In the evening, the art gallery that belonged to him was almost empty, and Sergei could be alone without the burden of having to post guards and close the hall to visitors. Romanov sat on an ottoman upholstered in scarlet velvet in the central exhibition hall. He wore his usual immaculate suit, shined shoes and a black coat that hung loosely from his broad shoulders.

The Reaper sat in front of a large canvas that took up almost the entire room from floor to ceiling. It depicted a beautiful maiden in flowing robes lying under a tree surrounded by heavenly angels. But Sergei's blue eyes did not even look at the picture - he was too immersed in his thoughts.