Elly works as a maid in the Baron's castle in the small town of Burgate. Her mother is the cook, her father a clockmaker, and her brother serves as a soldier in the distant capital. She is the last of her friends to marry, and she can hardly wait. When the infamous Count of Malinwood visits, he sets events in motion Elly could never have imagined. Soon, she finds herself far from home, her life in pieces, and fate repeatedly drawing her back to the man who ruined her. She may not despise him as much as she claims, but can she trust him when he speaks of a better future? Concealing his true origins, Jake walks a thin line between revenge and redemption. As he plots against the current King, he grapples with the demon Nathaniel and the pact they forged almost ten years before. With both his life and the fate of the country at stake, Jake can't afford any distractions - yet he finds himself drawn to the little maid and her curious glances. As the final day approaches and all hope seems lost, Jake faces a choice: remain loyal to the motive that's driven him for years, or reach for what he always believed was out of his grasp.