And thus, we came here."
The story ended there.
Claire's eyes were deep red, Carlyle had a grave expression on his face.
The others had various reactions.
There were some who were grimacing, while others had their arms crossed with difficult expressions.
Therese covered her mouth in shock.
The miko was smiling as if to say she was aware from the very beginning.
Cliff... was expressionless.
Maybe he has heard all this before.
However, hearing that story, I could understand.
What Claire was trying to do is something unforgivable.
Even if she did it all just because she was "trying to help", that sort of thing, to her daughter, is unforgivable.
I can't forgive it, and neither can society.
The Milis doctrine can't forgive it.
I don't know if it is illegal in this country, but looking at the expressions of the audience, it is undoubtedly something that will besmirch the name of the house.
Certainly, had I participated in that, my objectives in this town would have been impossible.
That's why she didn't involve me.
She tried to do something about it on her own.
She worried on her own, and accepted the consequences on her own.
But, unfortunately, Claire was mistaken.
"That remedy... is from 200 years ago, correct?"
When I said that, Claire raised her face in surprise.
"Th- That's right! 200 years ago, a girl with the same symptoms was found..."
"And that girl was chased from her village as a result of those actions."
"... For you to know that, don't tell me you've already tried it?"
"Of course not."
That case.
It's probably Elinalise.
Of course, it differs from the truth.
From a similar state to Zenith's, it took her decades to regain her sanity.
She didn't become a bitch until later.[8]
However, second-hand information is often incorrect.
It's not strange for second-hand information to be distorted.
"I haven't tried it, but I have spoken to that woman in person, and heard it from her."
I may not have written about Elinalise in the letter.
There were many things I was keeping secret at the time.
"Is... that so?"
Claire dropped her shoulders as if all her strength had left her.
However, her expression does look slightly relieved.
"Then, everything I was doing was meaningless..."
"That seems to be the case."
"... Is that so..."
If she had told me about the treatment method on the first day, I wouldn't have exploded like that.
"No, no, grandma, I've met that woman and it's completely different from the story.
That kind of thing won't cure her."
I would have laughed it off like that.
Yup. Probably.
"You should have told me."
"... If you hadn't known about the ineffectiveness of that method, would you have refused to try it?"[9]
"..."
I couldn't answer.
I can't say no.
If Elinalise said, "I was cured by having sex," would I have tried it?
I probably wouldn't have tried it at first, and searched for another method.
However, several years have passed since then.
If no other methods came up, I wonder what I would have done.
After worrying, I wonder what kind of conclusion I would have come to.
"However, you already knew... How foolish I've been..."
Claire said that and once again let out tears.
Trying to do something inhuman to her own daughter, she probably couldn't bear to show her face in public.
There are still ill feelings left, probably.
Depression probably grasps her heart.
I feel refreshed.
I can finally understand her actions until now.
For her daughter, for the house.
There were no falsehoods in Claire's words.
Furthermore, this situation.
The situation where this case was attempted to be put to use in the power struggle.
She at least tried not to reveal what she was trying to do.
She wanted to bear the weight of this sin by herself.
That way she could at least protect the Latreia house.
To protect Therese and the uncle and aunt I still have not met.
Of course, the way she went about things was mistaken.
She can't deny that.
There should have been a better way to do it.
There should have been many other ways to approach the problem.
However, that was for mine and Zenith's sake.
For her daughter, for the house.
That's why me and Carlyle were struck by Zenith.
"Haaa..."
I let out a sigh.
Then, I turned to Cliff.
The Cliff who suddenly covered for Claire.
"When did Cliff-senpai hear about it? This story."
"This morning. I coincidentally ran into them at the headquarters."
"... Why didn't you stop them at the time? You also know about Elinalise-san's case, right?"
"As far as the specifics, I was only told that the method is something unforgivable as a person."
I guess that's the case.
She never told anyone before, even to Cliff she would be hesitant.
"I was planning to tell you sometime today, but... Sorry."
It was certainly impossible in this situation.
This is Cliff, after all.
I'm sure at that time he censured Claire and Carlyle.
"What you're doing is wrong.
Quickly return Zenith and apologize to Rudeus" and such.
Then, losing to that attitude, Carlyle explained the circumstances.
Hearing something unforgivable, he would have wavered in his own way.
Probably would have fallen silent, too.