Synopsis

At the northern edge of the world, a land of snow and battle—The Kingdom of Svalbard.

Amidst harsh nature and a long-standing conflict with the southern power, the Aurelian Empire, Svalbard values martial prowess and military merit above all else, and patriarchal traditions remain deeply rooted.

When the previous King, Erik, passed away without a male heir, the kingdom was split into two major factions over the succession.

The Prince's Faction—The Traditionalists

Led by the Grand Marshal Gunnar, this faction supports the late King's younger brother, Gald. They argue that in these times of imperial threat, a strong male leader is necessary. Gald himself is a popular hero, making their influence formidable.

The Chancellor's Faction—The Pragmatists

Led by the Chancellor Oswald, this faction supports the legitimacy of the late King's daughter. However, their true aim is to maintain their own influence by supporting a Queen they believe they can control.

Wary of the power balance shifting too far toward the military, Erik had betrothed his only daughter, Elena, to Lucian, the second son of the prestigious Marquis Eberhardt house, from a young age.

Bind the royal family to a powerful noble house to keep Gald and Gunnar in check.

—That was the equilibrium the late King had built.

But Erik succumbed to illness.
With no son, the one he entrusted the crown to was his only daughter, Elena.

The Nineteen-Year-Old Queen—Elena Varkhalt

She is the successor chosen by the late King himself, and to openly deny her throne is tantamount to defying the late King's will and the authority of the Varkhalt royal house.

Still, in a country where patriarchy and martial values are strong, many were displeased by the coronation of a girl who knew nothing of the battlefield and possessed no army, faction, or backing loyal to her.

And after the King's death, the former equilibrium shifted into a struggle for the crown.

The Chancellor's Faction—The Eberhardt House

Led by Chancellor Oswald, the Eberhardt house intends to first protect Elena's throne and person to finalize the marriage with Lucian, then force her to abdicate and transfer the throne to Lucian.

The Prince's Faction—The Varkhalt House

Led by Grand Marshal Gunnar, they aim to have Elena abdicate in favor of Gald, the late King's brother. They believe that a 'Puppet Queen' controlled by the Chancellor will lead the country to ruin.

What the two factions want is not Elena.
It is the crown she wears.

Even so, the reason Elena remains on the throne now is because both factions are wary of each other. If one makes a major move, the other will block it.

The daughter, who has nothing, is now utilizing the balance her father built as a strong King just to survive.

To that end, Elena hides her own intelligence and plays the 'Puppet Queen' who cannot decide anything for herself, following the opinions of the men.

This is to ensure neither side wins and to make both feel there is no need to move immediately.

But that is not a solution.

All she is buying is time.

If her true talent or her will to seize royal power for herself were discovered, the Chancellor's faction would rush the marriage and subsequent abdication, and the Prince's faction would lean toward hardline measures before it's too late.

Before that happens, she must build her own support base and gain prestige as a Queen.

Failure means losing not just the crown, but her freedom, and in the worst case, even her life.

The Unhatched Contract Beast—Guest

By Elena's side is the white egg of a Contract Beast that has yet to hatch—Guest.

In Svalbard, the Contract Beast is a symbol of the King's power. A powerful beast grants the King absolute charisma and deterrent force. Conversely, a King who cannot hatch a beast, or whose beast is weak, is looked down upon.

Everyone believes that nothing but a small, ornamental beast will hatch from the egg of a 'Puppet Queen.'

But Elena alone believes.
That the consciousness she communicates with inside the egg—Guest—is her only true ally and her final trump card to overturn this situation.

Will you hatch as a beast that protects the Queen, or will you become the flame that consumes the kingdom?

The survival strategy of the Queen and the egg begins now.