Franz and Sisi are happy that there is an heir to the throne, but Sisi feels trapped in a golden cage. A new threat of war forces Sisi and Franz to travel to France.

At Count Andrássy's country estate, Sisi is reminded of the freedom of her childhood; as the courtly constraints slowly fall away from her, Sisi realises that the Hungarian people need her help more urgently; Sisi pledges her support to Andrássy.

The Hungarian rebel Ödön Körtek intends to kidnap Sisi; in joint captivity with Count Andrássy, Sisi is faced with the question of how long she can remain steadfast; Franz is confronted not only with his father-in-law, but also with Sisi's sister.

Sisi and Andrássy travel to Vienna to convince Franz of the need for a Hungarian parliament; Sisi tries to clear her head; the special affection between Sisi and Andrássy does not go unnoticed by Franz, who falls back into his old patterns.

While the war with Prussia poses problems for Franz, Sisi must now cope on her own in Vienna; in Hungary, Andrássy makes an attempt to defeat the cruel Körtek.

Sisi desperately tries to get closer to Franz again, but he refuses to speak to her and sends her back to Hungary; Sisi is to help Count Andrássy negotiate a new constitution with the Hungarians, and she does not yet suspect that it could be goodbye.