The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 177

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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 6
Jayden suddenly bolted away, leaving Kiaros and Namia alone together.
Kiaros reviewed the report with a thoughtful expression, asking several questions, and Namia answered each one clearly. Given the year-long gap in her memories, there were naturally some details she needed to explain.
As Kiaros continued reading the report, an awkward silence settled between them. Since Jayden had said he’d return soon, neither could leave, and they simply had to sit beside each other.
‘Hmm….’
Kiaros carefully observed Namia between the pages of the report. After all, she was his fiancée.
At first, he’d thought her expression somewhat dull, but the longer he looked, the more he noticed her eyes gleaming with intelligence. He’d assumed that if she resembled Aran and the Tower Master, she’d be completely reckless, yet she seemed nothing of the sort. Rather, she was remarkably composed and respectful.
‘She’s quite lovely, actually. I imagine she must have been adorable as a child—so why was she wearing both a mask and a hat back then?’
In the end, it was Kiaros who couldn’t bear the silence and spoke first.
“Why didn’t you come to Count Kalto’s Residence back then?”
“Father discouraged me. If I’d known you were the Crown Prince, I would have gone.”
“I see. If you’d come then, we could have been betrothed in childhood.”
He spoke without much thought, recalling all those foreign royals and nobles who’d forced their daughters upon him. If he’d already been betrothed to Namia, he wouldn’t have had to endure such tiresome affairs. But Namia tilted her head and replied.
“No, even then we wouldn’t have been betrothed.”
“Why?”
“Father taught me that marriage should be with someone you love. Back then, I still listened to Father very well.”
For a moment, Kiaros barely suppressed a cough that threatened to burst forth.
So did that mean that ‘now’ she didn’t listen to Father, and therefore wouldn’t marry someone she didn’t love?
Indeed, if they truly loved each other deeply, she wouldn’t be so casually concerned about work gaps and drafting reports from the start. It would be natural to desperately hope to recover those cherished memories as quickly as possible.
‘…Then, is there someone else she loves?’
Kiaros swallowed dryly without realizing it. Countless questions swirled through his mind, but since they were practically strangers, he simply couldn’t ask further.
“Ahem, ahem. In any case, looking at the report, quite a lot happened over this past year.”
In the end, he chose to change the subject.
“Especially the Magic Tower being so cooperative… It’s been a long-standing headache for the Imperial Family, so this is truly fortunate. Has the Tower Master finally come to his senses?”
“Ah, Grandfather hasn’t come to his senses at all. It’s simply because of me.”
Namia blinked as she answered.
“Without our betrothal, the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family could never have cooperated so well. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement in many ways.”
After hearing her straightforward answer, Kiaros decided not to ask further about this marriage. It was clearly a political union.
‘Since I’ve agreed to marry that girl anyway, I suppose I accepted the Magic Tower’s request for a strategic marriage.’
Yet something felt strange. Though they seemed to share no emotional connection, his gaze kept drifting toward her—from the flawlessly detailed report to her surprisingly swift and precise work handling. And that warm smile she’d given Jayden with a “that’s fine”—it kept lingering in his memory.
“Well, in any case.”
Kiaros spoke slowly.
“I’m grateful that you saved me when I was ten. I’m sure I’ve already thanked you, but I have no memory of it.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Even then, at such a young age, you were quite skilled with scrolls… Did you enter the Magic Tower because you were good at magic, and then your blood relation to the Tower Master was revealed?”
“There are complicated circumstances, but I wasn’t originally from the Magic Tower. I was a civil servant who graduated from the Academy. And I’m not particularly skilled at magic.”
At Namia’s words, Kiaros’s brow furrowed. That girl from back then hadn’t entered the Magic Tower but became a civil servant instead, and then became his fiancée—everything from start to finish seemed odd. And she wasn’t even good at magic?
It was then that Kiaros instantly sensed a familiar presence approaching cautiously.
‘What is it?’
Two people and one dog.
To be precise, it was Fron, Jayden, and Kibon.
The three of them were concealed in the thicket, their presence completely suppressed.
‘What on earth is this?’
Namia, utterly oblivious to their presence, tilted her head in confusion.
“By the way, has something happened to the Young Prince? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”
“Hmm?”
“He’s not the type to ask someone to wait idly like this… Something feels off. If you’re still reading through the remaining reports, I’ll go check on him.”
Namia rose abruptly. Without thinking, Kiaros looked up at her and spoke.
“Ah, they’re here.”
“Pardon?”
“They’re hiding behind the thicket.”
“…Pardon?”
At that very moment, barking sounds erupted from behind the thicket—”Oof!” and “Phew!”—followed by a tremendous crash as two people and a dog came tumbling out.
Fron, with leaves clinging to her hair, spoke loudly as she observed Namia’s expression of utter bewilderment.
“Ahahaha! Namia! Ahahahahaha! We heard you two were in that ticklish stage!”
“Ah, yes.”
“I wanted to see it for myself, ahahahahaha! Isn’t other people’s love life always the most entertaining?”
“Ah, yes.”
“But alas, we’ve been caught by the Crown Prince! Ahahahahaha!”
“Ah, yes.”
“So there’s no need to search for Jayden—why don’t you two continue your conversation? We’ll stay right here without making a peep!”
“Ah, no.”
Namia smiled beautifully as she spoke.
“The Young Prince wished to spend more time with the Crown Prince. Since I’ve delivered the reports and he has arrived, I shall take my leave now.”
She then bowed respectfully and added to Kiaros:
“Should you require further explanation of the remaining reports, you may summon me this evening. Since there are quite a few security-related documents, I will come in person.”
With that, Namia offered her final respects and departed from the garden. Jayden released a deep sigh, placed his hand on his hip, and spoke to Kiaros.
“No, Your Highness. You should have pretended not to notice.”
“…Why?”
“You deliberately said the two of you would be here and asked me to wait for my return. The two of you could have had an intimate moment until I came back!”
“Why would I… need to be alone here with that lady?”
Jayden sighed deeply and struck his chest with his small fists. Then he looked up at Fron and spoke immediately.
“Look at this, Empress. I told you I’m making a huge blunder right now, didn’t I?”
“I don’t think so.”
Fron shook her head with a sharp expression.
“She said to summon her at night!”
“…Pardon?”
“You see. The Crown Prince didn’t want to be alone with that lady ‘here,’ but rather in a confined space at night! That’s why he called us out!”
Kiaros felt dizzy from Fron’s deduction. Just as he was about to wave his hand in denial, Fron exclaimed triumphantly.
“Foolish boy, this is all part of Yongin’s grand scheme! Do you know how cunning Yongin is when seducing someone? We’re nothing in comparison! Ahahahahaha!”
“No, Empress. That’s not what I meant….”
“Have a pleasant evening, Crown Prince! Ahahahahaha! There’s still quite a bit of time before evening, so you must be waiting quite eagerly! Ahahahahaha!”
Kiaros squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his forehead. Jayden and Fron had been far too exaggerated about something I’d shown only mild interest in. Smitten at first glance? Waiting? Hardly.
I had merely found it somewhat unexpected—that was all. The report had been surprisingly neat and flawless, which did surprise me, but….
“Sigh….”
He spoke calmly, watching the two of them make such a fuss.
“I swear on the honor of the Dragon-kin that I have no intention of summoning that young lady this evening. So please, stop this at once.”
He meant every word of it.
* * *
‘I really didn’t call her.’
That night, Kiaros thought to himself.
‘Really, truly didn’t call her. My honor remains intact.’
He truly had not summoned Namia. He had merely found his way to Namia’s Room.
‘No, it’s just that while reading the report, I became curious about something….’

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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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