The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 76

I answered quickly.

“Your Majesty, he's not deceiving anyone. Kibon just has trouble adjusting—he’s not ill-tempered.”

“Look at that relaxed face. You’re telling me that’s not someone with a bad attitude?”

Kibon didn’t respond. He simply stood there in perfect posture.

No matter how abruptly the Empress caused a commotion, he didn’t even seem surprised.

It was almost a talent, looking that polite while still somehow condescending.

“He’s just not fluent in the imperial language, and he doesn’t understand the Empire’s customs very well yet. I’ve been teaching him.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I also misunderstood at first. I thought he was a rude little bastard I never wanted to speak to.”

Kibon gave me a look like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I was honestly more shocked by the sheer betrayal on his face.

What, you thought I had a good impression of you when you acted like that at first?

Meanwhile, the Empress kept eyeing Kibon with obvious displeasure, her expression wary and unconvinced.

But it seemed even she wasn’t sure if her “gut instinct” worked on foreigners—she tilted her head uncertainly.

“Still, right now he’s the person who knows me best. I trust him more than anyone.”

“...Fine.”

The Empress smacked her lips and muttered.

“But I’ve got this itch. Look at him—he’s definitely not some pushover. Can’t we just spar a little?”

“Your Majesty, pleaaase...”

I ended up giving her a pleading look.

The Empress let out a long sigh and shook her head.

“When you look at me with those eyes, Namia... sheesh.”

Blowing her bangs aside with a huff, she finally hung the warhammer back on the wall.

I took that as my cue and bowed politely.

“Still, I’m grateful for the opportunity, Your Majesty.”

I had to get Kibon out of this room immediately.

“Trying on boutique dresses for the first time has been an honor. Thank you for the extravagant treatment.”

In truth, I’d only ever worn off-the-rack clothes until now. All my accessories had been costume jewelry.

Then Jaden tilted his head and asked,

“Why is it your first time? Civil servant salaries aren’t that bad, right?”

“Well... my adoptive parents, who are worse than beasts, take my salary.”

“I heard you’re good with scrolls. Why didn’t you make some high-glow scrolls on the side and sell them on the black market? Even if you didn’t make a fortune, you could’ve afforded boutique clothes.”

“Ah.”

I answered politely.

“According to Imperial Civil Servant Law, Article 2, Section 3, public officials are forbidden from holding side jobs.”

“Eh? Who even follows that? Everyone does things under the table. Liden even sold his self-authored textbooks in bookstores.”

“I follow it.”

Jaden stared at me, surprised.

The Empress burst out laughing and waved a hand.

“Gods, that’s so Namia. That answer is so perfectly you. Maybe that’s why I liked you at first sight.”

She gave me a satisfied, almost indulgent look.

Just as I started thinking it was a bit intense, she turned to the still-shaking boutique staff and ordered,

“Anyway, let’s try on the next one. You brought lots, right? Let’s see some others.”

She sat down with her legs spread wide and grinned.

Then, with a look cooler than anyone else in the world, she said lowly—

“I’ll buy every single one here for you.”

I brought my hands together and replied respectfully.

“No, Your Majesty. The madam has an excellent eye, so I believe the first dress she recommended suits me best.”

“Oh, Namia! I could buy a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand of these stupid clothes for you! Stop being shy and «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» just try more on!”

The Empress shouted, throwing the catalog aside, but I calmly replied,

“According to the High Official Ethics Act, Article 3, Section 1, Ministers may not receive gifts from royalty or related parties.”

“...Huh?”

“I’ll purchase the dress and accessories with my own salary. I’m grateful for the chance to meet such a renowned tailor.”

The madam had said “They’ll probably pay for it,” but I’d never intended to accept anything from the Empress.

Still, I stayed quiet because my salary as a Minister was high enough to afford it.

I haven’t bought anything for myself in so long—this time, I’m splurging with my own money!

The Empress blinked slowly, clearly shocked.

