Therese, the daughter of an impoverished marquis, works tirelessly to save every penny just to get by. When she is offered a chance to change her situation by competing to become the next royal consort, she initially declines, believing someone as poor as herself has no place in such a contest. However, her decision changes when she learns that simply being a candidate could secure her a high-paying position as a lady-in-waiting. Motivated by the promise of a steady paycheck, Therese enters the royal selection, only to discover that the competition at the castle is far more cutthroat than she ever anticipated.

The story follows Therese, a pragmatic young woman whose down-to-earth attitude often puts her at odds with the scheming noblewomen competing for the prince's attention. Key figures in her life include Leina, her loyal attendant who tutors her in the skills needed to become a lady-in-waiting, and Jade, her dedicated escort knight who protects her. The prince himself is a special presence whose actions directly influence the fate of all the consort candidates.

Several notable events unfold as the competition escalates. While Jade is away, a group of noblewomen barge into Therese's room and lay a hand on Leina, provoking Therese to stand up against her bullies to protect her friend. Following this chaos, Therese receives a personal visit from the prince. Later, Therese receives a rose from the prince that slowly blooms into a deep red color. She suspects a special meaning behind the changing color, especially when she learns the other candidates have also received similar roses. Before she can investigate further, Therese mysteriously goes missing during a tea party, leaving Jade and the prince to face the crisis.