Chapter 10

Mike didn't know Vincent well, nor did he trust him entirely. He suspected that the young man he encountered in the woods was connected to Vincent, but he wasn't sure if he should ask him directly.

In the end, Mike decided to inform Baron Hild.

Baron Hild rarely returned to the estate, so Mike inquired about his whereabouts from Jennifer and Vivian and decided to go find him himself. Vivian had started helping Jennifer with the household affairs. She was decisive, dismissing the gossiping maids and even asking the butler to find husbands for them among the local gamblers. "I want them to know that if they can't fulfill their duties as servants, they will have to face the consequences they've created for themselves." Mike saw Vivian caressing Anna's face, instructing her, "You are a lady of the Hild family, far more noble than those people. You should address their mistakes, not run away yourself and make us worry."

She was doing well, just like Susan had done in the past.

Jennifer also agreed with Vivian's approach. She mostly took care of Susan and Anna now or read books herself. "Uncle Mike, we are doing well now," Jennifer said to Mike. "You don't have to come over so often. The weather is too hot; you might get a heatstroke."

As for their father's frequent absences from home, the two young ladies didn't seem to care much.

"I don't know where he might be. It's usually the same places. You could check Thomas Manor; the gentlemen here love to visit there to please the Duke." Vivian was very straightforward. Jennifer gently tugged at her, but didn't stop her.

Mike sighed. "If possible, I will try to bring the Baron back."

However, neither young lady held much hope for this.

Mike left Hild Manor and headed towards Thomas Manor. On the way, he encountered several gentlemen who told him that the Duchess wasn't feeling well, so they had left early.

Mike asked them about Baron Hild's whereabouts, and the gentlemen all laughed meaningfully. "The Baron? He's at Mrs. Green's."

Mrs. Green was well-known locally. She was the daughter of a gentleman and had married a wealthy merchant. After her husband's death, she inherited a large sum of money. However, money would eventually run out, and Mrs. Green was well aware of this. She had no children but had adopted many young girls, raising them and claims to be her own daughter, when in fact, they were social butterfly.

Many gentlemen had frequented Mrs. Green's villa. Mike had been there twice for some reasons. Because he was willing to spend money but never touched the girls, Mrs. Green had a good impression of him. However, Mrs. Green once probed whether Mike liked young boys, which made him very uneasy, so he never went back.

But now, he couldn't worry about such things.

When the gentlemen heard that Mike was going to Mrs. Green's, they all offered to accompany him. They entered together and were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Green. "Oh, Mr. Hunt! Oh, Mr. Miller!" she exclaimed dramatically, ushering the gentlemen inside.

Mike stood awkwardly at the back. Mrs. Green noticed him. "Oh my, it's you, Mr. Rocha!" She squeezed her plump body through to Mike. "How long has it been since you last visited? Lily has been pining for you, she's practically sick with longing!"

She quickly fanned herself, winking suggestively at Mike. "Perhaps you'd prefer my last proposal. I know many young men, healthy and handsome. If you need, they are always at your service."

The topic was too dangerous, and Mike had to interrupt her. "No, no need. Mrs. Green, I'm just here to find someone today. Is Baron Hild here?"

"Of course, the Baron is in the small parlor." Mrs. Green led Mike inside. "He's been quite taken with Daisy lately... By the way!" Mrs. Green suddenly closed her fan.

"Do you know Mr. Thomas? The young one. He's here too."

Mike stopped in his tracks.

His face turned very pale, startling Mrs. Green. "Oh my, Mr. Rocha, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Mrs. Green." Mike forced a smile, his face as white as a ghost. Mrs. Green quickly reviewed what she had said, then gasped softly and whispered, "Oh, Mr. Rocha, is it because of Mr. Thomas...?"

"No, of course not... I mean... no..." Mike stammered, thinking about the connection between Baron Hild and Vincent, wondering if they had some secret dealings. Suddenly, he recalled the two workers he met in the woods, Susan's illness, and Vincent's sudden affection for him. Too many things filled his mind, as if something was linking them all together.

Mike hadn't discovered any significant truth, but this series of events made him inexplicably fearful.

Mrs. Green, however, thought of something else. "Oh, poor thing." She sympathetically patted Mike's face like a mother. "Would you like to rest a bit? Have some tea?"

Mike was grateful for Mrs. Green's kindness but shook his head. He walked alone to the small parlor, stopped, and then opened the door.

Inside the small parlor, several ladies and gentlemen were sitting. A girl named Lucy was standing by the piano, singing. As Mike entered, she was singing, "The jester becomes king in the palace, pleasure is the law of the land."

Several young women sat beside Baron Hild, their clothes half undone, revealing their fair chests and rounded arms. When they saw Mike enter, they didn't panic; instead, they giggled as if they had seen something amusing.

On the other side sat several young men with powdered faces, their features delicate, dressed in wide-collared shirts and jaunty vests. They clustered around one person, much like the women in a palace would gather around their emperor.

That person was Vincent.

"Oh, Mike," Baron Hild greeted him indifferently. A young woman stepped forward to take Mike's arm, but he quickly avoided her. Unexpectedly Baron Hild thought he was just being coy and urged the girls around him to pull Mike over. The women, laughing and giggling, dragged Mike back and forth, rubbing their bare chests against his arms, and touching his chest and buttocks.

Mike, not wanting to be rough with the ladies, awkwardly dodged their advances. Baron Hilde laughed heartily at the sight and teased, "Oh, sir, it seems that a woman's soft body and beautiful face do not move you. George, you all go ahead! Quickly bring our new guest over here."

Mike, teasing him wantonly, even brazenly reaching for his groin. Mike had never been so offended before; he trembled with anger and slapped the nearest man hard across the face.

The scene fell silent.

The singing stopped, and the laughter ceased. Baron Hild was about to say something when Vincent stood up, and the gentlemen made way for him.

He stood before Mike.

Mike was panting, his hair and clothes disheveled, looking very pitiful. Vincent raised his hand, intending to touch his face, but Mike avoided it.