When 12-year-old Cathleen's parents face ruin and starvation during a bleak famine, they understand that they can no longer afford to feed all their children.
So, when the king sends out invitations, asking for young girls of the land to go to his court to be trained as ladies-in-waiting for the queen, it seems like the perfect opportunity. She would be well looked after, while her family would have one less mouth to feed.
At first unhappy about her situation, Cathleen vows to make the most of the opportunity and quickly learns the ways of the court, impressing the queen and drawing the admiring glances of her son, the 16-year-old Prince Roberts.
As the years' pass, the prince and the lady-in-waiting become friends and a deep bond grows between them, eventually developing into love. But the queen has other ideas and is determined that Cathleen will never marry her son, preparing the way for him to marry another princess instead.
But prince Roberts is determined that he and Cathleen will be together. Can love find a way? Can he find the strength to oppose the queen and give Cathleen the life she deserves?