The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 52

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In her private office, Prime Minister Digitalis of the Empire gazed at the mountain of documents before her, letting out an irritated sigh.
Fatigue cast a deep shadow over her, dimming even the captivating beauty that had once ensnared Emperor Valfried.

“Nothing ever goes as planned.”

She muttered, her voice laced with a coldness that seemed directed both at herself and at others.
Before her lay imperial administrative documents, along with multiple draft revisions of the “Racial Hierarchy Act,” which governed the treatment of Demi-Human nobles.
With Emperor Valfried having long abandoned his imperial duties, Digitalis now effectively steered the Empire’s course.
Yet the surrounding nobles merely feigned obedience, swallowing their discontent.

“If only they would do more than just swallow it—if only they would obey completely,”

She murmured, letting out a derisive snort.
Digitalis’s political policy, and her own burning desire, was to expel as many Demi-Human nobles as possible from the central government.

“It’s partly because the Demon King demanded it, but I personally can’t stand how those people act as if they own the place.”

She said, her voice dripping with fierce hostility and barely concealed humiliation.
Especially the Elphen, she thought with a grimace.
Digitalis loathed the long-lived, graceful, and immensely powerful Elphen from the bottom of her heart.
Yet, her hatred was merely the flip side of a deep-seated envy.
In any case, when Demon King Beelzebub promised to help her seize control of the Empire if she eliminated the Demi-Humans, Digitalis agreed without hesitation.
Incidentally, Beelzebub wanted to eliminate the Demi-Humans simply because they were stronger and wiser than humans.
According to their original plan, after Digitalis successfully orchestrated the ritual for Demon Lord Beelzebub’s incarnation, Valfried (Beelzebub) would abdicate the Imperial Throne to her. Together, the Empire and the Demon Lord’s Army would then dominate the world through their cooperative alliance.

“If we unilaterally eliminate them, the human nobles will naturally monopolize the Empire’s core. …Ah, that’s how it should have been.”

The connection to Demon King Beelzebub had been severed—likely due to his destruction or abandonment.
In any case, Digitalis’s initial scheme had fallen apart.
But she refused to give up.

“Even without the Demon King, there are countless ways to control the Empire.”

She opened a drawer and pulled out a map.
The map depicted the Gaines Empire, with the Imperial Capital, Gainesfried, at its center, and the borders of its territories marked in different colors.

“Let’s allow the Emperor to enjoy a little more ‘rest.’ The real question is whether anyone will dare oppose my methods. Several houses, including Duke Aster’s, will eventually need to be dismantled—but not yet.”

Digitalis harbored no fondness for Duke Aster’s House.
There were several reasons, but one stood out: the fact that even diluted Elphen bl00d still flowed through their veins.
For Digitalis, that alone made them a target for elimination.

“Oh dear, I’m going to be late for the meeting!”

Glancing at the magically crafted clock, Digitalis hastily gathered her documents and hurried out of her office.
A secret gathering was scheduled for that evening.

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As Prime Minister, Digitalis had summoned only select guests to her private residence.
The room was filled with high nobles, all proponents of so-called “Rule by Man” and proponents of subhuman exclusion.

“Your Highness seems to be slacking again.”

An elderly man remarked, his tone dripping with deliberate mockery.
Digitalis shrugged, completely used to the disdainful attitude towards Emperor Valfried.

“It’s hardly surprising at this point. He pretends to review all the documents I present, yet ultimately decides nothing.”

Her soft words belied the icy glint in her eyes. The dim candlelight cast an unsettling shadow across her beautiful profile.

“That’s precisely why I’ve convened this gathering. We must address the detestable problems festering within the Empire with both caution and swiftness.”

With that, she flipped through the documents before her.
The assembled High Nobles exchanged glances as they took their seats, awaiting the Prime Minister’s words.

“Well then, shall we begin?”

Digitalis announced the start of the meeting, calmly spreading out a stack of papers.

“First, let’s discuss the draft revisions to the Racial Hierarchy Act. I believe everyone present has already reviewed it. The real question isn’t the content itself, but rather when to officially promulgate it, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed, Prime Minister, if we rush this, we risk sparking unexpected backlash across the Empire. During recent informal negotiations with the lords, we received reports that Demi-Humans are indispensable to our distribution networks. Forcibly removing them would cause significant economic damage within our territories.”

One of the nobles reported.

“Eventually, I intend to eliminate them all, but you’re right about the reality. If we rush too quickly, they might unite and launch a resistance at the heart of the Empire. …No, they almost certainly would.”

Digitalis closed the document, placed both hands on the desk, and lifted her head.
Her fiery gaze swept across the room, and the nobles stiffened under its piercing intensity.

“In truth, many nobles themselves carry Demi-Human bl00d. They could become our greatest obstacle. That’s why we must proceed gradually, through ‘legal’ channels. We cannot risk civil war.”

The Duke, who had been sitting casually in his chair, spoke up.

“You’re right. If we rush this bill through, the Empire could fracture. The forces defending Demi-Humans might unite and rebel. Western powers like the Duchy of Yggdra have always been watching for weaknesses in the Gaines Empire—we mustn’t give them an opening now.”

Digitalis nodded in agreement.

“The Empire will grow stronger and larger. Eventually, it will swallow the world. But for that to happen, our foundations must be solid. If foreign interference disrupts this crucial stage, our grand ambition will be delayed. Rest assured, we will factor this into our future plans.”

A brief silence fell over the room.
The sound of the rain grew louder, but everyone in the room was intently listening to Digitalis’s words.

