Beauty and the Raven

Born into the prestigious House Royceite, Grand Duchess Evelyn Ra Royceite was destined for a life of grace and privilege. However, her dark hair and eyes—considered an ominous omen in the Theian Empire—made her an outcast among the nobility. Hoping to reverse her perceived misfortune, her family compels her to attend the emperor’s debutante ball. There, she encounters the heir to the rival House Casablanca, the Grand Duchess of Ansian, whose breathtaking beauty leaves a lasting impression on Evelyn. Yet, the event only exposes the deep-seated hostility and prejudice directed toward her. Unwilling to remain a caged crow trapped within noble society, Evelyn makes a bold decision. She abandons her aristocratic life to pursue a long-held dream: living freely as a wandering mercenary. For several years, she embraces this rugged existence far from the empire's judgmental gaze. But her hard-won independence is suddenly disrupted when an unexpected visitor arrives at her doorstep, threatening to pull her back into the world she left behind.