Chapter 192 - 137: A Trampled Rose

Chapter 192: Chapter 137: A Trampled Rose

Ailena was invited to sit next to Nancy Stuart, dispelling the rumors that she might have been involved in Sting Litt’s death.

To show how much he valued his mistress, Lian personally accompanied her.

And so, he was the only man at the tea party.

Even the staff serving tea and refreshments were all beautiful Maids.

These noblemen’s mistresses came from both Yusofa and the Rose Territory.

Some of them already lived here, while others had followed the Rose Army to Yusofa.

Even in the Rose Territory, the identities of the Spies were top secret, known only to a few key figures, so these ladies had no idea who Ailena and Nancy Stuart truly were.

To them, Nancy Stuart was Mary’s favored Maid and now the mistress of an up-and-coming noble of the Empire, while Ailena was the widow of the Rose Territory’s Minister of War.

They were very envious of Nancy Stuart, not only because Lian was a scion of the Moria Clan with a respected status, but also because he was young and handsome, looking as though he was still a boy.

How the ladies longed for a romantic encounter with a beautiful youth like him. In comparison, their lovers were either old gentlemen with deeply wrinkled faces or pot-bellied, greasy middle-aged men who, aside from their money and status, held no attraction for them.

They, on the other hand, were all in the prime of their youth, at an age of surging hormones.

Lian noticed there was even a young girl among them. Despite her magnificent attire, she couldn’t hide her naivete.

At that moment, the young girl was stealing glances at Lian with her large, sky-blue eyes, a faint blush coloring her fair cheeks.

It was easier for a young girl to fall for a youth like Lian than it was for the more mature women, all thanks to his unique Charm.

Noticing Lian’s gaze, the girl shyly lowered her head and pretended to chat with the lady beside her, her eyes darting about evasively.

Compared to the beautiful and captivating Nancy Stuart, the girl felt she had no advantage. Furthermore, she was the mistress of a high-ranking official—an extremely petty man. If he discovered she had been exchanging flirtatious glances with another man at the tea party, she would surely face a brutal beating upon her return.

"Who is she?"

Lian leaned close to Nancy Stuart’s ear, whispering softly as if murmuring sweet nothings. The sight made the ladies’ hearts flutter once more.

Nancy Stuart replied with a smile,

"Melanie Pitt, a child from a commoner family. Tim Henson took a fancy to her three months ago, and she became his sixth mistress. Oh, and Tim Henson is that elderly foreign affairs official you met during the last negotiation."

Lian recalled the foreign affairs official from the Rose Territory. That old fellow, Tim Henson, had to be at least fifty, yet the girl before him was still a delicate, budding flower.

Though he felt it was a shame, Lian had no intention of meddling. In this world, far too many things contradicted his own values.

Lian didn’t believe he had the power to change the world yet.

Besides, the girl had no red tags on her; she was in perfect health. Perhaps becoming Tim Henson’s mistress would even bring great wealth to her commoner family. If it was a consensual arrangement, Lian saw no need to dispense justice.

But if the girl were to ask for his help, he might be moved by compassion.

The mistresses’ tea party was filled with topics that didn’t interest Lian in the slightest, but he was skilled at socializing. He managed to chat with each of the ladies, keeping the atmosphere lively and warm.

Melanie Pitt kept stealing glances at Lian, but his gaze never met hers again.

Nancy Stuart didn’t mind their ardent gazes fixed upon her male companion. Amid her conversation with Madam Ailena, she covertly completed the intelligence transfer, writing a list on a handkerchief and passing it to her.

Madam Ailena didn’t linger. After receiving the list, she bid an early farewell.

The mistresses assumed Madam Ailena still hadn’t recovered from her grief. After all, she was merely Minister Sting Little’s mistress. Unlike a wife, she was not entitled to any inheritance, as she had no children.

The manor’s Maids continuously refreshed the exquisite tea and fine wine, allowing the ladies to continue chatting to their hearts’ content.

Lian told a few old, corny jokes, which made the ladies laugh so hard they swayed like blossoms in the wind, appearing even more glamorous and captivating than the manor’s Maids.

"Lord Lian, you are truly witty and humorous."

The lady sitting next to Lian covered half her face with a feathered fan. Her left hand, clad in a white-laced glove, couldn’t resist reaching for the top of Lian’s thigh and giving it a suggestive pinch.

The other ladies chimed in with agreement, though it was a pity they were too far away to enjoy the same privilege.

Lian didn’t find it painful; it just tickled.

The lady stood up, excusing herself to use the washroom. As she left, she glanced back and silently gave Lian a flirtatious wink.

"Pardon me, I need to use the washroom as well. I must have had too much of the fruit wine. The fruit wine in Yusofa is the best I’ve ever tasted."

Lian stood, kissed Nancy Stuart on the cheek, and bid farewell to the other ladies.

He quickly caught up with the lady who had given him the hint.

She was a beauty with Blond Hair and Blue Eyes. While not as stunning as Nancy Stuart, her looks surpassed those of many other mistresses. She was in her thirties, and the years had endowed her with a mature, more womanly allure.