This glorious costume drama is set in the late 19th century, at the twilight of the Russian Empire. It is based on the story of a romantic relationship between the heir to the Russian throne, Nikolay Romanov, and a ballerina in the Imperial Theater, Mathilda Kshesinskaya. They meet when he's a 22-year old crown prince, and future Tsar, and she is an 18-year old dancer. Their fleeting affair escalates into a whirlwind romance filled with scandal. Their careless happiness and passion nearly change the history of Russia, until fate and the massive power of the Russian court finally intervene.