The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 26

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

Chapter 26
The distance was considerable, yet unmistakable.
When Kiaros stared at her in surprise, the civil servants around them exchanged knowing glances.
Then they began whispering amongst themselves.
“It’s true, it’s true. Look at him gazing at Namia Loapi with that vacant expression.”
“Goodness, so his ideal woman is one who drags herself around looking utterly exhausted and lifeless.”
What on earth were they talking about?
Kiaros furrowed his brow in exasperation.
It seemed rumors were spreading because the two of them had walked through the corridor together.
The civil servants’ gossip continued unabated.
“I heard marriage talk was already circulating?” “I heard it too. From the Practical Support Department—apparently Namia changed her salary account yesterday. It was under her family’s name, but now it’s under her own.”
“My, does that mean a royal wedding is coming soon?”
As Kiaros listened absently, the conversation grew more serious.
“Well, by custom it would be held at the Imperial Palace Wedding Hall, but you need to reserve that at least a year in advance. However, the Crown Prince wouldn’t postpone someone else’s wedding to take that slot.”
“True. Several couples get married there every single day.”
Before long, marriage talk had emerged—something Kiaros himself had never even considered. His head was spinning.
He was about to order his Aide to suppress these baseless rumors when a thought suddenly struck him.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
‘Wait.’
If Namia truly was that girl from back then, and she’s asking him to marry her, then he would have to agree.
After all, he remained the wealthiest man of her generation in the entire Empire.
‘Then… can this really be called a baseless rumor?’
According to the background investigation report, Namia had no romantic partner.
So from her perspective, wasn’t there no reason not to marry him?
‘Besides, when there was that assassination attempt, she said she wanted to protect me. That means at the very least, she doesn’t dislike me.’
Kiaros continued his reasoning logically, then gestured to his Aide.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The Aide immediately approached and bowed, ready to receive any command.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“About the Imperial Palace Wedding Hall.”
The Imperial Palace Wedding Hall was splendid and beautiful.
That’s why it was popular among civil servants and nobles who worked at the Imperial Palace.
By custom, members of the Imperial Family had also held their weddings there to symbolize their position as leaders of the civil service.
So it made sense that reservations would be overbooked, just as the civil servants had gossiped.
“Find out how soon we could hold a ceremony if we book now.”
“Understood.”
The loyal Aide departed immediately.
Kiaros sat up straight and took a breath.
‘I should prepare, just in case…’
He needed to wrap up the Empress matter somehow, and then speak with Namia as soon as possible.
‘It has to be her. Coincidences don’t stack up like this.’
While Kiaros remained lost in thought, the court session time expired. The Minister of Justice rose to his feet.
“Then we shall commence the trial.”
Everyone stood from their seats and bowed their heads to the Minister of Justice.
Only Fron was picking at her ear before belatedly rising and glancing around.
“What? Standing again? Why do you keep sitting and standing?”
Kiaros exhaled a long, silent sigh internally.
Not a trace of tension emanated from Fron.
Her expression was precisely that of someone thinking, ‘Kill me or don’t, I don’t care.’
‘Sigh….’
I understand Fron’s devotion well enough.
She had consistently refused the position of Empress, claiming she was unworthy of it.
It was the Emperor himself who had pleaded with her to become his wife, saying everything was fine and she could simply live as herself.
‘So no one has the right to say Fron doesn’t deserve that position.’
Fron had neglected all the basic duties of an Empress.
Naturally, as a member of the Imperial Family, she should have tended to the Imperial Palace, but she had never shown interest in such matters.
Beyond that, she had never graced social circles or political gatherings with her presence.
‘Yet it didn’t matter, because the position of Empress had been vacant for so long anyway.’
Without Fron, the seat would have remained empty regardless.
Everything continued to function smoothly as before, even without her doing anything.
‘And the way Fron behaves is probably….’
Kiaros’s eyes deepened with understanding.
Meanwhile, the trial had begun.
The nobles seated as jurors wore triumphant expressions, eager to tear her apart.
‘In the end, I’m the only one who can save Fron in this trial. There will be fierce opposition, but still….’
Even the Minister of Justice, who harbored no ill will toward Fron, wore an expression of half-resignation.
A Ministry of Justice official belonging to the Guard Unit had committed suicide, of all times.
The department was in disarray, making it impossible to easily take Fron’s side.
“Now, allow me to recount the details of this case.”
The Minister of Justice recited an overview of events for the audience, focusing on what had transpired.
Oson, the accuser, then took his turn to speak.
“I had seen the Empress on several occasions in that back alley. Then, the evening before last, I learned what the Empress had purchased at that shop by conversing with the shop owner.”
The man, who was the Team Leader of the Scroll Management Department Inventory Team, addressed the audience.
“As merely an ordinary citizen, it was not easy for me to report the Empress. I agonized countless times over whether to simply pretend I hadn’t seen anything.”
Oson adopted the most solemn expression imaginable and sighed painfully.
“But as a civil servant serving the Imperial Family, I acted with a sense of duty and ultimately filed a report yesterday afternoon. The shop owner had informed me of the time the Empress was scheduled to arrive.”
Everyone in the audience gazed at Oson with expressions of admiration.
He even wiped away tears as he continued speaking.
“I am well aware that the Crown Prince regards our Scroll Management Department unfavorably. So I also wished to use this opportunity to prove our department’s loyalty.”
Kiaros clicked his tongue silently.
To say such a thing in front of all these people.
‘Once this all comes out, I’ll certainly hear some complaints from behind the scenes.’
Of course, Kiaros wasn’t the type to refrain from issuing punishment simply because he’d face some criticism.
Oson continued speaking through sniffles.
“As for where the poison the Empress purchased was intended to go….”
“Wait, I must ask the accuser to stick to objective facts only.”
The Minister of Justice immediately cut off Oson’s words. Though the audience had already anticipated what would come next.
“Yes…. In any case, when I asked the shop owner, the Empress had been actively seeking and purchasing poisons that members of the Imperial Family had not developed immunity to… *sob*.”
In the end, Oson could not continue speaking through his tears.
“Please, accuser, return to your seat.”
The Minister of Justice spoke to Oson with an expression of near resignation.
Then he turned his head toward Fron and posed a question.
“Is there anything you wish to correct?”
“No, there isn’t.”
Fron spoke while scratching her cheek.
“It’s all true.”
“…I apologize, but Empress, even as a member of the Imperial Family, you must use formal language with me in this courtroom.”
“Got it.”
“Your Majesty?”
“I said I got it. I’ll use formal language… Oh! Starting from now, right…?”
Kiaros thought to himself that everything was already lost.
Now the Empress would become nothing more than a laughingstock here.
“Then, Empress, could you honestly tell us why you sought out that poison in the first place?”
Both the Minister of Justice asking the question and Kiaros had abandoned all hope.
Just as had been the case all yesterday, Fron would remain silent, and the situation would spiral toward the worst possible outcome.
That was when it happened.
“Huh.”
What?
Kiaros furrowed his brow at this unexpected turn of events.
He had naturally assumed she would keep her mouth shut and endure, just like yesterday.
“Ah, no, that’s not it. I’ll tell you honestly.”
Fron straightened her posture in her seat with an air of confidence.
Suddenly, her brown eyes—which had been rolling about without a care until now—fixed upon something among the audience.
While others might not have noticed, Kiaros did not miss the direction of Fron’s gaze, having observed her for so long.
The place toward which Fron’s gaze was directed was none other than….
‘Namia Loapi?’

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