Zenith's family home was enormous.
Just as I'd imagined.
A great gate, lion statues flanking either side, a long stone-paved path leading from the gate to the entrance, a fountain midway along the path, and meticulously trimmed grass in peculiar shapes.
And beyond all that sat a pristine white mansion.
If you were to picture a noble's house, this would be it.
That was exactly the image, and this was exactly that.
The location was in the residential district—the noble quarter.
More specifically, it was the area where the most distinguished families resided.
It had a similar atmosphere to the noble quarter in Asura.
Even so, it was a massive house.
Cliff's place had been underwhelming, but Zenith's home matched my expectations.
Of course, I owned a mansion of comparable size in the Kingdom of Asura—one I'd received from Ariel—so it wasn't something to brag about.
But the point was, I had a place on par with this one.
This one had a more refined air, but in terms of luxury, they should be about equal.
So there was nothing to be afraid of.
Don't chicken out.
"Sigh..."
Beside me, Aisha let out a heavy breath.
She was staring at the mansion with a grim expression.
Currently, the two of us and Zenith stood waiting before the gate.
I was dressed in my noble-appropriate outfit—courtesy of what I'd brought from home—while Aisha wore a maid uniform. And Zenith, like me, had been dressed up in aristocratic attire.
We'd asked a guard at the entrance to relay our arrival. I'd tried to show him the letter, but the guard took one look at Zenith's face and dashed into the mansion.
He still hadn't returned.
"Hey, big brother, just so you know, Grandma is a really awful person."
"...I've heard that many times already."
A warning like that was terrifying.
But I liked to think I had a certain tolerance for unpleasant people.
After all, I myself had been the lowest of the low in my previous life.
Compared to that, I could put up with most anyone.
So I should be fine.
Even if she turned out to be someone truly unbearable, I could at least listen to Zenith's recent experiences and commiserate together.
I might not be able to do much beyond that, but even that would be enough.
"Oh."
Just as I was thinking this, several men and women returned from the direction of the mansion.
Not just the guard from earlier.
There were maids, and a man dressed as a butler, among others.
A total of about twelve people were hurrying toward us in a brisk formation.
The maids lined up in two rows at the edge of the path before the gate.
The butler took position at the front, straightened his spine, and faced us.
A "welcoming formation," just like you'd see in those rich-family manga.
They did the same thing back in the Kingdom of Asura.
When the guard opened the gate, the butler bowed deeply.
The maids bowed in unison with him.
"Zenith-sama. Welcome home. We have been eagerly awaiting your return from the bottom of our hearts."
The bow was directed at Zenith.
But Zenith, as always, wore a vacant expression and took no notice of them.
"Then, Rudeus-sama. The Madam awaits you. Right this way."
"Yes. Thank you."
The butler, unperturbed by Zenith's lack of response, gave me a courteous bow and turned on his heel to lead the way.
He didn't spare a single word for Aisha.
So the maid was being treated as a maid, then.
In that case, I should've had Aisha wear something else.
Something more like my little sister's outfit.
A frilly dress or whatever.
As I pondered this, I was led down the long path and through the front door.
Inside, the furnishings were just as elegant as the exterior suggested.
Naturally, it couldn't compare to the Asura royal palace or Perugius's fortress, but I had to admit the taste wasn't bad.
"Please wait here."
I was led to what you'd call a parlor.
Opposite each other sat sofas, a vase placed at one end of the room, a maid standing at the other end...
Despite the claim that the Madam was waiting, there was no sign of her.
She was probably getting ready to appear in public, waiting for the journey to be over—something like that.
Anyway, I sat Zenith down first.
Then I took a seat beside her.
I happened to notice Aisha standing beside her chair.
"Aisha, sit down too."
"Huh? But I think it'd be better to stand—"
"You're my sister, and you should be a guest here. Sit down."
"...Okay."
At my words, Aisha settled into the seat next to Zenith.
"..."
And so the three of us sat in silence, waiting.
It reminded me of the time I'd gone to Philip's place for an interview.
That time, Saulus had shown up out of nowhere, yelled his head off, and stormed out.
