The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 199

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Special Side Story 2, Episode 1
Special Side Story 2: Jayden Misses His Nephew
Five years after Namia and Kiaros married, on a particular day.
The Emperor declared with great joy that he would cede the throne to the Crown Prince.
“Kiaros is thirty now, and it is time for him to take responsibility for the Empire.”
After making this solemn proclamation officially, the Emperor rushed to Fron that very night, cheering with unbridled delight.
“Fron, Frooooon! I’m finally free!”
He nestled into her embrace and laughed heartily.
“Now I can simply travel the world with my precious darling, Fron, and enjoy myself! Hahahaha! Hahahaha!”
But Fron’s expression was hardly moved. Instead, she tilted her head curiously and asked.
“But what will actually change in my life? I quite enjoyed overseeing the prisoners at the Magic Tower….”
“Well, no, Fron.”
The Emperor—or rather, the man who was now simply Fedwin Polariud—answered gracefully.
“All the duties that my beloved must perform as Empress have been handled by Namia anyway, so nothing will change in my love’s life.”
“Wonderful!”
Fron was satisfied.
“In any case, I’m delighted that you’ve found happiness! Wahahahaha!”
She added with a cheerful expression.
“Now I might finally be able to take a journey with Jayden.”
Jayden had turned thirteen.
This meant he was beginning to enter the threshold of adolescence.
Fron had always worried about Jayden’s teenage years.
Given that they had once grown distant due to a misunderstanding in his childhood, she constantly fretted that the naturally occurring phase of adolescence—when children distance themselves from their parents—would be particularly challenging.
In Fron’s imagination, an adolescent Jayden would post “No Entry” on the door of his palace and refuse to show his face at all.
Inside, he would be busily writing the world’s most melancholic poetry and song lyrics, and at random moments, he would stand before a mirror, mussing his bangs to admire his profile from various angles….
The thought of such a pathetic sight made her heart burn with bitterness, and it seemed better to simply grant his “No Entry” request.
“I’ve always wanted to travel freely throughout the Empire, so being able to journey with Jayden before I die will be truly fulfilling!”
At Fron’s words, Fedwin laughed heartily.
“‘Before I die’—our Fron truly lives each day to the fullest! Adolescence will pass soon enough. Our Fron is absolutely adorable. Hehehehehehe!”
But Fron cut him off decisively.
“However, once Jayden passes through adolescence and becomes old enough to lead the journey himself, I have no intention of going!”
She shook her head desperately.
“I can’t even imagine how much nagging there would be…. We must depart while we can still lead! I will not drag along a grown child!”
Fedwin laughed heartily at the sight of her.
“My goodness, our Fron is truly adorable…. So after this journey, you mean to travel with only me! When you express such affection so bashfully, my heart races….”
He added with a subtle expression.
“I wonder if Jayden knows…. That we’re all worried about his adolescence….”
* * *
At that moment, in the Young Prince’s Palace.
Jayden was playing chess with Kiaros, and the game had just reached its conclusion.
“Well, I suppose I should be going now.”
Kiaros smiled broadly as he spoke.
“Since you’ve won again this time.”
Jayden shrugged and patted Kibon affectionately.
“I know you let me win on purpose.”
“Huh? What?”
“You timed the chess match to end when my sister-in-law’s meeting finishes. Isn’t that right?”
The thirteen-year-old was perceptive. Kiaros’s little trick of “timing the chess game to end perfectly” was exposed immediately.
“Ahem, well.”
Since denying it would only invite further interrogation, Kiaros simply cleared his throat and picked up his teacup.
Jayden smiled and suddenly spoke to Kiaros.
“By the way, brother.”
“Yes?”
“When will I be able to see my nephew?”
Kiaros nearly spat out his tea.
Five years of marriage.
They still had no children, yet no one had ever asked them directly about it.
In truth, there were already open whispers that “perhaps there’s a medical issue between the two of them.” But Luca from the Medical and Health Department had firmly denied that.
If that were the case, it meant it was their choice—and that didn’t seem strange at all.
Because Namia gave the impression that she would have married her work instead of Kiaros.
Indeed, once she took charge, administrative operations became considerably more streamlined.
Administration tends to follow precedent, and since the Empire still used laws created at its founding, many had become disconnected from reality.
Namia rolled up her sleeves and revised every single law.
She preserved what needed preserving while reducing unnecessary tasks to match current culture and circumstances.
Moreover, since Fron did none of the Empress’s duties, Namia was arguably dozens of times busier than an ordinary Crown Princess.
So postponing children seemed only natural.
Because everyone understood the situation, not a soul—not even the Emperor and Empress—had asked that question.
“Actually, everyone’s curious about it.”
Jayden spoke with confidence.
“But they can’t quite bring themselves to ask, so I decided to do it.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
“Because I’m at an age where I can ask tactless questions without consequence.”
Jayden understood his advantage very well.
“Soon, when I enter adolescence and that boundary becomes precarious, everyone will hold their breath and watch me carefully. I wanted to ask before then. What do you think, brother?”
Kiaros paused, rolling his eyes for a moment.
Then he offered the most exemplary answer.
“I believe that’s a matter where I must fully respect Namia’s wishes. After all, pregnancy and childbirth are the woman’s burden.”
This answer came from his genuine heart.
“There’s nothing I can do about those things.”
“So what is her wish?”
Jayden pressed on without giving up, asking again.
“Your Highness’s wife wouldn’t have hidden her true feelings from you, would she? There doesn’t seem to be any medical complications or anything like that…”
The young prince, who had been rolling his eyes for a moment, laid bare his innermost thoughts.
“To be honest, I’m anxious. What if the two of you agreed to live without children and decided to pass the imperial throne to me…”
“Why, Jayden?”
Kiaros looked at his younger brother and asked.
“Don’t you want to become Emperor?”
As it happened, Kiaros had confirmed his father’s strong will to succession just today.
And he was scheduled to hold his imperial coronation ceremony soon.
“Not at all.”
Jayden shrugged his shoulders.
“I really hate it absolutely. I just want to live reading books. I hate dealing with people in every way. Most of them are inferior to me.”
Then he pointed to the bookshelves that lined one entire wall of the room and spoke.
“But people who wrote good books seem to match my level somewhat. Though most of them are already dead.”
Even at thirteen years old, Kiaros observed his younger brother’s lack of manners and his persistent misanthropy, and thought once more, ‘You are not fit to be Emperor.’
“So that’s why.”
Jayden spoke while carefully gauging the atmosphere.
“I think I alone should be allowed to know about the two of you’s plans for children. After all, I’m the one whose life could change…”
It was at that moment.
A maidservant knocked and spoke from outside the room.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Young Prince. The Crown Princess has arrived outside. She’s asking if she may enter.”
Jayden answered promptly.
“Your Highness’s wife is here? Wow! The meeting ended early!”
Then, holding Kibon in his arms, he sprang to his feet and dashed away.
“I’ll! I’ll go greet her myself!”
With that, he left Kiaros alone and hurried away with rapid footsteps that faded into the distance.
Kiaros sat there bewildered, muttering to himself.
“Really… when I see him like that, he’s still just a child…”
His higher-than-average intelligence seemed jumbled in his brain, making his character appear all the more flawed.
As he awkwardly adjusted the chess pieces on the board, the door opened again.
“Kiaros.”
Namia, who had just finished her meeting, entered while holding Jayden’s hand.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————