Sungderella or Sungjong is the much-loved only child of a widowed aristocrat. After deciding that his beloved son needs a mother's care, Sungjong's father marries a proud and haughty person named Sungyeol Tremaine. Sungyeol has two sons from the first marriage, Hoyastasia and Dongwoozela. Plain and socially awkward, these stepbrothers are bitterly envious of the beautiful and charming Sungderella.

The family lives in happiness for several years, until the death of Sungderella's father. After that, Sungyeol Tremaine's true nature is revealed, and he and his spiteful sons take over the estate, and begin to abuse and mistreat Sungderella, envious of his beauty. He is forced into becoming a scullery maid and made to wait upon her jealous stepsisters.