Sergey Sholokhov

1744. Russian Empire. Being childless, but at the same time wanting to finally consolidate on the Russian throne of his - "Peter's" line of the Romanov dynasty, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna decides to marry his nephew Karl Peter Ulrich, brought from Prussia, called in Russia "Peter Fyodorovich" to some noble, but preferably not very rich and not very willful European "princess". Elizabeth is intrigued by the brave young guardsman and his intercession for Yaguzhinskaya, and she gives Belov "an assignment of national importance" - to secretly bring his important guests to Russia from Prussia. The ubiquitous vice-chancellor Bestuzhev learns about it. He summons Alexei Korsak, Belov's friend who will keep Alexander company on his trip to Prussia, and instructs him to become a spy on Belov, threatening Korsak with "exile to the galleys" and "Siberia" for his wife and young son if he refuses.

Three naval cadets accidentally get possession of a secret diary that was stolen from Bestuzhev, a vice-chancellor of Russia. If this diary ever gets abroad, the consequences for the country would be grave. The cadets are trying to return the papers to their owner, but there are others who want to get the papers...

Michael, an American professor teaching history at Moscow University, finances his passion for treasure hunting with competitive street racing. His racing nemesis Wolf becomes his ally as they both embark on a quest to search for a famous ancient Russian treasure.

There is a seven-year war, Russian soldiers are forced to fight for the interests of France and Austria against Prussia. The midshipmen continue to selflessly serve the Motherland. One is on an expedition, the other is at court, and the third is sent to Venice to hand over a jewelry box. In fact, there is a message in the box, on which the future fate of Europe and Russia depends!

After living half of his life, the protagonist remembers that somewhere in a provincial town lives his ex-wife and his grown-up son. He goes to a place where he is neither expected nor remembered.