In the quiet town of Abbotshire, Emmeline Somers, a young apothecary, dedicates herself to her ailing father and their shop. But when called upon to treat the Earl of Wesleyan's sick daughter, her simple life is thrust into the world of the gentry, secrets, and unexpected connections. Can she navigate this new world and protect her heart?

Entrapped within the gilded cage of the rear palace, where beauty is a currency and intrigue is a constant, a young apothecary finds her quiet life shattered. When a mysterious illness strikes the Emperor's heirs, her hidden knowledge of herbs and poisons becomes the only hope. Navigate the treacherous currents of courtly life, uncover deadly secrets, and perhaps, find an unexpected ally in the enigmatic Lady of Beauty.