Chapter 1
1. Prologue
The Ortezo Grand Duke’s Castle in the North was known as a haunted castle.
It was dark, gloomy, and full of dust — sunlight never reached it.
The long war against monsters had filled the land with magical corruption (magi).
Maybe that’s why the land and air around the castle felt cursed.
And one of the “famous things” about this haunted castle was—“Wahaha! Idiots! Try catching me if you can!”
—its crazy, wild children, who were worse than monsters.
The Two Types of Ortezo Bloodline
Among the Ortezo family members living in the North, there were two kinds of people:
Immunes – those who could resist the magi that covered the North.
They often had special powers, so people also called them gifted ones.
Non-immunes – normal people who couldn’t handle magi exposure.
All Immunes — whether from the main or side branch — lived and trained inside the castle.
The Non-immunes were sent to live outside.
Because they could endure magi and even had powers, the immune children were given great authority.
But… there was one big problem.
“The stronger their powers, the worse their personalities.”
The children of the North were notorious little troublemakers.
Chaos in the Castle
Even the head maid and her assistants, who had minor powers themselves, could barely handle them.
“That’s the first lord’s treasured keepsake!”
“So what? You can’t catch me anyway!”
Huge maids and servants, taller than two meters, ran down the hall trying to catch the kids.
But the children had higher rank — and stronger powers.
A seven-year-old boy grabbed a glass ornament.
“Please, young master, put that down!”
“It’s dangerous!”
The air was tense as the adults begged.
But the boy just laughed and—
Crash!
The glass figure shattered across the floor.
The tall maid raised her fist and shouted,
“Broken glass in the hallway! Watch your step!”
“Nope! I won’t! It’s annoying! Who cares—AHHH!”
He stepped on the broken glass and cut his foot. Blood dripped everywhere.
The head maid sighed as she cleaned up and bandaged his wound.
“Another accident today… but at least no one died this time.”
But then—
“What are you looking at? Look down, servant!”
The usual insults came flying.
The magi in the North often corrupted the minds of children.
So, the servants tried to be understanding. Usually.
But the boy wasn’t done yet.
“Hahaha! You idiots!”
He tore off the bandage and ran away again, leaving bloody footprints behind.
The head maid muttered,
“That damned little monster…”
The servants and maids of the North lived under endless stress from such brats.
A Strange Visitor
And then—
“Emergency!”
Guards rushed into the hall. They rarely showed emotion, but today, something was different.
Behind them walked a small child.
Everyone stopped.
She had silver hair and purple eyes, shining softly like light itself.
That was strange — people in the North always had dark hair and eyes due to the magi’s corruption.
This child looked completely out of place.
Wrapped tightly in a sweater with flower patterns, the little girl bowed politely.
Even the head maid, who never lost her composure, stammered.
“E-excuse me, but who…?”
A guard answered,
“This is the youngest lady of the Ortezo family. Her mother’s family requested a week-long visit.”
“The youngest lady? How did she come here?”
“By… teleportation scroll, ma’am.”
“……”
That wasn’t what she meant — she wanted to ask why the girl came alone.
“B-but, my lady, you’re not immune to magi. Are you feeling all right?”
The head maid looked the girl up and down anxiously.
She had heard that this child was too weak to live in the North, so she had been sent to her mother’s family in the South after birth.
But the girl smiled brightly.
“Yup! I’m fine!”
Completely unaware of their worry, she bowed deeply and said with cheerful eyes,
“Hello! My name is Airi Ortezo, and I’m five years old!”
Everyone froze.
Polite? Cheerful? In the North?!
The average northern child’s first words were usually “Get lost!”
Everyone stared blankly, waiting for her next move.
Airi blinked, realizing she forgot something.
She lifted her long skirt slightly and bowed again — a perfect 90-degree bow.
“Please take good care of me!”
Her bright, chirpy voice was something no one in the North had ever heard.
The head maid was the first to recover.
“May I ask why you came, my lady? And… where is your guardian?”
Then she bit her tongue — her words sounded too harsh.
But Airi politely replied,
“I came by myself. Um, where is the head of the family?”
Calling the Duke “the boss” made her sound adorably childish.
The maid’s heart softened a little as she explained,
“The Grand Duke and Duchess are both away due to the monster war. They’re outside the territory.”
“Oh…”
Airi looked genuinely surprised.
Normally, northern children would throw tantrums in such cases.
But she calmly said,
“I didn’t expect that, but it’s okay. I’ll wait.”
Everyone — maids, servants, even the hardened guards — swallowed their breath.
That radiant smile.
Those sparkling eyes.
That kind, gentle tone.
Those rosy cheeks.
She was unlike anyone the North had ever seen.
A new kind of child had arrived —a bright little angel in the land of monsters.
