Feria is selected as the thirty-first candidate to become the king’s consort, the lowest-ranked position in a system where each woman is granted only rare opportunities to meet him. That arrangement suits her perfectly: she comes from a remote territory, prefers tending herbs to court competition, and has little interest in marriage. When the king finally visits on her designated day, Feria’s complete lack of ambition makes her stand out more than all the careful attempts to win his favor.