Synopsis

A whisper circulated of impending birth, seven days hence. The court stirred with a flurry of preparations – rituals for Peter and Catherine, a delicate dance of hope and apprehension. The shadow of conflict with the Ottomans lengthened, a constant pressure against the fragile stability of the realm. Catherine, confined to bed by necessity, strained to guide her kingdom through the storm, a silent command echoing from her chambers.