Before Elsa could truly ask her father if his words were true, the Tsar himself found Bruno and the rest of the group still gathered in the hallway, discussing the painting.
And upon seeing that the subject of the portrait had finally had a chance to witness it in person, Nicholas — ever the jovial and lighthearted figure — couldn't help but ask if the man had been pleased with the end result.
"There you are, my old friend. I heard from my staff that your car had arrived, but I hadn't seen you yet, so I came rushing down to check. I see now why it took you so long — you looked at yourself in the mirror on the way to find me, didn't you? Well? What do you think? Is it to your liking?"
Bruno turned back to the painting one more time, taking its image fully into his mind. Not thinking about what it meant to him — but about what it meant to everyone else who gazed upon its glory. Especially the future generations of the House of Romanov.
