King Karloi of Croisen is dissatisfied with his arranged marriage to Evonne Deluah, the daughter of his enemy who constantly reminds him of the deaths caused by her father. Despite this, he still hopes to find his first love and undermines Duke Deluah to weaken Evonne's power by taking a concubine, an unconventional step.
Unbeknownst to him, Evonne holds secrets of her own – she too is a victim of Duke Deluah, once a peasant named Rue. She longs to reveal her true identity to Karloi but is cursed and unable to do so, while her mother is held hostage by the Duke in secret.
As Karloi searches for a lost girl, he forms an inexplicable connection with Evonne. Meanwhile, the unhappy queen dreams of a peaceful life with her mother, away from the throne struggle.