Good old days.
If only I could handle things as well as back then...
How did it go with Saulus again?
I'd introduced myself first with a greeting.
I believed that in any world, introducing yourself first was basic courtesy.
I'd do the same this time.
"The Madam is here."
Just as I was thinking this, the door opened.
In walked a nervous-looking old woman with gold hair streaked with gray.
And behind her, a middle-aged, slightly portly, bearded man in white robes.
Which one was the Madam needed no explanation.
I immediately rose to my feet and placed a hand on my chest in a light bow.
"How do you do, Grandmother. My name is Rudeus Greyrat. Today I—"
"..."
The old woman didn't so much as glance at me.
She walked straight past me as I was greeting her, moving until she could see Zenith's face.
Then she stopped at a distance of one step and stared intently at Zenith.
A tearful reunion—
...or so I thought. But Claire merely snorted and spoke in a voice you could only call cold.
"She is indeed my daughter. Ander, if you would."
At those words, the bearded man moved.
He passed by my side, took Zenith's hand, and helped her to her feet.
Then, touching her vacant face—
"Wait a moment, what are you doing all of a sudden?"
I hurriedly intervened.
"Oh, my apologies. I am Ander Barkley, personal physician to Lady Claire."
"A pleasure. I'm Rudeus Greyrat. You're a doctor?"
"Yes. Today happened to be Lady Claire's regular consultation, so she asked me to examine her daughter while I was here..."
I see.
So that was what happened.
Grandma Claire had gotten a bit flustered upon seeing Zenith.
I get it, I get it.
"In that case, let me get my mo—"
"Who gave you permission to sit?!"
Just as I was about to say "let me get my mother," a sharp rebuke flew from behind me.
I flinched and turned around to find Aisha hastily rising from the sofa.
"How dare a maid remain seated when her mistress is standing! Who taught you to do that?"
"I—I'm terribly sorry!"
Aisha bowed her head, looking ready to cry.
No, no, wait, wait.
How did this happen? Hold on a second.
She was moving too fast. Why was she ignoring me? Come on, I'm about to cry here.
"I told her to sit."
I spoke in a firm tone, and Claire slowly turned toward me.
Ah, damn it. I said "I" instead of "we"...
Oh well, whatever.
"She's wearing a maid uniform, but she's my sister. She only put it on because it's convenient for taking care of my mother. Please don't treat her as a maid."
"A person's station is expressed by their clothing. In this household, anyone wearing a maid uniform is treated as a maid."
Even if that was the house rule—
"Then what about someone dressed like me?"
"Appropriate treatment, of course."
"Is it the custom of this household to ignore people dressed like this?"
I spread my arms wide as I spoke, glancing down at my own outfit. It wasn't ridiculous... as far as I could tell.
Where had I bought this again? I think it was in Sharion...
Would it have been better to bring the one I bought in the Kingdom of Asura?
But that one was for parties...
"No, I ignored you because... an unfamiliar man suddenly addressed me as 'Grandmother' without warning. There have been quite a few con artists of that sort in recent years. Until I could verify your identity, I deemed you unworthy of a response."
"...I see."
Well, with a house this big and a daughter who'd run off on her own, I supposed people would show up trying to claim a blood connection for their own gain.
I had introduced myself, but I hadn't presented any proof of status.
My outfit didn't carry the Greyrat family crest or anything like that. Someone wanting to fake it could obtain one anywhere.
You could argue the logic held up.
"Zenith was genuine. And Aisha is someone I recognize well. Do you have any proof that you are my grandchild?"
Proof, she says. Even if she asks me for proof...
I'd brought Zenith and Aisha with me, along with the letter.
What more could I possibly offer...
"Is that really necessary?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"My mother... I brought Zenith and Aisha here, along with a letter from you. Is more proof than that required?"
At this, Claire's eyebrow twitched.
"Then I'm afraid I cannot recognize you as a member of the Latreia family."
"That's fine. I'm a member of the Greyrat family—in fact, I'm its head. And this is my first time crossing the threshold of this house. I have no intention of claiming to be a Latreia."
