In November 1980, the widow of A. Tolstoy was robbed. Antiques are taken out of the apartment, but, most importantly, the Royal Lily brooch, made for Louis XV, disappears of extraordinary beauty. Since Tolstoy's widow has extensive connections both in the USSR and abroad, the case receives a wide resonance, the most serious forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are involved in the investigation, the Interior Minister Shchelokov personally monitors the progress of the investigation.

Russia is at the dawn of great changes and the fate of a young man, Pyotr Cherkasov, who was forced to sacrifice his personal happiness to save the Motherland. In the center of events are bright and interesting characters, whose personal life history is woven into the history of European life. The interweaving of love lines, betrayal, jealousy, intrigue, exposing the enemies of Russia and the world order. Napoleon Bonaparte hatches plans to take over all of Europe. One of the most terrible wars in national history is approaching. In the meantime, the Russian people live in peace and ignorance. With the arrival of Prince Kuragin, the life of Peter changes forever. Emperor Paul I needs the best people to help Russia unravel Napoleon's insidious plans, and Kuragin, seeing Cherkasov's talents, invites him to go to St. Petersburg for military service. Cherkasov agrees, and now his life belongs to the Motherland.

1837: Another year of the grueling Caucasian war. A young officer, Grigory Pechorin, was sent into exile to the active army for participating in a duel. Here in the Caucasus, Pechorin will have to become an unwitting participant in rapidly unfolding events - a fight with smugglers, the abduction of a young Circassian princess, another duel. And when the whole world turns against Pechorin, and a close friend falls by his hand, he will continue his journey alone, a hero, a product of the new age...

MOORE's investigator, Colonel Alexander Khlystov, receives an old photograph in the mail: it shows Yesenin, who has just been taken out of the loop. According to the rules, the investigator must give the case a legal course.