From the novel I read, the male lead's duchy was left in shambles after years of neglect by the former duke. In order to protect his life, the butler had sent him to an orphanage where he would be abused for years. He would go back to his home, go to war and supposedly fall in love with the princess he saved from the enemy's clutches. During her stay within the empire, she would be adored by everyone and hated by the current duchess. In an attempt to kill her, she was sentenced to be stoned to death and because of the vacancy of her position, the duke would marry the princess and lived happily ever after. But isn't this just a story about adultery?