The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 170

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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 170
‘Luca would be so proud he’d cry.’
He was the one who had constantly told me from the beginning to break free and live my own life.
Now, at last, I could escape from all that past and truly live ‘my life.’ It was a different meaning entirely from when I was thriving as Minister of Education.
“I see, my dear child….”
My Grandfather set me down gently.
“To be honest, I haven’t the shame to hold you back. Not after raising your mother the way I did.”
Even as he said this, he smiled softly while endlessly caressing my cheek. Then Father spoke from behind.
“Tower Master, growth, the formation of a new family, and independence are natural developmental tasks in life. Forcibly holding someone back to their family of origin and preventing their independence is improper behavior that should be discouraged.”
It seemed Father’s education at the Magic Tower was needed for more than just Mother.
I embraced my Grandfather tightly once more, then turned and rushed into Kiaros’s arms.
Kiaros whispered.
“I was a bit worried you’d say ‘Yes, sir’ all the way through the Tower Master’s lecture.”
“Yes, sir.”
I giggled, but Kiaros continued seriously.
“I’m serious. I always thought your family came first in your life.”
At those words, I looked up at Kiaros intently. Now that I thought about it, he had said something like that before.
[Spend time comfortably with Cedric Loapi. He’s your biological father—the one who was your first priority in life and the one you’ve always wanted to meet.]
I could now perceive the subtle hurt implied in those words. I smiled gently and spoke.
“It’s true that I’ve always longed for family. I grew up so lonely.”
And wrapping my arms around his neck, I said.
“So please, always stay by my side.”
At my whisper, Kiaros held me even tighter. He said nothing, but I could feel his pure joy radiating through.
“You are the first family I chose for myself.”
A family without guilt, without obligation, without apology.
We, who had always felt sorry to someone since birth, would become a family that never apologized to each other.
If we were to be bound together as family, we could hold only pure love between us. For some, it might have been natural, but for us, it had been terribly difficult until now.
Pleased with that meaning, I remained in Kiaros’s embrace for a long time.
* * *
The engagement ceremony preparations proceeded smoothly according to procedure.
“Well, let’s proceed this way. For the shortfall in budget, I believe we can receive some support from the Administrative Support Department’s special operating funds. If I recall correctly, there was a carryover amount from last year.”
This was thanks to Namia, the future Crown Princess, stepping forward and handling everything meticulously.
“And for the decorative scrolls, please request them from the Magic Tower. Since we need to create a good manual for the first event so we can do well in the future, let’s handle this one carefully.”
The reason Namia had to step forward was clear.
The Emperor had to travel throughout the country dealing with the remaining remnants of the Gaejofa Faction, while the Empress and Jayden lacked the ability to handle Imperial Palace affairs.
So now Kiaros had taken on all the Imperial Palace’s work again.
[In the end, there’s no one but me to take on this sudden event…. Would you grant me temporary authority? The relevant clause should be in Article 22 of the Special Event Law.]
[…Namia, you’re taking on the engagement ceremony preparations yourself?]
[Yes. Is there a problem?]
And so Namia received temporary authority, and after that, everyone was satisfied with her clear instructions and flawless handling of affairs.
“Please inform the Crown Prince that I will purchase the engagement gift in two days and view the dress in four days. That way, it won’t interfere with the welcoming ceremony for the Imoat Kingdom delegation scheduled for four days from now.”
“Yes? Ah….”
“If by any chance you’ve made secret reservations, please request their cancellation. The engagement gift vendor was selected through fair bidding according to budget and procedure. If cancellation isn’t possible, tell him to handle it later with his own funds as a birthday gift.”
Everything was crystal clear without a shred of ambiguity.
However, there were some side effects.
Could a bride-to-be really plan everything so thoroughly and procedurally, as if orchestrating someone else’s engagement ceremony?
Everyone harbored such doubts, and new rumors began to circulate.
“Could it be a political marriage? For harmony between the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family, something like that?”
“There’s also a rumor it’s a contract marriage. They supposedly agreed never to share a bed and will maintain it for only one year.”
No matter how much the Aide publicly declared that ‘it’s been concluded to be a love marriage after all,’ it was useless.
“Didn’t they say there was a strange atmosphere with that young foreign intern?”
“Victor and he got into a fistfight and ended up getting kicked out. Maybe that’s why they broke up in the end?”
“My goodness. So in the end she gave up on everything and went to the Crown Prince. She was the Tower Master’s hidden granddaughter, wasn’t she? That’s why the Tower Master is completely bowing to the Imperial Family now. There must have been some kind of deal.”
The rumors multiplied endlessly.
Since Kiaros’s obsessive unrequited love and his spectacular rejection in the past were already common knowledge throughout the Imperial Palace, it was only natural in a way.
Kiaros ground his teeth, muttering that ‘Victor is useless to the very end,’ but Namia remained unperturbed.
“It’s a rumor that will disappear soon anyway, so don’t worry.”
“How would you know that?”
“Because I was part of that society. Eventually, it all just dies down on its own.”
“Really?”
“Really. Instead of worrying about such things, I think it’d be better to kiss once more. Come here.”
“You certainly know how to end a conversation too well.”
Throughout the engagement preparations, Namia was absolutely delighted.
It was a major Imperial event requiring cooperation from multiple departments. As Namia took command of all these matters, she read official documents in a state of constant excitement every day.
And so days passed, then more days.
The first person to grow concerned was Kiaros’s Aide.
“It really does seem like you’re going to get married as smoothly as water flowing.”
The engagement ceremony was merely something the Emperor had preemptively arranged, but Namia was taking charge so nonchalantly on her own.
She was even documenting every procedure—even those that could have been somewhat romantic—as official records.
“The way things are rolling along is truly a perfect political marriage in every procedural sense. We could even designate it as the official manual for future engagement ceremonies.”
Kiaros, who had never intended to have a political marriage, was equally bewildered.
In fact, he had been continuously preparing a proposal with his Aide, but it kept getting cancelled.
The engagement gift he planned to give with his proposal was cut in advance, a short trip he had arranged was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts, and an event he had prepared by renting the Imperial Palace Garden was cut due to pre-event inspections.
The Aide quietly imagined the future.
[Say, Aide? How did Father and Mother end up getting married?]
[Everything from start to finish is documented in official records, so you can look it up. Since everything is perfectly clear, there’s nothing that needs to be explained through conversation.]
[Ah, so it was an ordinary political marriage!]
In the end, the Aide carefully offered Kiaros some advice.
“If this truly is a love marriage, shouldn’t you plan a private proposal?”
“That’s right.”
Kiaros answered with equal deliberation.
“However, to avoid having it annulled, first it cannot take excessive time, nor can it utilize Imperial Palace facilities, nor can it mobilize civil servants. And yet it must hold meaning.”
At those words, the Aide immediately recognized the task lay beyond his capabilities. As for the proposal itself, he decided that whether Kiaros proceeded or not was entirely his own affair, and he withdrew his interest from the matter.

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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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