The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 122

 I winked at the High Priest, whose eyes had grown wide.

 

“Let’s have some tea together. If there’s anything you want to ask, go ahead. I’ll help you out.”

 

Right in front of the High Priest, I pressed my index finger and thumb together, making a money sign.

 

“I bet dragon oppa wants to send you off as soon as possible, so he’ll definitely say yes. He just wants to be alone with me, you know?”

 

I laughed like a fool, smacking the High Priest’s arm playfully.

 

“You’re really full of energy this morning…”

 

The High Priest cleared his throat with a gruff, “Ahem.” He seemed to have immediately caught on to the real meaning behind my words: ‘There won’t be any guards.’

 

In fact, even Keyvon, who was always around, wasn’t in my room right now.

 

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

 

A strange glint began to appear in his eyes.

 

He looked like he was itching to attack Kiaros.

 

“I actually did have a few things I wanted to ask His Highness the Crown Prince… Truly, you’re the only one who ever thinks of us, Minister.”

 

“See?”

 

At his flattering words, I lifted my chin and acted all high and mighty.

 

“I’ve always said I want things to go well for you, haven’t I? Ohohohoho… I’m a firm believer in give-and-take, you know. Don’t forget it.”

 

Just as I was basking in my own self-importance—Knock, knock.

 

“It’s me, Namia.”

 

Right on cue, Kiaros’s voice came from outside.

 

“May I come in?”

 

* * * 

 

The High Priest clicked his tongue inwardly.

 

‘Good grief. Look at him, going all out to dress up. What an eyesore.’

 

From head to toe, Kiaros was sparkling.

 

He was already beautiful as a dragonkin, but now that he’d deliberately dressed to impress, he looked like a painting come to life.

 

‘He must really be out of his mind for Namia Loafi.’

 

The High Priest hadn’t seen Kiaros often, but this wasn’t his first time either.

 

Until now, Kiaros had never seemed interested in dressing up. For him to change this much, he was clearly so smitten that he’d lost his senses.

 

Namia, too, stared at Kiaros in a daze before suddenly snapping out of it and laughing.

 

“Ahahaha, ahaha, our dargon Oppa… You look especially amazing today, don’t you?”

 

Hm? Something sounded a bit off…

 

Just as I was starting to feel something was strange—Kiaros strode over and sat down next to Namia, gazing at her with the gentlest eyes in the world.

 

“I put in a little effort to look good for you. Do I look okay?”

 

Good heavens.

 

The ‘Kiaros Polaroid’ was actually trying to read the mood!

 

He even gave a somewhat wistful smile and added,

 

“I keep getting rejected, so I wanted to at least try. But so far, the only thing about me you seem to like is the outside.”

 

The High Priest froze for a moment, unable to even greet him.

 

Well, Kiaros hadn’t so much as glanced at the High Priest either, keeping his gaze fixed solely on Namia.

 

Namia looked a bit flustered, unable to answer right away. Of course, by now, the High Priest saw that as part of her strategy.

 

‘She’s taking a step back like that. Making him desperate—impressive.’

 

Just then, a maid brought in another cup of tea for Kiaros.

 

She, too, gave Kiaros a sidelong glance, then pressed a hand to her forehead as if she were dizzy.

 

“I’m sorry… It’s just, your beauty exceeds the limits of what my eyes can handle…”

 

“I understand. I felt a little dizzy earlier myself.”

 

Agreeing with the maid, Namia finally seemed to come to her senses and smiled brightly.

 

The maid, having served the tea, staggered out of the room.

 

Only then did Namia belatedly respond to Kiaros’s earlier words.

 

“Rejected? What are you talking about? Last time, when I said it was for an experiment, you gave me so much of your blood. I trust your feelings now, Your Highness.”

 

All the while, Kiaros kept beaming his eyes at Namia.

 

“My blood, my tears, anything else… Just give the order. I’ll obey right away.”

 

“Oh, come on… How could someone as lofty as a dragonkin say that to me…”

 

“Don’t think like that. Just tell me what you want. I’ll do anything, no matter what. Honestly… I think that’s what I’m best at. Being at your beck and call, Miss Namia.”

 

The High Priest clicked his tongue inwardly again.

 

‘A dragonkin, acting as someone’s lackey—he’s really lost it. The first emperor must be weeping in heaven.’

 

At that moment, Kiaros, who’d been strutting like a peacock, suddenly furrowed his brow.

 

“Wait, Namia. There aren’t any guards. I told you not to be alone.”

 

“I was with the High Priest. Oh, and I always carry this. Her Majesty the Empress sent it along with my clothes last time.”

 

Namia smiled as she pulled a dagger from her pocket. Its blade was so sharp, it looked menacing.

 

The High Priest glanced at the dagger, and Namia clapped her hands together.

 

“Oh, right! By the way, the High Priest has been using his holy power on me every day lately. I’m just so, so grateful for that…”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. But, you know, the temple is having a hard time.”

 

Namia smiled sweetly at the High Priest.

 

“Why don’t you listen to what he has to say?”

 

The High Priest cheered inwardly.

 

His chance had come. He put on a kindly smile.

 

“Before I say anything, there’s just one thing this old man worries about… I’m afraid this might sound like a request for a favor, and as a man of the cloth, that burdens me.”

 

“A favor? Oh, don’t say that! It’s just a personal request between friends!”

 

Namia’s eyes widened as she played on the homonym for ‘favor.’

 

The High Priest let out a deep sigh and made his request to Namia.

 

“Still, I feel uncomfortable… Would you mind using a soundproof scroll, Minister? That would put me at ease.”

 

“Oh, that’s no problem.”

 

Namia smiled and pulled out a crossbody bag from the room.

 

It was packed full of scrolls. Without hesitation, Namia took out a soundproof scroll.

 

“I was going to use it anyway, even if you didn’t ask. It’s only right to use one when discussing personal matters.”

 

While Namia activated the soundproof scroll, the High Priest struggled to hide his excitement.

 

The plan was simple.

 

Kill Kiaros first, then Namia. Then, use Namia’s dagger to mutilate Kiaros’s corpse.

 

‘And pin it all on Namia Loafi.’

 

No one would ever suspect that the frail, powerless High Priest could kill Kiaros.

 

But everyone would believe that Kiaros might let his guard down around Namia. Even the Minister of Education had once clicked his tongue, saying, ‘That woman is bound to ruin His Highness the Crown Prince.’

 

At this point… Even if Namia joked, ‘Let’s die together,’ and they actually did, people would accept it.

 

‘With the soundproof scroll in place, no one outside will hear a thing.’

 

Everything was going smoothly.

 

“Anyway, please, say whatever you wish. Don’t hold back.”

 

Namia spoke with confidence.

 

The High Priest deliberately got up and prostrated himself on the floor.

 

“I am grateful for the kindness of the Minister and His Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

Namia, flustered, laughed awkwardly.

 

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. Please, get up.”

 

But the High Priest bowed even lower, refusing to rise.

 

There wasn’t a single attendant, maid, or guard in sight.

 

Just as Namia stood to help the High Priest up by the arm—

 

“Step back. I’ll do it.”

 

Kiaros intervened.

 

‘Of course he wouldn’t let another man touch his woman.’

 

As Kiaros bent down to help the High Priest up, the High Priest swiftly twisted his body and wrapped his hands around Kiaros’s neck.