The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 26

Even from this distance, there was no mistake.

As Kiaros stared at her in surprise, the government officials around him began exchanging sly glances.

Then they started whispering among themselves.

“She must be the one. He’s looking at Namia Roapia like he’s completely dazed.”

“Oh my gosh, so he really does like women who drag their feet around with that utterly lifeless look on their faces.”

What nonsense was this?

Kiaros frowned harder in disbelief.

It seemed rumors had started just because the two of them had walked down a hallway together.

The chatter continued.

“There’s talk about marriage too, right?” “I heard that too. From someone in the Administrative Support Division—they said Namia changed her salary account yesterday. It was under a family member’s name, but now it’s under hers.”

“Wow, then maybe the royal wedding’s coming up?”

As Kiaros listened absently, the discussion grew oddly serious.

“Well, they’d probably have it at the Imperial Palace Ceremony Hall, but that place has to be booked at least a year in advance. His Highness wouldn’t delay someone else’s wedding just to reserve it for himself, right?”

“Exactly. There are several weddings a day there.”

Now they were talking about his wedding—something he hadn’t even considered. He felt a headache coming on.

He was just about to order his aide to stop these ridiculous rumors when a thought crossed his mind, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Wait a minute.’

If Namia really was that girl from back then, and if she demanded marriage as promised, then he’d have to go through with it.

After all, he was still the wealthiest person in the Empire within their age group.

‘In that case… can I really say this is just a rumor?’

According to her personnel file, Namia didn’t have a lover.

So from her perspective, there wasn’t any reason not to marry him, was there?

‘She even said she desperately wanted to protect me during the assassination attempt. That means at the very least, she doesn’t hate me.’

Thinking through it logically, Kiaros gave his aide a glance.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

The aide hurried over, bowing slightly as if ready to take orders.

“What would you have me do?”

“That palace ceremony hall.”

The Imperial Ceremony Hall was beautiful and grand.

It was extremely popular among civil servants and nobles working in the palace.

As a matter of tradition, even royals got married there to signify their symbolic role as heads of the civil service.

So it made sense that the place was always fully booked, just like the officials had been saying.

“If I made a reservation now, how soon could the earliest ceremony be held? Go find out.”

“Yes, sir.”

The ever-loyal aide immediately left the room.

Kiaros sat tall and exhaled slowly.

‘Just in case. I need to be ready…’

First, he had to resolve the issue with the Empress and then quickly talk to Namia.

‘It really does seem like she’s the one. It’s just too many coincidences.’

As Kiaros mulled this over, the trial was finally about to begin. The Minister of Justice stood up.

“Then let us begin the trial.”

Everyone rose once more and bowed toward him.

Only Fron had been digging in her ear and got up belatedly, glancing around.

“Huh? We’re standing again? Why do we keep sitting and standing?”

Kiaros sighed inwardly.

There wasn’t a hint of tension in her.

She wore the look of someone who didn’t care if she lived or died.

‘…Sigh.’

He understood Fron’s loyalty.

She had always rejected the position of Empress, claiming she wasn’t suited for it.

The one who had begged her to accept, saying it was fine to live as her true self, was the Emperor.

‘So no one has the right to say she doesn’t belong in that role.’

Fron didn’t perform any of the traditional duties of an Empress.

She had never shown interest in managing the palace, something expected of a royal.

She never involved herself in high society or politics either.

‘But it was fine, since the Empress seat had been vacant for so long anyway.’

If not for Fron, the position would’ve remained empty.

Everything had functioned smoothly even without her participation.

‘And the reason she acts that way is probably…’

Kiaros’s eyes deepened.

Meanwhile, the trial officially began.

To tear her down, the noble jurors wore smug expressions on their faces.

‘In the end, I’m the only one who can save Fron today. There will be backlash, but still…’

Even the Minister of Justice, who had once thought favorably of Fron, looked half-resigned.

Just recently, a staff member from the Justice Department’s escort team had committed suicide.

The department was in turmoil and couldn’t easily take her side.

“Let me restate the case.”

The Minister of Justice outlined the incident, focusing on the facts for the audience.

Then the witness, Osone , took the floor.

“I had seen Her Majesty several times in that back alley. Then the evening before last, I overheard a conversation between Her Majesty and the shopkeeper about what she had purchased.”

The man, head of the Scroll Management Department’s inventory team, addressed the audience.

“As just an ordinary citizen, reporting Her Majesty was no easy thing. I agonized over whether I should pretend I hadn’t seen anything.”

Osone heaved a dramatic sigh, wearing the most solemn expression he could muster.

“But as a public servant who works for the royal family, I felt a sense of duty. So yesterday afternoon, I reported it. The shopkeeper told me the time Her Majesty was scheduled to visit again.”

The crowd looked at Osone with admiration.

Wiping away tears, he continued.

“I know His Highness the Crown Prince isn’t particularly fond of our Scroll Management Department. So I also wanted to use this chance to prove our loyalty.”

Kiaros clicked his tongue inwardly.

For him to say all that in public…

‘When this is over, he’ll be cursed at from every direction.’

Not that Kiaros was the kind of person to avoid handing down discipline just because of public backlash.

Still sniffling, Osone kept going.

“The poison Her Majesty was purchasing, who it was meant for—”

“Please, the witness should stick to objective facts.”

The Minister of Justice quickly cut him off. Though the audience had clearly guessed what was coming next.

“Yes… Anyway, the shopkeeper said Her Majesty was actively seeking poisons to which royals have no natural resistance… sniff…”

Osone finally broke down into sobs and couldn’t continue.

“Alright, the witness may be seated.”

The Minister of Justice, now thoroughly resigned, turned to Fron.

“Your Majesty, is there anything you’d like to correct?”

“Nope.”

Fron scratched her cheek.

“Everything he said was true.”

“…Forgive me, but Your Majesty, even royals are required to speak formally in court.”

“Got it.”

“Your Majesty?”

“I said I got it. I’ll speak—ah! I mean… I shall use formal speech… from now on.”

Kiaros gave up hope then and there.

At this rate, Fron was going to become nothing but a laughingstock.

“Then, Your Majesty, may I ask why you were acquiring those poisons? Could you answer honestly?”

Neither the Minister of Justice nor Kiaros held any hope by now.

Just like yesterday, she would remain silent, and things would spiral out of control.

But then—

“Mm.”

Huh?

Surprised by this unexpected development, Kiaros frowned.

He had assumed she’d stay silent, like the day before.

“No, actually. I’ll answer honestly.”

Fron suddenly straightened her back and sat up confidently.

Out of nowhere, her brown eyes—until now devoid of any sense of crisis—fixed on someone in the crowd.

No one else seemed to notice, but Kiaros had known Fron long enough not to miss her gaze.

Where she was looking was…

‘Namia Roapia?’