The daughter of the King of Burgundy, Adelheid's destiny has been decided at the age of two. She will marry the son of her father's rival, the King of Italy, taking her place one day as its queen. As Adelheid grows up, she dreads her impending marriage, longing instead for a life of contemplation and devotion in an abbey. But aware it is her duty, she and King Lothair of Italy are wed. The marriage is as unhappy as it is brief, their lives dominated by Berengar, the true ruler of Italy and his vicious wife, Willa. When Lothair meets a brutal end, Adelheid hopes she can at last take up the religious life she has always dreamed of. But tenth century Italy proves to be a treacherous land for the beautiful young queen. Berengar, now the King of Italy, is jealous of Adelheid's popularity. He plots to marry her to his own son, the odious Adalbert and he will not take no for an answer. Only one man can help her - Otto, the King of Germany and the most powerful man in Christendom. But Otto's help will come at a price. A widower, whose heart lies in the grave with his beloved wife, he demands Adelheid's lands and her beauty for his own...