The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 64

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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 64
I answered as though the question were obvious.
“It concerns the Imperial Family, does it not?”
“Hmm?”
“I determined that security must be maintained, so I handled the remaining work alone.”
“When?”
“After sending the Tower Master’s Secretary away, while working late into the night.”
Naturally, I had completed the work by myself after dismissing Kibon.
Though I had judged Kibon to be trustworthy, I still had no intention of sharing anything related to the Imperial Family with him.
“Above all else, the safety of the Imperial Family took precedence.”
As I finished speaking, the Empress burst into hearty laughter.
“Remarkable! Namia Loapi, your loyalty is truly extraordinary!”
“You are too kind. I merely followed protocol, Your Majesty.”
“Ahahaha! So what is this method you speak of? Since it’s not in the report, I’ll have to hear it directly!”
“That is…”
I opened my mouth carefully, offering a cautious smile.
* * *
The following morning.
“Sigh.”
Riedan and the Minister of Education stifled their snickers upon seeing a single document that had been circulated that morning.
“The Minister of Scrolls has finally lost her mind.”
The contents of the official notice that Namia had circulated to all departments were as follows:
She wished to use special effect scrolls at the upcoming Saint Cairo banquet.
The problem came after that.
Saint Cairo is a saint who blesses the affection between parents and children.
Therefore, we are planning a ceremony in which the Empress and the Young Prince will personally inscribe scrolls.
We will conduct the relevant training at the Scroll Department at a separately scheduled time.
The training was scheduled for the following day.
It was only natural, given that the Saint Cairo banquet was approaching rapidly.
“Or perhaps her mind is utterly scattered.”
However, if the Scroll Department announced they were planning such an event, there was no way to stop them.
The Minister of Education muttered with a hollow laugh.
“Who does she think she is, making such a spectacle at her first banquet?”
Never before had the Scroll Management Department drawn attention to itself in such a manner.
“Actually, this works in our favor.”
Riedan spoke with a smirk.
“Since this is the Scroll Department’s first planned event, if we ruin it properly, they’ll lose all confidence going forward. It’s actually fortunate.”
“Hmm.”
“We were planning to crush them anyway, but first we need to break their spirit before anything else.”
He gathered several books and stood up.
And I greeted the Minister of Education.
“Then I’ll be going.”
Riedan carried himself with more confidence than ever before.
The Minister of Education sank into his chair and nodded ambiguously.
“Go on.”
It was much like always.
The Minister of Education was the type to cover his tracks.
He never engaged in conversations that might cause trouble later. He issued no direct orders whatsoever.
Riedan simply acted of his own accord, and the Minister of Education conveniently gave him excellent evaluations.
‘No matter what happens, I won’t be implicated. I’m simply giving him a good evaluation because he seems competent at his work.’
The Minister of Education genuinely believed that lowborn individuals should never occupy positions of prestige.
He had noticed Riedan’s behavior but never mentioned it.
He was quite pleased with Riedan’s method of driving a wedge between the Young Prince and the Empress.
‘Jayden Young Prince must be raised with the dignity befitting royalty. It’s unfortunate his mother is of low birth—such unsuitable elements keep trying to attach themselves to him.’
There was a reason he was particular about bloodline and upbringing.
The Empress’s crude manner of speech and bearing only diminished the authority of the Imperial Family.
The Scroll Department was no different.
There was no way Namia, raised in such a disreputable household, could accomplish anything properly.
‘This is all for the sake of the Empire, after all.’
People had their stations.
Those who didn’t fit their station only made matters worse.
‘The nation is in such disarray. There are far too many people who don’t know their place.’
The Minister of Education tightened his lips with conviction.
And such values held by the leader subtly influenced the members of his department as well.
“Did you see those Scroll Department civil servants in the dining hall? They got some budget and suddenly think they’re important. It’s ridiculous.”
“The whole department has fewer than ten people… doesn’t that mean there’s barely any work?”
“But their office space is the same size as ours. What a waste of space. Useless deadweight.”
The group of Ministry of Education officials who had once mocked Anastasia chuckled and gossiped amongst themselves.
The Minister of Education didn’t bother to object, simply turning his attention back to his documents.
