Cologne 1351: Elisabeth and Stephen Hardenstein are twins, yet they couldn't be more different. While Elisabeth eagerly absorbs everything related to her father's cloth trade from a young age, Stephen prefers to lead a carefree life. The merchant's daughter assists her father in inspecting goods and managing the accounts. She feels her calling as a trader. When their father suffers a stroke, the situation changes dramatically. Stephen takes the helm of the family business. Due to his reckless approach, he repeatedly makes poor deals and accumulates debt. He wants to marry off his sister to the first suitor he finds as quickly as possible. Elisabeth is desperate, but equally determined to resist her brother's plans and save the family business.