Princess Elara of Valoria marries King Cassian of Corthia, bringing the Six Western Marches, iron mines and trade routes as dowry to secure his throne. After five years, she finds Cassian has hidden his mistress Livia, who frames their legitimate son Aiden. Cassian slaps Aiden publicly and sends him to the cruel Royal Reformatory, where the boy nearly dies. Despondent, Elara invokes the Fidelity Clause, returns to Valoria with Aiden and reclaims all pledged lands. Cassian, ruined and remorseful, can never win them back.
