After happily ending today's work, Alicia and I walked back to the manor. The strange thing is that the residents didn't run away or hide when they saw me, but looked at me and Alicia with curious eyes, and then talked to each other.

"What's wrong with them?"

"Because Master Aaron, you are very strange recently. Therefore, their curiosity overcame their fear of you."

"Where am I strange?"

"..."

Alicia turned around and looked at me with helpless eyes:

"Because, in the eyes of the residents, you should be drinking all day in the tavern, not shoveling dirt all day behind the tavern, and even preparing to build a house."

"I made a good change, isn't that something to celebrate?"

"Yes, just hope you can actually fulfill the contract."

"Then I need you to help me even more. After all, it's too inefficient to rely on me alone."

Alicia squinted her eyes and said in disbelief:

"Don't you know that asking for help from others requires gratitude and reward?"

I was a little embarrassed to see Alicia's performance. Because, these days, I really take Alicia's help for granted. I have to say, I'm used to being an aristocrat.

"Sorry, how about I give you a massage to help you relax?"

Seeing my obscene smile, Alicia's eyes suddenly became cold, and then she pulled out the saber at her waist:

"Master, I didn't hear what you just said clearly, can you repeat it again?"

"...I mean thank you for your hard work."

…

When Alicia and I returned to the manor, it was already close to sunset. Sadly, since I don't have a pocket watch - it's mortgaged - I can't check the exact time while I'm out working.

At this time, I was in the bathroom, sitting in a big wooden barrel filled with hot water, enjoying the happiness brought by taking a bath. When I was still on Earth, what I looked forward to most every day was taking a shower in the small bathroom after my part-time job at night.

Because when I take a bath, I can temporarily abandon the worries about my studies and debts, let the hot water fully promote the blood circulation of the whole body, and then eliminate the fatigue caused by work.

After I finished taking a shower and wiped my body with a towel, I lay on the bed and turned on my mobile phone to read my favorite novel for a while.

This time of day is when I'm at my happiest, even when I'm struggling with my degree and debt the next day.

"I work less than eight hours a day like I am now, and when I come back, I have a life of delicious food and prepared bath water. I am so happy."

Leaning against the edge of the barrel, I sighed. Only, I also think about my parents who are still on earth:

"If the time flow of this world is the same as that of the earth, then my parents should be very worried about my disappearance?"

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This guess made my originally happy mood turn bad.

"Master Aaron, the master asked you to go find him after taking a bath."

I was puzzled to hear Alicia's words:

"Patriarch? Baron Albert... What is he looking for from me? In order to avoid revealing my identity, I have tried my best not to get in touch with him..."

When I started imagining myself being found out to be not the real Aaron, and being burned at the stake as a demon possessing a body, I started to feel uneasy:

"Why don't I pretend to be sick? No, if both he and Alice come to visit me, wouldn't the situation get worse..."

I sighed, realizing there was no use running away. So, I decided to meet Baron Albert in the past and see what he wanted to do.

…

A middle-aged man in a tuxedo was in the study with his back to Aaron. Aaron, on the other hand, stood behind the man anxiously, waiting for the man to explain the situation.

"Aaron, I've heard some rumors about you recently."

Baron Albert did not turn around, his back was like a high wall, which made me feel the pressure. However, I really don't know what the rumors are, so I can only keep silent and wait for his further explanation.

"You seem to have been busy with something behind the tavern recently?"

Baron Albert turned around, his features were similar to Aaron's, but his temperament was different: Aaron was sinister, while he was upright.

"...you're not going to say something, Aaron?"

I knew that Baron Albert would question me and question my motives. Because he looked at me at this time, as if he was looking at a troublesome problem.

At this point, I know I can no longer keep silent:

"Yes."

I actually wanted to add 'father', but if Aaron, a rebellious guy, doesn't have this habit, wouldn't it expose the fact that I am not the real Aaron?

So, I intend to talk as little as possible. For questions, respond with YES and NO.

"Aaron, I am your father. However, I am also a lord, and I have an obligation to protect my residents. I don't want you to deceive and bully them."

I shrugged. I'm used to people always looking for a bad motive for my actions. After all, Aaron is a jerk. Assholes do only bad things.