The desire to forge connections was there, of course—for the mercenary corps, too.
But if they were wary of that, I didn't need to push it to the surface.
For now, the purpose of this visit was Zenith's homecoming.
Claire didn't seem amused. Her brow twitched as she glared at me.
"For the head of the Greyrat family, you're remarkably cheap-looking. The Greyrats are one of the Four Great Lords of Asura... the Latreia family may be distinguished, but we're merely a count's household. And yet you approach a count's wife, not the count himself, to introduce yourself and bow first..."
"I do carry the blood of Asura's Four Great Lords, but I'm not in the main line. Moreover, I don't even hold a noble title. I said I'm the head of the household, but that just means I'm the breadwinner of an ordinary family in Sharion. Besides, even if I did hold a high rank, I believe it's only natural to show proper respect when meeting one's grandmother for the first time."
"Oh?"
At this, Claire's gaze shifted to one of looking down on me.
Or maybe I was imagining it.
Still, was this person the type who put family lineage above everything else?
What a pain...
Let me lay down a card, just in case.
"I may not hold a noble title, but I have a personal relationship with Her Majesty Ariel, who was crowned last year. And I myself serve under the Dragon God Orsted, ranked second among the Seven Great Powers. I'd appreciate it if you didn't underestimate me."
I didn't particularly mind being underestimated, but there was also the matter of Aisha.
I wanted to make clear that we were on equal footing—or close to it.
Claire pressed her lips into a thin line and lifted her chin.
She sized me up, eyes scanning me up and down.
"Here is proof of my service under the Dragon God."
I showed her the bracelet bearing the Dragon God's crest.
Claire studied it for a few seconds, then murmured something in a low voice to the butler who had been standing nearby.
The butler nodded. I caught the words "Indeed, the Dragon God's—"
I didn't think it was all that famous, but apparently the butler recognized the Dragon God's crest.
If someone told me "something like this can be forged easily," that would be troublesome, but—
"I see... understood."
Claire drew in her chin and brought her hands together at her waist.
Then, in a smooth motion, she bowed.
"My name is Claire Latreia.
I am the wife of Count Carlyle Latreia, Battalion Commander of the Order of the Temple Knights—Sword Division.
I am currently managing this household.
Please accept my sincerest apologies for my earlier rudeness."
Had my proof of status done the trick?
Or had my attitude somehow cleared some threshold?
I couldn't tell, but Claire had bowed and apologized.
Still—a Battalion Commander of the Temple Knights.
Zenith's sister, Therese, had also been a member of the Temple Knights. This family was deeply connected to them.
"Then let me introduce myself properly.
I am Rudeus Greyrat.
Son of Paul Greyrat and Zenith Greyrat.
I currently serve under the Dragon God Orsted.
Please don't worry about what happened earlier. My own preparations and consideration were insufficient as well.
Being cautious was entirely reasonable."
We exchanged bows, and the matter was settled.
Phew.
Now I could finally catch my breath.
The greeting had taken quite a roundabout path, but things seemed to have worked out.
"Please, do sit down."
"Thank you."
I settled onto the sofa as directed.
"First, thank you for the long journey. We expected it might take a few more years, so we're grateful for the swift response."
Claire clapped her hands lightly, and the door opened.
A maid pushing a cart entered.
On the cart sat a tea set.
A tea party, then.
Fine. I'd show off the tea skills I'd honed in the Sky Fortress.
Oh, and before that—let me get Aisha seated.
She wasn't a maid. She was my sister.
She needed to be treated as a guest.
If I wanted that, I'd have to start asserting it now.
"Aisha, sit down."
"But—"
"Today, you're not a maid. You're here as my family. Sit down."
Aisha glanced back and forth at Claire, then slowly lowered herself into the seat.
Claire said nothing—only gave a slight twitch of her eyebrow.
It seemed she'd tacitly permitted it.
I glanced at Zenith.
She was still undergoing the doctor's examination.
He was checking her tongue, her eyes...
Well, I doubted examining those things would lead to any breakthrough, but—
For Claire, hearing from others that memory recovery was impossible wasn't the same as having it confirmed by a doctor she trusted.
