Trama

Elisabeth arrives in Vienna for her wedding. Soon enough she faces palace intrigue while Franz attempts to protect his country from going to war.

Elisabeth arrives in Vienna for her wedding. Franz tells Louise that their affair is over. Esterhazy prepares the maids to take care of the Empress's every wish. Elsa (Anna Bottcher) is a revolutionary who is employed in the palace as a maid. Maids include Countess Amalia Von Salm-Reifferscheidt (Hanna Hilsdorf) who speaks 6 languages. Countess Charlotte Von Stubenberg (Runa Greiner), a harpist. Countess Leontine Von Apafi (Almila Bagriacik), speaks French and reads aloud.

Elisabeth is told not to touch her maids, and not to address them with their first names. Elisabeth has an assortment of dresses of the latest styles, and an unlimited collection of shoes. The Empress is not expected to wear the same shoe twice. The Empress is to have a 2-hour bath every morning and every evening. Her hair is bathed in donkey's milk. Esterhazy has complete control over the Empress. She puts the corset on too tight and would not allow her to meet the Emperor unless she is dress in the proper attire.

Elisabeth's father advises her not to speak her mind at the court. Elisabeth is not worried in the least as she knows that Franz loves her. Helene arrives at the Royal Palace in Vienna for the wedding but refuses to say a single word to Elisabeth. Leontine tries to make friends with Elisabeth, while the others treat her with deference. Maximillian tells Elisabeth to stay close to him at the palace for her own safety. Leontine is working with Egon (Merlin Rose), a revolutionary who has access to the palace.

Sophie and Esterhazy go through Elizabeth's personal belongings and find her poems, and some banned books in her possession. Esterhazy says that Elisabeth lacks all discipline and wants to deploy a hard hand, but Sophie restrains her. Esterhazy gets Doctor Fritsch (Eric Bouwer) to examine Elisabeth for her purity. The test is performed in the presence of Prince-Archbishop Joseph Othmar Von Rauscher (August Schmolzer). Fritsch cannot see the hymen but Leontine says that Elisabeth rides horses and the hymen could have broken during that. Fritsch nevertheless says that he believes in Elisabeth's purity.

Franz tells his council of war that he doesn't want the House of Habsburg to join either side in the Crimean War. France and England have entered a war against Russia in Crimea. Baron Alexander Von Bach (Alexander Finkenwirth), is the interior minister and a progressive advisor of Franz Joseph. Bach argues that the war will not leave any funds for anything else. Maximillian argues that the French and English have vastly superior naval forces and will destroy the Russians. He argues to align with the West, which is the future. Sophie argues to maintain their alliance with Tsar Nicholas.

Johann Strauss II (Andreas Bongard) helps Elisabeth and Franz during their waltz rehearsal. Elisabeth and Franz cannot keep their hands off each other. Franz admonishes Maximillian for having sex with 2 daughters of an Austrian war veteran. The younger sister threw herself from the roof and is now in an asylum. To cover the scandal, Franz had to make a generous payment involving a title and a pension for war veteran.

At a ball that evening, Elisebeth meets Karl, Franz's father. Helene skips the ball. Elisabeth admonishes Rauscher and Fritsch for looking under her frock in the same of performing a sacred ritual. Franz sends Elisabeth away from the ball to rest. Maximillian invites Elisabeth and her maids to a party the same night. It is the night before the wedding. Maximillian dances with Elisabeth and she gets drunk. Maximillian wants to kiss her, but she stops him. Elisabeth asserts that she loves Franz. Helene is at the party, and still won't speak to Elisabeth. Maximillian ends up seducing one of Elisabeth's maids.

A shoe is delivered to Leontine inside the palace.

Swedish Prince Gustav (Martin Butzke) privately meets Sophie and claims to be Franz's father, which Sophie will not confirm. Sophie wants to kiss Gustav, but he walks away.

Franz meets Mr Stephenson with Bach, in secret, at midnight, and commissions him to build a railroad to connect his empire. Stephenson has already built railways in England, Egypt and Norway. Franz promises Stephenson to get him the money within 3 days.

The maid who hooked up with Maximillian has a hickey and is fired by Esterhazy the next morning. Elisabeth is not ready for the palace life and hides in her room. Only Helene is able to talk to her and gives her the confidence that she can do what she sets her mind to. Elisabeth asks Helene to stay at the palace. Theo (Rauand Taleb), Franz Joseph's butler informs Franz that Elisabeth attended Maximillian's party and they had an argument.

Elisabeth is dressed for the wedding and rides a glass chariot to church. Through the ride, crowds of people throng the roads and press against the chariot to get a glimpse of their new Queen.