Maria's betrothed, Prince Renato, managed to survive meeting the family at the Annovazzi estate. However, one trial invites another...because delegates from the neighboring Sandelz Empire have arrived, so now the engaged pair must turn their attention to foreign diplomacy!

Officially, the prince of Sandelz and his retinue have descended to celebrate Prince Renato and Maria's engagement. But when the empire they hail from has a history of conquest and internal strife, no one in Rubini can afford to relax! And then there's the fact that the prince's younger sister, Princess Ancelline, once wanted to marry Renato... It's going to take all of Maria's training to navigate these international waters!