same man from before, now with a companion. Mateo, with Eva's help, incapacitates the man again, this time with a more controlled display of power. The woman Mateo helped earlier thanks him again, kissing him on the cheek.
Back at the mansion, Mateo is introduced to a peculiar man named Leif Marton, a mage and "magical engineer" brought by the Duke to further assess Mateo's magic. Leif's eccentric behavior, including sitting in a "seiza" position on a large lizard and attempting to dissect Eva, unnerves Mateo. The Duke intervenes to protect Mateo, revealing his fierce protectiveness. Leif's attempts to measure Mateo's magic with increasingly sophisticated devices result in repeated explosions, indicating Mateo's power far exceeds any known measurement. The Duke, delighted by Mateo's extraordinary abilities, plans to continue his education and ensure his legacy.
