The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 102

Kiaros shrugged once, then propped his chin up and spoke slowly.

“I still remember the night we were ambushed in the South. His Majesty the Emperor had just finished wiping them out, and he was wounded in the leg, all bandaged up. He’d lost a lot of blood. I was scared... it was the first time I’d ever seen him like that.”

“Ah...”

“Even in that awful situation, His Majesty said there’s always something good to be found.”

I blinked.

It was the first time Kiaros had spoken at length about himself.

Were we... this close?

But saying that aloud would probably hurt his feelings.

“Fifteen years without seeing each other might’ve been a bad thing, but the fact that you didn’t end up in the Magic Tower—that’s a good thing, Namia.”

He looked straight at me and smiled softly.

That perfectly sculpted face smiling at me made it hard to breathe.

I had to admit it—I'm not someone who judges people solely by looks, but Kiaros’s face really was something else.

“Come to think of it, you and I have both been tangled up with the Reformists since way back then. Our history goes deep.”

He gave a quiet chuckle, then gracefully readjusted his posture.

In a low voice, he continued.

“To be honest, I’m not really in a position where I can fully trust anyone right now. But if you say you want to show what you’re capable of, then it’s a superior’s duty to let you.”

I blinked, staring at him.

“Just like I’ve done so far.”

He still harbored some doubt, but he trusted in my abilities. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Those two things could definitely coexist.

Warmth welled up in my chest.

At the banquet, he’d said, “Let others see your light, Namia.”

Unlike Victor, who said, “I hope even you never discover your own light.”

“But I do have one condition.”

“Yes.”

I nodded, looking at Kiaros.

I was ready to accept whatever the condition was.

“Even if you’re staying in the palace, there will always be dangers. I’d like you to be accompanied by a guard.”

Calling it a ‘guard’ was another way of saying ‘surveillance.’

But what came next caught ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) me off guard.

“How about taking your secretary with you?”

“...Excuse me?”

“His skills might be better than the crows. At the very least, they’re not worse.”

“Um...”

I asked, confused.

“If you mean Kibon... I listed him as one of the possible spies, didn’t I?”

“Well, yeah, but... he’s not.”

Kiaros answered, slightly flustered.

“Mm... for now, he’s not. There’s... some context to it...”

So there was some kind of connection between Kibon and Kiaros.

Was he maybe an illegitimate child of the royal family? A secret relative?

Or possibly one of the crows working undercover.

“Huh? So then... I can trust Kibon?”

Well, that was good news. Not having to suspect Kibon anymore!

“So I can narrow it down to either Anastasia or Victor?”

Kiaros stared at me for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.

I was so happy I didn’t have to keep doubting Kibon.

“Haa... I really do feel better. I’ve been so stressed, thinking Kibon might be the spy...”

I smiled brightly, my eyes sparkling.

“So it’s safe to say Kibon’s not hiding anything from me?”

“U-uh?”

“That everything he’s shown me has been sincere?”

“Uhh... um...”

Kiaros looked genuinely panicked, glancing away.

“W-well, I mean... don’t... don’t trust him too much...”

“Yes.”

I snorted a breath through my nose.

“Still, if it turns out he’s lying to me, I won’t let him get away with it.”

“U-uh?”

Because of Kibon alone, my emotions had swung wildly in such a short time.

To be honest, I couldn’t stop thinking about how he carried me while I was vomiting blood.

He had a raging fever himself, and even as the building was collapsing, he never hesitated—he only looked after me.

Knowing his sincerity wasn’t fake made me unbelievably happy.

But if he betrayed me now...

“If Kibon Altess dares to lie to me, make a fool of me, deceive me like some damn bastard—”

As I muttered darkly, Kiaros inhaled sharply, his face tense.

“Then... wait, so does that mean...”

He hesitated, then asked:

“You’d never see that damn bastard again?”

I answered immediately.

“Huh? Of course not.”

“Right? I mean... after everything you’ve been through together...”

“I’m not that forgiving with people who betray me.”

You think never seeing them again is enough punishment?

Don’t be ridiculous.

I widened my eyes and went on.

“I would never forgive him. I wouldn’t let him off the hook for a second.”

“...Huh?”

“I’d stick to him for life. I’d follow him to the ends of the earth for revenge.”

“Uhh...”

“I’d chase him down to hell and make him suffer for eternity. I’d make sure he died crying my name.”

Kiaros flinched and instinctively leaned back—just then:

Knock knock.

The door burst open with a bang, and the Empress and Prince Jaden came rushing in.

“Your Highness! Congratulations! We heard you finally succeeded in imprisoning Namia!”

“Big Brother! Congrats! You’re finally living together with Miss Namia!”

Kiaros looked like the sky was falling.

“Neither of those things are true—she’s just a guest of the palace...”

“KYAAAAAH! KIHIHIHIH! KYAKYAKKYAAK!”

“A palace guest becomes a life guest, and a life guest becomes a life partner, right, Brother?!”

While the two royals made a ruckus, the aide who came in with them quietly approached me.

“Let me show you to the room where you’ll be staying.”

“Yes...”

I nodded to the aide and left the Crown Prince’s office—still echoing with screams and shrieks.

And thus began my life in the imperial palace.

***

I officially took a ten-day medical leave.

There was nothing urgent, but I still issued work orders to team leaders Victor and Anastasia.

“Remote work is great.”

The Empress even sent me a ton of clothes.

Apparently, when she visited the boutique that made my banquet gown, she pointed and said, “From here to here, I’ll take it all.”

She clearly didn’t look at the clothes and just shouted to take everything. I have every style known to humankind all stuffed into one wardrobe, not a shred of consistency in sight.

Of course, I told them high-ranking civil servants can’t accept personal gifts like this.

But the reply was, “They’re not yours—they’re part of the guest suite.”

In the meantime, a servant brought me a letter from Kiaros.

“The crows have started background investigations into Anastasia and Victor. I’ll share the results when they come in.

Kibon Altess will be sent over to your side soon.”

As promised, Kibon came to my room that afternoon.

With his usual emotionless expression, he said:

“If you’re going out, please tug the silk cord. It connects to my room—I’ll come immediately.”

“Got it.”

“Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine... What about you?”

“I’m well. Fully recovered.”

I looked closely at Kibon’s face. He still looked a little tired, but not sick like yesterday.

Seeing him again here in the palace gave me a strange feeling.

I stared at him and spoke up.

“Kibon.”

“Yes.”

Since we’d be working on ‘something else’ from the palace instead of the Scroll Department, there was something I needed to make absolutely clear.

“What’s your relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince?”