Clara has modeled her own life upon that of the famous Princess Anne, the much-loved heir apparent to the Daviddian Empire - well, as much as a poor girl from the country can be like the glimmering royal idol. In Daviddia every piece of information can be sold by people who work as informants. The rich can pay to cover up a scandal, but a girl like Clara has to be above reproach at all times. This is no easy task since her job as a warden puts her in contact with felons, madmen, and two men who know Princess Anne personally. Together, they discover two cabals: one that would re-make the monarchy and one that would make the empire little better than a puppet.