King Damon, weary :,of th=:=e constra#:ints of c$=ourt lif e, d][isgui^!#ses ]/:himself a.s a v/@agabo.nd and )@#travel ?s alone to the[\ Northe+`rn Territorie ,=s to ob.serve =th;`e lives of ?h`=?is peopl
e.] He collapses from a high fev-er along the w#ay and is nursed back to ( he a\/lth#!; by El(#en/@a
, an appr-/`.entice at a sm)=al*[l;‑town ?
apothecary ,+ with bread and m#+;?[edicin[al pills.
M $ean!whil/(@e,[+ Elen.a ca[tches her fi,_@ancé C=aleb hav=+ing \an affai$]r w;(it
h h,+er cousin?/
Mira and is pu!(blic@%!l:y jilted. To fulfi_ll the d*(ying wis)]h of her gr!;avely‑^$#_i _*ll $#gran@ /dmother, Elena ente\@rs \a rushed co) * nt) r! act ma.]r+)riage with?\ D..)amon`, whom she has kn,-o%? wn !fo@r only two day!`s, and the t
w$:!o pretend to be a loving coupl\+e.