Maria

At a Confessional

Under the effect of Sotoba 's curse, Mizuo is blessed with unbelievable luck. Due to that luck, he is able to marry a former supermodel, with whom he has a daughter named Maria. Some years pass, during which time Mizuo undergoes plastic surgery to switch identities with one of his servants, becoming Tamiya.↗

While at the park one day, Maria tosses a piece of popcorn in the air and tries to catch it in her mouth, narrowly missing. Her father is filled with happiness at the sight of her cute actions—triggering the reappearance of Sotoba's spirit, which possesses Maria and grips Tamiya's throat, thinking the servant is Mizuo. After quickly incapacitating Mizuo, the beggar's spirit challenges Tamiya to toss a piece of popcorn in the air and catch it in his mouth three times to prove his luck.↗

With no other option, Tamiya agrees to the terms. Though he narrowly catches two pieces in his mouth through quick thinking, his plan attracts the attention of a number of pigeons. To ward them off, Tamiya lights the last piece of popcorn on fire as he throws it, scaring away the birds; his plan fails when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, obscuring his view of the popcorn. The kernel lands on Tamiya's shoulder, and Sotoba immediately cuts off his head.↗

Background

Maria was ten years old when she became possessed by Sotoba. Although it was just a scary dream to her, she began living alone with her mother after that and stopped seeing her father as much.↗↗

As an adult, she worked as a bridal model. At one point, she passed by the same mask shop and saw a beautiful mask through the window, which had the same design as the mask she wanted as a child. As a way to reclaim control over her life and create her own value outside the whims of luck and curses, she chose to become a mask-maker and began working under the owner of that mask shop, dedicating herself to a craft that relied on skill and conviction rather than luck.↗

One day during a sudden downpour, Maria took shelter under an eave. Seeing Lorenzo Grimani run toward her to take shelter as well, Maria dropped her handkerchief, feeling strangely drawn to him. As they both reached for it, their fingers touched, and Lorenzo charmed her by romantically declaring that he could hear "fate" ringing bells of blessing for them. They soon fell in love and became engaged.↗↗

Meeting Rohan

Guided by information from a pickpocket, Rohan Kishibe visits Maria's mask shop to return a Venetian Carnival mask the thief stole. Initially, the store appears deserted. After Rohan calls out a second time, Maria emerges from the back, painting a mask. She still doesn't notice Rohan until he calls out to her again. Maria is thankful that she got the mask back, as it was the same red-and-white one she wanted as a child.↗↗

Rohan then receives a phone call from Kyoka Izumi, who tells him that the man who invited them to Venice, Lorenzo Grimani, is getting married and had hoped to meet Rohan before the ceremony. Rohan learns that the bride is Maria. Realizing how everything is connected, Rohan turns Maria into a book and reads her.↗↗

Wedding with Lorenzo

After reading a bit, Rohan is interrupted by Mizuo entering the house. He tries to convince Maria to cancel the wedding, claiming Lorenzo is unfaithful. He shows her a photo of Lorenzo and Kyoka hugging in celebration. Maria, trusting Lorenzo's character, dismisses the accusation and refuses to call off the wedding. Mizuo, in desperation, grabs Maria's wedding dress and flees to the rooftop. Rohan follows him and watches Mizuo jump.↗↗

The next morning, Lorenzo rushes to Maria and proposes they outsmart her father by moving the wedding up a day to a secret location, explaining Rohan's theatrical plan to deceive Mizuo and the curse. During the staged ceremony, as Mizuo bursts into the chapel, Maria plays her part at the altar. When a hired hitman (secretly using blanks) fires at Lorenzo, Maria leaps in front to "protect" him and collapses.↗↗↗

Profile details

Status: Alive (TSKR)↗