"I tried to find a cure for Mother... but there was nothing I could do."
"...In a remote countryside like that, options must have been limited."
Oh, that stung.
Calling my village a remote countryside!
...But honestly, I'd fully expected to hear something like this.
This was well within the range of anticipated events.
"Sharion's healing magic may not be as developed as Milis's, but... the ones who examined her included Orsted-sama, who is versed in every form of magic in this world, and Perugius-sama, who is an expert in teleportation and summoning."
"Perugius? One of the Three Heroes? ...That's quite a difficult story to believe."
Yeah, I figured.
I could understand why she wouldn't believe it.
But I obviously couldn't bring them here.
Well, I planned to stay in Millishion for several months. During that time, Claire would likely come to accept that Zenith's treatment was impossible.
Though I'd prefer she didn't try any desperate remedies in the meantime...
"By the way... how is Norn doing?"
I'd been hoping to steer the conversation toward that topic, but it changed abruptly.
Norn?
"She's currently enrolled at the Ranoa Magic University. She was too busy with her studies, so I left her behind."
"Is that so? I don't think she was the most talented child, but is she doing well?"
"Yes. She's now the student council president—standing at the very top of the school."
I may have exaggerated a bit, but Claire looked genuinely surprised.
In her eyes, Norn must have been a truly hopeless case.
Well, if you compared her to Aisha, I supposed that made sense.
"I see... and what will she do after graduation?"
"She hasn't decided yet, apparently."
"And suitors?"
"She seems to have no interest in romantic matters."
At this, Claire's face soured.
Had I said something to offend her?
"Then bring her here once she graduates."
It was an order that left no room for refusal.
Did she not consider the distance from here to Sharion?
The round trip alone would take four years...
Well, in practice we could use teleportation circles, so it'd only be a week, but still.
"That's fine, but—"
"A place like the Ranoa Kingdom is a backwater where she won't find any suitable match. I'll find someone for her."
Huh?
What did that mean?
Find someone?
"Are you saying you want to arrange a marriage for Norn?"
"Precisely. If she has no path forward and the head of the household won't bring any suitors, then I'll handle it."
"No, no, wait. Something like that should be decided based on Norn's wishes—"
"What are you talking about? Arranging marriages for the women of the household—that's the head's job, isn't it?"
...Excuse me?
Is that how it works?
I looked to Aisha for confirmation.
She shrugged—a "that's how it is, isn't it?" attitude.
Perhaps in this Milis Holy Kingdom's nobility, that was simply common sense.
Right, right.
In my previous world too, there were societies where parents chose their children's spouses.
Maybe I was the one who found it strange, and it was actually a perfectly normal way of thinking.
But in our family, we had no such rule.
If Norn ever said "I want to get married, so bring someone to meet me," then sure, I'd organize a mixer or something.
"...I'll take responsibility for Norn's future myself."
I figured I should say that much at the very least.
"Very well. I understand... you are the head of the household, so act like one."
A rebuke from on high.
She'd been doing that a lot.
It was clear she was looking down on me.
But stay calm.
This was all within expectations.
I'd been warned she was an unpleasant person from the start.
Besides, our sense of common sense was fundamentally different—arguing about it would just lead to a shouting match, a dead end.
Today was our first meeting.
First, we needed to learn about each other.
The demands could come later.
"—It seems we're finished."
While I was taking a deep breath, Ander returned with Zenith.
Aisha immediately rose to her feet and guided Zenith back to the sofa.
"How did it go?"
"Her body is perfectly healthy. She actually looks younger than the age you mentioned."
Of course she does.
Great job, Zenith! You look young without even trying!
...Wait, was that the other way around?
Should I be worried instead?
Could it be some effect of the curse...?
"I'd like to ask the family a few questions. Would that be all right?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"Then—"
The questions ranged widely.
What does she usually eat? How much? How much exercise does she get? Does she still have her menstrual cycle?
From health-related questions like those,
to questions about her mental state: How much can she do for herself on a daily basis? What are her usual mannerisms? Does she ever try to hurt herself?
