Arseniy Popov

Saint Petersburg. End of the 19th century.

A city of palaces and poor alleys, where lies, intrigues and the struggle for power are hidden behind the glitter of balls.

Anton Shastun is the eighteen-year-old son of impoverished landowners. Kind and naive, he is largely unaware of the cruelty of the big world. When his family has no other choice, his parents send him to St. Petersburg in the hopes of a fresh start.

But the capital greets Anton harshly: he's cheated, his prices are inflated, bribes are demanded, and his kindness only brings new troubles. Yet he continues to trust people and hopes to succeed through honesty.

Arseny Popov, a young count and a favorite of St. Petersburg society, lives in a completely different world. Handsome, educated, and impeccably mannered, he secretly gathers like-minded individuals and is convinced that the government is leading the country to ruin.

Their paths first cross at a charity event. For Arseniy, it's just a brief conversation, but for Anton, it's the most memorable event since arriving in St. Petersburg. He doesn't yet know that this person will one day become the meaning of his life.

Several weeks pass. One evening, Anton, taking a shortcut through unfamiliar streets, accidentally witnesses a secret meeting between Arseniy and a stranger. He's about to leave, but one of the strangers spots him.

• There's someone there.