King James of Aurelia searches fruitlessly for Alice, his crown princess who fled their wedding three years prior, and is forced to hold a bride-selection banquet. Julia, the illegitimate daughter of an earl, disguises herself as an absurd ugly woman with messy red hair and pale ghastly makeup to avoid court life, yet James compels her to stay in the palace. As James gradually figures out she is the Alice he has longed for day and night, Julia only craves escape. A sweet yet torturous palace romance of chase and flight unfolds.