The Russian Empire is intensively preparing for the already imminent world war. The newest battleships stand at the outfitting walls of the shipyards, the army is training at an accelerated pace for future battles, but most importantly, Empress Olga managed to form a new edition of the Entente, based not on a confusion of bilateral agreements, but on one multilateral agreement, which clearly stipulates the areas of responsibility of the parties. This time, the Russian army will act strictly in accordance with pre-war plans and based solely on its own interests, and the issue of the Black Sea Straits must be resolved long before guns roar on European fields. At the same time, a clear and harmonious plan has already been created at least once turned out to be grossly violated and so far no one knows whether this violation will turn out to be good or not. Going into forced retirement, the Bulgarian Prince Ferdinand abdicates not only for himself, but also for all his children, and to the Bulgarian throne, after some upheavals, they choose the husband of the Serbian Princess Elena (almost the queen), Mikhail Alexandrovich Romanov, who is also the beloved brother of the Russian Empress. This decision of the Bulgarian deputies-electors is tantamount to a bucket of kerosene generously poured onto the smoldering coals of Balkan politics.