Vienna, late 19th century. Young Žofia from Werdenfels often escapes from the gloomy atmosphere of her parents' house to the wonderful café of her bourgeois uncle. Here he meets Richard von Löwenstein, a personal friend of Crown Prince Rudolf. The two young people fall in love. Žofia's best friend, Mary Vetserová, is in turn rooting for the married crown prince. Regardless of all Žofia's warnings, Mary even begins a love affair with Rudolph. However, no one knows that this will shake the empire to its very foundations.