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.

The new assassination attempt on Franz was prevented, but the young imperial couple is struck by a terrible blow of fate in Budapest. The little princess Sophie dies. Sisi falls into deep, immeasurable grief and Franz distances himself from her more and more. Fanny must pay for her crimes. In Europe the signs continue to point to war, Napoleon III claims parts of the Habsburg lands in Italy for himself. Sisi refuses to give up and fights - for herself, her people and her love for Franz!

Franz joins Sisi and Rudolf in France, but political and personal challenges strain their relationship. After a night of passion, Franz secretly travels back to Vienna with Rudolf.

Sisi finds out that a worker has kidnapped her son. In exchange for him, the kidnapper wants the emperor's life. Sisi wants to save Rudolf, but it is a perilous mission because the kidnapper has nothing to lose.

As Napoleon gets deposed, things start to become restless in Vienna; Franz thinks it wise to let Rudolf start his military training earlier, against Sisi's wishes.

Sisi picks up Rudolf and leaves Vienna, giving Franz an ultimatum that she will only return if she can decide how her son will be raised; Franz tries to reduce the unrest among the workers.

Sisi has fallen in love with Franz. Without hesitation, she follows him to Vienna as his future wife. But the strict court ceremonial quickly gets to the freedom-loving Bavarian princess. Out of love for Franz, she is nevertheless prepared to put up with all the hardships and duties. She knows that she must first earn the respect of the court. Sisi finds a friend and confidante in Fanny, whom she smuggles into the palace as a maid under a false name.

Sisi and Rudolf enjoy their freedom on the island; through a spy, Franz, fearing new alliances in Vienna, discovers the whereabouts of his wife and son.

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.

The young couple's wedding night does not go as planned and Sisi needs Fanny's advice more than ever. But Countess Esterhazy exposes Fanny as an impostor and banishes her from court. It is only during their honeymoon in Laxenburg that Sisi and Franz slowly find their way to each other. At her first, official reception as empress, Sisi surprises everyone with her excellent knowledge of the Hungarian language and the kindness with which she treats the Hungarian nobility.