Sophy, a kitchen maid, has her fortune told by a gypsy, who sees something shiny over Sophy’s head: a sword, or perhaps a crown. Sophy then sets out for Paris, where she gains employment with the Zerkovitches. As war breaks out, she returns with them to Kravonia. There, Sophy meets Crown Prince Sergius and saves him from assassins, who plot to overthrow the dynasty and place Alexis, the son of the ailing king’s wife, on the throne. After much intrigue and danger, Sergius marries Sophy, and with her help recovers command of the palace, ousting Alexis. Influenced by Sophy, Sergius signs a decree ordering a popular election by the people and declaring Kravonia a free republic.