The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 193

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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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Special Side Story Episode 6
‘At least it’s water-based.’
Namia thought as she hurried down the corridor.
‘I can clean it up easily once I find a wet mop.’
Of course, she could have simply left it for the cleaning staff to handle. But Cedric, Namia’s Father, had not raised her that way. Whenever young Namia spilled something in places like the Library or Dining Hall, Cedric would always clean it up himself.
[Namia, a beautiful person leaves behind a beautiful space.]
It was as she was rushing toward the Cleaning Storage.
Her footsteps came to an abrupt halt upon noticing something.
“….”
It was Victor.
Victor was with people from the Ministry of Finance. He was animatedly conversing with his peer who had come as a senior representative from the Ministry of Finance.
“Ah, Victor! It was a bit awkward eating with the junior staff, but if you’re alone, come join us. Let’s eat together. What do you say? It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.”
“Sera! I’m really glad to see you. Weren’t you on an overseas assignment? I was actually thinking of reaching out to you.”
“I returned a week ago. And you’re apparently being assigned to an overseas posting?”
“News travels fast. That’s right. I’m scheduled for a long-term overseas assignment. They’re talking about three or four years, maybe five if it stretches… Sera, how was your overseas assignment? Any tips you could share?”
“Come on. Let’s talk while we eat.”
Victor departed for the Dining Hall while conversing with Sera.
The other new civil servants from the Ministry of Finance also knew he was the son of the Minister of Finance. So even though he worked at the Scroll Management Department, they never disrespected him and instead acted friendly, offering words of greeting. Even Huan smiled and deferred to him.
“…Ah.”
Namia paused for a moment and murmured to herself.
“Cleaning. Let me focus on cleaning first.”
Eating alone in the Dining Hall was never a problem, but today she truly did not want to encounter them.
“I was heading to the storage anyway.”
Namia turned toward the Cleaning Storage, the opposite direction from the Dining Hall. The storage was dark and extended deep inside. Since no mops were visible at the front, she had to venture quite far in.
“Using a new one seems wasteful. Is there an old one I can use?”
As Namia rummaged through the mops deep inside the storage, she let out a sigh without realizing it, then collapsed onto the floor.
The image of Victor laughing and chatting with Huan remained vividly before her eyes.
Victor had clearly been on his way to the Lecture Hall. Under normal circumstances, he would have intended to have lunch with her.
But since there was no guarantee she would be in the Lecture Hall, he had simply gone to eat with someone who had invited him first.
Besides, Victor had originally told her not to wait for him and to handle lunch on her own.
She needed to understand… to understand… she had to understand. Namia lacked even the energy to protest and fume about it.
But still, but still.
At least she was grateful not to be alone on her birthday, yet she had no desire to witness him eating in the Dining Hall with Huan… laughing and carrying on merrily.
“…And he’s scheduled for a long-term overseas assignment soon?”
Then why had he said from the beginning that he would take good care of her, that he was glad to be spending time together?
When he would soon be departing for distant shores. She had thought that having someone she knew would keep her from feeling lonely even without peers, but it seemed that wouldn’t be the case either.
“Enough. Since when did I start depending on knowing people?”
After sitting in a daze for a while, Namia slapped her own cheeks and snapped back to her senses. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t known what kind of person Victor was from the start, nor had she planned to rely on him when she received her assignment.
But today was her birthday.
A very special… truly special day at twenty years old.
I actually thought Father would return by the time she came of age.
That’s why I hated being alone.
If only Victor hadn’t come that day, I could have laughed and chatted with Luca or Agnes instead.
“Get yourself together, Namia. You’re not a child anymore, and what’s so special about a birthday anyway… as if you ever cared about celebrating it before.”
After scolding herself once, Namia picked up the rag she’d found and rose to her feet.
Then she trudged over to the storage door and tried to step back outside.
But.
“…Huh?”
With a metallic click, the door wouldn’t budge.
“…What?”
Click, click—no matter how hard she pulled, all she heard was the sound of a lock. Namia’s eyes trembled with foreboding.
“No, surely not…”
Namia murmured, her lips quivering.
“Am I… locked in?”
* * *
It seemed to be mealtime. Everyone was gathering in small groups, heading toward the Dining Hall.
‘I’ll have to wait until afternoon.’
Kiaros narrowed his eyes, arms crossed. He simply wanted to confirm that people from each department were attending classes properly. He was particularly keen on observing the Scroll Management Department. If anything seemed amiss, he would immediately shift into his Crown Prince form and conduct an emergency audit.
‘Let me check the Cleaning Supply Storage first.’
In truth, Kiaros’s mood had been quite unsettled today.
A message had arrived from the Imoat Kingdom since morning.
Since his biological mother was the Princess of Imote, the Imoat Royal Family was his maternal relatives.
You’re aware that the Imoat Kingdom’s specialty is cultured pearls, yes? Well, this year the pearl cultivation has been so successful that we have an excess of inventory.
If the Crown Prince would merely mention that he wishes to marry a woman who looks beautiful in pearl jewelry, countless pearl cultivators in the Imoat Kingdom would surely find relief.
In fact, the Crown Prince’s mother frequently wore pearls herself.
Upon receiving the letter from the King of Imoat, his maternal grandfather, Kiaros felt a dull ache building in his head.
The King of Imoat had always been this way—making requests that were “not difficult,” “something a grandson could reasonably do once in a while.”
And he always appended light mentions of Kiaros’s biological mother. Since she had died giving birth to him, Kiaros carried a certain emotional debt toward the king who had lost his daughter.
Yet he had grown weary of these subtle, coercive requests.
Through the Mentor from Imote, he had even received messages to eliminate and be wary of Jayden, which only complicated his heart further.
‘Perhaps it would be easier if I simply grew angry and severed the relationship…’
Of course, Kiaros had not granted his maternal grandfather’s request. Even if it were humanely possible, he had refused outright.
Because based on his assessment of his grandfather’s nature, if he granted even one “light” request, the demands would only escalate in intensity.
Yet despite refusing each time, the King of Imoat always made such requests whenever difficulties arose.
Ignoring these trivial requests was not without its weight. After all, they were his blood relatives.
‘…How lonely.’
Each time this happened, Kiaros felt a profound solitude.
If he were to tell the Emperor of this, the Emperor, who cherished his son, would surely say, “Do as your heart sees fit, Kiaros.”
Yet he could not confide such troubles to the Empress or Jayden either.
Though the Imperial Family was harmonious and cared for one another, among them, only Kiaros occupied his particular position. No one could truly understand him.
I need to stop dwelling on distractions. I came here to work, after all.
Kiaros steadied his resolve and made his way toward the Cleaning Storage behind Building B, a somewhat secluded area.
Hmm? Is it locked?
A padlock secured the storage door. One of the cleaning staff had locked it after finishing the morning cleaning, passing by before lunch.
What do I do about this?
He paused for a moment, tilting his head in confusion, when he detected rustling sounds and a presence emanating from within the storage.
It seems like someone’s inside? Are they trapped?
It was definitely a presence. But if they were trapped, why was it so quiet? Normally, if someone were accidentally locked in, wouldn’t they be banging on the door, calling out “Is anyone there?”
Kiaros carefully knocked on the door—tap, tap.
“Is anyone in there?”

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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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