Baron von und zu Wildungen enjoys giddy king Richard's favor, but not his 'election' as husband for the airhead princess Zilly, so he promises to find her a better catch. The baron aims at studious or prince Arthur, who drives his grim father king Johann to despair by showing no interest in matters of state or suitable girls. The only exception is farm maiden Siebenschön ''seven beauty'), whose parents are arrested and the homestead burnt on the baron's instructions. Masquerading as a knave, she finds employ as king's servant and uses the medicinal skills she learned in the nunnery to deal with his back-ache better then the official quack.