The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 73

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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 73
I wasn’t even startled, so why was Kibon?
This guy really does like me, doesn’t he?
As I stared at Kibon in bewilderment, Jayden slammed the table with a bang and shot him a threatening look.
“Hey, New Intern.”
“….”
“What? I’m calling you. Aren’t you going to answer?”
“…Yes.”
“You need to get out of here. I’m about to have a very important conversation with Namia, and there’s no place for a worthless intern like you. Does that bother you? Then grit your teeth, succeed, and come back up. Understand? Do you understand?”
“….”
“Answer me.”
“…Yes.”
Kibon gritted his teeth loud enough for everyone to hear.
But there was nothing he could do about it. It was the Young Prince’s command, after all.
Kibon rose with a reluctant expression and left the Minister’s Office.
Then he stood in front of the door. I watched his retreating figure and thought to myself.
‘…He’ll hear everything anyway.’
The truth was, the Minister’s Office wasn’t very soundproof.
But apparently Jayden hadn’t deduced that fact, because he opened his mouth in a serious tone.
“Anyway, it’s related to my brother.”
“Yes. Please tell me.”
While Jayden cleared his throat, I glanced sideways at Kibon’s back.
I kept my wits about me, ready to stop Jayden if anything came up that others shouldn’t hear.
“Ahem, so…”
But Jayden just kept hesitating and couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Eventually, I gently offered a suggestion to ease the tension.
“Would you care for a cookie, Your Highness? It’s humble, but I’d like to offer you something.”
“I’m a bit picky about food, but sure, give it to me.”
“Yes.”
I pulled a cookie from the drawer and also took out a small scroll.
It was a transport scroll with a short range, so it wasn’t particularly useful, but it worked well for moments like this.
As I activated the scroll, the cookie floated up on the parchment and gently settled in front of Jayden.
“Wow!”
Jayden’s eyes widened in amazement. I stifled a laugh inside.
‘He has no manners, but he sure is cute!’
He never received proper home education from childhood and learned from Riedan the values that “ordinary people are all lacking, and idiots should be ignored,” which is why he’s like this, but he’s still cute!
‘Even in the original work… as time passes, he grows a lot in character.’
Now that Riedan is gone and he’ll receive proper home education, his manners will only improve.
I waited for Jayden to finish eating one cookie.
After swallowing the cookie, Jayden wiped his mouth clean.
“Ahem, ahem.”
And finally, I opened my mouth.
“Namia, you said it clearly yourself. Everything Riedan said was a lie.”
“Ah… well, except for the knowledge part.”
“Riedan called you, the Minister of Scrolls, pathetic, arrogant, from a vulgar family, and a fool who doesn’t know your place.”
I’d expected it, but hearing it from a child’s mouth left a bitter taste.
Jayden continued calmly.
“But logically, if all of that were lies, you’d actually be quite a good person.”
“Hmm… yes. I think I’m someone with decent circumstances, decent abilities, and though I come from a vulgar family, I’m a talented minister who understands my position well.”
“Exactly. So really… meeting you in person, I understand better now. You seem like a good person.”
The evaluation was surprisingly high just for giving cookies and making scrolls a bit entertaining.
Jayden crossed his arms and, with an extremely arrogant attitude, tilted his chin up as he spoke.
“Let me be direct. What does my brother need to fix? What should he do?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m thinking of straightening out this ridiculous child a bit, so give me a hint first.”
Jayden picked up another cookie and crunched it as he continued.
“My brother is a lonely person. You mere humans tremble before him knowing nothing, but he’s still a good person.”
“Ah…”
“The Empress and the Emperor can’t bring themselves to ask because of their dignity, but they wish for you and the Crown Prince to be well. So I, using the privilege of a reckless child who doesn’t need to worry about appearances, am asking on behalf of the family.”
I felt utterly dizzy.
I looked at Jayden’s chubby cheeks and spoke slowly.
