The story begins with Anna, on her coming-of-age day, being informed by her father that her marriage has been arranged. Her father, who had previously expressed disdain for her deceased mother, is eager to marry her off, likely to secure a substantial dowry for his household, which is managed by Anna's stepmother and stepsister. The intended groom is Lord Walt, the head of the Carrington Marquisate, known for his deep devotion to his late wife. Anna, possessing memories of a past life as Haruka, a Japanese woman who endured a difficult marriage and subsequent divorce, approaches this situation with a pragmatic, almost business-like mindset. She understands her family's motives and her own precarious position, accepting the marriage with a resigned smile. Her stepsister, gleefully, spreads the news of the engagement throughout high society, anticipating the ensuing gossip.
Upon arriving at the Carrington Marquisate, Anna is met with cold reception from the staff, her reputation preceding her. Lord Walt himself informs her that he will not love her, stating his only requirement is a wife in name only, to fulfill a contractual role. He explicitly forbids her from attending social events, mirroring his late wife's situation, and instructs her to communicate only through the steward. Anna, unfazed by his harsh words and the implied distrust, agrees, finding solace in the fact that she won't have to attend social gatherings, which she dislikes. She then requests to reside in a detached annex, a former residence for concubines, which Lord Walt grudgingly permits.
In the annex, Anna establishes her independent living arrangements, declining a lady's maid and arranging for her provisions to be delivered under the watchful eye of the steward, Jim. She asserts her need for self-sufficiency, even hinting at potential dangers like poisoning, which Jim acknowledges with surprising understanding. Jim, in turn, reveals a peculiar request: Anna is to overlook the presence of "small guests" who occasionally visit the annex. Anna, initially suspecting illicit meetings, is surprised to discover these guests are a young boy named Ted and his marmot companion, Matthew.
Anna readily accepts Ted and Matthew, offering them food and a welcoming environment. She discovers Ted's poor eyesight, a fact he had been hiding due to a belief that wearing glasses is a sign of weakness for men, a prejudice he attributes to an unknown elder. Anna, remembering her own past struggles with vision and the advancements in eyewear, decides to procure glasses for Ted, intending to help him adjust to them within the annex. She also begins to suspect that Ted's academic struggles, as reported by his tutors, might be linked to his uncorrected vision.
Later, while Anna is reading with Ted, Matthew the marmot leads them to a hidden room containing an old piano. Anna, despite Ted's disinterest, attempts to play it, revealing her lack of musical talent and Ted's surprisingly keen ear for discordant notes. Their interaction is interrupted by Ted's sudden outburst of frustration when Anna tries to encourage him to play, mirroring the tantrums described by his tutors. Anna realizes she has overstepped, pushing Ted too hard, and apologizes for her intrusion.
Following this incident, Anna becomes more observant of Ted's behavior, noticing his subtle signs of poor vision, such as squinting at books and missing thrown objects. She confirms her suspicion that Ted's academic difficulties and reported tantrums might stem from his uncorrected eyesight and the negative perception of glasses. Anna resolves to help Ted overcome this, planning to procure glasses for him and discreetly investigate the source of his prejudice. She also begins to suspect that Ted's hidden nature and the presence of Matthew might be more complex than initially perceived, hinting at a deeper, perhaps troubled, background for the young boy.
