Battlefield Priest's Diary

Chapter 97 Helen
Inside the windowless, dark room of Yusupov Palace, a banquet is underway.

Black caviar, smoked salmon, truffle bits and foie gras, all drizzled with honey cherry sauce.

The amber cake, filled with caramelized pear, is covered with gold leaf, and a barbecue platter made of Caucasian antelope leg and Siberian cedar-roasted grouse is served alongside wines from Château Margaux.

Strangely, there wasn't a single waiter at the entire banquet, and almost none of the guests touched the exquisite food on the table.

In the corner, someone was chugging whiskey, one glass after another. The way they downed it in one gulp didn't seem like they were enjoying themselves; rather, it looked like they were venting their frustrations.

"Alright, everyone! Cheer up!" Prince Yusupov, as the host, stood up and clapped his hands.

“If drinking could solve the immediate problem, I could empty the entire winery, but obviously that would be pointless.”

A telegram was tossed onto the table by the prince.

"Look, everyone, our Emperor has just sent a telegram from the front lines, acknowledging the correctness of that German woman's orders. From today onwards, those poor bastards in Strogano are officially traitors."

"What's the point?" the person in the corner said sarcastically. "Even if the Tsar doesn't approve, can he just take them off the gallows and bring them back to life?"

"Alright, let's not talk about that then." The prince casually tossed the telegram aside and continued, "Gentlemen, we have indeed lost a lot this time, but we have also gained quite a bit. At least we now know who our real enemy is."

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent, and a black figure appeared before each of their eyes.

"I just realized that a dog that bites doesn't bark," someone murmured.

"And it can bite through a person's throat in an instant!" someone nearby chimed in, deeply agreeing.

At this point, someone interjected, "There's something I find strange. We were just planning to take action against this 'saint,' and this happened—some of the people killed were even his supporters."

"Gentlemen, don't you think this is a bit too much of a coincidence?"

"Hey~ you don't suspect there's a traitor among us, do you?" someone asked, dissatisfied.

“Please don’t do this! The fact that we’ve come here shows that we are allies with the same goal. Unnecessary suspicion will only give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of us,” Prince Yusupov stepped forward.

"The most important thing we have now is how to respond."

“How can we respond? He can practically issue orders in place of the Queen now. The citizens treat him like a living saint, and even the garrison has his men. He can erect another gallows whenever he wants,” someone shouted from the side.

Some people subconsciously touched their necks, the scene from a while ago still vivid in their minds.

"Wait, why do we have to wait for him to make the move? Why can't I..." The person speaking bent down, deliberately lowering their voice.
"Why don't we take him out first?!"

“Brother, this is no joke.” Another nobleman stepped forward to stop him. “With his current reputation, if he dies a violent death, not only will the citizens be unable to accept it, but even the army may be in trouble.”

"The scale of the riots may be even larger than the last one, and it is not impossible that it could accidentally turn into a mutiny."

“No, that may not be impossible,” Prince Yusupov stepped forward. “While killing him under normal circumstances might have significant consequences, what if his death is dishonorable?”

"To die dishonorably?"

The prince poured himself a glass of wine and slowly sat down. "You all know how Pushkin went to meet God, right?"

oh~~~
After the sighs subsided, the nobles' faces showed expressions of sudden realization.

The prince, having downed half a glass of wine, continued, "Think about it, if a saint dies because of a woman in a scandalous affair, will he still have so many believers around him?"

"Hiss~ That's a good idea. If someone is morally flawed, even if it's just on the surface, it's impossible for the public to have a unified voice." Someone chimed in.

"But for someone of his status, an ordinary woman probably wouldn't do, right? Where are we going to find a Helen like him?" someone else asked.

The prince pondered for a moment, then downed the wine in his glass and said in a low voice, "You don't need to worry about that. I already have someone in mind."
-
A black crow flew out of a side window of Yusupov Palace, hovered, and landed on the roof of 64 Gorokhovaya Street. It then glided to the black-robed priest's bedroom. The crow cawed for a while. Qin Hao nodded and continued fiddling with the things in his hands.

There was a knock on the door.

Before the room's occupant could respond, the tall female housekeeper pushed the door open and entered.

Ever since she handed over the sketchbook that day, Lyudmila has unknowingly become increasingly unrestrained here.

"My lord priest, were those maids sent away by you?" the housekeeper asked, standing there.

“That’s right. I spoke with Miss Anna myself. I don’t need so many people here. It’s best to keep things quiet.” The priest in the black robe didn’t turn around and kept his attention on his hands.

"You've confronted Miss Anna?" the housekeeper asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I just don't want to live under surveillance every day."

"But you forgot to ask her to remove me."

“Liu Da, you are different from them.”

The priest in the black robe spoke his last words in a matter-of-fact tone. The housekeeper was taken aback at first, then turned to the side, a blush appearing on her face.

To hide her emotions, the housekeeper pretended to lose her temper.

“Hey, my sir, I’ve been in here for so long, can’t you turn around and talk to me?” Lyudmila complained, hands on her hips.

"Wait a minute, oh, it's done!"

With a soft click, the priest in black robes turned around, holding a glittering object in his hand—an exquisite necklace.

The chain, made of small diamonds and gold, is topped with a rhombus-shaped pendant inlaid with a sapphire, and the Fabergé logo is printed on one corner of the pendant.

"Oh? This is the latest gift for Lady Irina, isn't it?" The housekeeper involuntarily crossed her arms, her words tinged with sarcasm.

"No, this is for you," the man in front of me said calmly.

??? !!! !!! !!! !!!
The tall woman froze on the spot, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she subconsciously tucked her short hair behind her ear.

“I… I’m not suited to shiny things. And, well, Mr. Fabergé’s creations are too expensive.” At this moment, the shrewd and capable woman was unusually at a loss.

"This is not just a necklace, but also a talisman. Remember to open it if you encounter danger in the future," the black-robed priest instructed, then reached out to put it on the woman in front of him.

Lyudmila first took a half step back, then stood still, and relaxed completely.

Click! As the keyhole closed, the blue gemstone pendant shone brilliantly against the woman's fair skin.

"Alright, now it's time for..."

Just as Qin Hao raised his head to speak, he saw the girl in front of him slightly lift her chin, and her beautiful eyes reflected his own image.

A peculiar aura filled the air, and two figures began to approach...

As shadows overlapped in the sunlight, Odin stood before the table, dramatically flapping his wings.

Someone just forgot to feed it jerky.

(End of this chapter)