For twenty-five years now, Emperor Ronan has been changing wives every month, but not one of them has been able to give him what he wants - an heir. Esmeralda, like many before her, did not want to become the wife of a bloody usurper, but it is impossible to refuse him. All she has to pray for is not to get pregnant from a tyrant and for an easy death in a month. But life has its own plans, and Death even more so.