1325. King Wladyslaw the Elbow-high betrothed his son Casimir to Princess Aldona, daughter of the pagan ruler of Lithuania. The girl takes the name Anna at baptism. Queen Hedvig has been against marriage from the beginning
1333. Seven years later. Prince Casimir and Aldona Anna are the parents of two daughters, Elzbietka and Kundzia. After returning from a victorious expedition, the old king loses his strength. Queen Hedvig keeps his illness a secret.
Aldona Anna sneaks out of the castle by trick to meet her brother Algirdas. Queen Hedvig accuses her of treason, but Casimir defends his wife. The king's condition is not improving.
Relatives of the dying king come to Wawel. Duchess Cunegunde believes that her son Bolko would be a better successor than Casimir. The mysterious girl Jolenta, sent by the Queen of Hungary, appears in the castle. King Wladyslaw dies.
The castle is in mourning after the death of the king. The appearance of Jolenta, Casimir's illegitimate daughter, causes tension between the prince and his wife Aldona Anna. Algirdas overhears a suspicious conversation in the inn.
Algirdas wants to take his sister to Lithuania, Queen Hedvig likes this idea. Aldona Anna declares that she will not leave Casimir in difficult times. Gabija, the cook, finds dead rats in the kitchen.
The dead king's relatives argue over who should take the throne, enraging Queen Hedvig. During the feast, the cupbearer who drank the wine intended for the queen dies.
Princess Aldona Anna is afraid for her children. Casimir becomes more independent of his mother, which saddens Hedvig. The old queen tends to the sick Cunegunde.
Casimir's sister, Queen Elizabeth, arrives at the castle. She judges conspirators ruthlessly. Cunegunde tries to turn her sister against their brother, but Elizabeth defends Casimir. King Wladyslaw's funeral takes place.
Aldona Anna befriends Queen Elizabeth, but her conflict with Queen Hedvig worsens. Casimir hunts with Algirdas. In the woods they come across a boy called Maciek.
Cudka is in love with Casimir, despite the fact that Niemierz is trying to marry her. Royal Court is celebrating Easter. For Aldona Anna, Christianity is becoming more and more important.
Hedvig believes that her daughter-in-law does not deserve to be queen and intends to prevent it. Casimir goes horseback riding with Aldona Anna. During a storm, they find shelter in an inn.
Many guests come to Casimir and Aldona Anna's coronation, including the princess's brothers: Algirdas and Kestutis. Aldona Anna's former lover, Arunas, appears with them. The princess meets him secretly.
Hedvig accuses Aldona Anna of treason. The princess defends her innocence and finally the coronation takes place. Casimir and Aldona Anna are crowned King and Queen of Poland. Arunas enters a monastery and takes the name Szymon.
The Queen Mother finds it difficult to come to terms with her new situation. Grzegorz Nekanda, a trusted advisor to the late King, and Hedvig's friend Katarzyna Pilecka arrive at court. Aldona Anna faces constant rumors.
Hedvig decides to go to the Sacz monastery but leaves Katarzyna at the court. Aldona Anna is angry with Casimir for not noticing his mother's deception. During an argument she confesses that she is pregnant. Casimir is overjoyed.
King Casimir is suspicious of his wife. Aldona Anna has a frank conversation with him. Hedvig is resting at a monastery in Sacz but her peace of mind is disturbed by Katarzyna's letter about her daughter-in-law's pregnancy.
Casimir sentences a relative of Bishop Grot to death and teaches Maciek to wield a sword. Queen Hedvig wonders if she should return to the royal court. News of Aldona Anna's pregnancy spreads at Wawel.
King Casimir wants to conclude a truce with Brandenburg which causes another conflict with Bishop Grot. Hedvig is visited at the monastery by Katarzyna and the two confer about the young queen. Helena teaches the princesses new skills.
King Casimir plans to build new castles. Hedvig and Katarzyna plan to find Aldona's former lover. Egle warns the young queen about the treachery of someone close to her. Aldona Anna expels Gabija from the court.
The royal court celebrates Saint John's Eve and lets loose garlands on the river. Casimir and Aldona search for the fern flower in the forest. The festivities are interrupted by Duke Bolko with news of the death of his mother Cunegunde.
Casimir and Bolko visit Queen Hedvig at the monastery and tell her the news of her daughter's death. Hedvig falls ill. The King decides to bring his mother back to the royal court.
The situation is becoming tense. Casimir fears war. He suspects that King John of Luxembourg is behind the disappearance of messengers from Bolko. Aldona Anna supports her husband.
The King sends the knight Pelka on a secret mission and promises to take care of his beautiful daughter Cudka. Aldona Anna learns that someone is plotting against her. Gabija meets the innkeeper.
The King, faced with a growing threat to the kingdom, needs money. Hedvig begins to behave strangely to the astonishment of those around her. While searching for Arunas, Katarzyna is kidnapped and her servant gets killed.
Egle in secret from the Queen meets with Arunas now monk Szymon. The man presents her his plan. Aldona Anna's confessor Brother Wojciech warns her about one of the ladies-in-waiting.
King Casimir receives a letter demanding ransom for kidnapped Katarzyna Pilecka. He sends Jasiek of Melsztyn to her rescue. It turns out that the band of robbers is led by a woman Baska Dunin.
Egle, after agreeing with Arunas, lies to Queen Aldona Anna that he is dead to spare her suffering. The Queen takes the pregnancy badly. The kidnapped knight shows great courage.
The royal court is concerned by the disappearance of the princesses. King Casimir personally sets out to find them. With his help comes Algirdas. Pelka searches for Bolko's messengers.
King punishes Helena for kidnapping his daughters. His decision is met with much opposition from his advisors. Jasiek discovers the cruel facts. Queen Aldona Anna can't stand Katarzyna's presence at the court.
King Casimir is furious with Jasiek who does not let go in the Helena case and challenges his decisions. Aldona Anna objects to the pagan ways with which Egle tries to treat her. Offended, Egle leaves the court.
Egle secretly leaves Wawel in the night. Chancellor's niece Machna appears at court. The princesses are delighted with her. The battered Pelka is held in a Czech castle.
The Queen blames herself for Egle's departure. Casimir to console her orders a search for the lady-in-waiting. Aldona Anna gets into an argument with Hedvig, who makes an unexpected decision. Pelka gets a proposal from his captors.
King Casimir extends the truce with the Teutonic Knights.The Queen is irritated by Egle's prolonged absence and unloads her anger on the new lady-in-waiting and Katarzyna. Gabija decides to set off with Egle to return to Lithuania.