The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10
All the while, sweat streamed relentlessly down Oson’s forehead. He had been caught red-handed at the scene of his misconduct.
Oson’s attendance record was abysmal, and he had committed numerous infractions while evading his superiors’ scrutiny.
I shrugged inwardly, my thoughts drifting.
‘Team Leader Oson, you’ll certainly face disciplinary action, but you should still be grateful to me…. When war comes, you’ll meet a merciless end regardless.’
With that thought, I felt like a savior to all these people.
‘I must prevent the war. To do that, I need to find the right moment and naturally leak information from the original story to Kiaros.’
My plan to become ‘the messenger of the original narrative’ remained unwavering.
While everyone hung their heads low, I quietly rolled my eyes and worked my mind furiously.
‘I had originally planned to feign ignorance—playing the role of a simple-minded, low-ranking clerk—and close my eyes while offering gratitude when the commendation arrived later….’
But why had Kiaros come instead of the commendation?
‘If the commendation never arrives, I won’t even have a flimsy excuse to seek out the Crown Prince.’
While I deliberated, my colleagues remained with their heads bowed.
In that frozen atmosphere, Kiaros slowly called my name.
“Namia Loapi.”
“Yes, sir.”
I carefully lifted my head. Our eyes met.
He was devastatingly handsome….
Yet instinctively, I felt a chill of fear.
‘The First Emperor, who carried thick dragon blood, endured two ages of darkness, or so the records say. Does Kiaros also carry such concentrated dragon blood? Is that why his presence feels so overwhelming?’
His gaze was gentle yet relentless, as if it could pierce straight through me. My clasped hands trembled involuntarily.
“Miss Loapi.”
He pronounced my name once more, slowly and deliberately. Then, after a brief pause, he added in a low voice.
“Come to the Crown Prince’s Office immediately.”
What? Right now? Me? Specifically? This moment?
“Yes, of course!”
In any case, I bowed deeply in response. When a member of the imperial family at the very apex of this hierarchy commanded, one obeyed.
“I understand.”
Though surprising, being summoned by Kiaros was fortuitous.
‘After all, I get to meet him directly! This is far more natural than receiving a commendation and playing the role of an oblivious fool offering thanks!’
I followed respectfully behind him, my pace quickening.
Desperately calculating which information would be most effective to reveal at this moment.
* * *
Upon hearing that Namia had come to work since morning, Kiaros made his way directly to the Scroll Management Department.
The examination revealed that each arrowhead was coated with a deadly toxin—one from a distant foreign land to which Kiaros possessed no immunity whatsoever.
‘They are far more knowledgeable about the Imperial Palace’s affairs than anticipated. They have clearly been embedded here for quite some time.’
Since childhood, Kiaros had been exposed to various toxins to prevent such incidents. As was customary for all members of the imperial family.
Thus, he could reasonably claim immunity to most poisons available within the Empire. Yet this was unlike anything he had encountered before.
‘These are formidable adversaries.’
The deeper he delved, the more dire the situation became.
Regardless, a reward is a reward.
I had intended to go directly to my lifesaver and offer my gratitude along with the reward.
But then….
“If your grades weren’t good enough to attend, you shouldn’t have acted so boldly in the first place!”
A sharp, ringing voice echoed from the far end of the corridor.
“Since things have come to this, you handle it. Write a statement of explanation.”
I had known the department was a mess, but the more I heard, the more appalling it became.
Kiaros felt his anger rising without end.
So he immediately opened the door and entered. His gaze unconsciously sought out Namia first. She stood before the Team Leader in a posture of genuine remorse.
‘Hmm?’
Her eyes were vacant and unfocused. It was exactly the same as when I first saw her.
‘Did I misread it before? Does this woman simply not know how to open her eyes properly?’
Kiaros gave the department a brief warning.
It was truly nothing more than that. He wasn’t even angry.
Of course, he demanded viewing authority, and internally vowed to dismantle this department by any means necessary.
