Svela has become the new Countess Arnika and must now delve into the duties required for her unique position. There's so much to learn and so many problems to solve. Where is a new countess to start?During her very first evening in Kalinholm, she is introduced to Lady Elantra, the fiercest woman in all of Cartosia. Is Elantra more, or perhaps less, than she appears?Finally, what has been happening in Vastoria, Arnika's neighbor to the west, since the war?Countess picks up the Cartosia series where Arnikan left off. This is a novel of 155,000 words, approximately 450 printed pages.