Tyki gritted his teeth. The fact was, he did blame himself, at least somewhat. But that only made it harder to hear the reproach coming from the likes of Edgeworth.

"You may blame me if you choose," he said coldly. "However, the fact is that I have made every effort possible to hide this community from the Earl, not wanting him to turn his attention to other worlds, or realize the extent of my feelings for humans. I have not told him of it, and I have hidden my tracks as best I could. I have done all I can not to endanger anyone. I do not know how he learned of it, nor did he tell me if he is displeased with my activities here."

Bitterly, he finished, "So I suppose you can blame me merely for existing and using the community as all the rest of you do, since that is all I have done to cause this."