Lucia and Florencia, two halves of an empire, split down the center in a war that has raged for centuries. In the recent decades of the hostilities, the two sides have been particularly egregious towards one another. With the Battle of the Dead Emperors, the rulers and their immediate heirs on both sides of the conflict have been killed, leaving Lucia and Florencia with rulers not expected to be within the immediate line of succession. Together, Empress Caelestinius of Lucia and Albion Justin of Florencia have met in secret to discuss a plan to end the war once and for all. Nothing is certain as a plan to force the respective nobilities together to resolve their differences is enacted in the form of a trap. The houses will unite in marriage—or they will drown in blood. Maximilian Silvanus, lord of Lucia, is one such man of the nobility. He has fought and bled for Lucia. He has endured the childish taunts of his nemesis, Lady Gabriela Farreli on the field of defeat on several occasions. And now he must end hostilities? A letter from the Empress reaches him, commanding that he do so in order for him to make all due hast with the rest of his noble countrymen for the ancient and mysterious House of Gates. Max does not believe the ‘parley’ with the Florencians will go well. And if he sees Lady Farreli at the House of Gates? Why, he may just snap her neck before running her through.