The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 43

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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 43
Kiaros’s Aide, who had just finished clearing away the broken porcelain, came rushing over in a flustered state.
Normally, the servants would handle such tasks, but given the security concerns, I hadn’t allowed any of them into the chamber.
I continued speaking with measured courtesy.
“Thank you for remembering that old promise. However, that was merely a thoughtless answer from my childhood.”
The sound of Kiaros’s Aide sweeping up the teacup fragments seemed unnecessarily loud in the silence.
Kiaros furrowed his brow, then asked quietly.
“…What?”
Hmm?
I had naturally expected him to say something like, “I see. Then is there nothing else you desire?” But this was not the case!
Kiaros genuinely looked as though he hadn’t understood.
It was the first time I’d ever seen a crack in that impenetrable composure of his.
“….”
“….”
Silence continued to stretch between us.
Even the Empress, who had been so vocal moments before, clamped her mouth shut and said nothing.
I had no choice but to glance around nervously before adding clarification.
“Ah, well. I meant that I do not wish to marry the Crown Prince, Your Highness.”
It could not have been any clearer.
Then Kiaros blinked slowly before asking quietly.
“…Why?”
Hmm?
Was he truly so self-absorbed?
I was taken aback and hesitated slightly before responding.
“Well… um… because I wish to marry someone I love?”
Shock continued to linger on Kiaros’s face.
He rolled his eyes as if exasperated, then asked once more in a strained voice.
“…Suddenly? No, but why on earth….”
Kiaros could not continue further.
The Emperor covered his mouth and whispered loudly enough for all to hear.
“I suggest you stop, Kiaros. Honestly, it’s becoming rather unseemly.”
“But that’s….”
“She doesn’t love you at all. So no matter how accomplished you are or how prestigious the position of Crown Princess is, she doesn’t wish to marry you. You mustn’t persistently pry for reasons from someone who dislikes you.”
Well, it’s not quite that I dislike him….
That was when it happened.
The door burst open. Whether the Tower Master had brought the Minister of Justice or not, the Tower Master strode in alone with long, purposeful steps.
Then he shouted loudly at me.
“Namia Loapi, Minister!”
“Ah, yes.”
“Come outside with me for a moment and let’s talk! It’s about the scrolls! These people will only find it tedious anyway, so let’s have a conversation just between us!”
“Ah, yes.”
I answered the Tower Master and turned to the Imperial Family with a respectful bow.
“Is there anything else you wish to say to me?”
The three of them said nothing. The Tower Master chuckled and suddenly shouted.
“Nothing! Nothing! Everything’s fine! Let’s go, Minister!”
Before I could even properly pay my respects to the Imperial Family, he scooped me up and whisked me out of the chamber.
* * *
After the Tower Master took Namia away, only four people remained in the Empress’s Chamber.
The Emperor, the Empress, Kiaros, and his Aide.
Kiaros furrowed his brow in silence.
He couldn’t fathom where or how things had gone so wrong.
Hadn’t he just said during the trial that he would marry the Crown Prince?
“K-Kiaros.”
The Emperor cautiously broached the subject.
“You seemed so composed that I naturally assumed you were confident about this. You were even making heart signs with your arms, so…”
“That was…”
“I obviously know you didn’t make it for me. I’m not a fool. I was just making a fuss earlier because I thought Namia Loapi might feel embarrassed or something.”
The Emperor sighed heavily, looking bewildered.
“Still, something feels off.”
“Your Majesty? What seems off?”
“How can you keep liking a girl whose face you don’t even know? To be honest, it could be seen as rather unsettling.”
He added weakly, his expression troubled.
“Is it my fault? Did I frighten you by going on about obsession and attachment to the Crown Prince? Perhaps you dislike being constrained, and I spoke carelessly…”
“No, Your Majesty. Please do not worry.”
So Kiaros spoke urgently.
“I only said those things to put your minds at ease. I never actually liked her.”
“What?”
“I am a rational person, Your Majesty. How could I have continued liking a girl whose face I didn’t know? As you heard, Namia Loapi said she wanted to marry a wealthy man, so I made that promise to fulfill her wish.”
The Emperor and Empress exchanged skeptical glances.
Kiaros took a deep breath and continued.
“So it was simply to keep the promise I made. I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely never liked her. Even when I realized she was Namia Loapi, I felt nothing.”
“Then why do you look so flustered?”
It was at that moment.
The Aide, who had finished tidying the cluttered chamber, carefully interjected.
“Um…”
“What is it?”
“May I step out for a moment?”
Kiaros’s Aide possessed a conscientious and loyal nature.
Therefore, he would never leave without good reason.
So despite his bewilderment, Kiaros asked his Aide a question.
“Why? What’s the matter? Is it urgent?”
“Ah….”
My Aide rolled his eyes before responding.
“I’m here to cancel the Ceremony Venue reservation.”
A sudden silence fell over the room.
My Aide lowered his head and added, “Your Majesty instructed me to cancel immediately if Namia Loapi said she wouldn’t marry, did you not?”
“Didn’t Your Majesty say to cancel immediately if Miss Namia says she won’t marry?”
The Empress trembled violently, bringing both hands to her mouth.
The Emperor’s jaw dropped open as well.
“Then I should hurry and go. The Ceremony Venue staff will be leaving soon.”
My Aide bowed respectfully and departed.
As he left, he muttered to himself, “Not mentioning this in front of Namia Loapi—I really do have excellent instincts.”
The sound of the door closing behind him echoed particularly loudly.
“K-K-K-Kiaros….”
The Emperor stammered in a trembling voice.
“You’ve already… reserved the Ceremony Venue…. Good heavens.”
“Your Majesty, that’s….”
The Empress also gazed at him pitifully with wavering eyes.
“You must have been truly delighted that Namia Loapi is that girl, Your Majesty… To rush and book the venue like that….”
“No, that’s…”
“It’s certainly bold, but to speak of ‘marrying her’ as though bestowing charity… If your feelings ran so deep, you should have begged her to marry you.”
For the first time in his life, Kiaros broke into a cold sweat.
He waved his hands frantically as he spoke.
“N-No! I simply reserved it in advance in case Namia Loapi wanted to marry. Because she said reservations were difficult… I truly don’t have feelings for Namia Loapi.”
“….”
“….”
“I’m serious. I’m completely unaffected right now.”
“….”
“….”
The Emperor and Empress exchanged glances helplessly, then began regarding Kiaros with the most pitying expressions imaginable.
Kiaros eventually pressed his forehead and sighed deeply.
‘Of all the timing, my Aide had to show up then….’
It seemed the misunderstanding would never be cleared up.
In the end, he reluctantly decided to change the subject.
“…But Your Majesty, your special ability is teleportation, is it not?”
“Ah.”
“Otherwise, there’s no way you could have arrived so quickly.”
Everyone else believed the Emperor and Empress had devised some scheme, which was why the Emperor appeared so suddenly.
But only Kiaros and the Empress knew the truth—there had been no plan whatsoever.
“Yes, Kiaros. This is my special ability. Now that it’s come to this, I can’t hide it anymore.”
The Emperor smiled gently and spoke.
“I nearly got caught by everyone, but thanks to the Empress betraying me at that moment, it seems I’ll be able to cover it up well. Since I’ve been alone in the Western Region for so long, there won’t be any servants who know the exact date I departed.”
What was, in many ways, a complete mess had somehow been tidied up.
Kiaros lowered his gaze.
As if saying ‘I’ll do my best,’ Namia Loapi had managed it somehow.

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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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