Eliana is destined to become queen of Bariwon, obligated to marry the victor of a competition called the Shoginoc. The man she loves, royal guardian Rinan, is forbidden to marry. Normally they could renounce their titles to be together, but these are not normal times. Abrecan, the malevolent governor of Erd, is determined to win the Shoginoc to place his easily manipulated son on the throne.