The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 92

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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 92
‘Where did they catch me from?’
The moment my eyes met Namia’s, I bolted.
But seeing that the examination was already complete, it was clear the Medical Department had conducted drug testing immediately after the event ended.
So everything—securing witnesses and arranging my escape—had all been planned from the start.
“Everyone says the Minister of Education gave them an energy drink. You’ll need to submit to questioning immediately.”
Before he could even protest, knights seized both his arms.
Unable to utter a sound, the Minister of Education was dragged away. Watching his retreating figure, Luca chuckled.
“Ha, well. To fulfill even a rival’s request so thoroughly. I really am a fair competitor. Yes, this is how my acknowledged number one rival should act! I’m truly magnificent!”
* * *
“Namiaaaaaa!”
Jayden, returning from the event, immediately clung to me.
“I did well, right? I did well, right? It was amazing, wasn’t it?”
“Hahahaha! That was so entertaining!”
The Empress laughed heartily, her mood excellent, but she couldn’t approach me. The Emperor had quickly pulled her into his embrace.
“Namia! I’m really gra—”
Jayden began speaking to me but suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
He seemed to believe his special ability had awakened thanks to me, but clearly couldn’t finish his sentence because it had to remain secret.
So I nodded knowingly and quickly responded in a flat, emotionless tone.
“You’re saying I worked hard? Not at all. The joy of the Imperial Family is the joy of the Imperial Palace Civil Service. Thank you for your commendation.”
“…”
“Why do you look like that?”
“Suddenly, it feels like the soul has left our relationship.”
It was a sharp observation. The soul had indeed vanished. Jayden rolled his eyes and added seriously.
“I think this awkwardness between us can only be resolved if we become family. Isn’t that right, brother?”
Jayden stood beside Kiaros and squinted his eyes at him, acting with perfect sweetness.
“I really like Namia. As a child who is polite to all adults regardless of status, if Namia becomes my sister-in-law, I promise I’ll do wonderfully. Don’t worry.”
“…I see.”
Kiaros answered reluctantly, as if watching a child tell a lie.
That’s when the Aide hurried over and reported quietly to Kiaros.
“Everyone has undergone drug testing, and the results came back as expected.”
As anticipated.
Kiaros and I had instructed Luca to conduct drug testing on all Ministry of Education staff deployed after the event ended.
Worried there might be a spy in the Medical Department, I had given instructions only to Luca.
Since all of this had been discussed in advance between Kiaros and me, the Aide whispered so only we could hear.
“And we’ve immediately detained the Minister of Education who was attempting to flee.”
Kiaros nodded quietly.
“Good. Handle it quietly so it doesn’t disrupt the banquet. Just to be safe, hand the Minister of Education directly to the Ravens without going through formal procedures.”
The ones who moved with Luca were probably the Ravens as well. I blinked and smiled slightly.
‘From here on, Your Majesty will handle it.’
Why is it so convenient to leave everything to someone superior to me in every way—someone with ability, power, and resources?
Since he’s a capable person who suspects even my foresight and preemptive actions, he’ll probably handle things well on his own. That’s when it happened.
“And… a letter from the Tower Master has arrived from the Southern Region.”
“I’ll check it after the banquet.”
“It appears quite urgent. The envelope had written on it: ‘Open this immediately at once, right away.'”
“Sigh… that personality of his.”
Kiaros clicked his tongue and muttered, “That stubborn old man only seeks out the Imperial Family when he needs something.” It was true enough.
He leaned down and whispered to me.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Oh, yes.”
He didn’t really need my permission for that, yet he reported it to me like I was his superior. As I awkwardly nodded, he continued.
“I’ll be quick. The Emperor will give his speech soon anyway, and there’s still time before the first dance.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Just think of it as me going to the restroom.”
“If it’s something that requires urgent attention, then naturally you don’t need to—”
“What are you talking about?”
He chuckled softly. His warm breath tickled my ear as he laughed.
“I never leave my partner alone. Never.”
He straightened slightly, moving his ear away from mine, and looked down at me briefly. Then he added as a final word.
“So wait for me. Don’t go off with any other man.”
Two people reacted to that statement: Jayden and the Empress.
“Kyaaaaaaah! You’re killing it, big brother!”
“Kraaaaah! Kryak kak kak! No other men allowed, absolutely not! Kyak kyak kyak!”
I didn’t even get a chance to respond. Jayden looked up at Kiaros with sparkling eyes and spoke.
“Big brother, don’t worry. The awkward New Intern who was originally Namia’s partner couldn’t come because he’s sick. All my efforts to keep him away have finally paid off. From tomorrow on, I’ll keep a close watch to make sure he doesn’t bother Namia anymore.”
“…”
Kiaros regarded Jayden with an odd expression, then disappeared along with his Aide. In the meantime, the Emperor took the stage and began his congratulatory speech for the Saint Cairo Banquet.
I stared blankly at the scene, lost in thought. Only after Kiaros left did I have a moment to gather my thoughts.
‘Victor, Anastasia, Kibon…’
One of the three is a spy. That fact weighed heavily on my chest.
‘Who is it? Who could it be?’
Anastasia, who isn’t particularly talented but has quick reflexes and guards the Scroll Department door like a gatekeeper?
Victor, who was abroad the whole time and just returned, a well-connected former Academy Student Council president?
Kibon, who didn’t attend today’s banquet and whom the Empress hinted at with ‘that one is deceiving you’?
‘…Who is it?’
Whoever the spy is among the three, they won’t reveal themselves for now.
The superior strategy is to stay quiet until everything is revealed.
Even if problems arise later, I could escape by saying, “That was classified? Someone asked where the office scrolls were kept, so I just told them.”
‘But whoever it is among the three, even if they’re not an outright spy, they’re definitely deeply entangled with the Gaejo Faction.’
Now that the suspects had narrowed to three, I felt terribly uneasy. They were all people I’d kept closer than other department members.
Kibon, in particular, was….
‘He seemed to like me. Could even showing that affection be a trap he set?’
My chest suddenly tightened.
He’d told me not to overthink things when dealing with him, just do as he said. Only now did I realize how much his words had been comforting me all this time.
‘I need to be cold about this, Namia. Stay cold.’
To make matters worse, my stomach—already unsettled since yesterday—began churning even more. I really needed to step outside for some fresh air.
The moment I shifted my body, Jayden asked with uncanny perception.
“Namia, where are you going?”
“Oh, I’ll just be going to the Restroom for a moment.”
“Okay. Come back soon. Hurry back. Come back quickly. Get back here fast.”
I smiled faintly and turned around slowly.
Then I stepped out onto the Balcony, where no one else was yet, and steadied my breathing. Stars glittered like jewels against the pitch-black night sky.
Looking at the quiet sky, my stomach didn’t settle, but my heart found some peace.
‘Get yourself together. You’ve done incredibly well so far.’
Everything had gone perfectly.
Yet my mood kept sinking.
‘I never trusted anyone anyway. I’ve been careful all along. Don’t be shocked out of nowhere. I have to stop the war, eliminate whoever’s behind this, and save my Father.’
Now that I knew Father was with the Gaejo Faction, my objective was clear. So I had to keep my wits about me going forward, even if I’d begun to seriously suspect the Department members.
I was steeling my resolve, breathing heavily, when——
“…Namia.”
A voice called my name from behind. I turned in surprise to see who it was.
“Here, I can call you Namia instead of Minister of Education, can’t I?”
The man approaching with two champagne glasses was Victor, dressed elegantly to match the Banquet.
“Since we’re alone, will you allow it?”

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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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