“What…?”

Spencer turned to Thomas with an apparent look of confusion on his face. He was demanding an explanation, yet Thomas didn’t respond and awkwardly averted his gaze.

Thomas had worked at Allport’s residence until about a year ago. He was also Spencer’s longtime friend.

Spencer’s surprise was to be expected. The servant who abruptly quit a year ago suddenly showed up with the princess in tandem, being accused of instigating a crime.

From the beginning, Frederick had ascertained that the count wasn’t smart enough to conspire a poor harvest scheme in the East. After all, the various acts of fraud Pascal committed before the rebellion were simply too sloppy, Frederick was able to quickly realize that someone was working behind the scenes.

“He infiltrated the count’s house as a servant and casually fed false information to the count and his wife. Precedents exist in other countries where they have profited from this exact method.”

“…But to think that the count and his wife simply took his words for it—”

“Normally, it is difficult to instigate a crime through mere small talk. But do keep in mind that the count and his wife had to endure a frugal life for 20 years despite being spendthrifts by nature. They had probably reached their limits and were likely to take action. Considering the precedents that had occurred in some faraway lands, Thomas probably reassured them, saying that they might be able to pull the wool over His Majesty’s eyes.”

It was a clever trick that took advantage of the shortsightedness of count and his wife.

“Above all, Count Starkey had falsely accused Thomas’ family in the past, causing their downfall. Therefore, it isn’t too surprising to believe Thomas would take revenge by bringing them down in a way that involved the least risk to him.”

“That’s…”

Spencer didn’t deny it either, and kept his mouth shut, for it was an undeniable fact.

Thomas had a strong motive to ensnare Count and Countess Starkey. Before the rebellion, Thomas was the eldest son of a baron family. The low-ranking baron and his wife were excellent at managing their territory, yet Pascal still found enmity with them. To do away his adversary, Pascal bribed the former king and had them falsely accused them. Framed for embezzlement, the count and his wife were executed.

Thomas survived.

His parents had snuck him out.

Unable to do anything, the youth lost everything to Pascal and the former king.

Without anything to his name, the orphaned boy fell into destitution. Young as he was, he had no way of knowing who had falsely accused his parents, so he trusted no one. It was to the extent that he couldn’t adjust to life at the orphanage.

Then, Dexter came into his life and took him in as Spencer’s playmate and servant. He probably learned of his parents’ unjust sentencing from the same person.

After all, Dexter knowing such a thing wouldn’t have been strange.

“Thomas pleaded guilty.”

When Quentin told him that, Spencer’s expression contorted in pain, especially since Thomas didn’t refute any of it. No matter how much he denied it, the reality wouldn’t change.

Nevertheless, Spencer still didn’t know the full truth.

“He did it under the instruction of Marquis Allport.”

“…W-what… are you talking about…?”

Spencer’s eyes were swimming. Due to the shock and information overload, he failed to comprehend her words.

“—Lord Dexter had nothing to do with it! I already said many times that it was my revenge!”

Thomas had been insisting that for a long time.

In fact, there was no evidence of Dexter’s involvement. Although there was evidence alluding to Thomas manipulating the count and his wife, none suggested that he did it at the behest of an actual mastermind.

For someone like Dexter, it wouldn’t have been too hard to predict what would happen once Thomas learned that the downfall of his family was orchestrated by the Count of Starkey. Even more so when Thomas suddenly and abruptly resigned one day.

More than that, Charlotte found it difficult to believe that Thomas came up with the trick of using chemicals all by himself.

As he looked at Charlotte, Dexter’s gaze suddenly softened.

“It is as you said.”

---

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***T/N: I M EAN HIS NAME IS “DEXTER” YO

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