The central story is a beautiful love story. It is the story of Carlota, the daughter of the Vimieiro Counts (who are broke), who spend their vacations at Vidago Palace every year. The previous year, Carlota was betrothed to César, the son of some very wealthy Portuguese emigrants in Brazil who were also vacationing at Vidago Palace.

The wedding is set for the last day of vacation that same year. The problem is that Carlota does not love César, but Pedro, the son of the Vidago Palace's receptionist, who also met on the same vacation of the previous year and who, for reasons unknown to everyone except Carlota's mother, left Portugal and is fighting in the Spanish Civil War alongside the Popular Front.

But fate causes Carlota to find Pedro again in August 1936, in dramatic situations, and finally discovers the truth. From there, everything is called into question...