The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 149

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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 149
Anastasia’s House in the Capital.
“Um…”
The Raven Servant assigned to protect and monitor Anastasia asked carefully.
“Are you perhaps… not feeling too confined?”
At that, Anastasia—who had been absorbed in reading, surrounded by stacks of books—opened her eyes wide in response.
“Pardon?”
“Well… I was just wondering how stifling it must be, being unable to go to work for official reasons and staying cooped up at home like this…”
Currently, Anastasia’s public cover was that she was “unconscious and hovering at death’s door,” so she couldn’t venture anywhere. After several days of this, the Raven Servant had begun to pity her for being confined indoors.
“My… my goodness.”
Anastasia straightened her expression and adjusted her glasses.
“That’s… that’s precisely why I’m happy.”
“Excuse me?”
“U-unable to go to work for official reasons? Do you have any idea how wonderful that is? E-even better, they said they’d convert it into special leave later! I’ve… I’ve always dreamed of days like these whenever I had to go to work.”
She held up the book she had been reading enthusiastically.
“I’m… I’m not confined at all. I’m t-too busy pursuing my hobbies.”
Indeed, it certainly appeared that way. The Raven Servant nodded sheepishly upon seeing Anastasia’s delighted expression.
“However… well, you might be concerned about the Department. The Scroll Department is currently running on just one Team Leader—and that’s a Team Leader who’s been exposed as a spy.”
“Ah, w-well, rot…”
Anastasia scratched her nose and murmured.
“W-well, the Scroll Department doesn’t really have much work to begin with…. The old Scroll Management Department was in such a state that no one knew when it would be dissolved, and it only had so much work because of the Minister of Education. B-besides, I was never particularly skilled at my job anyway. V-Victor alone should be more than sufficient.”
Then, the moment Victor’s name came up, she immediately furrowed her brow and asked.
“S-so how is Victor doing these days? I’ve… I’ve been so worried about whether he’s managing alright…”
“Ah…”
The Raven Servant tilted his head and answered.
“I’m sorry to report nothing cheerful. Apart from having a surveillance Raven assigned to him, he’s living as usual. He reports to the Scroll Department and stays at the Awin Marquis Residence.”
“Hmm…”
“It seems he’ll continue like that until all related matters are concluded. We don’t want to give the other side information that we know Victor Awin’s true identity.”
Anastasia folded her arms and murmured.
“The only moment I actually liked that gloomy fellow was when he spouted nonsense about committing crimes because of our Minister of Education…”
“Wait. Did you just say you liked him?”
“Yes.”
She spoke with gleaming eyes.
“A textbook example of twisted, irrational love! The epitome of mutual ruin and degradation!”
“…”
“W-well, anyway, that kind of love is so murky that it hardly ever changes, you see.”
Anastasia hastily offered an explanation to the silent Raven Servant.
“I m-mean, that’s what I’m saying.”
* * *
Kiaros felt dizzy, but he already knew the conclusion: he had to permit Namia to go to the Capital and meet with Victor alone.
Sadly, Namia’s report was far too perfect.
“I’ll submit the revised report later. Matters like this should be documented properly, and especially since I’m under probation, each achievement is crucial to my position.”
Namia smiled brightly and quickly organized the report again.
Seeing Kiaros’s conflicted expression, Namia added soothingly.
“I’ll be quick. As you can see from the report, there are still other matters we need to discuss.”
At the sight of her gentle smile, Kiaros’s heart began to sink helplessly once more.
After all, she had said with her own lips that she wanted to be by Kiaros’s side.
Perhaps her obsession with capturing Aran and Biberus was her own way of expressing affection.
‘I knew she wouldn’t agree when I said I’d abandon the Crown Prince position….’
Kiaros understood Namia well.
She loved power more than anyone, yet if she felt her existence would burden the organization, she would be the first to step back.
Just as she hated sacrificing herself, she equally despised others sacrificing for her.
‘She truly doesn’t want to be even the slightest burden to the Imperial Family.’
The Imperial Family viewed her favorably. Having received obvious favors, they wouldn’t kill her simply because she was an experimental subject. She understood that fact well too.
Yet she was the first to define herself as a “semi-criminal with utilizable value.”
‘She must be wary of rumors about special treatment outside protocol.’
Even now, watching her prioritize and work toward the Imperial Family’s legitimacy was heartbreaking.
Once she had spoken of “utilizable value” aloud, she would truly do her utmost.
She openly received the Imperial Family’s favor, yet she had never even accepted a single dress.
‘Just one thing…. She made a personal request to the Imperial Family only for Cedric Loapi.’
Namia’s only exception was solely her father.
Of course, the father and daughter were identical in this regard.
A man of upright character had entered a criminal organization of his own volition, and his only exception was likewise Namia.
‘Treating you alone with guest-of-honor courtesy is nothing to me….’
Yet it was clear that Namia did not count Kiaros among her exceptions.
Kiaros tried not to feel bitter about that deep bond.
‘I have to accept it. Cedric is absolutely Namia’s first priority in life.’
The joy he felt at that fragment of her expressed feelings was momentary, and a thirst like drinking seawater overwhelmed him.
Why did she continue using formal language that created distance….
In this situation alone together, was he the only one desperately feeling the desire to reach out, to touch, to hold her….
“I’ll be back soon. You know, of course it will take some time to grow accustomed to this situation, so there may be a slight distance between us for now….”
Namia set down her quill and looked into his eyes with a smile. His mind reeled, yet she spoke as if reporting a clear situation.
“There is only one man whom I have given my heart to, whom I truly love.”
Kiaros slowly closed and opened his eyes. He felt as though he were floating at a single word.
It was as if he were being trained.
Her words were so sweet that he could not help but be swayed.
Namia blushed shyly, then withdrew a teleportation scroll from her pocket.
“Then I’ll be going. I’ll see you again soon. Since I know the exact location, I’ll come directly to this room.”
“Yes.”
Kiaros could only nod his head helplessly in the end.
Despite having the power to forcibly refuse with a simple “no”….
[I’ve thought this through, so don’t ask questions. Just keep quiet and do as I say.]
It seemed I could almost hear her inner voice—the kind of thoughts I’d grown accustomed to hearing whenever she wore Kibon’s form.
That was when she, maintaining an impeccably polite expression, glanced at him cautiously before speaking.
“And truthfully, I really do need to go to the Imperial Palace today.”
“Why?”
Kiaros tilted his head in confusion.
“Is today something special?”
“Yes. When I rushed down to the Southern Region recklessly, it didn’t matter, but now it’s become quite important.”
Important again? Here of all places?
It was the moment Kiaros’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Today is the last day of my sick leave.”
“…What?”
“Starting tomorrow, I need to use my vacation days consecutively. If the final approver’s absence isn’t properly documented, the approval chain gets tangled, and unauthorized absences can result in future disciplinary action. Fortunately, I have plenty of vacation days left.”
Kiaros couldn’t help but wear an expression of sheer bewilderment.
In a situation like this… she was worried about her attendance record?
Namia glanced at his face and carefully added,
“B-but since this is technically official business… would it be possible to reclassify it as a business trip later…?”
Well….
This seemed to be a genuinely pressing matter for Namia….

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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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