1814. Russian Emperor Alexander I intends to do what the defeated Napoleon promised the Poles but did not fulfill. The Polish state, partitioned during Catherine the Great's reign, will be restored. The Poles are already looking forward to the return of "freedom," although Poland will remain part of the Russian Empire. Alexander will be the Polish king, and his brother, the Tsarevich Constantine, known for his love of drills, is appointed in advance as the commander of the Polish troops. This does not appeal to the freedom-loving Poles, but there is nothing to be done. They will come to terms with Constantine's constant presence in Warsaw, and their relationship with the Tsarevich will reflect the contradictory relations between Russia and Poland.
