A servant struggling to survive. A prince becoming a leader. A snake seeking power. Arella Marceau, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, finds herself diminished to a lowly servant who must obey the every whim of her stepmother. But then she meets Freddie in the market - handsome, kind, strong, and of course, very charming. They spend an afternoon together, exploring ruins, becoming lost in the forest, and dealing with gypsies and Arella begins to fall for the young man. Then a mysterious debt arises which Arella is forced to pay and which inevitably tears her away from Freddie. But working as a scullery maid at the palace is not as easy as it would seem. Within a week, Arella discovers that Freddie is Prince Friederic, heir to the throne of Ormandy. In the safety of a secret garden they meet together, despite the fact that if discovered, the consequences would ruin both of their lives. To complicate things further, Arella's creditor seems to be frighteningly fascinated with her. What are the secrets that he keeps behind his black eyes? As Arella's life spins out of control, she must hold to her love for Freddie and to her belief that God has a perfect plan.