Things are seldom what they seem. For Java Mountainstand, it seemed to be a good idea to save the Salem Triplets. It seemed to be a wonderful thing when the young boy she had captured turned out to be Duchess Samantha of Lender's Dale. It seemed to be a dream come true when the dukes had named her a lady as Samantha's guardian.

For Java, a simple young girl who had just wanted to be independent, nothing turned out to be what it seemed. Now she is faced with another round of sweeping changes in her life that shred her plans. But they place her in a position to do what few have ever dared.

This new change to her fate places her in a position to challenge Emperor Frander, and win back a little of the world he'd stolen. And that he'd stolen it from her "daughter" made it all the better.