The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 175

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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 Episode 4
“Hmm?”
Kiaros seemed momentarily taken aback, but he quickly composed himself. I hastily added more context.
“She’s the girl from the Southern Region—the very one who saved His Highness when he was ten years old.”
“Ah, I see. So the Ravens found her. In the end, she agreed to marry me for my wealth?”
At Kiaros’s calm remark, the Deputy jumped in with alarm.
“N-no, that’s not—we’re good!”
He’d realized that the more Kiaros and I conversed, the further the discussion veered off course.
“Jayden Young Prince, please hurry.”
“Ah, y-yes…”
Prompted by the Deputy’s urging, Jayden slowly nodded. Yet his expression as he took Kibon from Kiaros was peculiar.
I stared at Jayden for a moment, then whispered softly.
“Young Prince, do you perhaps not wish to restore him?”
“What?”
“You prefer the Crown Prince in his current state, don’t you?”
Jayden hesitated briefly, then let out a faint sigh while holding Kibon close. He then whispered quietly to me.
“Honestly, yes… but I still have to restore him. I can’t leave him like this. Besides, the Emperor is away in the Provincial Area right now…”
“Then restore him tomorrow morning. Today’s schedule is finished, and there’s nothing more the Crown Prince needs to handle.”
I smiled gently as I spoke, and Jayden looked surprised.
“Is that really the issue? He doesn’t remember Namia at all. I mean, not remembering would be fine, but he keeps spouting nonsense.”
“There’s no gap in duties, so I’m fine with it.”
I looked at Jayden’s face as I spoke.
“And why don’t you two spend time together like you used to, and when you feel ready, ask him something then.”
“Ask him what?”
“Whether, even if you truly are a boy with rotten character and no manners, the Crown Prince would still love you.”
Jayden’s eyes widened at my words.
I’d already felt sorry for Jayden’s dejected state, and I wanted to seize this opportunity for him to confirm the truth from Kiaros.
Because Kiaros truly loved Jayden. Though he’d experienced something that prevented him from showing the same wholehearted sympathy as before—that sincere pity of “our gentle and meek Jayden”—his love remained genuine.
If Jayden asked seriously, Kiaros would surely answer honestly, and Jayden would gain certainty in his love.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
Meanwhile, Kibon—the root cause of all this chaos—barked contentedly. Kiaros gazed at Kibon nestled in Jayden’s arms and spoke gently.
“What’s this dog? Do you keep it, Jayden?”
“Woof, woof, woof!”
“How adorable. Would it be alright if I held it?”
“Woof, woof!”
The Deputy, I, and Jayden all jumped in surprise. In truth, Kiaros had always treated Kibon with indifference, never showing him affection. I myself had assumed Kiaros disliked dogs.
“What’s its name?”
“K-Kibon, sir.”
“That’s quite a fitting name for a dog.”
Kiaros smiled and gently stroked Kibon’s head. The Deputy stood speechless, merely drawing in a sharp breath.
In the end, I smiled brightly and spoke to the Deputy.
“Why don’t you head home for now? The Young Prince will spend some time with the former Crown Prince, and his memories should return after that.”
“Ah… Will that be alright?”
The Deputy’s eyes darted nervously between me and Kiaros. Kiaros glanced at Jayden once, quickly grasped the situation, and smiled gently.
“So losing a year of memories makes me quite entertaining to Jayden, it seems. Then there’s no rush to recover them. As long as there’s nothing urgent I need to handle.”
I answered in his stead.
“There isn’t.”
I added with a soft smile.
“However, since an emergency could arise at any moment, if you could wait just a moment, I’ll prepare a summary report covering only the essential matters and have it delivered shortly.”
“A report?”
Kiaros stared at me and spoke slowly.
“The Imperial Palace’s report format is rather complex, and access permissions are quite restricted. Rather than having you do double work, it would be better to go through the Aide.”
His voice carried unmistakable distrust. Given that the current Kiaros was displeased with everything connected to the Magic Tower, it was understandable. So I answered respectfully.
