The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 68

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

Chapter 68
Kibon answered with an unusually serious expression.
“If that concerns you, I can leave the bill with the Minister of Education.”
“…No, never mind.”
I had failed to mock the foreigner. In conversations like this, the one who didn’t understand always emerged victorious.
In any case, we arrived at the Dining Hall at a leisurely pace and ordered our meal.
‘Hmm….’
I hadn’t noticed it when I ate hastily at first, but Kibon’s dining etiquette was impeccable.
“Kibon.”
So I couldn’t contain my curiosity and spoke first.
“Where did you learn the Empire’s dining etiquette? It’s truly excellent.”
Kibon looked slightly flustered.
In moments like this, it was a superior’s privilege not to have to prostrate myself and apologize for any rudeness.
Since he seemed at a loss for words, I naturally steered the conversation back to myself.
“I’m from the Empire myself, but I learned it at the Academy. It’s quite intricate, so it seems the Imoat Kingdom must have similar dining customs.”
Kibon answered me slowly.
“I learned it directly from my father.”
I was startled and swallowed my food hastily.
The words “Family Relations: None” from Kibon’s file floated before my eyes.
‘So his father must have passed away!’
Had I brought up an awkward topic?
But changing the subject now seemed even more self-conscious.
I spoke with an awkward smile.
“Ah, he must have been a good man.”
“Yes.”
And Kibon unexpectedly continued slowly.
“My stepmother is also a good woman, and my new younger sibling is cute.”
Wait.
This seems like such a delicate family matter—should I even be hearing this?
As I rolled my eyes, Kibon continued speaking.
“If only I didn’t exist… everything would have been perfect.”
“…What?”
I was genuinely taken aback and nearly dropped my fork.
“My father married a woman he didn’t love and had me.”
Kibon continued speaking as if it were nothing.
“Out of consideration for me, the other three have endured considerable inconvenience. They’re certainly good people, but perhaps because of that, my existence sometimes feels like an obstruction to their perfect family.”
The feeling of being a foreign object wedged into a family—I actually knew that well.
But I could comfortably hate the Loapi Baron’s family. They deserved to be hated. But when that wasn’t the case, it seemed troublesome.
‘He truly can’t confide in anyone and must suffer alone inside.’
But did all three of them die? Is that why his file says “Family Relations: None”?
Kibon served me more food, saying,
“Please, eat more. You have so many meal vouchers—why do you keep not using them?”
He spoke with clear disapproval as he glanced at my wrists, where my sleeves hung loose.
“I don’t know who gave them to you, but they probably gave you this many because they wanted you to eat well.”
“Ah…”
Now that he mentioned it, I remembered Kiaros, who had given me these vouchers.
Kiaros had been present at that gathering earlier, yet he had remained silent throughout.
‘I suppose it would have been awkward for him to step forward.’
The Emperor, the Empress, Jayden.
There had been no place for him among them.
‘Our circumstances differ greatly in status, but in a way, Kiaros’s situation mirrors Kibon’s exactly.’
A moment for Jayden, the Emperor, and the Empress to resolve their misunderstandings.
Just as I had quietly slipped away from that scene, Kiaros must have done the same.
The image of him standing alone at a distance lingered strangely in my mind.
‘Perhaps Kiaros worked so diligently for the Empire’s affairs precisely because he needed to affirm his own existence in some way.’
At the same time, something weighed on my heart.
It was the words I had spoken myself while trying to comfort Jayden.
[His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress truly love each other deeply, and the Young Prince, their fruit, is the treasure of them both.]
Ah, I shouldn’t have said that.
Kiaros must have heard every word.
Of course, I had said it for the child’s sake, but adults are not immune to hurt.
The thought of it made my appetite vanish entirely.
“Minister of Education.”
Kibon frowned as he watched me holding my fork without eating.
“Minister of Education?”
“Ah…”
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“Well, it’s just…”
“Is the food here not to your liking?”
“No, no. It’s not that.”
I forced myself to take a bite of the food Kibon had served me.
Then I smiled awkwardly and said,
“I keep thinking about the Crown Prince…”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Kibon, whose dining etiquette was ordinarily impeccable, suddenly sputtered and coughed violently.
“Have some water.”
I calmly handed him a glass of water.
After coughing for a while, Kibon finally composed himself, then asked in a somewhat flustered tone,
“Why would you be thinking about the Crown Prince…?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I had no intention of telling Kibon what had happened earlier.
I brushed it off vaguely, and Kibon blinked slowly before speaking.
“There are rumors spreading throughout the Imperial Palace that you kicked the Crown Prince directly, Your Highness.”
“I didn’t kick him that hard.”
“Then why are you brooding after giving him a light kick?”
“Just… I was thinking it would be nice if the Crown Prince weren’t alone, and that I hoped he’d feel a bit happier. That’s all.”
Kibon regarded me quietly.
Fortunately, he didn’t press further, and the subject ended there.
But it was when we finished eating. Kibon smiled faintly and spoke in passing.
“The Crown Prince’s mood is likely quite pleasant, I’d imagine.”
Really. It doesn’t cost anything, yet I’m being so extravagant with my words. ‘Quite pleasant,’ indeed.
I answered with a grumble.
“Since we’re speaking behind closed doors anyway, you can just say he’ll be happy.”
As always obedient to my instructions, he immediately corrected himself.
“Since we’re speaking behind closed doors anyway, the Crown Prince will simply be happy.”
“….”
He does as instructed, but there are limits to the Imperial language after all.
Kibon stood beside me as I walked toward the Imperial Palace and asked.
“What if you told him directly?”
“Told him what?”
“The Minister of Education’s thoughts, to the Crown Prince.”
“How could I possibly dare tell the Crown Prince about my passing thoughts?”
I replied halfheartedly.
“I’m just an ordinary person.”
“….”
“What’s with that skeptical look?”
“Well, except for occasionally having eyes that go wild and astound people… you could be ordinary most of the time….”
“Eyes that go wild? I have low energy levels, so I absolutely never get excited and act recklessly.”
“Eyes that go wild without getting excited and acting recklessly are even more frightening. In any case.”
Kibon spoke matter-of-factly.
“If you tell the Crown Prince those thoughts, I suspect he would be quite happy—far happier than you’d expect.”
I shrugged indifferently with a face that showed I didn’t agree.
We weren’t close enough to share such trivial thoughts. Speaking such thoughts without any particular reason felt like flattery.
Noticing I wasn’t listening carefully, Kibon continued.
“Perhaps the Crown Prince… might not actually enjoy that position.”
“Why would he not want such a good position?”
“Because the responsibility is immense, yet he might think no one truly needs him.”
“What are you saying? He has the ability to match that heavy responsibility, and the entire Empire needs the Crown Prince, so what….”
“No, I mean the responsibility is so great, but he has nowhere to place his heart, so sometimes he might want to escape….”
My footsteps, which had been continuing the conversation halfheartedly, came to an abrupt halt.
“What?”
My vision suddenly spun.
“Run away?”
In the original story, the entire continent had turned into a sea of flames just because Kiaros died, and now he wanted to run away? Run… away?
Kibon flinched and began backing away slowly. I glared at him and muttered darkly.
“Don’t say such nonsense.”
Kibon continued retreating until the Ancient Tree blocked his path. I approached him with measured, deliberate steps as though he were the Crown Prince himself, my expression grave.
I barely heard Kibon mutter, “You’re… too close…”
I slammed my hand against the tree behind him with a sharp crack, my breathing heavy as I spoke.
“Where do you think you’re running to?”

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