Marie is the second daughter of the impoverished noble Shaderan family, living in the Dilts kingdom. From childhood, she endures constant emotional and physical abuse from her parents, who treat her as a servant while favoring her older sister, Anastasia. Because of this neglect, Marie grows up with a deeply ingrained lack of self-worth, believing herself to be unwanted and unattractive. She is often shown handling her father’s paperwork and studying the culture of Ipsandros, demonstrating a quiet intelligence and diligence. On her own birthday, her parents use the occasion solely to showcase Anastasia, leaving Marie to feel invisible. While crying in the garden, she meets Count Kyros Granado, who is immediately charmed by her gentle personality and knowledge of his culture. However, a misunderstanding caused by her parents leads Kyros to send his marriage proposal to Anastasia instead. When Anastasia goes missing and is presumed dead, Marie is sent to Kyros’s home as a replacement. Though Kyros quickly realizes his mistake and that Marie was the one he truly loved, Marie cannot accept this truth, believing herself to be merely a substitute for her sister. This disbelief drives much of her internal conflict. Marie’s core motivation is initially to endure her situation and fulfill her duty, but as Kyros patiently shows her kindness, she begins to desire genuine love and acceptance. Her personality is gentle, sweet, and hardworking, yet burdened by self-doubt and a tendency to put others before herself. She is resilient, having survived years of mistreatment, and her hidden strength emerges as she learns to stand up for herself. Her role as the protagonist is to journey from complete self-denial toward self-worth, with Kyros acting as a catalyst for her transformation. Key relationships include her rivalry with Anastasia, who is jealous of Marie’s newfound happiness and tries to sabotage it; her abusive mother, Eliane, who perpetuates the cycle of neglect; and her loyal maid Mio, who offers quiet support. Marie’s development is gradual and emotional: she learns to trust Kyros’s love, begins to see her own value, and ultimately breaks free from her family’s toxic influence. Notable abilities include her intellectual curiosity and studious nature, her emotional resilience, and her capacity for hard work and patience. Throughout the story, she evolves from a ragged, overlooked girl into a confident young woman capable of embracing love and independence.