Eugenia de Montijo, an extraordinarily beautiful woman, educated and intelligent daughter of the Count of Montijo, decides to start a European tour when she discovers that the Duke of Alba, whom she believed her suitor, actually intends for her sister. In Paris she meets Napoleon III, the future emperor of France, who is bewitched by the beauty of the young aristocrat from Granada

Madrid in the 1870s. Amidst political intrigues against King Amadeo de Saboya, wealthy and strong-willed countess Curra de Albornoz makes her own way in spite of her son and husband, considering her indiscretions as merely trifles ("pequeñeces") until tragedy strikes her. Period drama with a luxurious production design.