Battlefield Priest's Diary

Chapter 98 The Mystery That Appears and Disappears

Wow!

Emerging from the cold, icy water in the bathtub, Qin Hao felt his skin tighten all over, and a sharp, tingling sensation came from around his temples.

He glanced at his watch; the time had just exceeded 90 seconds. He had only held his breath in the ice water for about a third of the time Houdini could.

If this is the case in a bathtub, imagine what it would be like under ice. It seems this American's description of escaping under the ice wasn't an exaggeration—it could really be deadly.

After drying himself with a towel, Qin Hao walked out of the bathroom. There was a set of clean clothes neatly placed at the door.

Without even asking, it was clear that only the housekeeper in the entire house would be so attentive, though perhaps for some special reason. The tall woman seemed to be deliberately avoiding him lately.

After putting on his clothes, Qin Hao sighed softly.

He couldn't stay here forever; in about a year, the entire Tsarist dynasty would completely collapse.

Whether or not he completed the task of writing the diary, he had to leave this place. At that time, the housekeeper…

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and the new servant told him: Monsieur Fabergé has arrived.

"Finished?" Qin Hao asked, looking at the exquisite little thing on the table with some surprise.

On the solid wood tabletop, a three-colored egg, made primarily of silver and featuring black, white, and orange enamel as its main colors, is placed. The egg is 10 centimeters tall and only the size of a palm. Its surface is decorated with the St. George Cross, giving it a solemn, military-style feel.

"A St. George cross Easter egg?" Qin Hao looked at the little thing on the table with great interest.

“What a wonderful name. I was going to ask for your opinion, but I didn’t expect you to describe it so aptly at first glance,” Fabergé said respectfully.

Only then did Qin Hao realize his slip of the tongue, so he changed the subject to cover it up: "Mr. Fabergé, it is said that your Easter eggs will only be revealed on Easter Day. Why did you tell me in advance?"

“Father Pugin, the so-called mysterious gift is just a gimmick. How could anything presented to His Majesty not be inspected beforehand? Every year, Miss Anna would see the actual Easter egg a while in advance and record it.”

The old man then paused and said in a very respectful tone, "You are now Her Majesty the Queen's most trusted person, so there is nothing wrong with seeing the Easter egg in advance."

"Oh?" Only then did Qin Hao realize that the other party's tone had changed, and there was a hint of ingratiation in it.

He then tried asking, "So what's the secret behind this year's Easter egg?"

“Look here.”

Click! The mechanism clicked, and the second half of the Easter egg separated, revealing several miniature portraits, with diamonds adorning key areas.

Nicholas II, Alexei, Alexandra... Hmm? The last one looks a bit familiar.

The person in the painting has black hair and a black robe, and a solemn face—clearly a portrait of himself.

“Mr. Fabergé, this doesn’t seem appropriate, does it?” The priest in black robes pointed to his portrait.

“You are the Crown Prince’s personal physician and the royal family’s closest friend. I believe His Majesty will also find it appropriate,” the old man said, rubbing his hands together.

At this moment, Qin Hao finally realized that his status in the palace had completely changed, to the point that the royal jeweler was speaking to him as if he were a subordinate.

Although it's not something I'm used to, it's not a bad thing.

"Master Fabergé, I've heard that you start planning the design for the next egg as soon as you make one. Is that true?" The priest in black robes lowered his voice, trying to make his tone sound as amiable as possible.

"Yes, Father Putin, I already have a plan for the next Easter egg, but the specific production will depend on His Majesty's decision."

"Hmm?" Qin Hao tilted his head in surprise. "Isn't every plan supposed to be kept secret from His Majesty?" "Normally, that's how it is, but this year His Majesty seems to have some additional requests, wanting me to be included in the Easter egg."

"What exactly is it?"

“His Majesty is still at the front. He only instructed in the telegram to tell me in person, and everything will be confirmed when he returns.” Fabergé did not hide anything and told me everything he knew.

"I see." Qin Hao nodded.

"Please go and rest first. I have some small matters to trouble you with later."

"It is my honor," the man in his sixties said, bowing to the man who was only a third his age, before respectfully taking his leave.

An element personally assigned by Nicholas II? What could it be? Qin Hao rubbed his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Historically, the St. George's Cross Egg, completed in 1916, was actually the last Easter egg made by the Tsar. After the February Revolution, the entire Normanov dynasty collapsed, Fabergé's workshop was confiscated by the government, and he fled abroad. The Easter egg became his swan song.

However, according to the recollections of Fabergé workshop workers, there was actually a shadow Easter egg – the birch tree Easter egg from 1917.

It is said that before the February Revolution, only the eggshell of this egg was completed, and the internal mechanism was not installed. The unfinished eggshell was confiscated by the provisional government.

Strangely, when the Soviet government inventoried the royal property in 1922, the birchwood eggshells mysteriously disappeared.

According to an incomplete design drawing from later generations, the mechanism of this Easter egg is a mechanical squirrel that lifts a silver acorn.

In Slavic folklore, squirrels symbolize "storage and foresight," leading many to speculate that the egg has a hidden meaning. The mysterious disappearance of the egg's outer shell has further fueled numerous interpretations.

Engineers a hundred years later attempted to recreate the Easter egg, but ultimately failed due to missing key processes and incomplete blueprints.

Today, Fabergé told him personally that the Tsar wanted to instruct him to add a certain element to the Easter egg.

Qin Hao felt that a certain answer was getting closer and closer to him.

Quack quack!!!

Odin's voice rang out from outside the window, reminding him of the latest news.

It's time to go see that woman.
-
salute!

At the command of the captain of the guard, the soldiers on both sides of the Winter Palace entrance stood at attention and saluted, watching the black-robed priest enter the Winter Palace with meticulous precision.

According to regulations, this kind of courtesy is normally reserved for high-ranking officers, but no one objected. Even the sentries checking weapons at the door ignored the wide robe that looked like it could conceal a lot of things and let the man walk into the Amber Hall.

When the black-robed priest reappeared in the corridor, the servants became visibly tense, each behaving themselves properly, afraid of making even the slightest mistake.

The mass execution a month ago was too much of a sensory shock; the sound of gunshots still seems to echo in my ears.

Although the "saint" was described as kind and approachable by the public, anyone who knew even a little about the events of that day would be nervous in his presence.

After all, nobody wants to be hung up like that.

"Sir, that lady has been waiting for you for a long time and is now waiting for you in front of the chapel," a servant whispered as he approached, his nervousness causing him to misuse the proper form of address.

"Yes, I understand." The priest in the black robe nodded slightly, rolled up his sleeves, and walked slowly forward. The attendants behind him bowed in greeting, and only dared to stand up straight again after the priest had walked away.

At the entrance of the chapel, 19-year-old Irina stood charmingly. When she saw the priest in black robes walking towards her in the distance, she lifted her skirt and greeted him with a sweet smile.

(End of this chapter)