‘The Tower Master will throw a fit. That’s why I tried to solve it secretly through an unconventional method….’
He had even used his special ability because he found direct confrontation burdensome.
But that workaround failed when Namia cut off the authority decisively.
In any case, he would think about that later, and just as Kiaros was about to express his gratitude to Namia——
‘Wait, what’s this atmosphere?’
In an instant, the interior of the department fell silent as if a funeral had occurred. Some of the weaker employees were even quietly sniffling.
“…Namia Loapi.”
No matter who Kiaros was, it felt awkward to express gratitude after laying waste to the department.
Even Namia hung her head as if she had committed a mortal sin.
In the end, he said this.
“Come to the Crown Prince’s Office immediately.”
If I can’t express my gratitude here, I’ll do it in the office.
As he stepped out into the Imperial Palace corridor first, that was simply all he thought at the time.
* * *
‘Wow.’
I felt as though cold sweat was streaming down my back.
‘This is really uncomfortable.’
Following behind Kiaros, my entire body had become stiff from tension.
‘If I stumble even slightly, I feel like I’ll be executed….’
I knew Kiaros was a reasonable superior, but I still felt that way. And as I crossed the Imperial Palace corridor like that….
“Oh my.”
“Wow.”
People passing by glanced at us and hurriedly averted their eyes.
‘Oh no.’
Kiaros walking alone through the corridor with someone.
To my knowledge, this was an unprecedented occurrence.
Wasn’t the Crown Prince someone who had never walked alone with any woman before?
‘He could have simply summoned an Aide to fetch me, yet he’s personally escorting me instead. I don’t quite understand why….’
I maintained a stiff smile, my lips pressed into a thin line.
But I could easily anticipate what would unfold.
By lunchtime today, the Dining Hall would be ablaze with gossip: ‘The Crown Prince fell head over heels for Namia Loapi at first sight.’
By tomorrow, it would balloon into something like: ‘Did you hear? There’s already marriage talk between Namia Loapi and the Crown Prince.’
And then discussions about ‘the class divide and royal marriages’ would consume every Department for a week….
A week later, the narrative would inevitably shift to: ‘They couldn’t overcome the difference in status and broke up.’
‘What on earth is the Crown Prince thinking?’
Given his position and age, he could easily have become engaged, yet he had never even escorted the daughters of high-ranking nobility.
‘Of course, we commoners don’t know the details of such matters.’
But regardless, it was an utterly fascinating topic of conversation.
Everyone whispered about it incessantly behind closed doors.
[Isn’t it strange? Typically, royalty are betrothed in childhood. Yet how can the Crown Prince show absolutely no interest in becoming engaged?]
[The Crown Prince isn’t alone—the Emperor and Empress never even mention a Crown Princess candidate….]
[He acts as though there’s some strategic marriage arrangement. Could he have a secret lover hidden away?]
Kiaros was precisely the sort of man who kept his distance from women.
So merely walking alongside him was enough to spark rumors.
‘Did he truly fall for me at first sight? Well, this is a perfect opportunity.’
My mind raced with fierce calculation.
‘I need to rush the wedding before the infatuation fades, then carefully plant hints about the future to come. What I call the Cinderella Strategy….’
My thoughts accelerated faster than ever before.
‘The Cinderella role doesn’t suit my nature, but to prevent war, that much is manageable. Still, what authority could I wield as Crown Princess?’
The privileges of a Crown Princess flashed through my mind in rapid succession. My heart thrilled at the prospect.
Of course, once I actually possessed such power, it might prove far less significant than anticipated.
But that was a concern for after I had obtained it.
And realistically, I decided not to even consider the Empress’s authority.
‘Love at first sight inevitably cools quickly, so I should prepare in advance to secure the maximum alimony….’
While I was thus organizing my thoughts on our marriage and subsequent divorce,
Kiaros, who had been walking ahead, suddenly broke his silence.
“Why did you stay in such a department for so long? Under such incompetent superiors?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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