1830, Russia and Poland.

In a time of war and cholera, two men compete for a Prince's fortune, but in autocratic Russia, fame and riches come at a cost.

When Andrey, a disgraced and impoverished young officer, claims to be the heir to Vasily's family wealth, Vasily is forced to leave the comfort of his country estate and return to St Petersburg to investigate. Seeking the truth, he rediscovers his lost love and reveals a story of deception and fatal intrigue that threatens to cost him his life.

To prove himself, Andrey marches to war, while the woman he loves, Vasily's cousin, Nadezhda, must contrive to repel other suitors as she prays for his safe return.

When the past is uncovered, hard choices must be made. Will either man be prepared to pay fortune's price?