The Devil of No Flattery

To touch the darkness, to hear its whisper — a gift or a curse? Alexei Arakcheev would confidently answer: a curse. For since childhood, he has seen demons — beings from the Other Side of the world, clinging to those who have little time left, or to those whose thoughts are as dark as night. And not just sees, but also serves as a vessel for such creatures. In attempts to find answers and make peace with himself, Alexei takes service under Tsarevich Pavel, dedicating his life to the protection of the imperial family and the Fatherland. Alas, the secrets of the Romanovs are terrifying, and Alexei's only friend, the heir to the throne Alexander, is pursued by a mysterious Shadow, a harbinger of the capital's doom.