Princess Eloise falls seriously ill after riding alone through snow, collapsing at the palace gate and remaining unconscious. Her attendants blame each other, revealing that strict orders limited the number of maids allowed to accompany her outside, forcing her to travel with minimal protection. One attendant confesses regret for obeying those orders, believing that if they'd fetched her sooner, this might have been avoided. Despite Eloise's usual strong health due to palace life, her weakness now raises fears about her survival until the upcoming wedding. The episode ends with the revelation that the marriage is a political alliance, heightening the urgency to save her.