The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 154

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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 154
At that moment, my vision spun violently. Before I could process it, up and down had reversed.
My heart thundered as I found myself staring up at Kiaros’s face. I could see the faint blush around his eyes and his lips—even redder than before.
He asked with a gaze that mingled desire and playfulness.
“…Where?”
I answered coyly.
“On my forehead.”
His warm lips descended softly onto my forehead. With a delicate sound, he withdrew slightly, then pressed his body against mine as he asked again.
“Where else?”
I bantered back with equal playfulness.
“My cheek.”
His lower lip traced slowly from my forehead, along my nose, and pressed firmly against my cheek. From that position, he asked.
“Where else?”
His voice was hoarse, barely containing his desire. I answered with a slight catch in my breath.
“My lips.”
Somewhere along the way, our hands had clasped tightly. He drew closer, eyes closing, and our fingers intertwined desperately as the sensation became slow and sweet enough to make my head spin.
After a long while, he asked between ragged breaths.
“Where else?”
I exhaled shakily but answered to the end.
“Somewhere else.”
And that night, I suddenly understood something.
We had once had a conversation like this before.
[What’s your weakness?]
[I’m not entirely sure. But according to those who trained with me… they say I lack self-control somewhat.]
Honestly, I had thought it was a flaw that applied to neither Kibon nor Kiaros.
But I had been wrong.
Those who trained with the Crown Prince were accurate.
* * *
A few hours later.
Kiaros practically carried me to my bedroom. It was well past midnight.
“This is really too much… what are you doing to me…”
I murmured while glaring at Kiaros.
Kiaros shrugged with an embarrassed expression, though he seemed entirely unaffected.
“I hope you’ll understand. I’ve held back for far too long.”
“Still… this is really too much.”
“I’m still restraining myself now, so I hope you’ll be lenient.”
At the entrance to my bedroom, Kiaros kissed my forehead as he spoke.
“Get some good rest. Sleep well.”
“I’m allowed to rest, right?”
“Is there a reason you shouldn’t?”
“No, no, no! I absolutely must rest!”
I shook my head firmly, signaling that I couldn’t continue, and cried out.
“There’s no plan for what comes next. When Biberus arrives, what are you going to do then? I thought you’d want to discuss that strategy right away.”
“Ah.”
Kiaros hesitated for a moment before answering.
“I’d prefer to handle that myself.”
“What?”
No matter how many orders he’d already given, it was difficult to drop the formal speech all at once. So I was mixing casual and respectful language.
“I have a feeling there might be a way… but I’d rather not say anything until I’m certain.”
“Not even to me?”
“Right.”
Kiaros was unusually firm.
“Precisely because it’s you.”
What on earth did that mean? My head grew even more confused.
As the Crown Prince, he possessed far more information than I did, and so I, knowing relatively little, found it difficult to infer his thoughts.
“In any case, there are several methods to deal with Biberus, so don’t worry.”
That much was true.
For instance, an extraordinarily skilled person could step forward, kill Biberus in one stroke, and perish themselves.
“I just hope there won’t be any innocent casualties…”
As I sighed, Kiaros smiled gently.
“I know that.”
He spoke while brushing my hair with affectionate eyes.
“In any case, you’ve suffered enough up until now, so spend time peacefully with Cedric Loapi. He’s your number one priority in life, the biological father you’ve wanted to meet for so long. You can rest well, so don’t worry about that—leave it to me.”
Suddenly, tears welled up slightly.
It was the first time since I was eight years old. Someone telling me, ‘You can rest, and now leave it to me.’
Yet that person was so utterly trustworthy.
“If you look at me like that, I’ll hate letting you go even more. Now go inside.”
After parting with Kiaros like that, I simply washed up and collapsed into sleep.
I thought I’d slept deeply and woken up, but…
“Ah…”
It was dawn, just as the sky was breaking open. It was just past six in the morning.
Even closing my eyes again, sleep wouldn’t come.