Although I very much agree that this kind of bastard should be questioned and punished. However, when I am this kind of jerk now, there is nothing but helplessness in my heart.

"I'm just helping the tavern owner to make a warm house," I said, and I took out the paper contract at the time from my pocket, "This is the contract I signed with the tavern owner, if you don't believe it, you can take a look .”

The baron glanced at the contract in Aaron's hand, and then continued to stare at Aaron, but did not take the contract over. The baron's behavior made me realize that his suspicion of Aaron was deeply rooted.

"Are you going to use this excuse to deceive me?"

"If you don't believe me, I have nothing to say."

Yes, I'm still quite experienced with this. If a person doesn't believe you in the first place, no matter how much you explain, it is still a cover-up in his eyes. Since you can't gain trust by talking too much, it's better not to say it.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go first."

I'm going to end this interview the way Aaron should be—a rebellious bastard.

"Is it because of the situation at home?"

"..."

Albert's voice suddenly became gentle. And it was this weak voice that made me stop, turn around, and look at the baron's expression. He was smiling, but there was sadness in his eyes.

Watching me stop, Albert realized that his bad son might really have changed because of this incident.

"Is it because of the debt situation at home that makes you feel dissatisfied or uneasy, so you do this?"

"..."

"Aaron, this is just a small accident, you don't need to worry. Dad, I will take care of it soon."

"..."

"Don't worry, I have found a solution."

"..."

Baron Albert's words sounded familiar to me.

The reason why my family is in debt is also because my father failed to invest. In order to repay the debt, he even mortgaged the family's house and car.

I still remember that when I came home from vacation, my father at that time also showed a bitter smile, and then comforted me, so that I don't have to worry about the situation at home:

"Don't worry, it's just a small difficulty."

"Don't worry, I have found a solution."

"Well, go to school quickly. I'll figure out how to deal with tuition fees."

At that time, I didn't realize that there was depression and worry hidden in the smiles of my parents. In order not to worry their children, they do a good job of hiding their negative emotions.

The reason why I knew about this was because later I saw a debt collector coming to my house. Since then, I have applied for student loans, studied during the day and worked part-time at night, and used the part-time money to pay off the family debt.

The baron now has exactly the same expression as his father did back then.

My mood became complicated. I didn't have much affection for Baron Albert at first, because he wasn't really my father.

However, I was a little moved when he expressed a father's love for his children. Here's what I feel I should be doing, not just for myself, but for a father of one:

"Don't give up hope, I will work hard."

After speaking, I left the study. And Baron Albert looked at the direction I was leaving in surprise, and then showed a relieved smile.

…

The next day, Alicia was about to come to Aaron's room, and when she called Aaron to wake up on time, she found that Aaron's door had been opened:

"Alicia, you came just in time. Let's go find the Chief Executive together."

Alicia was a little surprised to see Aaron already dressed, because he had never woken up so early before.

Alicia clearly felt that Aaron had changed. This change is not just a change in behavior, but also a change in temperament.

At this point, Aaron knocked on the door of the Sheriff's room, and the Sheriff opened it in his pajamas and yawned:

"Master, why did you wake up so early today?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm here to ask you, is there a cylindrical plant with a hollow plant in the middle near the warehouse or territory?"

"It's hollow in the middle? Master, how can there be such a plant?"

I am dissatisfied with the Chief Executive's answer. Because, the floor heating system I originally wanted to build was to transfer heat by boiling hot water through pipes under the floor.

I heard that there is a plant called bamboo, which is a hollow plant in the middle. This plant is a natural conduit and is best if it is available on the territory.

If not, you may have to give up the idea of making a pipe. Because, if a tree is made into the shape of a pipe, it will not only take a lot of time, but it is also difficult to guarantee the service life of this wooden pipe.

"Forget it, go to sleep, I don't need you anymore."

I was not in a good mood because of difficulties in obtaining materials. The Chief Executive, however, paid no heed to my nasty tone and closed the door with great pleasure:

"Okay, master!"

"And what are you going to do, if you don't have that plant?"

Alicia looked at me curiously.

"It doesn't matter, I have another plan."