In 1812, in the city of Cartago, Costa Rica, momentous news is announced: King Ferdinand VII, who has escaped the Napoleonic invasion of Spain, plans to celebrate his coronation in this distant land. Governor Acosta, an older man imbued with loyalty to the monarchy and a romantic spirit, is filled with excitement at this imminent royal visit. This ruler, who has remained mainly in his government chambers, makes an unusual decision: he ventures out into the outside world to tell the people about the coronation and summon everyone to attend the ceremony that same afternoon.