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No one thought it would happen, but an agreement is struck between the papacy and the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire. To seal the fragile alliance, Imperial Knight Johannes Braun is wed to Apollonia Frangipani, niece of the head of one of Rome’s most powerful families and a staunch supporter of Pope Adrian IV.
What begins as a symbol of unity quickly turns fragile. Rome resents the alliance, and unrest brews beneath the surface.
For Johannes, the conflict becomes personal. Apollonia has never been denied anything in her life, and she expects the same in marriage. Her demands grow increasingly difficult to meet, threatening both his standing and the empire’s delicate diplomacy.
Bound by duty and trapped in a collapsing union, Johannes must choose what he will sacrifice: his honor, his loyalty, or his marriage.