ESP 25

chapter 25

What the Count needed was a shock therapy.

That was Dmitri’s thought.

He didn’t know what his master planned to do to escape this absurd accusation, but from Dmitri’s perspective, his master was in a highly disadvantageous position.

Even if, following pre-trial procedures, Keith were moved to the High Court, it wouldn’t change much. As long as it was uncertain what evidence the “Queen’s Eyes” might use to brand Keith a traitor, and even if they did possess evidence, unless there was a way to nullify it from their side, Keith wouldn’t be able to completely clear his name. Keith needed as many allies as possible.

“Who would want a former husband accused of treason? Of course, no one wants to get involved. This is worse than Dmitri calling me ‘Mistress,’ for crying out loud.”

And Mistress Arrington would make an excellent ally for the Count. Dmitri believed that firmly.

With so many eyes watching, no matter how powerful the “Queen’s Eyes” were, or even the Queen herself, the trial would not proceed with only the defendant and the witnesses. The nobility would be present. Because of mistakes made five years ago, the royal family would need to prove Keith’s charges in front of reputable nobles. Therefore, to save Keith, they had to turn these nobles to his side, and for that, they needed to provide a spectacle that would appeal to them.

Keith and Mistress Arrington might not care much about high society, but as his butler, Dmitri had to pay attention to his master’s reputation, so he was aware of how the social scene worked.

The moment the Dalmore Count and Countess divorced, the Count was arrested. Early on, there had been all sorts of rumors, but by now, the kingdom’s prominent nobles, gathered at Fanshaw, must have heard of Keith’s charges. When everyone’s attention was focused on the verdict of the Dalmore Count, if the former Countess stepped forward to defend him, sympathy would naturally swing toward the Count.

High society nobles couldn’t resist drama. If the story of the Count and Countess, who had secluded themselves in Ebony after marriage, was fully revealed at the trial, public opinion would at least not turn against Keith.

For this, Keith also needed motivation.

Keith, like many rational people, had a somewhat cynical streak. But that cynicism had turned into cold detachment, tinged with a kind of helplessness after Lady Kaitlin Dalmore tragically ended her life on Undine Isle.

The previous Dalmore Count died not long after, and the previous Countess had passed away long before, leaving Keith, still very young, practically alone. Bringing a bride to the lonely Ebony Heights, even if for money, was a wise choice. Had he not married, Keith might have sunk into depression, alcoholism, or suddenly lost all will to live. He had always been so detached from the world that Dmitri had always worried about him.

Fortunately, the bride was beautiful, clever, and had the backbone that matched her innocent daffodil-like appearance. When Keith suddenly declared divorce, Dmitri believed his master’s resigned tendencies, induced by Lady Kaitlin Dalmore’s death, had resurfaced.

“As the master, I can’t just snap him out of it, but I also can’t let him die unjustly.”

So Dmitri used shock therapy.

“Mistress Arrington reportedly received a proposal from the Lord of Wheredale while staying in Shobury.”

Keith’s already haggard and delicate face turned pale.

“The Lord of Wheredale…?”

“Yes. The Lord of Wheredale.”

“Lord Wheredale… Theodore Byron?”

Dmitri only knew that his master had trained alongside Lord Wheredale at the Fanshaw sword academy as a boy. Judging from Keith’s reaction, their relationship had never been particularly close. Dmitri had heard he was handsome and well-regarded…

“That man proposed to Bryony?”

“Mistress Arrington said so herself.”

Dmitri emphasized the “Mistress” part.

“But the Duke of Byron hasn’t even met Bryony…”

“Who knows? Perhaps they met when Mistress Arrington debuted in society.”

“Wheredale is farther from Shobury than Fanshaw…”

Keith muttered. Dmitri noted that repeating the already known fact clearly had the intended shock effect. Watching his usually composed master look startled amused Dmitri more than he cared to admit.

“Someone like Lord Wheredale spends at least half the year in Fanshaw. He probably rushed to Shobury as soon as he heard of Mistress Arrington’s divorce. Even the dowry Sir Gideon Arrington could provide would be significant, even for a duke—”

“Are you saying he wants to marry Bryony for money?”

Keith’s outburst of anger was quick, but rational as always.

“…Not my place to judge. But he’s completely unsuitable as a husband for Bryony. Not just unsuitable—utterly hopeless.”

“Even though Wheredale’s estate is more than ten times the size of Ebony’s?”

“Arrington doesn’t need the money.”

“You do realize a duke ranks far above a count, right?”

“Sir Gideon Arrington would be pleased. But Bryony…”

Keith’s eyes darkened with unease.

“How did Bryony respond to the proposal?”

Dmitri pretended not to know.

“Lord Wheredale is said to be the youngest and most handsome of unmarried dukes. He’s not much older than you, is he?”

“She’s twenty-three; he’s twenty-seven. That’s practically an old man to her.”

“If twenty-seven is old to twenty-three, then twenty-five is practically a father to her, isn’t it?”

“And Duke Byron isn’t as impressive as the rumors suggest. All the glamour is bought with money; that’s all there is to admire.”

Dmitri almost agreed, thinking, No one could match the Count in presence, but remembered his purpose and kept silent.

Keith asked again:

“…So, Bryony cares about my innocence because if my ex-husband were an Orlof spy, it would bring her dishonor too?”

Indeed, Keith grasped it quickly. But before Dmitri could admire his master’s understanding, the mention of “Orlof” made his heart sink.

“Your charges involve that? That you colluded with Orlof?”

“According to the Marquess Seymour, yes. …Anyway, if I become a criminal, it’s bad for Bryony too. Even if he’s my ex, no one wants to be entangled with a criminal. I hadn’t thought of that. But still… Duke Byron…”

Meanwhile, Dmitri couldn’t suppress his own anxiety. Orlof was a well-known enemy of the kingdom. Even civilians caught contacting Orlof could face execution, let alone a royal vassal. And Orlof’s nation was…

“Dmitri.”

“….”

Now, the roles were reversed; Dmitri was lost in thought while Keith shook him back to reality.

“Now’s not the time to dwell on memories of your homeland. Take my measurements.”

“My measurements?”

“You said you need clothes altered. Take the best garments I have to the tailor. They should fit perfectly, as if made yesterday.”

Keith was right. Now wasn’t the time for nostalgia. Dmitri took out his tape measure. Standing before him, he followed his master’s instructions.

“And check if there have been any recent incidents in the kingdom involving Orlof nationals… You can manage that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Tell Bryony I approved her attending the trial as a witness… and, congratulate her too.”

The kneeling butler inadvertently looked up at his master’s face while taking measurements. Despite his lingering unease, Dmitri saw the expression he had longed to witness.

It was an expression that could be called determination.

“Congratulate her…?”

“For receiving Lord Wheredale’s proposal. And for any other suitors she might have in the future.”

That, Dmitri realized, was why he had come to his master.

To get Keith to support Bryony attending the trial and actively assert his own innocence. Yet, seeing Keith’s resolute yet strangely sad expression, Dmitri felt a pang of guilt.

“I can’t let Bryony’s future marriage be unhappy because of me. If she feels the same, then it’s fine… In that case, Bryony will be okay.”