The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 74

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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 74
The Empress made quite the entrance, startling everyone present.
She certainly had a talent for making an impression.
“It’s been so long since I felt this way. I have a feeling I might lose.”
Competitive fire blazed in the Empress’s eyes.
I rushed forward and positioned myself in front of Kibon.
“Your Majesty the Empress, I greet you. Have you perhaps come seeking Jayden Young Prince?”
“Namia!”
The Empress cried out joyfully, scooping me up and spinning me around.
“It’s all thanks to you, all thanks to you! We’ve decided to get along from now on! If it weren’t for you, I never would have known what my son was thinking!”
“Ugh, yes… ugh, I’m so glad…”
“We’re going to participate in that Scroll Department event together at the banquet! You heard, didn’t you?”
Cough, cough, yes…”
“Since I’m attending a banquet for the first time in ages, I thought we should match our outfits! What was it called… similar look?”
A similar look, perhaps…
“Namia, if you don’t have a dress to wear to the banquet, let’s go together! There’s really only a few days left!”
“Yes?”
I hadn’t managed to purchase a dress for the banquet yet…
But truthfully, I had no time to shop for clothes. I’d been working late every night since becoming Minister of Education.
“Before that, though.”
As I blinked, the Empress smiled coldly and pointed at Kibon.
“I’d like to have a match with that one. He’s completely spineless, that fellow.”
The Empress looked Kibon up and down with a smirk.
“How does the Scroll Department have such talent? Hand him over to me. I’d like to train him properly and have him guard Jayden.”
At those words, Kibon’s expression became one of pure dread.
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
I laughed awkwardly.
So the Empress wanted to spar, after all…
‘Kibon wouldn’t hold back against the Imperial Family, I’m sure of it.’
The Empress didn’t know this, but one must lose appropriately when sparring with superiors.
Dragons are so overwhelmingly strong that they can’t do such things, of course.
But Kibon was a foreigner with no flexibility whatsoever—he would absolutely refuse to hold back.
‘Her Majesty isn’t the type to hold a grudge over that, but still, it would look bad.’
Kibon, too, clearly had no desire to spar.
I spoke quickly.
“This New Intern is far weaker than he appears. Though young, he’s afflicted with ailments in five different parts of his body.”
“Huh?”
“He’s even been coughing up blood from just a few nights of overtime… he’s absolutely not the sort of talent Your Majesty would find interesting.”
At that, the Empress grew furious.
“What? Have I ever seen such a cunning fox!”
“Pardon?”
“There’s no way a few nights of overtime would cause a nosebleed! Unless you’d stayed up for several consecutive nights! Namia, you’re deceiving me!”
The Empress looked ready to grab Kibon by the collar at any moment.
Kibon merely sighed as if troubled.
“You look perfectly fine, so you’re being quite cunning! Working under a kind superior and feigning illness to shirk your duties? Come on, let’s spar! What do you say?”
Kibon glanced at my bewildered expression before slowly opening his mouth.
“I’m sorry. I’d rather not.”
My jaw dropped at those words.
No, how could he refuse so bluntly!
Of course, the Empress didn’t look hurt at all. I was grateful they were equally discourteous people.
“Don’t be like that—at least think about it! Come on? You’re someone who’s used to physical exertion, so doesn’t your body itch to move instead of just twirling a pen here? Hmm?”
Seeing the Empress’s persistent expression, it didn’t seem like this would end easily.
In the end, I laughed nervously and linked my arm through the Empress’s.
“Your Majesty, let’s go at once.”
“Hmm?”
“To get our dresses fitted. I also happen to need a gown for the banquet.”
To be honest, I had never intended to have a dress fitted alongside the Imperial Family.
But this was the only way to escape the situation.
“Ah, yes. Let’s go!”
The Empress laughed heartily at my words and shouted.
“Let’s hurry! His Majesty the Emperor has summoned a rather renowned Madame of the Wardrobe!”
I was truly grateful she’d moved on so easily.
* * *
Cancel that gratitude.
“Come on, come on, come on. Let’s spar. Hmm? What do you think?”
The Empress hadn’t forgotten her intended target.
As I tried to move quickly, the Empress called out to Kibon.
[Namia’s secretary must follow wherever she goes!]
[Pardon?]
[We’re going to get our Namia’s dress fitted! Of course the secretary has to come!]
