The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 55

◆

I want to quickly destroy the Inferior Island and throw some random demons into the Imperial Castle, but something has suddenly come up on my day off.
A tea party.
In all the heavens and earth, I have no obligation or reason to attend any tea party hosted by inferiors. But when my own mother is the host, the situation changes entirely.
I got ready on time and was preparing to head to the courtyard.
Naturally, I had already blown away any troublesome clouds beforehand, so the weather posed no issue.
Even though it was called a tea party, it was clearly more than just a social gathering.
The nobles of the Imperial Capital, Gainesfreed, would be gathering, especially those with Demi-Human bl00d and families opposing the revision of the Racial Hierarchy Act.
This was also a result of Mother’s growing sense of crisis regarding Prime Minister Digitalis’s long-standing push to expel Demi-Humans.

No, it wasn’t just Mother.
In this Imperial Capital, there are quite a few nobles of Demi-Human descent and noble houses that support them. For those weak and inferior beings, Duke Aster’s House must be their last lifeline.
As proof, the number of applicants for the tea party far exceeded expectations.
Still, I’m in a bad mood.
Even if the weak band together… The thought flickers through my mind, but more than anything, I’m irritated by the bastards who fawn over my Mother.
Of course, I won’t do anything to ruin Mother’s reputation.
If it’s my Mother’s wish, I’ll even fawn over these inferiors!
That’s right, I’ll fawn over them as much as she wants.
Drown in my flattery and die!

・
・
・

“More guests are arriving. Let’s expedite the reception.”

Gramman called out to the servants.
Nobles in splendid attire descended from their carriages one after another, entering the Aster Mansion.
No matter how splendidly they dress, the inferior remain inferior.
At the entrance, butlers and maids greeted guests in turn, guiding them to the courtyard.
The courtyard of Aster Mansion was meticulously maintained by Oma, resulting in a breathtakingly beautiful space.

Apparently, Oma repurposed the life force of spies and other undesirables as plant nutrients, allowing vibrant flowers and lush greenery to adorn the courtyard regardless of the season.
Those who passed by, delighting in the riot of colors and fragrances, let their faces shift through a full palette of expression—but I didn’t mock them for it.
Oma’s diligent work deserved proper recognition.
He likes my magic, so I’ll pour him a little next time.
But only a little, though.
The last time I gave him too much, he nearly died.

◆

Afternoon, the tea party could be considered a resounding success.
Many nobles had already engaged in lively conversation with my mother.
The shimmering silk and lace of their opulent attire swayed gracefully, while the delicate aroma of tea and pastries filled the air.
The gathering included Beastkin nobles with tails reaching their knees, Elphen nobles with pointed ears and long eyelashes, and others as physically imposing as Gaddem.
Many pure human nobles were also in attendance.
Their presence here likely stemmed from either doubts about Digitalis’s methods or a desire to strengthen ties with Duke Aster’s House.
Or perhaps both.
As I approached Mother, she smiled softly.

“Hein, are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, of course,”

I replied without hesitation.
Neither Mother nor I favored flattery or sycophancy. Superficial emotions are easily seen through.
Yet at this moment, I genuinely found the tea party enjoyable.
Because if I chose to, I could perfectly manipulate my own emotions.
Why do people rejoice, grow angry, or grieve?
Where do these emotions originate?
Just as the number 10 is made up of 10 1s, when you break things down into smaller pieces, you will eventually arrive at their roots.
Understanding this allows one to grasp the fundamental nature of their own emotions.
Once you understand something, manipulating it becomes easy, though excessive manipulation can drive you mad, so I’d rather avoid it.

“Hein, dear, would you mind greeting some of the guests? Is that alright?”

I replied to my mother’s request,

“I understand. If that’s the case, I’ll go around a bit.”

“Yes, please do.”

I nodded and headed toward the gathering of Inferiors at the tea party.

◆

A male noble stood before me, chattering away like a magpie.
His Beastman bl00d seemed particularly strong.
He had fluffy ears and a tail protruding from his rear.
Though slightly lean, the light in his eyes was sharp.

“Lord Hein… It’s an honor to meet you. I am Noah Sera Lübeck. As you can see, my territory isn’t particularly large, but I do hold the title of viscount.”