“The Aide is currently on leave. As far as I know, he’s gone to his hometown, and even if I issue an immediate recall order, it will take some time for him to return. Additionally, according to Article 55, Section 12 of the Royal Family Special Law, access to Your Highness’s classified documents is limited to myself and the Aide. Entrusting it to a third party would require additional approval, and since I’m part of that approval chain anyway, I’ll simply prepare it all at once. Of course, as a preliminary Crown Princess, I normally wouldn’t have such access rights, but in my case, I’ve already obtained the Empress’s authority through the proper procedures based on the appendix under Article 22, Section 4 of the Royal Family Special Law regarding exceptional circumstances. I’ll attach that authorization document as well.”
By the time I finished speaking, Kiaros’s mouth had fallen slightly open. After a moment of silence, he stammered his response.
“Ah… Y-yes, that’s… fine.”
The Deputy, listening to our exchange, shrugged once. Then, muttering to himself, “Well, if Namia says it’s fine, it’s not my concern,” he quickly gathered his belongings and left the Crown Prince’s Office.
* * *
Namia hurried out, saying she would prepare the summary report on essential matters.
Jayden and Kiaros went out to the Garden for the first time in ages and played very happily with Kibon.
They threw discs on the Lawn, played catch with rackets, and he even watched Jayden’s swordsmanship.
“My dear Jayden… I’m worried that your gentle heart means you won’t be able to wield a sword well, even when facing a wicked person.”
In truth, Jayden was the type to wield his tongue rather than his sword before a wicked person. So he simply had no particular interest in swordsmanship, yet Kiaros gazed at him with warm, concerned eyes, just as he had long ago.
“Of course, I’ll protect you so that you never have to wield a sword.”
“Yes, Brother. To be honest, I still find it a bit awkward dealing with people outside the family. I struggle to find the right words….”
“You’re still young, so that’s fine. You’ll improve gradually. But one thing is certain—everyone will eventually come to like you for being so kind and well-mannered.”
He was exactly as Jayden remembered him—gentle and wonderful. They spent the afternoon discussing history books and reading classical literature together. For Jayden, it felt like a dream.
‘What should I do.’
Jayden let out a deep internal sigh as he looked at Kiaros.
‘This isn’t right… I need to restore his memories… but this moment feels so precious.’
Kiaros had to manage the state. So I couldn’t leave him in this state from a year ago indefinitely. Moreover, he didn’t remember Namia at all.
He’d said to Namia, “So you got engaged for money,” and though it was said without malice, he’d also openly spouted nonsense like, “If she’s the Tower Master’s granddaughter, she must be ill-mannered….”
How much that must have hurt Namia….
‘Hmm, wait.’
Jayden blinked slowly.
‘…Did it actually hurt her?’
In fact, Namia’s expression showed no sign of distress whatsoever. She even seemed somewhat amused. And claiming to prepare for any potential operational gaps in an emergency, she’d dashed off like lightning to write the report.
‘She really does seem completely unbothered? But is that even possible?’
Just as Jayden tilted his head in confusion, Kiaros, who had been playing with Kibon, let out an awkward cough and broached the subject.
“Ahem, well. Jayden. About my fiancée….”
“Pardon?”
“Is she truly the Tower Master’s granddaughter? Really Aran’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
Jayden’s eyebrows shot upward. Suddenly, my older brother seemed utterly unfamiliar to me.
‘What? Did my brother just ask a question about a woman?’
To my knowledge, this was the first time Kiaros had ever shown such blatant interest in someone.
In the past, Kiaros had countless fiancée candidates. Even without the Empress and Emperor forcing the matter, given his position, noble ladies and foreign princesses had constantly sent marriage proposals. The Imperial Palace had been abuzz with it enough that even I was aware, yet Kiaros had never once displayed even a hint of curiosity.
But this degree of overwhelming interest?
Jayden suppressed the corners of my mouth that threatened to curl upward and asked casually.
“Why? Is there something you’re curious about?”
“No… At first glance, I thought she looked rather dull, but seeing her now, she seems sharper than I expected. I assumed she was some noblewoman from the Magic Tower who lived like a princess without lifting a finger, but it was quite unexpected.”
“Unexpected? Unexpected?”
Jayden’s mouth fell open in shock. At my reaction, Kiaros looked even more startled.
“What, what’s wrong?”
“Could it be that because she’s so unexpected, you keep thinking about her, and you’re curious about her?”
“Ah… Well, I suppose so?”
“Good heavens.”
Jayden pressed my small hand to my forehead. Then, with a peculiar expression, I tilted my head.
“…It seems like you’ve fallen for her at first sight.”

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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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