The second part of the cycle “The Liar on the Throne.” Is it enough just to seize the throne and proclaim yourself emperor? For vanity—perhaps. But for the world around you, that isn’t enough: Sweden, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Crimea, and other neighbors have already felt the weakness and are ready to take advantage of the moment to grab their prey. Will the harsh ruler of the “forest” manage to heal at least some of the wounds and fend off a pack of predators? Here, only strength is recognized. And a man who by chance finds himself in the body of the False Dmitry won’t back down—even in the face of blood—if it lets him save more people. But is it true that healing requires “releasing” old blood? And did they really treat that way in the 17th century?