The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 62

◆◆◆

Helga received the letter on a quiet afternoon, just after the rain had passed.
Warm, gentle sunlight streamed into her office, yet her expression remained gloomy despite the tranquil atmosphere.
Her eyes scanned the envelope. The sender was the problem.
To her astonishment, it bore the name of Prime Minister Digitalis, and the message simply stated, “I would be honored to meet with you in person.”

“What… what on earth could this mean?”

She muttered aloud.
Her relationship with Prime Minister Digitalis had never been particularly good. For her to suddenly send a letter of friendship now seemed utterly unbelievable.
More than that, she felt a surge of resentment. How dare she talk of friendship after enacting such a ludicrous law as the Racial Hierarchy Act?
Helga tapped the envelope with her fingertips, lost in thought.

“His Majesty’s will… that can’t be right. He’s been bedridden lately. Digitalis acting on her own? What could she be plotting?”

She felt reluctant.
Completely reluctant.
Still, the other party was the Imperial Chancellor.
She couldn’t ignore the summons.
Helga took a deep breath. “There’s no choice,” she muttered, ringing the bell on her desk to summon Feri.

・
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・

“So I wonder if I can ask you to protect me from behind the scenes.”

“Understood, Madam.”

Helga always took Feri with her when she went out.
Feri, a master of stealth, was perfectly suited for this kind of escort.
Helga glanced down at the letter still lying on the table, rested her chin on the back of her hand, and sighed softly.

“Well, fine. If we’re meeting anyway, I’ll at least try to get her to compromise on that ridiculous law.”

The House of Eldenbloom had already begun to suffer economically. Merchants aligned with the Prime Minister’s faction were starting to withdraw from their business dealings with the family. Given these circumstances, Helga’s opinion of Digitalis was extremely low.

◆◆◆

The next day, Helga rode to the Prime Minister’s Office in a carriage from House Aster. She was led through a solemn corridor by a maid and opened the doors to the audience chamber. There, Digitalis Ira Salman awaited her with a beautiful smile.

“Welcome, Helga Ira Aster, Acting Duchess. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.”

“Not at all. I couldn’t possibly refuse a summons from the Prime Minister.”

Helga gave a slight bow, subtly observing Digitalis’s profile.
Though Digitalis exuded a gentle aura, her eyes still held an unsettling coldness that betrayed her true nature.
As Helga inwardly heightened her guard, Digitalis gracefully gestured toward a seat.

“I thought we might have a little chat today. To be frank, I wish to foster a better relationship with House Aster in the future.”

On the surface, it seemed like a peaceful proposal.
But Helga couldn’t quite grasp Digitalis’s true intentions.

“I see. Indeed, there have been some troubling rumors circulating recently… Personally, I’m not fond of conflict.”

Helga replied, choosing her words carefully, her tone probing.
Digitalis smiled again, her expression enigmatic.

“Yes, that’s why I’m particularly interested in House Aster’s views on the Racial Hierarchy Act. I’ve heard you’ve managed to foster excellent relations with the Demi-Human community. I’d love to learn your secret.”

Helga nodded slightly.
Though her suspicions hadn’t completely vanished, she decided to play along for now.

“We’re not doing anything particularly special. We simply value each individual’s abilities and talents, rather than excluding them based on their lineage or appearance. That’s all.”

“A splendid philosophy. Speaking of which, your son, Lord Hein, seems to share this mindset. I’ve heard he possesses exceptional talent among the academy’s students. Moreover, he’s said to maintain a fair attitude, neither favoring nor oppressing others.”

The moment Hein’s name was mentioned, Helga’s eyes lit up.

“Ah… yes, well. Hein has never harbored any prejudices and treats everyone equally. He often appears cold on the surface, but in truth, he’s incredibly compassionate. Yes, to put it modestly, he’s a son I’m proud of… no, the Empire’s finest, no, the world’s finest…”
Helga’s expression softened visibly.

“I see. How heartwarming. He must be exceptionally talented. In fact, Vice Chief Mage Eugen himself has heard rumors about Lord Hein and expressed a desire to meet him.”

“Vice Chief Mage Eugen…?”

Helga’s eyes widened slightly.
Eugen held a pivotal position in leading the Empire’s magical research and was said to be incredibly busy.
Helga likely never imagined that someone like Eugen would express interest in her son.

“Yes. Eugen was classmates with Lord Damian at the academy, so perhaps that connection sparked his interest in your son. Recently, after learning of Lord Hein’s outstanding grades, he said he wanted to ‘test his mettle.'”

