The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 174

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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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Side Story 3
In a sense, the disagreement was straightforward. It was a clash between Kiaros, who wanted to marry as quickly as possible, and my values—which preferred not to rush things to that extent.
[What if we just scheduled it for a regular weekday instead? Since it’s a state marriage, wouldn’t that be acceptable?]
[The Ceremony Venue doesn’t operate on weekdays. If we make an exception this time, what would be the standard? Direct Imperial Family members? Collateral Imperial Family? What about cousins, adopted sons, or adopted daughters? Creating one exception would place excessive strain on the Practical Support Department. And what about the ministerial duties that occur on weekdays?]
[But I want to get married as soon as possible. Don’t you?]
[That’s fine. I’m already performing all the duties of Crown Princess under Imperial Family Special Law Article 32, Section 2, even as the prospective Crown Princess.]
[….]
[We’re already doing everything married couples do anyway. Take off your clothes and come here.]
[Yes.]
Though my objections managed to placate him for the moment, Kiaros was clearly dissatisfied.
“According to my Aide, there are no cancellations today either.”
In any case, my poor Aide was the one checking daily whether any reservations had been cancelled. But no couples were calling off their engagements.
“Time moves so slowly that each day feels agonizing and exhausting.”
Kiaros heaved a deep sigh.
“I really wish we could move it up by even a single day.”
I responded with a serious expression.
“That’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because if we move it up a day, it would fall on a weekday.”
[….]
As these peaceful days continued, ‘that incident’ occurred.
* * *
It was an ordinary afternoon. My Aide happened to be on leave, but since both Kiaros and I were present, there was no gap in our duties. It was also within expectations that Grandfather’s Adjutant arrived from the Magic Tower carrying a magical artifact, calling it a ‘perfect success.’
“It only erases about a year’s worth of memories.”
The Adjutant, whose dark circles extended down to his cheekbones, spoke.
“There’s no pain or side effects, but it’s useless for commercialization.”
“That’s certainly true.”
Kiaros and I nodded as we examined the magical artifact.
Since it was a collaboration with the Magic Tower, I was also present for the meeting.
“However, based on the success of this research, we believe we could pursue other studies. For example, experiments involving reflecting attacks or increasing strength would certainly be viable for military commercialization.”
The success of this research certainly had considerable potential for development in multiple directions.
It was while we were receiving various explanations from the Adjutant.
“Your Majesty!”
Jayden burst through the door carrying Kibon in dog form, then stopped short. He hadn’t realized there was a visitor.
Since Jayden was also cooperating with the research anyway, Kiaros permitted him to join.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Jayden smiled with an innocent expression on his face.
“As always, I’ll conduct myself with proper courtesy and restraint.”
“Y-yes. Ahem.”
Kiaros seemed to be trying his best to act naturally, but he couldn’t hide even that brief hesitation. I noticed Jayden’s dejected expression and sighed inwardly.
‘This is really serious.’
Even so, the Deputy continued explaining various details.
How the experiment had been implemented into a magical artifact and what magical principles it embodied….
Kiaros and Jayden seemed to have lost interest in magic, their minds already wandering elsewhere, but I listened with genuine delight. Given my familiarity with magic, it was thoroughly fascinating.
“The problem is that we still haven’t found a way to nullify it. To dispel the artifact’s effects, we absolutely need Jayden Young Prince’s assistance.”
“Have you conducted experiments on nullification?”
“I tested it myself. The Young Prince immediately nullified it for me.”
The Deputy answered my curious question matter-of-factly.
“Since the Young Prince is here, would you like to see it in operation?”
“Can we really just activate it like this without any precautions?”
“At the Magic Tower, we activated it fifty times a day. It’s fine. If you’d like to see how it operates, I’ll demonstrate.”
The Deputy, noticing my interest, immediately picked up the magical artifact and spoke.
“The Magic Tower regards Namia as a benefactor for restoring the Tower Master to his senses and providing sturdy laborers. It would be our honor to satisfy even the smallest curiosity.”
