The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 181

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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 10
Kiaros cleared his throat briefly before turning to his Aide with a question.
“But why did you arrive so soon? Did I lose track of time?”
“Oh, no. That’s not it. I couldn’t have predicted such a thing either.”
The Aide blinked as he responded.
“Well, I think you should hear the details directly from Namia. I’ve already reported everything to her… so I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Right after entering the Palace? Where are you going?”
“To get my hair done.”
And with that, the Aide departed almost as quickly as he’d arrived.
Left alone between Namia and Kiaros, Jayden Young Prince glanced nervously between them both, forced an artificial smile, and began backing away slowly.
After all, now that Kiaros was ‘upset’, it seemed inevitable that the two would engage in what couldn’t quite be called a proper argument. To be honest… he couldn’t take Namia’s side in this matter.
Jayden Young Prince was only eight years old, but he understood enough about romantic grievances. How else could Aran, Namia’s Mother, have been so shocked when the family didn’t react to her declaration that she’d erase their memories and make them all forget?
‘If Namia doesn’t have some compelling reason… honestly, it’s fair for my brother to be upset.’
Unable to openly side with Kiaros, Jayden Young Prince decided the best course was to remove himself from the situation entirely.
Now that the matter between Jayden Young Prince and Kiaros was settled, it was time to resolve the issue between Namia and Kiaros.
Of course, it had all stemmed from Jayden Young Prince’s actions, but since he was just a child, he could conveniently evade responsibility.
“Ahem, Namia. I’m going to look for Kibon. He must be bored.”
Though lessons hadn’t ended yet, no one pointed this out. And so Jayden Young Prince fled the room after the Aide like a fugitive.
Thus, only Namia and Kiaros remained in Namia’s Room from morning onward. The moment Jayden Young Prince left, Namia grabbed his arm and spoke.
“I was actually planning to ask Jayden Young Prince to restore your memories now. You’ve already found him?”
“Really?”
Kiaros regarded Namia with a suspicious expression.
“For someone who’s supposedly just now asking, you’ve been preparing three days in advance.”
“Well, that’s true, but… the Aide came by.”
“Why did he suddenly show up anyway? After going all the way to your hometown?”
“That’s the thing.”
Namia answered with a bright smile.
“He happened to meet a civil servant who’d just decided to break off an engagement in your hometown. A complete coincidence. So he came straight up to the Capital with that civil servant.”
“…What?”
Kiaros’s eyes widened suddenly. Namia giggled and bounced lightly.
“We’re moving up the wedding date. That civil servant made a reservation right after breaking off the engagement—two months from now!”
“Ah.”
Kiaros let out a low exclamation. He was about to scoop Namia up and laugh aloud when he suddenly hesitated. Noticing that brief pause, Namia raised an eyebrow.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems like you’re upset with me about something.”
“Why are you and Jayden Young Prince both so perceptive?”
Kiaros muttered dejectedly, and Namia laughed as if amused. Then she asked playfully.
“Don’t tell me you’re bothered that I seem perfectly fine even though you couldn’t remember me at all?”
“But you actually were fine with it.”
Kiaros raised one eyebrow as he spoke.
“I genuinely thought you harbored feelings for Victor and were trying to marry me for political advantage. Truly.”
“What? Ahahahahaha!”
Namia, nestled against him, burst into laughter. Watching her, Kiaros added with displeasure.
“I mean, I lost my memory, yet you acted as though nothing was amiss….”
“That was simply my way of being considerate toward Your Highness, who seemed so tormented recently.”
Namia answered with innocent nonchalance.
“You said the wedding felt so far away, that you wished to move it up even by a single day. Losing a day’s memory effectively accomplishes moving the date forward by a day, doesn’t it?”
Now that she mentioned it, Kiaros did recall saying something like that.
[Time moves so slowly that each day feels agonizing. I truly wish we could move the wedding up by even one day.]
So Namia had genuinely considered his feelings and….
Kiaros blinked slowly, struggling to grasp reality.
“And besides, you and Jayden Young Prince needed to have at least one genuine conversation anyway. It was truly a necessary situation for both of you.”
She hadn’t simply been indifferent as long as there were no gaps in her duties. She had genuinely wanted to create a more beneficial situation for the two brothers while circumstances allowed.
“Ha.”
Kiaros lifted her higher in his embrace and smiled faintly.
“If I said I felt slighted, would you think me childish?”
“What?”
“I understand your consideration… but treating me like a stranger was too much.”
He laughed softly, speaking in a tone of defeat.
“I fell head over heels for you and couldn’t sit still. Then Anastasia had to show up with all her talk of ‘Victor’ and ‘jealousy.'”
“Now that you mention it, circumstances did unfold that way again.”
Namia giggled with amusement.
“Anastasia and that Raven Servant are getting married, and she said she’d give me the invitation first… so that’s why things happened that night. Oh, but they’re holding it somewhere other than the Imperial Ceremony Hall. Apparently the reservations there are completely booked. Let’s go together later.”
“That’s not the important part.”
Kiaros narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“Regardless, I was genuinely pining away like a lovesick fool, yet you seemed completely unbothered by it….”
“My goodness.”
Namia’s eyes widened.
“Who said I was unbothered?”
“You weren’t?”
“Of course not. I deliberately filled the report with gaps. To make you keep asking for explanations.”
Namia’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I even told you to summon me in secret at night.”
“Ha….”
Now that he thought about it, Namia was not the sort of person to write a report requiring “explanations.” Even with his lost memory, he’d considered it perfectly adequate, but Namia was originally far more meticulous than that.
[It’s probably regarding the Administrative Support Department work revisions from two months ago, isn’t it? I was already concerned that section might lack sufficient explanation.]
[Ah, the explanation was sufficient. There’s just one part that conflicts with the existing provisions, so I wanted to verify it.]
The original Namia would never have failed to notice a “conflict with existing provisions.” As Kiaros’s lips parted with delight, Namia giggled in response.
“And you even used informal speech… your self-control is quite remarkable, isn’t it?”
“You did that on purpose.”
As if only now understanding, Kiaros sighed as he spoke.
“You used informal speech on purpose, didn’t you? To get me riled up?”
“I had a feeling that even if my mind’s memories faded, my body’s memories would remain.”
She laughed with amusement and brought her forehead to his.
“Judging by how quickly you bolted out of there, it seems to have worked, doesn’t it?”
“Completely.”
“Your hollow eyes suggest you haven’t slept either.”
“Accurate.”
“In any case, I used informal speech, and the fact that you held back that much shows your self-control has improved considerably.”
“That’s not it.”
Kiaros pulled her into his arms and collapsed onto the expansive sofa as if his legs had given way. It struck him anew—a fact he couldn’t have known yesterday. Why was this sofa in his room so enormous? Why was this desk so impossibly wide?
“I can’t hold back anymore.”
The moment his breathing grew ragged, Namia burst into delighted laughter. Then she whispered against his ear.
“You’re causing quite the commotion this morning. Still, keep it reasonable. We need to finalize our wedding plans urgently today.”
The instant Namia’s command fell, their bodies pressed together urgently. The joyful laughter of two lovers who would exchange vows in two months filled the room entirely.
Postscript: The Aide’s leave for his hometown visit was retroactively reclassified as “official business travel.”

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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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