To Claire's sarcastic words, he answered with sound reasoning.
That fair-and-square attitude improved Claire's evaluation of him.
Their conversation went just as Claire had originally hoped it would.
The current progress of Zenith's treatment and Norn's current circumstances.
As far as Aisha went, the earlier reprimand made things awkward, and Claire stayed silent.
Rudeus seemed a little estranged from Milis's common sense, but he had self-awareness as the head of the household, and declared he would properly care for Norn.
Claire re-evaluated him.
He was still young, but he was a wonderful youth with awareness as the head of the household.
That's how he was reflected in Claire's eyes.
Claire didn't know what to make of his position as the subordinate of Dragon God Orsted.
Claire wasn't very knowledgeable about military affairs.
However, if he has a friendship with the Queen of Asura Kingdom, he certainly holds a good pedigree, emergent though it may be.
With great pedigree comes great responsibility and achievements.
Claire could perceive that the man in front of her is probably even more important than she is aware of.
Such a man is the son of that Zenith.
Thinking of that, Claire experienced a complicated feeling of being both vexed and proud.
However, that brings about a problem.
The method for treatment she was about to try is something that will undoubtedly bring about rumors.
To have a woman be slept with by a great number of men isn't something that can be forgiven.
Would Rudeus really accept that method of treatment?
When she hinted at it, his anger exploded.
He loves Zenith, even more now that she has fallen into this condition.
Naturally.
And Claire thought that he surely doesn't know of that method, and has not tried it.
Should she tell him?
About the remedy.
About how the source may be questionable, but it still gives a hope for treatment.
Or maybe, if she told him of the method in detail, she could get approval.
"However..." -thought Claire.
The youth in front of her has a future.
From what she's heard, he's friends with a priest from the Pope's faction.
At the same time, she's also heard rumors of the Pope's grandson returning to Milishion.
Since it's such a long trip, it wouldn't be strange at all for them to come together.
Honestly, Claire couldn't care less about that power struggle.
However, if Rudeus is moving as part of the Pope's faction.
Not as the Latreia house, but as the Greyrat house.
If he intends to join the Pope's faction as the subordinate of Orsted.
If he intends to take action here in Milishion.
That treatment method will become a ball and chain for him.
Trying out that remedy on his own mother will undoubtedly become a scandal.
Everyone in this country will be talking about him behind his back.
He won't be able to keep on living in this country.
"Should I tell him about that treatment?
Should I let him participate?"
Nay, concluded Claire.
It's best for him to be unaware of it.
He shouldn't be told of his mother being forced to have relations with many men.
It's best if he stays unrelated.
It's something Claire did on her own.
It's not related to Rudeus, who has nothing to do with the Latreia house.
It's probably best to keep it that way.
Not trying out the treatment wasn't an option.
In any event, Claire had already waited 20 years.
She waited 20 years to meet her daughter, and talk with her.
And so, Claire began mobilizing.
She intended to bear all the consequences herself.
She intentionally angered Rudeus, and drove him from the Latreia house.
Using her servants, she kidnapped Zenith.
However, her actions stopped there.
The Zenith that was brought to the house.
The Zenith that has grown, and is starting to become old.
Her daughter that is still beautiful, and usable as a woman.
Is it really alright to let an unknown number of men sleep with her?
Of course it isn't.
There's no way it could be.
However, even Zenith wouldn't want to be in these conditions, where she is a continuous burden to her son.
If she could talk, surely she would beg to be cured.
Claire rationalized it that way.
A rationalization that made even Claire herself sick to her stomach.
She wanted someone to stop her.
Right now, she's trying to do something she mustn't do.
But she can't stop herself anymore.
She worried.
She suffered.
She spent the entire day in the room with Zenith, at wit's end.
This Zenith, which kept wasting away day after day, would occasionally show a human-like response, further hurting Claire's heart. [7]
The one who stopped her was Carlyle.
Carlyle heard the current state of affairs from Therese, and the rest from the family doctor, Andel.
About the unreliable treatment, and Claire's suffering over whether to try it.
His wife was forcing herself to do something unforgivable.
To that wife, he gently said this:
"... Before trying that method, let Miko-sama see her."
If they can see Zenith's memories, something may become apparent.
They may be able to steel their determination.
Alternatively, they may give up on that method.
Carlyle put forth a petition to get the miko to look at her memories.
Using his authority as a Large Leader of the Order of the Temple to its full potential, he got his petition approved while hiding Zenith's name and avoiding Rudeus's notice.
Plans were made to have the miko, who normally doesn't look at memories on personal reasons, check on Zenith.
That was for today.
Today was the day that Carlyle and Claire were to secretly bring Zenith to the Church's headquarters.
Then the kidnapping incident happened.