Philippa is the fourth of six children born to the King of Tilflanden. Like a typical middle child, she quickly gave up trying to assert herself and is rather introverted and quiet. She shares her time only with the few people who truly matter to her which mainly extends to her family. The story begins when Prince Admire of Canetan asks for her hand in marriage. Shortly after, she is kidnapped by a group of witches — people with special abilities — and used as a bargaining chip. They have a clear agenda and demand the release of imprisoned witches in exchange for the abducted princess.

During her time with the witches, Philippa grows to despise them because of their differences, but she eventually manages to escape. Driven by a desire for revenge, she betrays their location before her wedding to Admire, ensuring they are brought to justice. As the story progresses, Philippa is unwillingly granted a special ability by the Alb Resa, making her a witch herself. Now accompanied by two pairs of invisible arms, Philippa struggles to come to terms with her new identity and only learns to control it with the help of the detested Walerian, who shares a similar ability.

Through conversations with the people she has encountered over these past weeks, Philippa begins to understand both sides and lets go of her desire for revenge. She returns to the castle with clean hands and moves to Canetan with Admire. There, she increasingly understands what it means for a witch to constantly hide her abilities.