The Queen's Gambit by Alexandra Harrington

1774.  St. Petersburg glitters under Catherine the Great’s rule, but beneath the opulent façade, whispers of a chilling prophecy weave through the court like a venomous serpent.  Elara Volkov, a young woman secluded with her grandmother, a keeper of Romanov secrets, possesses a gift beyond measure: a preternatural aptitude for chess.  Years spent deciphering ancient manuscripts have honed her ability to anticipate her opponent's every move, a skill that echoes the prophecy foretelling a scarlet stain upon the ivory throne.

Summoned to a clandestine chess tournament, Elara’s victories are not merely triumphs of skill but chilling reflections of the prophecy, drawing the Empress’s keen gaze.  Catherine, a woman of formidable intellect, recognizes Elara’s potential and draws her into a dangerous dance of courtly intrigue.  Elara, armed with a crimson-stained narwhal ivory chess set, a legacy from her grandmother, navigates the treacherous currents of power, deciphering coded messages and unraveling a web of secrets.

But the Empress’s favor is a double-edged sword.  Gavril Zaitsev, a charismatic nobleman whose charm masks a thirst for revenge, sees Elara as a pawn in his deadly game.  He manipulates her innocence, exploiting her gift to further his own insidious plot against Catherine.  Complicating matters further is Elara’s burgeoning affection for the enigmatic Count Alexei Kuznetsov, a man whose loyalty remains shrouded in ambiguity.

As Elara delves deeper into the mysteries of the court, she uncovers a network of hidden tunnels beneath the palace and a forgotten library brimming with Romanov secrets. The prophecy, once a distant whisper, becomes a terrifying reality.  She discovers she is not merely a chess prodigy, but a descendant of a lost Romanov bloodline, destined to either save or destroy the dynasty.

The climax explodes at a lavish masquerade ball, a whirlwind of masks and hidden agendas. Zaitsev's conspiracy culminates in a daring assassination attempt. Elara, disguised as a harlequin, must make a devastating choice: protect the Empress or save the man she loves.  The final confrontation is a breathtaking gambit, mirroring a legendary chess match played by Catherine herself.  Elara’s victory comes at a steep price, leaving her forever marked by the scarlet stain of sacrifice.

In the aftermath, Elara declines a life of power, choosing instead to honor the memory of her lost love by dedicating herself to protecting the innocent. She departs the court, carrying the secrets of the Romanovs and the weight of a prophecy fulfilled.  But the game, she knows, is far from over.