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Hein was a son Helga proud of.
She adored him, and for Hein’s sake, she could truly do anything.
Yes, anything.
But that didn’t mean she was subservient to him.
The fact that she deliberately tried to put some distance between them, fearing their closeness might cause trouble in the future, proved that.
Helga always placed Hein first. It was never about indulging her own desires.
That said, she couldn’t help but think, 「What are the Sarion family trying to pull now, after all this time?」
Yes, it had been a promise made with Damian, but they had shown no interest for years. Now that Hein had begun achieving remarkable things, they suddenly wanted to go back to how things used to be. What kind of nerve did that take?
Helga was not fond of the Sarion Ducal house.
—But even so, the Sarions….
Yes, it goes without saying that the Sarion and Aster families forming a blood tie would undeniably bring great benefits to both sides.
For the Sarions, it meant gaining the power of a prodigy like Hein, and more importantly, it could help restore the standing of the Aster family.
The situation surrounding Hein was anything but simple.
Until Hein proved himself, the position of House Aster had been far from favorable.
The previous head, Damian, had left behind a legacy of disgrace, beastkin hunts and human experimentation through magic rituals. Rumors still clung like a shadow, corroding the family’s honor.
Discrimination and disregard toward beastkins were widespread throughout the Guynes Empire, but open violations of human rights were still forbidden.
And Damian had targeted not just beastkins but even ordinary people.
It was only because he served as the Empire’s sword that they looked the other way. Even so, the gazes of other noble houses were cold, sometimes even laced with scorn.
A blood tie with the Sarions would be a first step toward improving House Aster’s position, that much was clear in theory.
Furthermore, marrying into another house marked a clear step toward independence from one’s parents.
In that sense, Hein would be recognized as a man in his own right.
In the Guynes Empire, noble sons who clung too long to their parents were looked down upon.
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「Mother… Mama. Yes, this is what I wanted…」
As Hein said this and held her tightly, Helga stroked his head.
She couldn’t help but feel reluctant to give this adorable son of hers to the Sarion family.
Hein was just so precious. Especially the way he usually tried to act grown-up, but when he got affectionate, he became like a child, or even younger. It only made him more endearing.
Thinking that, Helga pressed her cheek to the crown of his head and gently rubbed his back.
—At the very least, I won’t let him marry anyone he doesn’t truly love.
Political marriages were practically an obligation for nobles, but Helga wanted Hein’s wishes to come first.
Even so, she deliberately ignored a certain thought rising in her mind.
What if… What if she hadn’t been Hein’s mother?
What if they had met under different circumstances?
Would she have been able to build a different kind of relationship with him?
It was a thought no mother should ever entertain, and yet it came with a mix of guilt and a faint, forbidden pleasure.
Helga had a desire, a yearning to be loved fully by Hein and to love him just as deeply, unconcerned with national customs or societal norms.
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After seeing Hein off to the academy, Helga sat in her office, lost in thought.
The recent advances of the former Demon King’s army had been too frequent to ignore.
But most of those attacks had been thwarted by Hein.
His accomplishments were great, and the emperor held him in high regard.
Even the noble houses, compared to how they treated House Aster before, had begun to view them more favorably.
Still, many nobles remained displeased with the Aster family’s resurgence, and the sins of the past had earned them bitter resentment.
Some had even sent assassins, the house was not short on enemies.
「I can’t be a weakness to that child…」
I need power, Helga thought.
Not just political power as a noble, but pure, personal strength.
In the Guynes Empire, individual strength was highly valued. If one wanted to elevate their standing, becoming strong was the simplest path.
If House Aster could rise in prestige, Hein’s future would be secured.
Helga’s family, the Eldenbloom Count House, had long produced fine mages.
Their disposition was gentle, emphasizing harmony and reconciliation over conflict.
Helga was no exception, possessing a temperament like that of a loving mother.
But when it came time to act, she could act.
Just as she once risked her life defying Damian’s order to kill Hein.
With that determination, Helga picked up her pen and began writing a letter.
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