“I’ve met the Crown Prince exactly three times. And even then, only briefly on official business, with others present. There’s nothing to fix or change… it’s just that I don’t know the Crown Prince well yet.”
At that, Jayden swallowed his cookie and smiled brightly.
“So it’s just because you don’t know each other yet—there’s still room for it. Then what kind of man do you want to marry?”
“Well… um. At least someone I feel comfortable with, someone I don’t need to be tense around, someone who will be my eternal ally…”
But the Young Prince was far too extreme a child for genuine conversation.
“What? You’re looking for a slave?”
“No, not quite a slave…”
“Slavery was abolished 392 years ago. Give up that ideal type. Of course, there were various arguments when slavery was abolished, but I think all the other claims are garbage—though Oraton’s final statement had quite some merit…”
And so Jayden began rambling about slavery.
Suddenly, Kibon’s back came into my view. He must be listening to everything, yet he stood motionless, his silhouette perfectly composed.
‘Hmm…’
If I said “Come in, Kibon” right now, he would enter without a word.
That somehow brought me peace of mind.
‘Good heavens. I do like having the upper hand in relationships…’
The people around me never bent to my will.
To be honest, I missed my mother, and I wished my father would stay by my side so I wouldn’t have to go to the Academy.
When I was a new professional, I wished Victor hadn’t gone on long business trips, and I wished the Tower Master would have remained in the Capital to be my backing.
‘But they all left for their own reasons.’
I couldn’t even ask them to stay, knowing they wouldn’t listen if I did.
‘So then, shouldn’t there be at least one person in this world who listens to everything I say….’
Kibon’s words from when he first became my secretary came back to me like a false memory.
[When dealing with me, you only need to remember one thing. If you command me, I will obey unconditionally. Don’t waste time on such trivial thoughts—just give me orders.]
It wasn’t an empty promise.
From that day forward, Kibon truly obeyed my every command without question.
So when I dealt with him, I never hesitated—I issued orders without a second thought.
‘If I were to tell Kibon not to leave… he would probably agree immediately.’
With a face that didn’t look obedient in the slightest.
Meanwhile, Jayden continued rambling on about slavery.
I was lost in thought, letting his words go in one ear and out the other, when it happened.
“Jaydeeeeen!”
The door to the Scroll Department burst open once more with a loud bang.
“Kyaaah!”
Anastasia shrieked. And for good reason—the door itself had been destroyed. The Empress, who had made her entrance by shattering the door, scratched her ear sheepishly.
“What? Why is it so flimsy?”
She grumbled and kicked at the debris of the broken door. The sight was so shocking that Anastasia couldn’t even offer her coffee.
“M-Mother!”
Jayden, who had been passionately expounding on slavery, jumped to his feet in surprise.
The Empress chuckled and trudged toward the Minister’s Office.
“Jayden! I heard you were here! Bahahaha!”
Light radiated from the Empress’s face—she had decided to stop hiding her true self in front of her son.
I could imagine the conversation that must have passed between them.
[Jayden, what if your mother is actually uneducated and foolish… and you’re ashamed of me….]
[Not at all. But I would be happy to receive such love from you. I promise I won’t be ashamed of you until my teenage years.]
[Bahahaha! That’s right! Okay then, let’s do our best until then, my son!]
Fragments of the broken door dangled from the hem of the Empress’s dress.
She laughed heartily as she called out.
“Let’s go together to fit a dress for the Saint Cairo banquet… hm?”
The Empress, who had been loudly announcing her purpose, suddenly stopped.
Her eyes turned toward Kibon, who stood before the Minister’s Office.
Kibon, who had been standing motionless, slowly bowed with proper courtesy.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”
The Empress’s eyes gleamed in an instant.
Sensing something unusual in her expression, I was about to rush out in alarm when it happened.
“Hey, you.”
The Empress grinned and rolled up her sleeves. Then she declared to Kibon.
“Let’s fight right now.”

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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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