The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 147

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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 147
Father wore a peculiar expression as he smacked his lips.
“….”
Mother was included among the ‘Gaejo Faction leaders who had fled’.
“But Namia.”
Then he glanced at me cautiously before speaking.
“The fact that we could meet like this is also thanks to your mother.”
“Huh?”
“She was the one who released me at the end.”
Hmm.
Seeing how he was oddly defending Mother….
The fifteen years Father had been imprisoned.
It seemed that over those fifteen years, emotions I couldn’t fathom had passed between the two of them.
“That’s a matter between Father and Mother.”
I spoke firmly.
“This time, we must eradicate the Gaejo Faction completely. They’ve caused far too much harm to society, and no matter how much Mother is family, I won’t let personal feelings cloud my judgment.”
And I added with a shrug.
“Besides, I’ve never even faced Mother directly, so honestly, there aren’t any personal feelings to cloud my judgment anyway.”
That’s when I heard a knock.
“Namia, are you there?”
It was Kiaros’s voice. At the same time, Father reflexively covered his head and began repeating, “Ugh, please don’t hit me….”
“I was hoping we could talk for a moment.”
I swallowed dryly.
This was the first time we’d faced each other directly since being trapped together in the Underground Stairs.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
I opened the door a crack. I could have simply sent an Attendant to summon him, yet the Crown Prince himself had come directly—it was startling in its own way.
“I’m surprised you came all this way in person.”
“Well, judging by our track record, it would be stranger if we didn’t seek each other out directly….”
Was that so? Kibon had always been the one to find me first.
But through the crack in the door, Father was already covering his head and repeating, “Please don’t hit me.”
Kiaros let out a faint sigh and shook his head.
“Changing clothes doesn’t help. Is it because we first met while you were wearing Gaejo Faction garb?”
“Well, I suppose….”
“I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have come.”
“Ahaha.”
I finally shut the door firmly behind me, leaving Father inside.
Only then could Kiaros and I face each other properly.
After resting and changing clothes, Kiaros was striking anew in the Corridor.
He had looked impressive even in those Gaejo Faction lackey clothes earlier, but Kiaros truly was most suited to his formal uniform.
“Um, well… our room is a bit awkward… shall we go somewhere else?”
“I’m a bit concerned that I might have interrupted your time together.”
“Not at all. Your timing was perfect.”
I smiled broadly as I spoke.
“The conversation was heading toward an uncomfortable topic.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Because of my mother.”
“I see.”
Kiaros wisely held his tongue. It was generally best not to comment on other people’s family matters, especially when one didn’t know the full story.
“Anyway, shall we head to my room?”
“Yes. I actually had something to tell you as well. Just a moment.”
I went into the room and returned with the report I had just completed.
We then began walking side by side down the corridor.
As we walked together, the servants passing by kept glancing at us with knowing smiles.
“This brings back old memories.”
“It certainly does.”
We caught each other’s eyes and burst into laughter without a word from anyone else.
It was exactly like this when Kiaros first came to the Scroll Management Department Office and walked alongside me.
Back then, I had trembled, thinking I might be executed if I took a single wrong step.
“I was so nervous back then, but after walking with Kibon so much, it doesn’t bother me at all now.”
“Is that so?”
“Kibon was simply a comfortable presence for me… even if others didn’t feel the same way.”
To be honest, everyone in the Scroll Department had found Kibon uncomfortable.
Anastasia had described him as “brazenly unrefined.”
‘Of course, that was said when Kibon wasn’t around… though come to think of it, Kiaros was there.’
Even Victor, who was generally sociable, had failed to maintain a friendly facade with him. As for the other staff members, there was no question—most of them probably hadn’t exchanged a single word with him.
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
Kiaros spoke gracefully.
“Regardless of Kibon’s true nature, if you’ve become more comfortable, then that has meaning.”
We were nearly at Kiaros’s room when it happened.
Just as we arrived at the villa, I caught sight of my Grandfather and the White Dog at the foot of the stairs.
“Kibon, you stupid dog!”
“Woof woof woof!”
“Namia praised you as such a clever dog, but what cleverness is this! Kibon, do you only listen to Namia? Huh? Why won’t you listen to me? Really, you’re just like all dogs—only caring about your master!”
“Woof woof!”
In that moment, we silently agreed never to discuss “Kibon’s true nature” again.
“Here we are. My… dwelling.”
“Yes.”
We entered Kiaros’s room with an awkward laugh.
The Crown Prince’s room at the villa was not quite as grand as the Imperial Palace, yet it was both luxurious and comfortable.
‘Wow, spacious, quiet, and wonderful.’
Since it wasn’t his official office, there was a simple desk for handling minor matters, and a spacious sofa wide enough for two people to lie down on.
By the window sat a table and chairs where one could enjoy tea time.
The Attendant had already prepared everything—warm tea and light refreshments were laid out.
“Let’s sit for now.”
“Yes.”
I took a seat across from Kiaros.
He opened his mouth with an elegant, composed expression.
“I received word from the Emperor. He said the Red Knight Order destroyed everything in the Grand Temple. Of course, they couldn’t find the underground entrance. Though they didn’t search too aggressively for it either.”
“Ah….”
“They had planned to capture several executives, but surprisingly, a bomb in the conference room detonated and killed them all instantly. Was his name Biberus? That escaped Gaejo Faction leader seems to have planned to silence them from the start.”
Of course—he would have needed to hide the existence of the laboratory and prison in the basement somehow.
According to the Tower Master, the executives had been gathered in the conference room, so perhaps Biberus decided to kill them all from that moment onward.
‘Quite thorough, in his own way.’
As someone unaware of the Tower Master’s long investigation, Biberus probably thought he only needed to kill the executives to conceal the underground prison’s existence.
‘He killed all the executives and tried to flee alone, but the fact that he took Mother along suggests he did care for her after all.’
From what I glimpsed, it seemed to be because of Mother’s appearance.
If she was a ‘peerless beauty who saves even villains despite her incompetence,’ I could imagine how freely she’d lived her life. Yet even in a villain’s lair, Mother’s terrible personality remained uncorrected.
I shrugged and answered.
“I had a feeling that would be the case. He succeeded in escaping once before, after all. From the second time onward, he would have prepared his escape much more thoroughly.”
“In any case, we’ve secured the experimental subjects and magical beasts in the Garden… and we plan to investigate all the other Temples as well, but unless Biberus and Aran are fools, they’re unlikely to visit another Temple.”
“That’s true. After all, the Knight Order will be investigating all the other Temples now anyway, won’t they?”
“The Knight Order has already been deployed to all of them.”
His work processing was indeed swift. Somehow, I didn’t feel the need to worry about cleanup. Not when the other party was Kiaros.
“Then, shall we conclude the report here….”
Wait.
Why is the Crown Prince reporting to me….
‘Am I confusing this with when I was Kibon?’
Seeing my bewildered expression, Kiaros let out a soft laugh. The dry atmosphere from moments before instantly became gentle. At the same time, my ears burned hot.
‘Is that not it? Is he deliberately trying to confuse me?’
One thing was certain. The word ‘fox’ that Grandfather had chosen earlier was very fitting for Kiaros.
Kiaros tilted his chin lazily and spoke.
“Let’s talk about us for a moment.”
“Ah….”
“I’ve conveyed my intentions already, but I haven’t heard your answer yet.”

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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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