Alfred Raguwarze, the eldest son of a count, is reborn into the world of an otome game as a third-year student at the royal academy. His appearance, social status, and grades all sit comfortably in the upper-middle range, a position he likens to the seventh station of a mountain climb. Content with his fate as a perfectly average background character, he expects to coast through his school days untouched by the main storyline. That plan unravels when he accidentally encounters Gilbert Rannile, a strikingly handsome first-year who is one of the game's official capture targets, known around the academy as the Ice Prince.

The two begin spending time together in a secret hideaway on campus. Despite his intention to keep a low profile, Alfred finds himself unconsciously pampering and doting on the younger boy, drawing bewildered stares from the noble young ladies who witness their interactions. What starts as an unlikely friendship deepens over shared quiet moments, and Alfred's oblivious affection only intensifies Gilbert's growing attachment.

The story's first major turning point, referred to as the Prince Escape Incident, occurs about a month later as summer arrives. Gilbert is pressured into a study session with a prince and a baron's daughter, which leads the group to the Duke Lucreipe's territory. There, Gilbert is caught in a dangerous situation inside an abandoned mine. Sensing the crisis, Alfred rushes after him, and the sight that greets him stirs a protective fury he cannot contain. In that moment of peril, he is forced to recognize the true nature of his feelings for Gilbert, finally understanding that what he feels goes far beyond friendly concern. The narrative interweaves the daily sweetness of their growing bond with moments of genuine tension as the characters navigate both the established game plot and their own unexpected emotional journey.