The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 19

 

Kiaros and Fron were rushed to receive medical treatment.

Fron barely made it out alive, though the doctors said she would never move as swiftly again.

Fortunately, Kiaros hadn’t been hurt nearly as badly.

“A few days of medication, and you’ll be fine.”

The court physician wrapped a bandage around Kiaros’s arm as he explained. Kiaros had only been grazed, and he had resistance to poison.

“You would’ve been in grave danger had it struck you directly—especially during your Dark Period.”

Kiaros lowered his head in silence.

The Emperor had warned him so many times, and yet he hadn’t grasped the true dangers of the world.

If he had just refrained from carelessly declaring his condition aloud, Fron wouldn’t have been hurt.

Guilt flickered across the face of the once-proud boy.

“Fron will recover after a few months of rest.”

“But she’ll never move like she used to…”

“Remaining in the Royal Guard will likely be difficult. Still, she considers it a great honor. Don’t worry.”

The physician smiled gently.

“She’s still as foul-mouthed as ever—Fron is doing just fine. For a knight, risking life and limb for their charge is second nature.”

“…”

“So don’t dwell too much, Your Highness. Your well-being is what matters most.”

His well-being…

If not for that mysterious girl, Kiaros might still be clinging to life.

The very scrolls he had always dismissed had shielded him and saved his life.

He slowly lifted his head and asked his attendant quietly,

“Anything from Count Kalto’s manor?”

“No, sir. We sent word immediately, but no one came.”

“Did anyone return to the library?”

“Yes, but even the librarians didn’t know who she was. Apparently she visits often, though, so we left instructions to notify us if she returns.”

The attendant spoke respectfully.

“She’ll likely visit the count’s estate or the library tomorrow. Don’t trouble yourself over it, Your Highness.”

“And the goblin…?”

“His Majesty the Emperor has personally taken charge of the investigation. There are many oddities, but since it was captured alive, they believe tracking the source will be manageable.”

That, too, was only possible thanks to the girl.

Had Kiaros collapsed, the knights would have rushed to him, giving the goblin a chance to escape.

“His Majesty also conveyed that Your Highness should not concern yourself with external matters and should focus on recovery.”

At those words, Kiaros let out a faint sigh.

Only now did he truly grasp how distant the concept of being a Dragon-blooded felt, now that he was in his Dark Period.

‘I… I must become like His Majesty someday.’

A strange combination of reassurance and pressure settled over him.

“Please rest well, Your Highness.”

The physician handed him a sedative.

“Everything has already been resolved, and tomorrow, you’ll learn the full details.”

Kiaros nodded and lay down.

But the physician’s reassurance was only half true.

By the next day, everything had been resolved—but not everything was known.

“Your Highness, the goblin was an escaped test subject. There was a criminal group conducting experiments on monsters in the south.”

“A test subject? They were experimenting on monsters?”

Though the Emperor had eradicated monster habitats, some had survived among humans.

The attendant continued respectfully,

“Yes. The altered goblin apparently developed high intelligence—it could understand human language.”

“…Unbelievable.”

“It seems that after His Majesty’s extermination of the monsters, they developed a grudge against Dragonkin. They couldn’t reach His Majesty, so they targeted Your Highness instead.”

It was beyond shocking.

Experimenting on monsters—even though they were enemies of humanity?

Kiaros asked in disbelief,

“Is that even possible?”

“Yes. Appalling, isn’t it? His Majesty had all those involved executed.”

“Executed…”

“He said, ‘If they can do that to monsters, who’s to say they wouldn’t do worse to humans?’ They committed numerous crimes in the course of their experiments.”

All of this had happened within a single day. The Emperor’s efficiency was unparalleled.

He often said that speed was everything in such situations.

And Kiaros had learned firsthand, growing up by the Emperor’s side, what it meant to rule.

“Some remnants escaped, but they’re being hunted down.”

“…”

“Their base was destroyed, and the remaining monsters wiped out. No one will ever conduct experiments like that again.”

Kiaros had more questions, but he stopped himself.

He was in his Dark Period now—no different than an ordinary boy. There wasn’t much he could do.

Just as the Emperor had said, he should focus on recovering.

Instead, he asked the one thing that had been on his mind since yesterday.

“And that girl? Did you find out who she is?”

“Well…”

The attendant looked uncomfortable.

“She didn’t come to Count Kalto’s manor, nor did she return to the library. And since we don’t know what she looks like, she’s hard to track.”

This wasn’t the capital, so they lacked the manpower.

Most capable agents were already chasing the remnants of the criminal group.

“Still, keep looking. She saved my life.”

Kiaros spoke quietly.

“There’s no rush. As long as we keep looking, we’ll find her.”

The Emperor had said the Dark Period would offer lessons.

Kiaros had learned helplessness, guilt, and fear—emotions he’d never truly understood before.

And another thing: gratitude. How to feel it. How to express it.

“If someone saves your life, the least you can do is thank them face to face!”

He hadn’t thanked her properly yet. He intended to.

His promise to grant her anything she wanted was genuine.

Though a little arrogant, Kiaros wasn’t one to make empty promises.

The only odd part was… the girl’s request.

“I want to marry a man with lots and lots and lots of money!”

She looked young, but her materialism was impressive.

Surely, that meant she’d come to Count Kalto’s manor eventually.

Kiaros tilted his head and asked his attendant,

“Who’s the richest man in the Empire?”

Then quickly added,

“Around my age.”

She looked no older than him. No way she’d want to marry some rich old man.

The attendant replied matter-of-factly,

“Well, among boys your age… that would be you, Your Highness.”

Kiaros’s eyes widened.

‘Right… Among the ten-year-old boys in the Empire, I’m the richest.’

Of course. It was obvious.

The royal treasury was vast, and his allocated budget was enormous.

“Yes, that makes sense.”

He nodded slowly.

Now he had an idea of what to say if they met again.

“Keep looking for her. Even after the southern inspection, I’ll assign my Crows to it.”

If her wish was to marry a rich man…

He’d start by informing her that he was that man—and then ask if she’d be willing to marry him.

Then, fidgeting with his fingers, he added,

“I want to thank Fron in person too.”

The physician looked surprised and shook his head.

“There’s no need, Your Highness. As I said, Fron only did her duty.”

Before, Kiaros would’ve nodded and dropped the matter.

But now, he shook his head and said,

“No. From now on… I’ll always thank those who save me—personally.”