The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 178

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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 7
There was no helping it. From Kiaros’s perspective, he’d simply remained still, and suddenly a year had slipped away.
Naturally, Namia had meticulously prepared the report, but there were inevitably gaps throughout. Yet due to security concerns, I couldn’t ask others for clarification, and of all times, my Aide wasn’t present either.
‘And truthfully, these matters should be directed to the original author for accuracy.’
There was a method of summoning a third party to inquire, but Kiaros had already reached his conclusion regardless.
No one in this Imperial Palace worked as competently as Namia. That much was certain. Having observed state affairs since childhood, he could sense it instantly.
‘It’s simply a work-related inquiry. If only Jayden and the Empress hadn’t interrupted while reading the report earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.’
That was all it was. Of course, I’d grown somewhat curious about Namia and had examined her personnel records. It had been intriguing that she’d mentioned being a civil servant.
Ordinary civil service exam scores, entry into the Scroll Management Department, yet suddenly promoted to Minister of Scrolls in her fourth year.
‘It must have been around this time that her identity as the Tower Master’s granddaughter was revealed.’
Namia had clearly stated from her own mouth that she wasn’t skilled at magic. So it seemed she couldn’t enter the Magic Tower.
It was undoubtedly the Tower Master, at a loss over his own blood, who had parachuted her in through nepotism. Then, deeming it unsuitable, he’d apparently abolished the Scroll Department entirely.
Having completed his rational deduction alone, Kiaros stood before Namia’s Room.
An Attendant who’d heard the circumstances had informed him of Namia’s Room location.
[I’m going to see my fiancée. Should I head to the Magic Tower?]
[Pardon? Ah, Namia resides at the Imperial Palace.]
[Why?]
[…It simply happened naturally? Well, she’s teaching Jayden Young Prince his lessons, and she handles so much Imperial Palace work….]
They were engaged, the wedding date still far away, yet they were already living together.
It was truly irrational. In any case, as Kiaros walked toward Namia’s Room with the report in hand.
The very door the Attendant had indicated slowly opened, and a red-haired short-haired woman emerged.
“Well, in any case, that’s how it turned out, Your Highness the Future Crown Princess.”
She appeared to be a guest of Namia’s who was just departing.
Kiaros, though guilty of nothing, startled and quickly concealed himself behind a corridor sculpture. For some reason, the instant he’d spotted that red-haired woman, a strong instinct had flashed—’something feels familiar yet something feels off.’
Meanwhile, Namia gently escorted her to the doorway, speaking kindly.
“Congratulations so much, Anastasia. I’m truly happy for you. So Anastasia’s words about how staying close makes you sentimental were right after all.”
Remarkably, what Namia held in her hand was unmistakably a wedding invitation. It seemed the woman called Anastasia had come to inform Namia of her marriage.
“Yes, the Imperial Ceremony Hall was out due to packed reservations, but it’s quite a nice venue regardless, so please do come and grace us with your presence. I rushed straight to His Highness the moment the invitations came out tonight.”
“Of course I’ll attend. Whose wedding is it? No matter how much I think about it, the concept of fate is truly remarkable. Anastasia getting married.”
The two women seemed quite close. At Namia’s words, the woman called Anastasia giggled and laughed.
“I, it’s really amazing, isn’t it? In a way, our couple was born because of that strange dynamic between Victor and the Minister of Education… Huh?”
Anastasia, who had been eagerly continuing her words, suddenly startled and turned around. Kiaros, hidden behind the sculpture, flinched.
‘What? I concealed my presence, yet she noticed?’
Though he’d hidden his presence, he hadn’t actively contorted his body to conceal himself, so the moment Anastasia turned around, she recognized Kiaros.
“Oh, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
Kiaros marveled at her remarkable physical perceptiveness, but her face had gone completely pale.
“I, I’m so sorry! I, I was careless! No, h, how dare I mention Victor’s name… I, I’m truly sorry! I apologize!”
At her words, Namia gently patted Anastasia’s back and spoke kindly.