“What we must do now is remove from the political stage those nobles who openly advocate for Demi-Human rights—especially those like Duke Aster’s House.”

said a man with a mustache. He, too, was a High Noble.

“Exactly. Half of the most powerful nobles—the Twelve Great Houses—already support us. But the other half are either waiting to see how things unfold or, worse, shamelessly welcoming Demi-Humans into their homes, like Duke Aster’s House…”

A collective sigh escaped the assembly as Digitalis finished speaking.

“It’s a disgrace that the glorious nobles of the Empire would stoop to accommodating these filthy Subhumans.”

“Indeed, you’re right. We could crush those houses by force, but that might injure us as well. That wouldn’t be very entertaining.”

“Exactly. We must also acknowledge that the Demi-Human advocates have a legitimate cause. They publicly champion ‘racial harmony,’ which makes it easier for them to gain public support.”

Digitalis nodded, tracing the documents with her slender fingertips.

“First, we’ll isolate them politically. By manipulating the interests of the academy, local lords, and various guilds, we’ll gradually erode their influence. Once that’s done, then—we’ll finally purge the nobles tainted by Demi-Human bl00d.”

The assembled nobles nodded at her forceful declaration.

“For the Empire. No, for the Empire we aspire to create.”

The young head of the count’s household spoke, and those present nodded in satisfaction.
The meeting progressed smoothly, confirming consensus on several bills before adjourning.

・
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・

After all the other nobles had departed, only one remained: Marquis Gibble Sera Valtan.
To put it kindly, he was well-built; to be blunt, he was as bloated as a pig, his massive frame exuding a certain oppressive presence.
In his youth, he had been renowned as a warrior, fearlessly defending his lands through valiant feats of arms. Now, however, his once-martial physique had been buried beneath layers of fat, and he draped himself in the extravagant finery befitting his noble status.
A glint of raw desire burned in his eyes, his gaze fixed on Digitalis’s chest.

“It seems everyone has returned. By the way, Prime Minister, I assure you I’m keeping a close watch on their thoughts and actions, ensuring they never betray your expectations.”

Gibble’s voice trembled with barely suppressed excitement.

“Heh, so you’re saying, ‘I’ll obey perfectly, so I deserve a reward’?”

“Your deduction is truly remarkable, Prime Minister.”

Gibble licked his lips.
Digitalis straightened up, gathering the scattered documents into a neat stack with a flick of her wrist. With a graceful gesture, she smoothed the ornament on her shoulder and slowly turned to face Gibble.

“…With Marquis Gibble keeping such a close eye on everyone’s movements, my work has become much easier. I must thank you, mustn’t I?”

Digitalis whispered as if sharing a playful secret, her voice carrying a lingering resonance that seemed to cling to the ear.

“I have not the slightest doubt about the Prime Minister’s grand ambitions. …Moreover, with your power, Prime Minister, a true human-led Empire will eventually be established—well, that’s beside the point…”

Gibble’s voice trembled with barely suppressed excitement as he nodded vigorously, his breathing ragged.
Digitalis observed him intently, as if piercing through his very soul, and offered a bewitching smile.

“Yes, that is how it will be. As long as I remain Prime Minister, those who refuse to obey me will be mercilessly discarded. Of course, for those who pledge their loyalty to me, like you, the future will be bright.”

Gibble offered a perfunctory bow before her, his gaze dropping meaningfully.
Was the sweat glistening on his neck due to the stifling humidity of the rain-soaked room, or the burning flame of ambition hidden deep within his heart?
Digitalis approached softly, her words weaving into Gibble’s ear like a gentle breath.

“…By the way, it seems our conversation has gone on a bit long, and I’m feeling rather tired. Marquis Gibble, would you mind escorting me to my chambers?”

Gibble rose, his belly jiggling with the movement.
And something else below his waist, too.

“As you wish. Attending to the Prime Minister’s needs is the duty of loyal subjects like myself. …Then, I shall gladly accompany you without hesitation.”

With that, Gibble turned and lumbered toward the door.
Digitalis maintained her smile as she swiftly extracted the most crucial documents from the mountain of papers and stored them in a locked box tucked away in the corner of the room.
Gibble watched her intently, snorting, “Those must be exceptionally important documents.” She merely chuckled enigmatically, “I’ll show them to you later.”
With the lights dimmed in the room, the two figures emerging into the corridor might have been mistaken for guests returning from an elegant evening soiree.
Digitalis deliberately pressed her chest against Gibble’s arm, adding fuel to the fire of his desire.
She paused deliberately, turning to face him in the dimly lit corridor. Her eyes shimmered seductively even in the shadows, and a bewitching smile played on her lips.

“We’re almost to the bedroom, aren’t we?”

At the end of the long, narrow corridor lay Digitalis’s private chamber.
The graceful yet ruthless Prime Minister and the relentlessly avaricious noble.
It should have been clear who held the power and who was being manipulated, but Gibble stubbornly refused to confront the truth.
For now, he simply wanted to savor the sweet honey.
When they reached the door, a maid standing beside it bowed respectfully.
Digitalis gave a slight nod to dismiss her, then lightly pushed the door open.
At the far end of the bedroom, the comforting warmth of a fireplace and the gentle flicker of candlelight from a candelabra quietly filled the space.

“Thank you, but—there’s still so much left to discuss.”

Digitalis’s sweet, resonant voice tickled Gibble’s ear.
He nodded eagerly in response to her invitation, stepping into her bedroom with the exhilaration of a young warrior facing his first battle.