That’s true.
I’d heard that the Deputy had endured tremendous hardship while Grandfather searched for Mother. Just thinking about it was horrifying.
“Then, Young Prince, I’m counting on you.”
“Sure!”
The Deputy, having requested Jayden’s nullification, immediately picked up the magical artifact and activated it.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
Suddenly, Kibon the dog bolted forward and struck the artifact with his front paw. At the same moment, the light emanating from the artifact shot toward Kiaros.
“Huh?”
“What? What? What?”
And then that moment passed.
“…Mm?”
Kiaros blinked blankly. Then, with his brow slightly furrowed, he pressed his hand to his forehead. His crimson eyes swept across the people gathered there.
“What is this situation? Why are Jayden and the Tower Master’s Deputy here together?”
His expression had grown sharp, and he let out a faint groan. Then he looked at me and asked.
“Also, who is this young lady?”
* * *
“Don’t worry.”
Everyone was momentarily alarmed, but the Deputy spoke calmly.
“With the Young Prince here, we can nullify it immediately. It’s fine. It’s truly instantaneous.”
“I see.”
I too nodded slowly. It was somewhat amusing that Kiaros had called me a “young lady.”
Then again, as the prospective Crown Princess, my appearance was quite refined. It was understandable to mistake me for a noble lady rather than a civil servant.
The Deputy briefly informed Kiaros of today’s date and explained the situation.
“It’s now one year later. Your Highness the Crown Prince has just used a magical artifact that erases one year of memories. I will now nullify it.”
“I see.”
Kiaros accepted the situation more readily than expected.
“Deputy, but your face looks rather well. Did you perhaps appoint a new Tower Master?”
“No, sir. The Tower Master has regained some clarity thanks to his granddaughter.”
“The Tower Master has a granddaughter? So Aran gave birth to a daughter. If the Tower Master is the maternal grandfather and Aran is the mother, that girl must be quite the handful. Did Aran return to the Magic Tower?”
“Yes, well… I suppose you could say she did. In any case, it would be best if he recovered his memories soon.”
The Deputy cut off Kiaros’s words while gauging my reaction, anxious that he might misspeak further.
“But Jayden.”
Kiaros, having finished his conversation with the Deputy, regarded Jayden with warm eyes and spoke.
“Have you been communicating with the Magic Tower all this time? I hope no one has dismissed you for being a child, or treated you poorly? The Tower is full of eccentrics as it is, and you’re such a well-mannered boy who struggles to speak up for himself—I’ve been worried you might have been hurt.”
The Deputy and I exchanged glances filled with astonishment.
All this time, Jayden had been cooperating with the Magic Tower’s experiments, and whenever he encountered the mages, he was busy mocking them as “socially inept fools.” Every single mage had picked a fight with Jayden, and he had soundly defeated them all in verbal combat.
Yet… the current Kiaros knew nothing of this fact and couldn’t even deduce it.
“B-brother.”
Jayden too gazed at Kiaros with a trembling voice.
“Brother… you’ve come back….”
A flush rose to his plump cheeks, and tears glistened slightly in his round eyes. Kiaros smiled gently as he stroked Jayden’s hair.
“Come back? I’ve gone away. And didn’t you say you could help me recover quickly? Don’t be frightened even if you feel nervous around unfamiliar people. I’m fine.”
The Deputy and I exchanged glances once more. Telling Jayden not to be frightened—it was clear his memory was truly gone.
It was already questionable to give such advice to someone about strangers….
“But I notice you haven’t mentioned this young lady at all since earlier.”
While we were all still reeling in shock, Kiaros glanced at me and asked.
“Judging by the fact that she’s present here, she must be quite an important person, no? Yet it seems we’ve never met before, which is strange.”
“Ah, yes.”
I answered immediately.
“I am His Highness’s betrothed. I am also the granddaughter of the Tower Master—the one you just described as quite the handful.”

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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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