The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 82

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I’m currently ascending the northwest tower with Feri.
It’s a truly grotesque structure, built from bones and chunks of flesh.
One can only question the sanity of its creator.
Even I, who have no appreciation for art, can recognize its repulsive design.
Inferior… no, an inferior tower.

“This spiral staircase is needlessly long,”

I called out to Feri, who was leading the way.

“Young Master, are you tired? Shall I carry you?”

Feri turned back, her expression slightly concerned.

“I’m not so frail as to tire from such a trivial climb. More importantly, Feri…”

“Yes, Young Master?”

“Regarding the gift for Mother… do you still think a ring would be best? Or perhaps a pendant? Earrings might also be an option. The Night’s Dew is likely a rare and precious gem, isn’t it?”

“Indeed… Any gemstone-set ring would suit Madam’s elegant fingers perfectly. And a dazzling pendant would only enhance the grace of her alabaster neck. As for earrings… the jewels swaying near her ears would surely emit a captivating radiance.”

Feri answered smoothly.
Ah, I see—she wants me to figure it out myself.
I clearly understood the unspoken meaning in Feri’s words.
Still, I genuinely wanted her opinion as a reference.

“Hmm. Then, let’s say you were to receive a gift. What kind of gift would make you happy?”

I suddenly decided to ask that question.
I needed to find out the preferences of a woman.
Feri froze for a moment, then turned awkwardly. Her face seemed slightly flushed.

“Y-yes! Anything the Young Master bestows upon me would be the greatest joy… even if it were just a pebble from the roadside! No, if the Young Master chose that pebble, it would no longer be just a pebble!”

She rattled off the words in a flurry, her voice rising with excitement.
What is she even saying?

“…Hm? No, I’m not saying I’m going to give you something. I’m just talking about what women in general tend to like.”

When I pointed this out, Feri’s eyes widened in surprise, and her face flushed even deeper.

“Ah, y-yes! I-I apologize, Young Master! I-I made a terrible assumption… E-erm, it was just a… a general conversation, wasn’t it…?”

She stammered, desperately searching for the right words.
Come to think of it…
I remembered giving Hazel’s jewel to Misha at the Slane Magic Jewel Shop.
That was just a coincidence, though.
Had I ever given anything to Feri?

Well, she also worked as a servant for Duke Aster’s household.
Her wages… they should be paid properly.
Even though she was a slave, since she performed household duties, she deserved fair compensation.
But I didn’t know the exact amount.
It’s rare for nobles to keep track of every servant’s salary.
What was the actual amount?
I hope it meets the minimum wage set by imperial law.
Well, I’ll look into that later.

“So, what do you think? Generally speaking, which do people tend to prefer more: rings or pendants?”

I steered the conversation back on track.

“W-well… it depends on the relationship with the recipient and the situation… It’s hard to say definitively which is more popular…”

Feri replied, still flustered and carefully choosing her words.
That makes sense.
Besides, what’s typical might not apply to my relationship with Mother.

“I’ve heard that rings often symbolize a more intimate relationship. Pendants, on the other hand, are generally easier to give regardless of the nature of the relationship… Earrings can be a bit tricky, as they depend heavily on the recipient’s personal taste.”

“Hmm. An intimate relationship, you say?”

I pride myself on having the closest relationship with my mother in the world.
Beyond our bl00d ties, our souls are intertwined on a deeper level.
Perhaps a ring would be the most fitting choice after all.

“But Mother doesn’t seem to wear rings often. She tends to favor necklaces and other neck adornments.”

I pictured my mother’s usual attire:
Elegant dresses, often adorned with a beautiful necklace that sparkled against her chest.

“Indeed, Madam often favors ornate necklaces. She may find rings impractical for household chores or official duties.”

“I see. Practicality should also be considered.”

A gift isn’t just about beauty. It’s meaningless unless it’s something the recipient can use easily and will genuinely appreciate.

“The most practical and most beautiful gift… That’s a tough one. But—”

Suddenly, my attention shifted to the spiral staircase ahead. Feri’s presence felt slightly sharper.

“Ah, is it almost time?”

“Yes. I suspect the master of this tower, or some kind of magical center, lies ahead. A being of considerable power is likely waiting for us. Though, of course, they’re no match for you, Young Master.”

“I see. Does this ‘being’ possess the Night’s Dew?”

“That… I can’t say for certain. But powerful beings often adorn themselves with valuable artifacts. Or perhaps—”

Well, if this is a dead end, we’ll try the next tower. I don’t want to waste too much time, so let’s take to the skies next.

“Alright, let’s pick up the pace. It’s good that we haven’t been interrupted. Those ‘path-clearers’ seem to have done their job properly. They’re quite useful fellows. I’ll keep them as my errand boys while we’re in this forest.”

I quickened my pace.
And then—

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“I have business here! Hand over the Night’s Dew! You there—you and you! Inferior man and inferior woman! You might be the best of the worst in this place, but you’re still just lower life forms! Don’t even think about resisting! Try to escape, and I’ll kill you! Refuse to hand it over, and I’ll kill you! You have five seconds to answer! Five! Four! Three!…”

With a single, clear declaration, I made my purpose known.
Normally, I would have eliminated them the moment they entered my sight, but this was their territory. I was merely a visitor.
Therefore, as a noble of the Gaines Empire, I would treat them with courtesy, at least for now.