: Catherine attempts to seduce and then persuade Orlo to help her overthrow Peter. After initial resistance and a failed attempt to flee, Orlo joins her when he realizes she offers a path to an enlightened Russia.
: Marial, a former noblewoman turned servant, continues to mentor Catherine in the brutal and eccentric politics of the Russian court. 2. A Fake Beard
: Peter forces his religious advisor, Archie, to find a "divine sign" to justify a war, highlighting the tension between the church and Peter's whims. : Catherine attempts to seduce and then persuade