At twelve years old, William Cecil, born into a powerful provincial family, arrives at the royal court of King Henry VIII with dreams of success. He soon finds himself navigating a treacherous political landscape as the king forcibly divorces Queen Catherine to marry Anne Boleyn, breaking with the Pope and establishing the Church of England in the process. The court is deeply divided, with much of the public sympathizing with the deposed Catherine and her daughter Mary while branding Anne a thieving cat. When William encounters the pregnant Anne Boleyn in the royal garden, he understands that she is doing her best amid extreme adversity. Rather than judge her, he pledges his loyalty to her and her unborn child. When Anne gives birth to another princess, much to the king's disappointment, William makes a declaration that will shape his life: I will crown Lady Elizabeth the queen of this country.

The story follows William Cecil, the famous chancellor who historically supported Elizabeth I and whom the queen called her Spirit. The narrative presents a sordid account of royal court life, rife with drama, lust, and intrigue, but is kept from being too dark by William's genuine sincerity and ambition. A recurring theme is the treatment of women as tools for producing a male heir, a political reality that drives much of the conflict. The historical backdrop of 16th century Europe is complex, but the narrative presents explanations at a well-paced and accessible rhythm.

William's journey begins with his father serving as Groom of the Wardrobe, and his own vow to Elizabeth carries through the years as he eventually becomes her most trusted advisor. Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 to 1603, and the manga depicts the path to her accession, which was a story filled with love and hostility that left its mark on European history. The narrative explores how Elizabeth, who never married and was highly respected, embodied the archetypal image of a queen, and how William Cecil served as the honorable politician who sometimes gave her unpleasant but wholesome advice.