Born into a family of hereditary military men, Sasha Shabalin did not imagine a fate other than military service, and after graduation he was ready to go to the border of the empire to continue the work of his glorious ancestors. But they say correctly: "If you want to make the gods laugh, tell them about your plans." Fate had slightly different plans for the duty station of the freshly baked lieutenant. And he did not have a chance to see the distant borderland, the Ginkush mountains, covered with glaciers, and the valleys drowning in greenery, could not take part in skirmishes with the highlanders, but had to go overseas to the kingdom of Rovalia to the post of adjutant of the military attache. Not the most heroic place of service, it would seem. But the young lieutenant does not yet know that a ball in the royal palace can be more dangerous than a raid in the wild mountains, and the killers of the secret order of dark elves are much more deadly than all mountain tribes combined.