He bowed with a perfect balance of politeness and distance, neither overly deferential nor disrespectful.
I nodded lightly.

“While I appreciate the greeting from a member of Duke Aster’s House… do you have something to say to me? If so, get on with it.”

I responded with the utmost courtesy.
For me, for this me, to fawn over an inferior like this was unprecedented since the dawn of creation.
Noah, the inferior who had introduced himself, lowered his beast ears slightly and gave a wry smile.

“I’d like to ask you frankly, Lord Hein… what do you think of our kind when you see us?”

At this question, I narrowed my eyes slightly.
What kind of question was that?
He had furry ears and a tail, likely descended from a fox or some other beastman. Was there anything else to say?
Surely I wasn’t expected to compliment his fur or something like that.

“When I look at someone, I don’t focus on their appearance, but on what they’re capable of.”

That was my honest opinion, a principle I’d held since long ago.
This wasn’t simply about the magnitude of their abilities.
To put it plainly, my fundamental criterion was whether they were making an effort.
What does effort mean?
It’s not about doing what you have to do.

What separates the inferior from the worthy is whether they can fully commit to things they don’t have to do—things that will ultimately benefit them.
Take Azel, for example, a man lacking in wisdom. Yet at his age, he had mastered swordsmanship beyond what ordinary people could achieve.
I knew that such skill couldn’t be acquired through a normal life.
He must have endured days that felt like daily torture.
Yet his burning passion to improve himself despite it all was admirable—that’s why he wasn’t inferior.
Esmeralda… well, she seemed to understand Mother’s greatness, so I’d consider her not inferior either.

“…I see. No, thank you.”

After hearing my brief reply, Fox Inferior’s expression softened slightly.
Beastkin often betray their emotions through their ears and tails, and his ears were twitching.

“To be honest… those of us with beast ears often hold a weaker position even among other Demi-Humans. Especially in the Imperial Capital, we’re frequently subjected to ridicule and contempt. That’s why I can’t help but worry about my appearance. It’s become a deeply ingrained habit.”

As he spoke, Noah perked up his ears, showing them off.
Ornate decorations adorned his ears, swaying gently.

“I refuse to belittle myself, for that would be an insult to those who admire me. While this world is full of ugly deeds, nothing is uglier than pitying oneself.”

“Yes, you’re right…”

Fox Inferior seemed deeply moved, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

“I desperately wanted to attend this gathering hosted by Lady Helga. If the Racial Hierarchy Act progresses further, those of my bloodline will be the first to be purged. But if Duke Aster’s House openly recognizes Demi-Humans, it might open a path for us to survive. That’s what I believe.”

“I see. Then thank Mother and continue to support Duke Aster’s House in the future.”

“Yes, of course. I believe we can overcome this crisis together. Lord Hein… if House Lübeck can ever be of service to the Aster family, we will devote ourselves entirely. Please remember that.”

After saying this, Noah bowed politely and headed toward the table.
I watched the Beast-Eared Man—what was his name again?—as he walked away, sighed, and drank my fruit juice.
The sheer absurdity of talking to an “Inferior” had momentarily exhausted me, as if I’d reached my limit in deceiving myself.

◆◆◆

In the “original history,” Duke Aster’s House was loathed by the Demi-Human community like venomous snakes.
This was primarily because they had brutally violated Fenri, a noble of the Delphen species, before dismembering her and killing her.
However, in this world, Hein had restored the limbs of Fenri—now Feri—who had been dismembered from the beginning, and given her a chance at a proper life.
Furthermore, the recent surge in approval from Demi-Human nobles had made Duke Aster’s House incomparable to its counterpart in the “original history.”
It’s undeniable that the Hein of the “original history” was also a somewhat excessive proponent of ability-based supremacy, just like the Hein of this world.

So, what’s the difference?

It must come down to whether he knows love.
When Damian demanded that Helga kill the newborn Hein, she risked her life to protect him, fully prepared to die. But in the original history, she wouldn’t have needed to do that.
Damian still needed her, albeit as a tool, so she could have continued living as a high-ranking noble.
Besides, Helga herself had thought Hein was terrifying.
Yet she shielded him—at the cost of her own life.
If that wasn’t love, then what was it?
In the end, it was love.
Love changed Hein.
Though even that love couldn’t completely purify his villainous nature.