Juno Jardine, the Duke of Jardine’s daughter, is ordered by the Emperor to marry Alaric Alder, heir to the Marquis of Alder. But on their wedding day, Seren Sorrell, a guest living in the Alder household, deliberately sets the wedding hall ablaze over a reckless bet, repeatedly delaying the ceremony. Alaric keeps taking Seren’s side, humiliating Juno in front of everyone. Finally, Juno refuses to endure any more and decides to petition the Empress to annul the marriage. Alaric later marries another noblewoman but continues his entanglement with Seren. When a fire sparked by their grudges destroys the Alder household, Alaric and his new wife perish, leaving the family in ruin. Meanwhile, Juno heads to Southland, opens a school for girls, and finds fulfillment on her own terms.
