When her engagement to her childhood bully is announced, Alice Coleman, the gentle-hearted and serious daughter of an impoverished noble family, is utterly aghast. In a desperate bid to escape this fate, she blurts out a proposal to the wealthy, high-ranking son of a Duke, Arthur Grindelbard. To her shock, he accepts. This impulsive act sets the stage for a relationship that is far more complex than either of them anticipated.

The story unfolds in a setting reminiscent of a Cinderella-inspired fantasy romance, complete with noble society, grand estates, and political intrigue. The main characters include Alice, who is serious and kind-hearted; Arthur, who appears as a charming and adoring fiancé eager to spoil Alice with luxurious gifts; and Gray Golding, the childhood bully to whom Alice was originally betrothed.

Despite the strange beginning of their engagement, Arthur is devoted to Alice, but hints suggest a deeper intent behind his solicitous attention. He is a man who has had his eye on Alice for far longer than he cares to admit, a fact that becomes increasingly clear as the narrative progresses. The initial volume establishes that while Arthur fits the trope of the nice man who has been yearning for Alice for years, Gray is the dark-haired antagonist who has disguised his own yearning as bullying. Alice clearly rejects Gray, and the story makes a point of not excusing his past behavior.

As the series continues, Alice finds that being engaged to a duke's son brings more happiness than she expected, but it is not without its dangers. The story behind Arthur and Alice's shared past is eventually revealed, showing the depth of the love Arthur has held for her all along. This revelation only strengthens Alice's determination to devote herself to him in return. However, their relationship is threatened when Arthur's former fiancée returns, determined to reclaim him for herself. Facing this perilous challenge, Alice must rely on an unexpected ally to protect the bond she has formed with Arthur.