This book is about an amazing woman who lived a great life, similar to both a fairy tale and an adventure novel. Daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, wife of Emperor Alexander III, mother of Emperor Nicholas I. For most of her earthly existence, Empress Maria remained at that social height where the destinies of states, empires and peoples were decided. And she fully felt the inexorability of the passage of time, becoming in the 20th century one of the first victims of the merciless “wheel of history.” But this little woman was able to overcome the seemingly insurmountable, learned to find a ray of light of hope even in the impenetrable darkness of the surrounding reality. She survived. She survived. Until the last hour of her earthly life, she remained a Russian queen, who retained in her heart compassion for human grief, love for Russia, faith in God and hope in His mercy.