The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 48

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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 48
Everything unfolded with remarkable swiftness.
The Emperor returned to the Imperial Palace. Simultaneously, Crown Prince Kiaros announced he would be taking an extended leave.
‘He’s keeping a low profile during this dark period.’
I reflected on this as I listened to the Imperial Family’s announcement.
‘A wise choice.’
Though weakened, the Emperor was still preferable to Crown Prince Kiaros in his current state.
‘Even if he has only about a year left to live….’
The Empress had diligently gathered all manner of strange poisons, but that alone wouldn’t resolve the matter.
Fortunately, things remained quiet without incident for the time being.
Of course, since events had diverged considerably from the original story, I couldn’t predict what might unfold. I had to remain vigilant.
‘First, I need to get my head on straight.’
Because I was now the Minister of the Scroll Department!
The swift developments weren’t limited to the Imperial Family’s announcement.
‘Dissolution of the Scroll Management Department, establishment of the Scroll Department, appointment of a new minister!’
After my appointment as minister was decided, the news was immediately conveyed to the other ministers.
The Minister of Justice was present at that gathering. Naturally, the ministers were completely taken aback.
Despite it being the weekend, an emergency meeting was hastily convened.
Various department ministers, including myself, and His Majesty the Emperor attended….
“A minister at twenty-three? How is that even possible? Without climbing the ranks properly?”
“Indeed. But that was the Tower Master’s negotiation condition.”
The Emperor deflected all criticism toward the absent party.
“It was unavoidable to bring all of this department’s authority under the Imperial Family.”
“Look at us! We all have over thirty years of civil service experience! And yet a mere fourth-year employee becomes minister? Really?”
“Indeed. But since the Tower Master insisted, it was unavoidable.”
Of course, the ministers refused to accept it.
So the Emperor shook his head slowly and said,
“When the Tower Master returns, lodge your protest with him.”
“But…!”
No one could counter the cunning strategy of ‘the Tower Master demanded it.’
If the Emperor had pressed the matter himself, they might have at least complained about his favoritism.
Eventually, the Administrative Support Minister, who had been grumbling continuously, interjected.
“I really didn’t want to bring this up, but….”
She paused for a considerable moment.
Unusually, I felt tension and swallowed hard.
‘What is this buildup? Even she thinks it’s petty, but she’s about to deliver a devastating blow!’
The Administrative Support Minister glanced across the other ministers before speaking solemnly.
“I’ve heard that things between Namia Loapi and the Crown Prince are not quite ordinary.”
So the rumors had reached even the ministers’ ears….
Yet she despised my appointment enough to mention such baseless gossip in an official setting….
The Administrative Support Minister cleared his throat and continued speaking.
“If you gave the ministerial position based on such personal feelings….”
Then the Emperor’s expression grew very serious, and he pressed his forehead.
“Sigh….”
At that troubled expression, everyone gazed at the Emperor with hopeful faces.
And they were preparing to eagerly gnaw at the facts of the matter.
“It is truly regrettable to say such things.”
The Emperor murmured with a sorrowful face.
“Namia Loapi has cleanly cast aside my son.”
The ministers’ faces filled with shock.
“My son proposed to her, but without leaving even a shred of room for consideration, she rejected him outright before us all. She said Kiaros didn’t even look like a man to her.”
Something seemed to have shifted slightly in nuance.
Of course, the outcome seemed no different, so I nodded slightly.
“That’s why Kiaros has decided to seclude himself due to the shock of rejection. Even if he doesn’t appear for some time, just accept it as such.”
Well, to weave together his dark period seclusion like this now….
“Since he’s experiencing rejection for the first time, how profound his heartbreak must be.”
The ministers sat speechless with bewildered expressions.
The Emperor declared with a melancholic expression.
“But I too had to grant the ministerial position to Namia Loapi, who so bluntly cast aside my son. The Tower Master insisted upon it.”
“….”