* * *
“Riedan?”
When Riedan appeared at the Separate Palace, Jayden, who had been reading, hurriedly stood up.
“What brings you here? There’s no class today, is there?”
His puzzled voice carried an undertone of delight.
It was only natural. Jayden was deeply attached to Riedan.
Riedan had overseen his education since childhood.
With such a prodigious young prince who grasped ten concepts from a single lesson, Riedan possessed encyclopedic knowledge across all disciplines.
“A supplementary lesson, Your Highness.”
Riedan adjusted his monocle and spoke gently.
“I had originally planned to schedule it for tomorrow, but I noticed in the official documents that the Scroll Department has an appointment.”
“Ah, that’s right. I received word of it too.”
Jayden nodded. Then he let out a soft chuckle and murmured.
“Hah, really. The Minister of Scrolls seems to lack perception. Assigning such a task to my mother and me, of all people.”
Even as he spoke, he couldn’t quite meet Riedan’s gaze. His attempt at cynicism failed to fully conceal his emotions.
Riedan instantly detected a glimmer of anticipation in the child’s expression.
He clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with measured calm.
“You do know who the Minister of Scrolls is, don’t you?”
“Ah… Namia Loapi?”
Jayden blinked as he answered.
“I don’t know the details. I heard she’s the woman who rejected my brother. Does she have another lover?”
“That doesn’t seem to be the case… but one thing is certain.”
Riedan spoke while gently stroking Jayden’s hair.
“How dare she reject the Crown Prince himself. She is presumptuous, ignorant of her place, and utterly shameless. She has dragged the authority of the Imperial Family through the mud.”
“…Ah, but…”
“But what…?”
Riedan spoke with a sigh mixed in.
“I hope you listen carefully to what I’m about to say, Your Highness.”
Then he retrieved a soundproofing scroll from a drawer in the Separate Palace and activated it.
It was commonplace for Riedan to use soundproofing scrolls. Therefore, Jayden said nothing.
Once Riedan had activated all the scrolls and returned, he continued speaking.
“The Imperial Family is the most precious existence in this world. And yet she dares to reject such a being. It’s truly absurd, isn’t it? Remember this, Your Highness. Commoners must obey the Imperial Family.”
“W-well, that’s true, but…”
“That’s why.”
Riedan added, patting Jayden as if to comfort him.
“Your mother couldn’t refuse the Imperial Family’s command either, and was forced to ascend to the position of Empress, bearing a child against her will, wasn’t she?”
“…”
“And as a result, because of your very existence, she lost favor and remains trapped in this prison of a palace, unable to do anything. How pitiful.”
Jayden’s face hardened in an instant.
“But that is simply how humans must be.”
Riedan continued speaking as he began selecting books from Jayden’s bookshelf.
“One must obey whatever the Imperial Family commands. No matter how miserable one’s life becomes, no matter how dreadful the child one has borne is, even if the sight of them brings only suffering.”
Jayden slowly lowered his gaze. Brilliant though he was, he was still only eight years old.
His relationship with his father, the Emperor, was not poor.
[Jayden? My precious son. You’ve grown so much each time I see you. How delightful.]
But the Emperor had rarely visited the palace in recent years.
He got along well with Kiaros too. However…
[I found this book quite enjoyable when I was young. I read the third volume so many times… Oh, it’s already gotten this late. I’ll visit again next time.]
He was far too busy. Even during time spent with him, his Aide would urgently bring various documents.
So it was natural that he wanted to be spoiled by Fron, the Empress… but…
At some point, his relationship with her had grown distant.
‘Mother clearly loved me dearly when I was young… or so I thought.’
Was it from when I was five? Six, perhaps?
At some point, Fron began to find conversations with Jayden deeply uncomfortable.
[Mother, I read “Understanding Eastern Empire History” today. I discovered something fascinating—the etymology of an ancient word called Autrakitus. What are your thoughts on that anecdote…?]
[Ah, I see? Hmm. Yes. I must be going now.]
Noticing how the conversation fell flat, Jayden sought counsel from his teacher, Riedan.
It was then that Riedan revealed something no one else had ever told him.
[There’s nothing to be done about it. Allow me to teach you the truth.]

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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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