I rattled off answers to the doctor-like questions.
Whenever I didn't know something, Aisha filled in.
If Lillia were here, she could've provided more detailed explanations, but she wasn't, so that couldn't be helped.
"I see, very well."
Ander took careful notes with each answer and nodded.
Then he went over to Claire and began murmuring something to her.
"How does it look?"
"There appear to be no issues. With one dedicated maid looking after her at all times, it should be manageable. She has no illnesses or injuries. Her mental state also appears stable."
"Children?"
"Given that she still has her menstrual cycle, conception should be possible... though it would require several dedicated caregivers as well."
"That's good."
What exactly was good about that?
I didn't feel like the conversation had been particularly positive...
"It's almost like you're trying to remarry my mother."
I'd meant it as a joke.
But what Claire returned was a cold stare.
A piercingly intense stare.
An unwavering gaze that carried the weight of coercion.
"...In this Milis Holy Kingdom, a woman's value is determined by whether she can bear children. A woman who cannot may not even be treated as a human being."
Hold on a second.
She wasn't denying it... No way.
No, calm down.
She hadn't denied it, but she hadn't affirmed it either. She was simply stating the common sense of this country.
I didn't believe that being unable to bear children meant you weren't treated as human, but a grandmother like this—the moment she decided something was true, she'd convince herself it was absolute truth.
"Oh, that reminds me. You two need to cut ties with the Pope Faction's priest."
"...Huh?"
"I know that you are on friendly terms with a Pope Faction priest."
The conversation changed direction abruptly again, catching me off guard.
I wasn't in control of the dialogue—probably because Claire had been using such forceful language from the start.
Or was it because I'd failed the initial greeting?
I was playing away.
"I am indeed on good terms with Cliff, but... why would I need to sever that relationship?"
"Because the Latreia family currently operates under the Cardinal Faction. Fraternizing with anyone in the Pope Faction is not permitted."
The Cardinal Faction—that was the anti-demon faction, wasn't it?
The current leader was a cardinal.
"I personally have no intention of siding with the Pope Faction, so wouldn't that be—"
"No. While you remain in this household, you will follow this household's rules."
Hmm.
Hmm.
Well, I supposed that once Cliff secured a certain position, he'd end up siding with the Pope Faction.
If Claire was aware of that and making this demand as a negotiating tactic, I could understand.
But it didn't really feel like that...
"Cliff helped me quite a bit at school. Norn should be in his debt as well... Surely it's fine to maintain a friendship?"
"I will not allow it. If you insist on associating with a Pope Faction priest, then I cannot permit you to stay in this house—"
So that was a no.
Fine. I got it.
Alright then.
Today, I'd find somewhere else to stay.
Okay, I'm fine. I'm not angry. I'm not angry.
I'm calm. I'm Rudeus, cool and collected.
There's no reason to panic. I'd been warned about Claire being this kind of person. I'd steeled myself for it.
Being told what to do with my own friendships was beyond what I'd anticipated... but we were like water and oil. We simply couldn't mix. That was all there was to it.
At least let me leave without a fight, give a proper goodbye, and exit this house—
"—Leave Zenith here and depart at once."
My mind went blank.
"I will permit you to cross this threshold in the future, but only as an outsider to this family—"
"Leave her here? What do you mean?"
The words that came out were a response to what she'd said a moment before.
My consciousness had been offline for a few seconds.
Claire cut herself off, looked at me, and spoke with an icy gaze.
"Since things have come to this, there is no other path. If she can still bear children, then the option of marriage remains."
My mouth was dry.
The edges of my vision were going black.
As if I were standing in a dark fog.
"...What the—"
Someone was screaming that.
It was me.
I was the one screaming.
No—she'd only stated common sense earlier, right? She couldn't be serious... could she?
But no words came out.
My mouth just opened and closed uselessly.
"I will arrange for this girl to marry a Cardinal Faction noble. There will be several divorces along the way, but that shouldn't be a problem."
Marrying off a person incapable of expressing her own will.
Calling her own daughter "this girl."
Treating her like an object.
"Her being in good health is a blessing in misfortune."
