Shots thundered on Senate Square on December 14, 1825. Those responsible have been arrested. The investigation began. The judges do not yet know what is in front of them: an unsuccessful palace coup, a military rebellion or a new French revolution? Will the threads of the investigation lead to senior officials, members of the royal family, abroad? Adjutant General Benckendorf conducts secret office work, the materials of which will be burned at the end of the investigation. One can only guess what secrets Nicholas I did not want to pass on to his descendants. Perhaps he would rather forget about them himself...