Othello Schwarz, head of a large, successful company, learns via email from his assistant Iara that his wife is allegedly having an affair.

Out of power politics, offended vanity and a desire for revenge, Hohenstaufen Emperor Henry VI and the King of France became accomplices in an unheard-of act: the hostage-taking of the English King Richard the Lionheart. It was the kidnapping of the century.

The Habsburg Dynasty had ruled large parts of Europe and the world for 650 years. During World War I, however, the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire sowed the seeds of its own demise. At the height of World War I, the world of the Habsburgs was on the brink of collapse. Almost exactly 100 years ago to the day, in April 1918, the most sensitive diplomatic mission of the First World War became a Europe-wide scandal: the so-called "Sixtus Affair". Secret negotiations between the Austrian imperial family and France were supposed to bring peace to the Danube monarchy – and their failure caused the war to escalate and the Habsburgs to fall.

He framed his predecessor, took over his company, and now delivers a fittingly humble speech at the 70th anniversary celebration. Everything's going perfectly for Paul Oberberger. Except for his employee Viktoria, who just won't give up and is looking for evidence against him.