Deep within the secluded woods dwells Allen, a reclusive sorcerer who despises human company. The locals shun him, whispering fearful tales of the so-called “Dark Mage.” His solitary existence takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles upon Charlotte, a young noblewoman lying unconscious in the wilderness. Though pure-hearted, she had been falsely accused of heinous crimes, leading to her broken betrothal and exile from her homeland.
Allen’s past resurfaces—memories of betrayal by those he once trusted as comrades. Seeing the injustice inflicted upon the seventeen-year-old, he feels an odd kinship with her plight. Determined to offer her refuge, he makes a decision: “She can stay in my home, and I’ll educate her in every wicked art I know…” What begins as an act of defiance against the world that wronged them both soon evolves into something neither anticipated.
The mansion, long shrouded in isolation, becomes a sanctuary for the outcasts. Charlotte, stripped of her former life, finds herself under the tutelage of a man feared by many. Yet, beneath his cold exterior lies a mentor who understands the sting of betrayal. As days pass, their bond deepens, blurring the lines between teacher and student, outcast and ally.
Meanwhile, whispers of their unusual arrangement spread, stirring unrest among those who once condemned them. The forest, once a barrier, now feels like a fragile shield against the outside world’s judgment. Allen’s resolve wavers—will his lessons in defiance protect Charlotte, or will they draw her deeper into the darkness he’s come to embody?
Charlotte, too, faces a choice: embrace the ruthless teachings of her enigmatic guardian or cling to the remnants of her former innocence. The path ahead is uncertain, but one truth remains—their fates are now entwined, bound by shared scars and a world that cast them aside.
Comment