Instead, my mind filled with idle thoughts. One of those thoughts was…
In the end, I sprang up from bed. Then, after changing into clothes, I went for a walk in the back garden.
‘…Now I can truly face Mother.’
Mother, whom I’d only ever seen from a distance, hidden away.
Thinking that I could soon meet her directly, my heart felt strange.
The Southern Villa was beautiful, and I trudged along through the dawn dew.
That was when it happened.
“Namia?”
Someone suddenly appeared beside me. I cried out in fright.
“Agh, who are you!”
“Huh? It’s… Father.”
I gasped for breath, startled.
Indeed, the person standing beside me was Father, with his massive frame.
“I’m, I’m sorry. You look so different from how I imagined you that I still need time to adjust.”
“That’s alright, Namia. I understand.”
A few Knights on duty were startled by my scream and approached, but soon confirmed the situation and withdrew.
“Woof woof woof woof!”
And Father was accompanied by Kibon in his dog form.
“This little one has been following me around… haha.”
“Woof woof!”
I wondered if experimental subjects were drawn to each other, then realized I was in the same position myself.
In any case, I began walking alongside Father. Kibon also pranced excitedly around us, enjoying the stroll.
Father wanted to hear about my childhood, and I cheerfully recounted old stories.
“My goodness, top marks on the entrance exam. I knew you had it in you. You’re truly my pride and joy.”
Father smiled warmly and pulled me into a tight embrace. I shrugged my shoulders and spoke with a pout.
“I failed every exam after that.”
“That’s unfortunate. Whether you truly failed or deliberately failed, I should have been there to comfort you either way.”
“Woof woof!”
Apart from his changed appearance, he was exactly as I remembered him.
In truth, yesterday’s meeting had been too rushed, and when Mother’s name came up, we both avoided the conversation, so we hadn’t really talked properly.
I walked slowly and asked first.
“How did you end up joining the Gaejo Faction?”
“There was someone who kept lending us money and pressuring us for repayment. I clung to him, saying I’d do anything if he’d just give us some money—we had to send our daughter to the Academy. So I followed him, and that’s where the Gaejo Faction was.”
“And then?”
“After that, I don’t know. I was an experimental subject locked in a cell. I kept undergoing experiments… your mother was there as an executive… and at some point, she kept suggesting I erase my memories.”
Just hearing it made my blood boil.
She made him pay off absurd loan shark debts because of her, then after he became an experimental subject, she ignored him for fifteen years, and then what? She wanted to erase his memories?
“Recently, she seemed most sincere about erasing my memories.”
Father murmured slowly.
“Aran could access the laboratory through her work managing experimental subjects. She even made preparations inside my cell.”
“What kind of preparations?”
“Preparations to undergo the memory-erasing experiment. She said it was surprisingly simple if I just made up my mind. She could proceed with it alone without the other researchers, so she asked me to tell her whenever I was ready.”
“Wow.”
I pressed my forehead in disbelief.
“This is truly despicable… knowing full well that you wanted to see me, she was trying to erase your memories of me.”
That was when it happened.
“Mm. A father and daughter’s stroll is quite a pleasant sight.”
Someone slowly rose from beside the beautifully decorated pond. Father and I were startled and immediately bowed respectfully.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“Woof, woof!”
Even Kibon wagged his tail with keen perception. He seemed to instinctively understand who held his fate in their hands.
The Emperor chuckled warmly and waved his hand dismissively.
“My apologies for interrupting the early morning walk of a father and daughter I haven’t seen in so long.”
“Not at all.”
I spoke respectfully.
“Despite our precarious position, I am grateful for your consideration in allowing us to reside comfortably at the villa.”
“Woof, woof, woof!”
“The Minister of Scrolls truly remains consistent.”
The Emperor smiled warmly, then gazed at me with a gentle expression.
“Once your walk is finished, would you come to my chambers? There is something I wish to discuss with the Minister.”
He added casually.
“You’ve likely anticipated it already, but it concerns my son.”

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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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