Ansel Hirsch, an indentured servant and the illegitimate son of a Berghof nobleman, escapes captivity to free his sister. However, her freedom comes at the price of Cielolarean Silver, an imported metal with healing magic from the neighboring kingdom.

But lately, the silver has become impossible to find in Berghof. Cielolare ceased all exports after a mysterious outbreak ravaged the kingdom. With resources running low and no answers in sight, Cielolare closed the borders to prevent the plague from spreading. Only healers and noble scholars are permitted entry to help find a cure. 

Determined to get the silver, Ansel disguises himself as a noble scholar to sneak into Cielolare. He’s escorted to the royal academy and meets the prince who has been working in the child ward of the makeshift hospital. The prince is grateful to have another researcher join efforts to find the cure since progress has been stagnating. 

The noble scholars still alive refuse to conduct observational or clinical research anymore. Especially after watching each of their predecessors die after coming in contact with the plague. The survivors deem research too risky and only work on a cure based on theories.

Ansel realizes the highly contagious plague will eventually spread past the borders, sooner than later with the lack of progress. And while he needs silver to free his sister, he needs the cure to keep her alive. Even though Ansel doesn’t have a formal education like the other nobles, his innate magic could be the missing remedy.

With the help of the prince, Ansel starts his own research. However, some nobles are more focused on figuring out who Ansel really is rather than finding the cure. At first his notes and test samples go missing. But after he narrowly escapes a few murder attempts, he suspects something more sinister is afoot. Is someone trying to sabotage him so he doesn’t get credit? Or does someone not want the cure found at all? 

An Achillean plague doctor Cinderella retelling featuring botanical thriller fantasy.