“Oh, my… Testing him? I feel it’s too soon for that… But…”Helga wore a troubled expression, yet a faint smile played on her lips.
Watching her, Digitalis murmured inwardly, “How transparent.”
The Helga who had been so wary during their first encounter now seemed completely at ease.

“By the way, what do you think? If it’s convenient, I would like to invite Lord Hein here soon. Eugen also said he would like to meet in person.”

“…Well… If Hein doesn’t mind, I would be honored.”

Helga lowered her eyes as if deep in thought, but it was clear the matter was already settled.

(This is going smoother than I expected.)

Digitalis sensed the perfect moment to withdraw, flashing a charming smile.

“Of course, today’s meeting was simply to open that possibility. I wouldn’t dream of pressuring you. Please, do respect your son’s wishes.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll certainly discuss it with Hein when I return home.”

Helga’s voice now held not a trace of wariness.

(To think she’d change her attitude so completely just by mentioning her son… She’s far easier to manipulate than I thought.)

Digitalis felt a surge of triumph inwardly, but her expression remained composed, a refined smile gracing her lips.
For a while, they exchanged pleasantries about inconsequential matters. Helga’s laughter punctuated the conversation several times as they discussed social events in the Imperial Capital and the latest fashionable pastries.
When it was time for Helga to depart, she bowed deeply.

“Thank you for inviting me today. I will contact you again regarding Hein’s matter.”

“Yes, that would be most helpful. Please take care on your way home.”

As soon as Helga left the room, Digitalis’s smile vanished. Her face tightened, and she exhaled wearily.

◆◆◆

“Hmm, this sounds quite promising,”

Vice Chief Mage Eugen remarked, summoned to the Prime Minister’s office. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

“I didn’t expect her to respond so well either. Anyway, Eugen, I’ll need you to properly catch that woman’s brat’s attention.”

Digitalis spoke, and Eugen shrugged, lightly shaking his staff.

“He’s just a child. If I show him even a glimpse of the true essence of magic, he’ll be wagging his tail in no time. Any talented individual should have an insatiable thirst to master magic. I might even consider forming a master-disciple contract with him.”

Digitalis placed her hand on the neatly organized desk, her gaze fixed on Eugen.

“Be careful not to appear too blatantly manipulative. That could cause complications.”

“Leave it to me. I was a classmate with Lord Damian, and I can subtly bring that up to naturally win him over. After all, children are easily swayed by sweet words and the allure of forbidden knowledge.”

Eugen puffed out his chest with unwavering confidence.
Digitalis found Eugen’s attitude somewhat off-putting, but she still relied on his skill and silver tongue.

“Yes, I have high expectations. I want to create a situation where the House of Aster finds it difficult to maneuver. While they’re struggling, we’ll crush them from all sides, draining their power. And ultimately, we’ll erase them from this empire.”

With that, Digitalis leaned back in her chair.
Eugen’s gaze burned intensely on a particular spot.
In short, her br3asts.
Digitalis’s posture deliberately emphasized her ample curves, and she knew it. It was a small reward for Eugen.

“If you do your job well, you might enjoy… more… later,”

As she teased, Eugen smirked unpleasantly, pressed a hand to his chest, bowed deeply, and departed.

◆◆◆

On the way home, in the carriage.

“I made a promise without asking him first. I wonder if Hein will be angry?”

Feri replied to Helga,

“The Young Master won’t be angry.”

“I hope so. Still, Vice Chief Mage Eugen was also paying close attention to Hein’s magical talent. But thinking about it, that’s only natural. His grades at the academy are overwhelmingly the best.”

Hearing this, Feri suddenly wondered:

(Does Madam truly understand how skilled the Young Master is as a mage?)

“Madam, without parental bias, how would you assess the Young Master’s magical talent?”

Depending on how it was phrased, this could be considered an impudent question.
Helga, however, appreciated Feri’s bluntness and didn’t fault her for it.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t really understand it myself. I know it’s amazing, but…”

Even when simply described as an “amazing mage,” there are different kinds of greatness. Roughly speaking, they fall into two categories: research and practical application. Helga considered Hein to be amazing in the former sense.
Of course, she understood that he possessed extraordinary talent in the latter as well, but she couldn’t quite grasp how his abilities compared to those of an established adult mage.
Well, Hein had never particularly flaunted his power in front of Helga, so this was somewhat understandable.