May 1867, Hungary. You are a member of a wealthy merchants family of small nobility originary from Italy settled in Hungary during the 16th-century. It is a warm and serene evening, you, your older brother and your parents are finishing the preparations for a ball organized by the Austro-Hungarian nobility to celebrate the upcoming coronation of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Austria.

"Hurry up brother the carriage is waiting..." screams your brother, "you're late as usual little brother" he continues while smiling and mocking you... "Yes, yes... i'm coming, i'm coming..." you reply with a bored face, you simply don't care of these mundane things.

Once reached the large villa you join the other guests for the evening and, while your family immediately find themself busy, you wander around alone looking at the large buffet, after have picked up a drink you head toward a large window and start looking the boundless garden outside your mind gets lost in thoughts while guests are still chatting and dancing... time passes... the night won't last forever, but, all of sudden, a masked girl attracted by you approaches...

Elisabeth: "Hi, I'm Gabrielle. Are you alone? Do you want to dance with me?"

For the first time both of you feel an emotion never had before... but you are unaware of who Gabrielle actually is... she is Elisabeth of Austria disguising herself to avoid be recognized...