Arek has managed to fulfill the prophecy (though somewhat ineptly) and save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. The quest is not over until they free the princess locked in one of the towers. Only the princess proves to be very dead, and Arek is stuck as king. Then he discovers that magic requires him to find a bride before his eighteenth birthday or wither away. But none of his female companions are interested, he does not want to marry a stranger, and anyway the only person he is attracted to is Matt: aspiring wizard, best friend, and secret crush.