“No matter how talented one may be, one cannot wield that authority recklessly. No matter how much my son writhes in the agony of rejection.”
“….”
“The Imperial Family perfectly separates public and private matters in this way. Of course, the Crown Prince’s psychological damage is considerable.”
“….”
“Do you all resist merely because she is young? I have accepted this even while reducing my son to a broken man.”
“….”
With each word the Emperor spoke, the Crown Prince’s rejection was emphasized anew.
The Emperor, absent from this gathering, earnestly sold out his own son, then gave me a slight wink.
And I understood.
‘I absolutely cannot miss this meeting.’
It was clear that whoever wasn’t present would bear all the blame.
In the uncomfortable silence, the meeting ended nonetheless.
I thought while gripping my skirt tightly with trembling hands.
‘I’ve never been in a conference room of such enormous scale before….’
Truly, truly!
‘…this is wonderful!’
With a composed expression, breathing heavily, I swallowed the joy burning within me.
Finally, the Emperor summarized the situation.
“When you report for work on Monday, I will announce that Namia Loapi is now the Minister of the Scroll Department and begin organizational restructuring. I entrust the Scroll Department’s reorganization entirely to Minister Namia Loapi.”
* * *
Reorganizing the department.
That was genuinely the core problem.
I found myself lost in thought in the empty Office of the Scroll Department—or rather, what remained of it.
‘The department was already understaffed to begin with….’
Originally, the Scroll Management Department had twenty employees. But now a wave of severe disciplinary dismissals had swept through.
Only nine of us remained, myself included.
‘And every single Team Leader was cut.’
All nine survivors had less than ten years of experience.
None of them had achieved the rank of Team Leader.
‘And I’m supposed to reorganize this department with these people….’
The Scroll Department. Nine people. A fourth-year employee—the most junior on the team—became Minister of Education.
And there’s a high probability a spy lurks among them.
‘In every conceivable way, this is a department that’s nearly impossible to run properly.’
The eight remaining people besides me….
Some were competent, others incompetent, and some were struggling.
Most critically, every single one had more experience than I did.
No new hires had come in for years because there was supposedly nothing to do.
‘First, I’ll consolidate everything and reduce the teams to two. Fortunately, choosing Team Leaders shouldn’t be too difficult.’
Fortunately, I could easily identify two candidates for Team Leader positions.
The two with the highest seniority among the remaining staff had reasonably decent abilities.
‘Victor Awin should be returning soon too, which is a small mercy in this misfortune.’
I glanced at the name “Victor Awin” on the roster and smiled faintly.
Victor, my senior from the Academy, had been on extended assignment for three and a half years.
Though he was here at the Scroll Management Department due to personal circumstances, he was inherently intelligent and of excellent character—qualities that seemed oddly out of place in this department.
[Namia, hang in there until I return. When I come back and become the youngest Team Leader, I promise I’ll get you out from under Oson immediately.]
That was Victor’s parting words.
‘Senior, what do I do? You did become Team Leader when you returned, but I’ve become Minister of Education instead. And the department is still a hopeless mess….’
Even the previous minister’s secretary had been dismissed.
The secretary had been embezzling the budget quite skillfully—this department was that kind of place.
‘Right now, I don’t even have a secretary….’
Normally, I would have had to choose one from the remaining six people.
But how could I make my former seniors work as my secretary? It was awkward in every way.
And since there might be a spy among them, I felt uneasy assigning anything important.
‘There’s only one solution. For now, I’ll have to handle almost everything myself.’
I trusted in Crown Prince Kiaros’s competence.
He would surely eliminate the seeds of this conflict.
So enduring a bit of hardship until then seemed acceptable.
‘Still, if I just had one capable secretary, things would be so much better….’
I sighed and habitually checked whether any new documents had arrived.
That was when it happened.
‘Hm?’
Surprisingly, there was a new document that had arrived.
‘…Kibon Altes? Reapplication for internship?’

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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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