The 35 year old, unmarried Empress Elizabeth is childless and unlikely to produce an heir. She appoints her nephew Peter Fedorovich as the heir to the Russian throne, intending to marry him to a princess and take any future son to educate him to become the future emperor. German princess Sophie Friederike Aguste arrives in Saint Petersburg as a potential wife to the prince, and in hopes to find happiness in the distand and foreign land.

Friederike becomes more and more accustomed to life in the palace. She spends as much time as she can getting to know the prince and trying to win his favor. Some members of the court are displeased with her and try to take matters into their own hands.

After receıvıng her new name, Ekaterina is baptised and prepares for her wedding to Pyotr. Little does she know the affairs of her mother begin to jeopardize her chances of remaining safe and prosperous in Russia.

After the wedding, Pyotr remains distant from Ekaterina. He comes to believe that by conceiving a child, they would no longer be use to the Empress and would then be cast aside. Pyotr then becomes ill, sending him to a bitter spiral.

After his recovery, Pyotr is no longer interested in Ekaterina. As they grow more and more distants, the Empress loses hope of getting an heir to the throne. As a last resort, she puts Ekaterina in the sights of Prince Saltykov.

After the birth of her son, Ekaterina discovers that Pyotr's premonitions are coming tue. Elizaveta decides to take the baby from his parents into her care. Ekaterine is forced to watch her child grow from afar and she decides that she will do anything to get her baby back.

Ekaterina cares less and less about the Empress's opinions about her, flaunting her affairs and misdemeanors. When the Empress falls ill, Ekaterina and Pyotr begin to conspire despite their mutual distate for each other. Pyotr wishes to regain his rights to the throne while Ekaterina wants her child back.

The Empress recovers, putting Ekaterina and Pyotr's plans on hold. Meanwhile, Pyotr begins to fall in love with a handmaiden and Ekaterina grows closer to Gregory Orlov.

The Empress has fallen ill again. Pyotr is in line to succeed her but his rise to power has driven his distate for Ekaterina into pure hatred. Russians at large have begun to see him as an unfit ruler, causing unrest to spread throughout the kingdom.

Ekaterina sees a fatal weekness in Pyotr and with the help of Gregory Orlov, begins a daring effort to seize control of the throne. Her goal is to finally get justice for herself and her broken family.