As the new baron of Lamberg, Ars vows to honor his late father’s wishes by siding with Prince Couran in the Summerforthian war of succession, even as the nearby county of Plena backs Couran’s younger brother, Prince Basmarck. When Ars’s spy intercepts a letter showing that one of Lamberg’s allies is colluding with Plena, House Louvent’s plans are thrown into disarray. But could there be more to this letter than meets the eye?