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The lecture ended, and the students left the hall in small groups.
Hein remained seated, carefully organizing his notes.
He had recorded every word of Helga’s lecture without omission, adding his own annotations besides.
From a few steps away, Esmeralda observed his serious profile.
「It was a wonderful lecture, wasn’t it?」
When Esmeralda spoke, Hein lifted his face.
His expression was softer than usual, as though he were still wrapped in the afterglow of the lecture.
「Of course. There is no way Mother’s lecture could be anything but magnificent.」
He answered with full confidence as he closed his notebook.
「Especially today’s demonstration. The flow of magic power throughout the process of blooming a flower from seed, the delicacy of that control, it was nothing short of artistry.」
Esmeralda nodded and took a seat beside him.
「Helga-sama’s magic truly was remarkable. But tell me, why were you praying so earnestly during it, Hein-sama?」
At her question, Hein puffed out his chest.
「Naturally. When Mother invokes such a sacred magic, how could I not offer prayer?」
It was a declaration spoken with dignity.
「Mother’s magic is not mere technique. It is art, it is miracle, it is the highest beauty manifest in this world. I was simply giving thanks for being allowed to witness that moment.」
Esmeralda, a little overwhelmed by his fervent words, smiled nonetheless.
「My, how lovely desu wa. To think you respect Helga-sama that deeply as her son.」
「Respect? Such a lukewarm word cannot contain what I feel.」
Hein shook his head.
「Mother is to me the sun, the moon, and the brilliance of the stars themselves. Without her, my existence would have no meaning.」
There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment in his words.
If anything, he seemed proud.
Esmeralda did not miss her chance.
「Still, how did Helga-sama come to possess such refined skill? Was it truly the fruit of daily training?」
As expected, Hein’s eyes began to shine.
「Listen well.」
He leaned forward and began to speak.
「Mother’s magical talent is indeed innate. But what raised it to such heights as we saw today was nothing other than tireless effort.」
「Ah, so it was as I thought.」
「Every morning, before sunrise, Mother goes into the garden to commune with the plants. It is no mere watering. She senses the condition of each one through magic and gives them exactly what they need. That itself is training in magic.」
Hein’s voice carried a note of pride.
「Furthermore, Mother devours every text on plant magic from past to present, never neglecting the theoretical foundation. With practice and theory as two wheels, she is constantly refining her craft.」
Esmeralda nodded in admiration, then casually slipped in her next question.
「Do you also train in such a way, Hein-sama?」
At once, the heat drained from him, and his expression clouded.
「…Well, to some extent. Anyway, is that all? I have preparations to make for the next lecture.」
His tone suggested not only disinterest but as though speaking with Esmeralda at this very moment was one of the most bothersome tasks in the world.
The gleam in his eyes vanished in an instant.
Esmeralda smiled wryly to herself.
As she suspected, this boy seemed to lose interest the moment the subject turned to himself.
Still, his reaction gave her a certain realization.
──Perhaps communicating with Hein-sama isn’t as difficult as I thought.
「But surely, having someone as wonderful as Helga-sama close to you must be a great inspiration.」
When she gently redirected the flow of conversation, Hein’s expression softened again, as though his mood had recovered in an instant.
「Indeed, there is much to learn from Mother. Especially her attitude toward magic, her mindset, you could say…」
He trailed off and gazed out the window.
「Mother always says: 『Magic is not for brandishing power. It is a tool to make the world better.』」
──Of course, Helga had never said any such thing.
In Hein’s mind, new “Helga maxims” were born daily. If someone were to cast a truth-detecting spell, they would discover that over eighty percent of them were fabrications born of his imagination.
In reality, Helga’s actual remarks were along the lines of, “That spell is pretty handy”, but in Hein’s head, they transformed into grand philosophical declarations.
「What beautiful words.」
「Yes. That’s why I also…」
Hein suddenly fell silent.
It seemed he had almost said something but decided against it.
Esmeralda did not press him and chose to change the subject instead.
「By the way, Mother’s Day is coming up soon, isn’t it?」
At that, Hein’s shoulders gave a noticeable twitch.
「I-Is that so? I haven’t really thought about it.」
He was clearly flustered.
Esmeralda chuckled inwardly.
「I’m thinking of writing my mother a letter. Do you have any plans, Hein-sama?」
「N-No, nothing in particular.」
Hein hurriedly stood and began gathering his belongings.
「I must prepare for the next lecture. Excuse me.」
With that, he strode quickly toward the door.
But just before leaving, he stopped, turned back, and called out.
「Esmeralda.」
「Yes?」
「What… what sort of gift do you think would make a woman happy?」
The sudden question left Esmeralda momentarily puzzled.
But she soon understood and smiled gently.
「That depends on the person… but I believe the most important thing is the feeling behind the gift.」
「The feeling, huh.」
Hein looked thoughtful.
「It doesn’t have to be expensive. As long as it’s chosen with that person in mind, I’m sure it will be appreciated.」
At her words, Hein gave a small nod.
「…You’re right. Value or rarity are not what matter most. What should be prioritized is the feeling. Hm. That was helpful.」
Leaving those words behind, he finally exited the lecture room.
His next class was Imperial History, which meant he had to change classrooms.
Esmeralda let a faint smile play at her lips.
「He really is easy to read.」
Murmuring that, she began to pack her own belongings.
Hein Sera Aster was certainly a peculiar boy.
Arrogant, condescending, and indifferent to anything that did not concern himself.
Yet when it came to his mother, he became almost like a different person, passionate, and at times showing the innocent side of a boy his age.
To Esmeralda, that side of Hein only made him seem all the more endearing.
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