Henry de Gramont's petition to the king to relieve Max Renard of all obligations for service in the Western Fortress has been signed. Max's duty to the crown is fulfilled. Now the “caring” uncle is waiting for his wayward and capricious nephew in the capital in order to quickly marry him to Viscountess Aurelia de Marbo. Max understands that he will not be able to get out of the trip to the capital. Moreover, he himself, in addition to personal affairs, has accumulated many questions, both to his father’s brother and to some relatives on his mother’s side. Therefore, Max decides to go to Herouville to personally determine how beneficial these blood ties are to him.