I had never heard the sound of one's blood vessels popping.
It was impossible to hear such a thing.
It was just a metaphor.
I'd once experienced auditory hallucinations of that sort when I'd angered Eris, but since I usually passed out right after, I didn't remember it well.
Today was the first time I'd heard the sound of my own blood vessels bursting.
---
When I came to my senses, I was walking through the dusk, holding Zenith's hand.
I couldn't remember what I'd said after that.
I remembered shouting at the top of my lungs.
But the specifics were hazy.
I'd definitely unleashed insults I'd never normally use.
I remembered Claire's eyes going wide.
I remembered the maids poking their heads out to see what the commotion was about.
I remembered declaring I was taking Zenith home, pulling her to her feet, and Claire saying, "You cannot. Zenith, if you're still sane, you'd say the same."
That remark had poured oil on the fire. Lost to my rage, I'd clenched my fists and tried to cast magic.
I remembered that.
And then I remembered Aisha's voice: "Do it, big brother!"—which had snapped me back, if only slightly.
After that, Claire had summoned the guards, I'd scattered them, declared I was cutting all ties with the Latreia family, and stormed out.
"Whew..."
Before I knew it, we'd reached the border with the Sacred District.
My rage was making the world spin.
Even remembering it now made me angry.
I never expected to hear words that disgusting.
Ah, damn it.
What "blessing in misfortune."
I shouldn't have come. I never wanted to hear that.
What the hell. That selfish old woman.
Okay, fine—ignoring my greeting at the start, I got it.
If some random stranger suddenly called you Grandma, you'd be put off too.
The proposal to bring Norn here with a suitor, I understood that too.
I'd heard that prestigious families in my previous life operated the same way.
She was acting according to her own common sense.
Yeah, I get it.
But not Zenith!
She had amnesia. She couldn't even take care of herself properly!
How could you even think about sending her off as a bride!
And on top of that—she's healthy? She has her menstrual cycle, so she can bear children, and that's a "blessing in misfortune"?
So once Zenith's married, she'd spend her days receiving care and her nights being taken by her husband?
I know what you call that.
A blow-up doll.
And what happens if she gets pregnant? Can she deliver? Do you even know if she can?
Even if she could—where does Zenith's will come into this? What about my feelings? What about the children who'd be left behind—what would they feel?
What do you think a mother is?!
What do you think your own daughter is?!
What the hell is the "use" for her?!
An object? A baby-making machine?
Don't make me laugh!
It had been a while since I'd lost my cool like that!
And what was with that name—Claire!
Might as well make cream stew!
"Whew..."
Having ended on a strange word, I calmed down a little.
My stomach growled.
Come to think of it, I was hungry.
I hadn't eaten anything at lunch.
I wanted something other than stew.
"B-big brother..."
I turned at the sound of Aisha's voice.
She was standing there fidgeting.
With that uncertain, troubled expression—the kind that said she didn't know what to say.
"Aisha."
Without a word, I reached out one hand and pulled her into a hug.
She didn't resist, settling right into my arms.
Now I understood why Aisha and Norn—and even Lillia—had always been vague about things.
Yeah.
You wouldn't want to see someone like that.
I didn't know what Aisha and Norn had endured growing up under that woman.
But they must have had a miserable time.
"I'm sorry. I made you come here."
"N-no, it's fine. But, um, the connection didn't work out, huh?"
Kone?
Rice?
Paddy?
Connection.
Oh, right.
I'd been hoping to borrow the Latreia family's influence to help establish the mercenary corps.
"Well, forget it. I don't need to borrow power from someone like that."
I'd find another connection.
Maybe I could ask Cliff to put in a word with his grandfather...
Cliff might not be too happy about it, but oh well.
If that didn't work either, I'd just have to go it without connections.
Either way, I was exhausted today.
Let's go home and rest...
Oh wait—home. I didn't have a place to stay.
If I went all the way to the Adventurer District to find an inn now, it'd be past midnight, and making Zenith walk that far seemed wrong...
Alright. I'd ask Cliff to put us up again.
With that decided, I headed back to Cliff's house.