Then she shot up from her seat, completely flabbergasted.

“What are you saying?! Namia, you saved both me and the Crown Prince! You even helped Jaden! And you’re telling me you won’t accept a few dresses? Huh?!”

“Yes.”

I kept my expression firm.

“Accepting gifts is not allowed.”

“Th-then at least some jewelry—”

“No, thank you.”

“Even just one earring—!”

“I’m sorry. No.”

With a resolute face, I gave my final word.

“I absolutely do not want to lose this Minister position.”

I will not get reprimanded!

I will be the most flawless Minister this empire has ever seen!

“Unbelievable...”

Jaden groaned in defeat.

“Even if I tell Hyungnim to bombard her with gifts, it won’t work...”

“Seriously. I got a ton of stuff from His Majesty.”

“Really?”

“A sword, a double-edged axe, a shield, a helmet... I mean, nothing expresses emotion more directly than a gift.”

As the Empress looked around in confusion, not knowing what to do, she suddenly turned to Kibon.

“You’re her closest aide, right? Then tell me—any ideas on what I could give Namia?”

“There are none.”

Kibon answered without a change in expression.

“The Minister may be power-hungry, but she’s incorruptibly clean.”

Jaden sighed deeply and clicked his tongue. The poor kid, defeated in his attempt to bribe me, resorted to a desperate final plea.

“Don’t forget, Namia. You have to go with the first guy who asks you to be his escort. Got it?”

“Well...”

I nodded with ease.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

***

In the end, Kibon got out of the Empress’s room without having to spar. Thank the gods.

“Seriously? The Crown Prince falls for a civil servant and now can’t even give her gifts? Huh? Does that make any damn sense? Huh?”

She’d been so mentally shaken by my refusal to accept gifts that she forgot all about Kibon.

“Whew, that was close. You should steer clear of Her Majesty for a while.”

As I speed-walked along, Kibon hesitated for a moment and then asked quietly,

“...Do you dislike His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“I don’t dislike him. We’re just not close, that’s all.”

“Then why did you look so reluctant when His Highness Jaden mentioned an escort?”

“Ah...”

I tried so hard not to show it, but I guess it still slipped through?

Scratching my cheek, I replied,

“To be honest... I kinda want to enter the hall alone.”

“...What?”

“There’s no rule that says I have to have a partner.”

Crown Prince Kiaros always entered alone. And there were plenty of others who came without a partner too.

Jaden clearly wanted me to partner with Kiaros, but truthfully...

“I want all the attention.”

In the mirror, I looked stunning. Absolutely perfect.

“I want to hear someone announce, ‘The Minister of the Scroll Department has arrived!’”

This banquet would be my first official appearance since becoming Minister.

If I walked in with Kiaros, I’d be overshadowed by the radiance of the Crown Prince.

“I want to fully enjoy being a Minister.”

My eyes burned with determination.

“I want everyone’s eyes on me at once, looking like how the hell did she get so high up?!”

As I shouted, Kibon’s mouth dropped open. Then he murmured in stunned disbelief,

“You... really say things I could never imagine a person saying.”

“Well, you’re kind of like that too.”

“I am not.”

“Come on. Most people yell ‘Aagh!’ when they get ambushed.”

“...Are you, the Minister of all people, actually lecturing someone about what people normally say?”

And that’s when we arrived at the office, walking side by side.

“...Ah.”

I was carefully stepping around the remains of the Empress’s broken door when I stopped in my tracks.

Kibon, following behind, also frowned and froze in place.

“Namia?”

An unexpected person was waiting inside the office.

“Wait—guess I should be calling you Minister now. Eh, but before that...”

Wavy, light brown hair. Pale sky-blue eyes. Tanned skin and a large build.

Eyes that curved like crescents and lips that arched in a gentle smile.

“Congrats on the lightning-speed promotion, junior.”

It was Victor Arwin, whom I hadn’t expected to arrive until at least tomorrow.