: The protagonist, noted for her joy and sympathy rather than classical beauty, whose death just months after her wedding became the stuff of national folklore.

The novel was originally published in 2003 by Lumen and spans approximately 288 pages.

: It details the rapid courtship and 1878 marriage between Mercedes and Alfonso XII, a union that faced significant opposition from the king's mother, Isabella II.

is a historical novel by María Pilar Queralt del Hierro that explores the life of María de las Mercedes of Orléans , the first wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain . Unlike the traditional "sweet and naive" image of the queen often found in popular legends and songs, this biography novelada portrays her as a woman with a restless character who was deeply interested in the turbulent politics of her time. Key Narrative Details

: Her husband, who is depicted as deeply saddened by her loss but also portrayed within the context of the era's royal norms regarding mistresses.

: The story begins with the queen's tragic death at age 18 and uses frequent time jumps to reconstruct her short biography, including her childhood in Seville and periods of exile in France and Portugal.