and grim legacy seem intertwined with the church he founded. At the start of the narrative, the protagonist visits a church and becomes entranced by an unsettling painting that depicts a naked man surrounded by flames and serpents. As he inquires about the painting, he learns that it is a representation of a mysterious benefactor who wished to be remembered in this macabre way, implying a dark history filled with envy and sin. The narrator's musings lead to a broader contemplation on human nature, and the introduction of the character Graumann, an elderly and solitary former government official, hints at conflicts stemming from envy and societal judgment. Through Graumann's interactions and the contrasting innocence of two children, the opening sets the stage for exploring the ramifications of envy on both personal and societal levels. (This is an automatically generated summary.)