The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 24

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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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Chapter 24
Fron tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
This was a Royal Family Exclusive Prison with such stringent security that no ordinary person could enter.
‘Well, it’s none of my concern.’
But being straightforward by nature, she quickly dismissed the thought.
She would be taking her own life soon anyway—what did the Palace’s security matter?
‘Jayden….’
Fron closed her eyes and thought of her son one last time.
From the moment she entered the Imperial Palace as an Imperial Knight, her life had never felt precious.
But thinking of her eight-year-old son, her heart ached.
Still, Fron steeled herself.
‘…This is for you as well.’
The Imperial Family’s crisis was Jayden’s crisis too.
A biological mother like her would only ever be a liability to Jayden’s future.
Jayden himself had always been ashamed of his biological mother….
By that logic, my death would be no loss to Jayden.
‘In any case, if I collapse and die here, at least His Majesty will know of my innocence.’
Others might not understand, but the Emperor knew her well.
That would be enough.
Still possessing exceptional martial prowess, she began devising a plan methodically.
‘When that guard turns his body to the side, I’ll seize his sword.’
Fron yawned indifferently.
Only one guard assigned to her.
It felt almost like an insult.
‘Foolish idiots. Just because I wear dresses and shuffle about doesn’t mean the former Count Fron can’t manage this much? My name is still on the Imperial Knight Order roster.’
That was when it happened.
The Silver-haired Woman who had entered through the prison entrance earlier approached the guard cautiously.
“Um, excuse me….”
“Yes? What brings you here?”
The guard turned his body sideways toward the woman’s voice.
‘Now! The opportunity came quickly.’
Though iron bars stood between them, they meant nothing to Fron.
Just as Fron moved swiftly to seize the guard’s sword—
The woman cried out urgently.
“Activate!”
At the same moment, something sharp slashed across Fron’s arm.
Fron flinched and reflexively pulled her arm back.
‘…What is this….’
As a bright light flared, a mild sting registered.
It was barely more than a slight prick, not even enough to draw a cry of pain, but she had failed to seize the guard’s sword.
Fron stared blankly at the empty parchment fluttering down.
‘A scroll?’
But she barely had time to process her shock.
“Oh my….”
A gaunt Silver-haired Woman immediately dropped to her knees.
“Good heavens, Empress!”
The woman muttered in a dazed voice, as if her mind had left her body.
“I, I was just passing through on business, and when I saw someone trying to steal the guard’s sword….”
Of course, the Guard who had nearly lost his sword was equally shocked. Only now did he grasp what had happened.
The Guard immediately bowed deeply toward the woman, stammering out his gratitude.
“Th, thank you! That was a close call!”
His voice trembled as it echoed through the prison.
He seemed too startled to collect himself.
“Oh, it seems the Empress was trying to kill me and escape!”
At those words, Fron let out an exasperated cry.
“Why would I waste my talents stabbing some pathetic weakling like you in the gut? I don’t squander effort on trash!”
Regardless of what Fron said, the Guard gasped and asked the woman.
“Is, is it an attack scroll?”
“Yes…. I used it carelessly without realizing it was the Empress. What do I do?”
The woman, who had been kneeling, prostrated herself flat on the ground toward the interior of the prison.
And she added in a terrified voice.
“How, how could I have dared to injure a member of the Imperial Family….”
Fron’s arm stung only slightly. Moreover, the pain had already faded as if it had never happened.
She chuckled and waved her hand dismissively.
“Forget it. A scroll like this is worse than a mosquito bite. Just go on your way.”
In reality, the attack scroll had little power and was only a single sheet.
Fron, having no desire to press charges, flopped back down.
But the woman did not lift her bowed head.
“I’m truly sorry, Your Majesty….”
The Guard was the first to regain his composure in that situation.
He asked the woman, who remained prostrate.
“But why were you passing through here in the first place….”
“Ah.”
The woman answered while still lying flat.
“I am Namia Loapi from the Scroll Management Department Inventory Team.”
The Guard and Fron nodded simultaneously.
This woman Namia seemed to be a civil servant from some scroll department, which explained why she had used a scroll.
“I came to check the inventory of illumination scrolls in the prison, and then….”
Now it made sense why she had come all the way to this heavily guarded Royal Family Exclusive Prison.
In the darkness of the prison, it was the scrolls’ role to cast light.
“Um, there…”
I glanced up at the Guard and spoke.
“I apologize, but it seems you’ll need to go to the Medical and Health Department and call an Emergency Team civil servant…”
“What? Me?”
“First aid might be necessary, after all.”
Fron found it absurd and, still sprawled on the ground, let out a shout.
“An Emergency Team for this trifle? What kind of nonsense is this? Just get out of here and be on your way!”
But I continued muttering the same thing with a vacant expression.
“If something happens to the Empress like this… please. My legs have gone weak, so I truly cannot go myself.”
Fron found it ridiculous that my legs had gone weak over this and laughed heartily.
She seemed to be a rather slow-witted girl who couldn’t get her head on straight.
The Guard was flustered. He too was unable to make a decision.
“But I’m a Guard, and I cannot leave this post unattended for long. The Medical and Health Department keeps people talking for ages to explain the situation.”
“Oh, then!”
I, still lying prone, suddenly spoke rapidly.
“If Namia Loapi from the Scroll Management Department Inventory Team says she’s calling her rival, a guy named Luca Class will come running without needing any explanation of the situation.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll guard this place in the meantime.”
“…You?”
The Guard looked me over with an expression of doubt.
My gaunt frame produced scrolls from my robes one by one.
“I may not be able to use my body, but I have plenty of attack scrolls…”
At that, Fron laughed heartily.
“Hahahaha! That’s right, that’s right! That frail bastard couldn’t hurt a hair on my head, so you’re absolutely correct! Hahahaha! You’d make a better Guard than him! Hahahaha!”
With that, Fron dealt a severe blow to the pride of the Guard, who had been selected for his swordsmanship.
In truth, that Guard was quite a respected knight even within the Knight Order.
Of course, he was no match for Fron, the mightiest knight who had once served as the Imperial Family’s protector.
“If I had actually tried to escape, do you think you could have stopped me? Hahahaha!”
Meanwhile, I continued to stare at the Guard.
“After all, there are many people watching at the prison entrance as well, aren’t there?”
My brow was slightly furrowed as if urging a response.
The Guard muttered, caught between a rock and a hard place.
“S-still, for me to leave this post…”
That was when it happened.
I suddenly spoke in a firm voice, quickly.
“According to Imperial Palace Civil Service Law, Article 29, Section 34, civil servants must do their utmost for the safety of the Imperial Family. The Empress being confined here does not make her any less a member of the Imperial Family. In a precedent case regarding an emergency incident on November 22nd of last year, intentional negligence was deemed a form of regicide. Should the Empress suffer serious injury as a result, you would not only be stripped of your position under Imperial Family Law, Article 1, Section 4 for regicide, but your family would be dragged into it as well…”
The Guard answered before I could even finish.
“I’ll return at once.”
Already imagining himself charged with regicide, he spoke anxiously, his eyes darting about.
“So I just need to say that Namia Loapi from the Scroll Management Department Inventory Team is calling Luca Class, correct?”
“No. Don’t say Luca Class—say ‘rival’ instead. And while the department is technically the Scroll Management Department… everyone will understand what you mean anyway, so you can just go as is.”

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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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