Nokhee's life spirals downward after her foster father meets a tragic end, transforming into a serpent monster. She is then taken in by a powerful noble family, seemingly transitioning into a pampered young lady. However, this facade hides a cruel reality: Nokhee is merely a 'living talisman,' kept solely to avert bad fortune from the household, enduring suffocating isolation.

The only relief Nokhee finds in this wretched life comes from Giju, a servant boy who understands her low status and suffering. But her existence becomes increasingly painful as time passes. She eventually discovers a terrible secret: the heirloom she unwillingly swallowed is actually Giju’s reverse scale—his most crucial and fatal weakness.

Desperate to undo the harm she caused, Nokhee tries to push him away, believing Giju deserves freedom from this hell, even if she cannot escape it herself. But the dark destiny intertwining them is relentless. Their relationship descends into a desperate and passionate entanglement, as hinted by the raw demands placed upon her: "Haa… my lady. Hold onto the pillar, lift your skirt, and bite down."

/ Alternatives: 옥사의 역린