The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 101

A dark night, in the underground prison.

“S-s-swear it! I swear I did it all for the Empire!”

The Minister of Education’s shrill screams echoed throughout the chamber.

“Namia Roafi—that woman, she’s going to ruin His Highness the Crown Prince! I even have evidence!”

He was screaming so desperately that the entire prison shook with his voice.

And then— fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

“Is this scroll the ‘evidence’ you’re talking about, Minister?”

With graceful steps, the Emperor strolled over and stopped in front of the Minister of Education, speaking in a gentle tone.

“The one you hid so carefully in your household vault.”

The Saint Cairo banquet had concluded with great success, and the crows had already thoroughly searched the minister’s estate.

Kiaros, who had orchestrated all of this, left only a note saying, “There’s a more urgent matter,” and entrusted the aftermath to the Emperor.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The Emperor unfolded the scroll containing Namia’s words right in front of ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) the Minister’s eyes and, in a dignified voice, read aloud:

<Namia Roafi: He told me, ‘Our cute, precious, and lovely little baby Mia Mia Namia can do anything she wants. Your dragon oppa will protect you. Just marry me. In fact, I already secretly planned the wedding, you know~.’>

The crows surrounding the Minister all tried and failed to suppress their laughter with an audible “pfft.”

“See, Your Majesty! That wretched wench Namia Roafi is completely manipulating His Highness—while behind the scenes—!”

“She’s still better than a minister who tried to slaughter all the Education Ministry’s civil servants, wouldn’t you say?”

The Emperor replied calmly.

“Not an incorrect statement.”

The crows whispered, “So he really planned the wedding?”, “Man, he really went far ahead by himself.” A nearby aide sadly nodded along.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education had turned deathly pale. He hadn’t expected the Emperor to treat it all so lightly.

A moment later, with a creak, the iron bars behind the Emperor bent open. The Emperor grabbed the minister by the jaw and locked eyes with him.

“Well then, let’s not waste time. Start talking.”

“Guh—ugh!”

“About the Reformists backing you.”

Even the crows shuddered under the oppressive aura of the Dragonblood Emperor.

“I-I-I don’t—I don’t know anything for certain! B-but!”

The Minister gasped for breath, then cried out:

“They knew about the future!”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. Kiaros had once said, “They acted like they knew I would enter a blackout period.”

“O-of course, not everything they predicted was accurate, but still...”

Well, if their knowledge of the future had been flawless, the Minister wouldn’t be here now.

While the Emperor sank into thought, the Minister sobbed and muttered,

“It was like... like this whole world is a book... with everything already written in it...”

***

The next dawn.

A man clad in black—clearly one of the crows—led me to stand before Kiaros.

“I heard the general situation from that intern, Kibon.”

I hadn’t expected to face him again this soon, especially this early.

Kiaros, seated elegantly as ever, spoke in his usual calm and unhurried tone:

“So you think, since you avoided the trap at the banquet, the Reformists will now target you directly. That you want to stay in the palace for safety. And maybe use my name a bit in the process.”

Despite his relaxed tone, the words came out at lightning speed. I blinked in stunned silence, then nodded.

“...Yes.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Kiaros nodded, arms crossed.

“I’ll prepare a place for you in the palace immediately. My royal physician is on standby—get a check-up. Don’t report to the Scroll Department for the time being.”

“...The royal physician? Why me?”

“Kibon said you needed medical attention.”

I was dumbfounded for a moment.

He even honored a mere intern’s request?

It had only been a few hours since Kibon said he’d contact the palace—and now I was speaking with Kiaros directly.

So Kibon really isn’t an ordinary intern.

No wonder he was never intimidated by anyone despite his position.

“But why should I take time off work?”

“You’re sick, remember? It’ll do you good to rest for a few days as a guest of the palace. Doesn’t seem like there’s anything urgent at the Scroll Department anyway.”

I nodded obediently.

“Understood. Thank you for your consideration.”

I’d been planning to use a sick day or at least put in a leave request anyway.

Given the situation, I wanted to use my absence to help smoke out the spy as quickly as possible.

“And that... ahem, the matter of using my name... I assume that means you’re planning to set another trap for the Reformists?”

“Yes.”

I was growing suspicious that the temple might be cooperating with the Reformists.

So I planned to use the spy still in the Scroll Department to investigate.

Conveniently, the High Priests were currently staying at the palace, which made it all the better for me to remain there too. And it also meant I’d be safer—considering how often I’d sabotaged the Reformists’ plans.

“Even though nothing happened at the banquet, the spy in the department would likely act as usual. If they suddenly hid away, that’d be as good as a confession.”

“True.”

“If I bait the spy into moving and track their contacts, we might uncover more Reformist collaborators.”

“Other collaborators...”

Kiaros was silent for a moment before speaking quietly.

“I heard your condition wasn’t great. Maybe you should rest a bit. We’ve already narrowed down the spy to two suspects—I can handle the rest.”

“Thank you for the thought. But since it’s a matter concerning the Scroll Department, I’d like to take responsibility until the end.”

I meant that sincerely.

There were ways to have both suspects interrogated or dismissed. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the one who might be innocent.

I wanted to protect them if I could. They were, after all, a member of my department.

“And I want to do everything I can... so I can see my father again soon.”

I hesitated as I added that last part. Kiaros responded slowly.

“Then I’ll allow it.”

And in a quiet voice, he added,

“I’m sorry about Cedric Roafi. I did promise I’d let you see him soon.”

“Ah, no! Please don’t apologize!”

His heartfelt words made me shake my head fervently.

“Because of my childhood memories in the South... I’ve always had this lingering attachment to my father, even knowing it’s foolish.”

“Hmm. You didn’t exactly have a joyful time in the South.”

“No, you’re right about that too.”

I chuckled softly.

“When Your Highness told me to come to Count Kelto’s estate, I should’ve ignored my father and just gone. Then he wouldn’t have ended up selling himself to the Reformists.”

“So it was Cedric Roafi’s choice.”

“Yes. He said, ‘What’s a few coins going to change, anyway?’”

Thinking back on it, I let out another soft laugh.

“But now that I think about it... even if he had gone for those few coins, he would’ve refused.”

“Why?”

“Because he always said that you shouldn’t expect payment for saving someone’s life. That’s just the kind of man he was. Stubborn and righteous, in a way that drove me crazy... but I admired him for it.”

That such a morally upright man... had ended up entangled with conspirators out of love for me... It was overwhelming.

Though, yes, the fact he hadn’t even asked how I felt was still a bit of a problem.

“I see.”

Kiaros rested his chin on his hand.

“If you had gone to Count Kelto’s estate back then... a lot might have turned out differently.”

“Yes. His Highness probably would’ve married me, paid off all our debts, and maybe even helped me attend the academy.”

I laughed aloud.

“Maybe I would’ve ended up at the Magic Tower...”

“That part’s no good.”

Kiaros interrupted lazily.

“If you go into the Magic Tower in your mid-teens, you won’t come out for twenty years.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“I wouldn’t have been.”