No, a secretary wasn’t exactly like a lady’s maid or anything!
But the Empress was relentless. I could see she had ulterior motives.
Having brought Kibon along, she seized every opportunity to demand a sparring match with him.
“I’d rather not.”
Kibon stood steadfast without any change in expression.
His stubbornness and resolve were truly remarkable.
‘He doesn’t seem nervous even in the Empress’s Chamber.’
When I first came here, I naturally felt intimidated.
Especially with all sorts of weapons hanging throughout the Empress’s Chamber.
In any case, that’s why now.
The Empress, Jayden Young Prince, Kibon, and I were all together.
The Madame of the Wardrobe whom the Emperor had summoned was undeniably competent.
“This color would be lovely. With a pattern like this to create a unified aesthetic….”
She had found the optimal solution while enduring the Empress’s indifference.
Just from her manner of speaking, she was clearly a professional.
The Empress, who favored those skilled in their craft, seemed to take a liking to her as well.
“Wow, you have a great eye! I absolutely love it!”
“You’re too kind. Thank you.”
The Madame of the Wardrobe elegantly completed the gala dress designs for the Empress and Jayden Young Prince with minimal fittings.
Ordinarily, the order should have been placed long ago, but the Empress’s decision to attend the gala had only been made today.
I asked her gently as I watched the busy Madame of the Wardrobe.
“The gala isn’t far off—will you be all right?”
“Not to worry.”
The Madame of the Wardrobe smiled brightly and spoke.
“I’ll see it through to completion somehow.”
Of course. She was handling dresses for the Imperial Family, after all. She had no choice but to see it through.
‘They say she’s famous, and it seems to be true.’
If the Emperor had summoned her, what more could be said?
The catalogs and sample dresses she had brought were all elegant and beautiful.
That was when it happened.
“Namia! You need to pick out a dress too!”
“Pardon?”
The Empress, who had been pestering Kibon to “have a real match,” suddenly called out.
“I told you we’d pick out your dress too!”
“Ah….”
That had been something I’d thrown out just to get Kibon away quickly.
But it was true that I didn’t have a dress. As I hesitated, the Madame of the Wardrobe smiled warmly.
“As it happens, I have a dress that I think would suit the Minister of Education perfectly. Would you like to try it on?”
“Excuse me?”
This woman certainly knows how to sell!
The Empress clapped her hands and nodded approvingly.
“Perfect! Namia, you can trust this woman’s eye. Try it on right now!”
Jayden Young Prince also crossed his arms and nodded.
“That’s a good idea. Where else would you find a quality dress like this? You should take advantage of the Imperial Family’s prestige and pick one out now. You probably couldn’t even book an appointment at this Dressmaking Shop on your own, could you?”
That was true enough.
I glanced at the Madame of the Wardrobe with an expression that said, ‘I’d love to, but given my position, I can’t show too much enthusiasm.’
The Madame of the Wardrobe understood immediately and gave my back a gentle push.
“Come along. Hurry now. We’ll have you dressed in no time.”
At the same time, the Dressmaking Shop staff rushed over.
True to their experience, they worked quickly with the fittings.
The dress was dazzling in its beauty, studded with beads that caught the light like stars.
“I’ll add this as well.”
Madam whispered as she opened a jewelry box.
“I have a feeling you’ll want it.”
In an instant, a large sapphire necklace and matching earrings were placed upon me.
“Let me do your hair as well—just a simple touch.”
Skilled hands worked through my hair, gently braiding it down and adorning it with a glittering ornament.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
“My goodness.”
Madam exhaled softly, whispering.
“You’re truly… truly beautiful. I had no idea you were this lovely.”
The Dressmaking Shop staff nodded in agreement, murmuring so their voices wouldn’t carry outside.
“Honestly, I think you’ll be the most radiant person at the Saint Cairo banquet.”
“Really?”
I felt embarrassed and only then turned my body toward the mirror.
And I was so startled that my mouth fell open.
‘Goodness.’
Indeed, all matters should be entrusted to professionals.
The result of simply sitting quietly was this magnificent.
‘Is this… is this me? Incredible….’
I sparkled from head to toe.
Yet the colors of the dress and jewelry were so elegant that they didn’t diminish my presence.
I was admiring myself in the mirror when it happened.
“Namia! Are you finished dressing? Come out here, quickly!”
The Empress called out.

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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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