When her kingdom is suddenly attacked by a neighboring country, 17-year-old assassin - and heir to the throne - Aerietta Elony is betrayed by her companions and captured by Evrallon, the kingdom laying waste to her own.
Aerietta is tasked with hunting down one of her former companions for reasons unknown to her. Should she succeed, she will be granted freedom. Should she fail, the king will have her head to boast at gatherings. But Aerietta has a bigger secret to keep than just her parentage - her abilities. Because Aerietta isn't just any assassin princess ... she is something straight out of legend.
To find her erstwhile confederate and make it back alive, she will have to fool the ever-watchful, enigmatic Swordmaster that's been saddled with her, which proves to be more difficult than Aerietta could ever imagine. Deception abounds, danger is just as prevalent, all truth is veiled in shadows, but the only thing she fears is herself. The Queen of Crimson accepts.