“It’s fine. Go on now. I’ll handle it.”
“B, but… Your Highness the Crown Prince becomes j, jealous at merely hearing Victor’s name!”
“I’ll smooth things over nicely. Really, it’s fine—you can stretch out and sleep without worry.”
“Y-yes, of course!”
Anastasia fled with the guilty expression still painted across her face. Kiaros cleared his throat and slowly positioned himself before her. He maintained an air of indifference, yet the name “Victor” had unmistakably lodged itself in his mind. Instinctively, it grated on him intensely.
“Your Highness.”
Now only he and Namia remained in the corridor. I was deliberating over what excuse to offer if asked why I’d been hiding, when Namia smiled softly and spoke.
“You’ve come about the reports, haven’t you? Please, come inside.”
“Ah, yes…”
The excuse I’d prepared—something about dust behind the statue—became utterly pointless.
Upon entering her room, the atmosphere felt peculiar. Documents and manuscripts were meticulously organized throughout, and her desk was remarkably expansive. Rather than the quarters of a prospective Crown Princess, it resembled a well-ordered library.
“Hmm.”
Kiaros glanced around awkwardly and spoke.
“The budget allocated seems quite generous, yet there are scarcely any decorative items or luxuries.”
“This fountain pen alone costs five times what His Highness the Crown Prince uses. I’m spending money quite adequately. The quarterly allowance for maintaining appearances—I don’t tend to leave much of it unused.”
“…I see.”
Namia naturally guided Kiaros to the spacious sofa before her desk. She prepared fragrant tea herself and spoke with measured, gentle composure.
“It’s likely about the Administrative Support Department operational amendments from two months ago, isn’t it? I was actually concerned that section lacked sufficient explanation.”
“Ah, the explanation was thorough enough. There’s just one point that conflicts with existing provisions, so I wanted to verify it.”
Kiaros posed his questions, and Namia responded with calm, precise clarity.
Her excessively composed and articulate answers left Kiaros with an oddly unsettling feeling.
They were supposed to be getting married, yet could a fiancée really be this formal? Even a subordinate with clearly defined hierarchy wouldn’t maintain such distance.
‘Does she truly love someone else?’
As Namia explained, Kiaros pondered quietly.
‘His name is Victor… that must be it, right?’
Otherwise, there was no way Anastasia’s mere mention of the name “Victor” before him would have caused such visible distress.
If they were unrelated, or if only the man harbored feelings, Kiaros’s nature would never permit him to feel jealous.
If his future self had been tormented by such bitter jealousy, then surely the two of them must be true lovers, wouldn’t they?
‘Did she agree to marry me for practical reasons? Is that why she’s so composed and formal? Could anyone truly remain so unaffected if their lover had lost their memory?’
The conclusion was simple. They didn’t appear to be lovers at all.
‘Then… shouldn’t I let her go?’
Since he’d never seriously considered entering into a political marriage, Kiaros contemplated the matter vaguely.
‘Especially if she has someone else she truly cares for.’
No matter how beneficial the union might be for the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family, he couldn’t justify forcing a marriage that wasn’t rooted in love. Kiaros had always been skeptical of loveless marriages. Particularly when the other party didn’t desire him as a man, releasing her was unquestionably the right choice.
“…And so, these were the results… Your Highness? Your Highness?”
Kiaros had been lost in thought.
“Your Highness? Are you listening?”
“Ah.”
Namia’s bright, luminous eyes were fixed intently upon him. Caught red-handed in his distraction, Kiaros felt a flush of embarrassment and held his breath momentarily.
“Y-yes. I was listening…”
“That sounds like a lie.”
Namia regarded him with narrowed eyes, suspicious. As she leaned her body toward him, he found himself swallowing dryly without thinking.
Why were her tightly pressed lips so beautiful, her slightly drooping eyes so endearing, her soft-looking pale skin so inviting to the touch…?
The moment such thoughts brushed across my mind, Fron’s shout seemed to echo in my ears.
[You wanted to be alone with her in that confined space at night!]

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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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