Irma survives as a nimble street thief in the imperial capital until palace inquisitors capture her, sentencing her to the executioner's axe for royal theft. Her neck is on the chopping block when Crown Prince Lukian intervenes, purchasing her life as a biological blood source to soothe an ancient necrotic curse consuming his heart. To their mutual astonishment, Irma's unique black blood heals his affliction through simple physical contact, forging an inexplicable spiritual bond.
Their delicate alliance collapses into horror when Irma discovers that Lukian's icy noble fiancée Rina has spent decades slaughtering black-blooded maidens—including Irma's mother—to fuel her unnatural immortality. When Irma gathers evidence of the genocide, Rina strikes back by framing Irma for regicide and staging a bloody palace coup. Irma and the weakened prince must unite their powers to reclaim the kingdom.
