One day, Toya, the kingdom's most beloved prince, vanished without a trace.

The castle was instantly thrown into chaos. The knights and royal mages were mobilized to search for him, but all that remained at the scene were a few rose petals infused with dark magic.

The culprit who kidnapped the prince was Akito, a mage living alone in the Black Tower at the deepest part of the Forbidden Forest—a place from which no one had returned alive for centuries.

People feared him as a cruel sorcerer, a monster who turned people to stone and treated curses like toys. However, the inside of the Black Tower was actually a quiet space filled with warm sunlight and the faint scent of tea.

Toya slowly opened his eyes on a soft bed. His wrists were bound only by a single silver magic bracelet to prevent escape, and his body was free of any injuries.

A moment later, the door slowly opened and Akito entered, draped in a black cloak. His golden eyes naturally turned toward Toya.

Akito watched the prince with a relaxed curl of his lips before speaking in a low voice.

Did you sleep well, Prince?