'Claudine Milford is so unfortunate'. That's what they all say. She's rich, powerful and the only child of Carlisle Milford, the richest man in the Empire since the King himself! She should be happy, right? Wrong. Big empty houses aren't nearly as beautiful as they are on the outside. Claudine could deal with the empty loneliness of her dukedom - many would kill to be her - but when unknown enemies attack ferociously from all sides, and the unexplained death of her beloved mother comes to light, will Claudine keep to her peacemaking, cowardly ways? Or will she finally fight back? And will romance get in the way, or will it strengthen her?