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King Gustavo III of Sweden is warned by his friend and advisor Ankastrom of a conspiracy. He is happy that Ankastrom does not know that he is secretly in love with his wife Amelia and ignores the warning. When Gustavo visits the clairvoyant Ulrica Arfvidsson, he also receives a warning from her: the first to shake his hand will kill him. This turns out to be Ankastrom, but Gustavo does not care about this event at all. With Ulrica Arfvidsson, he also overhears a conversation between her and Amelia, who asks for a remedy for her sinful love. That same night, on the advice of Ulrica Arfvidsson, Amelia goes to the execution site at the foot of a hill in Stockholm in search of a herb that will free her from her forbidden love. Gustavo chases her and they declare their love for each other. Ankastrom, in turn, has followed Gustavo to protect him from the conspirators and does not recognize his wife because she is veiled. Both men change clothes and once they return to the city, the conspirators address the alleged king. Amelia intervenes, revealing her identity. The conspirators mock Ankastrom, who threatens his wife with death and joins the king’s enemies. Amelia begs her husband to be allowed to visit her son one last time before she dies, thus delaying her death.
The invitation for a masquerade ball is sent out. Amelia fears that Gustavo will be killed during this party and warns him. Gustavo once again ignores the warning and ultimately, conflicted about loyalty to his friend and love for Amelia, decides to send Ankastrom with his wife to his native country. Amelia tries in vain to persuade Gustavo to leave the ball. When the party is in full swing, Ankastrom shoots the king, fulfilling Ulrica Arfvidsson’s prophecy. Gustavo declares to Ankastrom that he has never approached Amelia in a dishonorable way and hands him the order to return to his native country with his wife. After pardoning his murderer, Gustavo dies.
