Every time the king dies, he's reborn in the body of the last person to see him alive—a secret known only to a select few. Through centuries, this power has sustained the royal lineage despite wars, assassinations, and threats. The crown and the ash ceremony are merely symbols of this hidden transfer of consciousness, ensuring the king's wisdom endures through generations.
The protagonist unwittingly becomes the last person to see the dying king. In a moment of panic and confusion, they witness the monarch's final breath, not understanding the significance of being alone with him in his final moments. Soon after, they begin experiencing strange memories that aren't their own and find themselves being ushered into royal chambers as advisors insist they are now the sovereign.
Struggling with their new dual identity, the protagonist must quickly adapt to royal responsibilities while coming to terms with centuries of accumulated memories. They discover plots against the crown that have persisted for generations, recognize familiar faces from past lives, and must decide whether to continue this ancient tradition or break the cycle that has kept the kingdom stable but has now stolen their former life.