The first book of the cycle "Descendant," which takes place in the alternative Russian Empire of the late XIX century. The descendants of the ancient Slavic gods rule here, among whom bloodless ones appear more and more often: almost powerless and incapable of anything... Mitya Merkulov, the son of a talented (and extremely principled) investigator and Princess Moranovna, for whom, due to her anemia, there was no better groom. Mitya dreams of living for her own pleasure: ordering expensive frock coats, walking around social events, being introduced to the imperial court... But his father got too deeply into the secrets of the reigning house, and, either as a reward or as a punishment, both Merkulovs had to leave the capital. However, Mitya is followed on the heels by the messenger of Morana the Dark herself, and in the remote province it turns out to be not so boring...