Versailles

Louis welcomes a defeated royal relative to the palace, but with unforeseen personal consequences; Philippe stumbles upon a mystery man; Madame de Montespan finds out how to hurt a former friend, the King's prim companion Francois de Maintenon.

Louis and Leopold compete for control of Spain; Maria Theresa plays a dangerous game by supporting her lover rather than her husband; Philippe continues his investigation on the man with the iron mask; the people of Paris refuse to pay taxes.

A betrayal by one of the women closest to the king has unforeseen consequences, while a graphic revelation results in a fall from grace for another. Philippe gets dangerously close to the mystery prisoner. Reprisals against the protesters in Paris place Fabien Marchal in peril.

Seeking retribution, Louis lashes out at the Parisian rebels though Philippe urges a more reasoned response. Word from Spain casts doubt on Marie-Thérèse's intentions. Sophie's loyalties are tested.

Can Louis' longed-for loving touch help the ailing queen? An engraved blade holds a clue to who Philippe has antagonised. Jeanne challenges her brother's business-minded betrayal.

Louis hopes diplomacy will hide his duplicity as he works to undermine Leopold while winning over severe Cardinal Leto. Marchal helps Philippe learn a family secret, and is troubled by a command from the king.

Marchal leads his men on the hunt for Sophie and Eleonore. Louis and Phillipe decide they would like to meet with the midwife who would have looked after their brother. Meanwhile, the public becomes restless.

While Philippe wants to send the man with the iron mask to the colonies, Louis knows that it must be eliminated.

His resolve reinforced, Louis is dismissive of the pain his plans will cause others, be they Philippe or Protestants of all classes; Cardinal Leto is confident of making the king marry Isabella of Portugal.

Looking to the future, King Louis XIV seeks to reconnect with his people, and reconcile his family; as some oppressed Parisians plan a violent welcome for Louis, one of his friends may have become a foe.