The next instant, Belmondo was pushed away.
While his heavy armor vibrated with a clang,[8] he stumbled a step backwards.
Belmond immediately lowered his stance, and prepared to draw his sword.
The one who resisted, wasn't Claire.
It was the woman who sat between Claire and Carlyle.
Zenith was standing before Claire.
She spread her arms as if to block the way.
She was looking at Belmondo with a blank face, yet hostility could clearly be felt from her actions.
She protected Claire.
"...!"
I was even more confused.
Why was Zenith protecting Claire?
Was it a spontaneous action?
However, up until now she had moved on her own in certain circumstances.
Whenever she moved like this, she was acting for her family.
Did she have no idea what was going on, and reflexively protected her mother?
"..."
I have the feeling I'm missing something.
At times like these, I was always mistaken.
If I calm down, and think things over carefully, I may discover what I was overlooking.
However, there's no time.
Belmondo will momentarily push aside Zenith, and take Claire away.
Should I stay out of it?
Is it okay to stop him without thinking of the consequences?
Wouldn't it be better if I asked questions first?
But, Claire, to Zenith...
"Please wait!"
While looking back at the perplexed me, someone raised a voice to stop Belmondo.
A person of small stature interposed himself in front of Zenith.
Someone who was looking at me with eyes of criticism until just now.
It was Cliff.
"These overbearing methods aren't right."
He stood in front of Belmondo to cover Zenith.
"Forcing an old woman against the wall and making her into a sacrifice like this will not be forgiven by Milis-sama!"
"A mere priest dares to object to an official Church decision and proclaim himself as a spokesman for Milis-sama!?"
The cardinal speaks up in a loud voice.
"Then, do you think Milis-sama will forgive such actions, Cardinal!? When the husband has abandoned his wife and only the child is standing to protect her mother, ganging up on the mother to take her into custody!?"
"You say child, but she is merely an adult who has lost her mind!"
"Age has nothing to do with it!"
The cardinal made an indignant face to Cliff who was expressing flat refusal.
He immediately turned to face his subordinates, the Temple Knights.
A face as if to say to shut this man up.
However, the one he was looking towards was Therese.
Cliff as well, looked at Therese.
"Middle Leader of the [Shield Group] of the Order of the Temple, Therese Latreia-dono! She is your mother as well! Is this okay? Milis-sama said [A knight must never forget his loyalty. However, there are times in which the ones whom one loves must take precedence]. To you, is your mother someone not deserving of your love? Did you feel no love for her as she raised you into who you are today? Even if you haven't, do you feel no debt to her when you think back on your past?"
Therese made an agonizing face and turned away.
While maintaining his infuriated expression, Cliff moved his line of sight.
His eyes stopped on me.
"You too, Rudeus!"
Just as usual, he pierced me with a completely unwavering gaze.
"Doing things like this, are you satisfied? Doing something unlike yourself like taking the miko hostage and trapping your own grandmother, throwing her into jail, are you satisfied with that!?"
"..."
Hearing that, I fell silent.
Cliff's way of speaking is strange.
I didn't intend to take the miko hostage.
The one who sentenced Claire to prison wasn't me.
In the first place, it's undeniable that Claire was in the wrong.
Isn't it natural to be punished?
It's not something that should be overturned with those emotional words.
"Certainly you may have been quarreling with her, but don't you always reach a solution considerate of the others' feelings when disputing with your family? I heard it from Norn-kun. Even though she was so cruel to you, you came to help her when she was down, without letting the past get between you. This time as well, you put in so much effort to conclude things peacefully. You consulted with grandfather and Sir Therese, and were about to reach a peaceful solution. Is it really okay like this?"
It looks like he's misunderstanding something.
Trying to find a peaceable solution was for the sake of the mercenary corps and Cliff.
It wasn't out of consideration for her as part of my family.
But Cliff probably doesn't want to hear that kind of fault-finding.
"..."
"Answer me! Rudeus Greyrat! Is this okay with you or not!? Depending on your answer, you may receive my scorn!"
For some reason that resounds in my heart.
Something that pierces through me.
Why is that?