The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 31

Break time was nearly over.

I re-entered the courtroom with a growing sense of anxiety. The Empress and the Crown Prince had yet to return.

‘Ugh, this is the worst.’

My wrist still throbbed where Howard had grabbed it.

‘Baron Roapia… he’s truly rotten to the end…’

I had already left home.

And yet he hadn’t retracted his claim that he would marry me off.

‘They always manage to be even worse than I imagine.’

It wasn’t hard to resolve. I just hadn’t dealt with it yet because I was too busy.

And it’s not like I had no way of sticking it to them. I hadn’t stormed out without some kind of plan.

But then that intern suddenly appeared. It was an unexpected development.

[‘I thought that department was a mess. I didn’t think there was anything to learn there. It was never because I disliked you.’]

Amazingly, the intern was more thoughtful than I’d expected.

I almost felt bad for ranting to Luka about him.

‘His pronunciation was fluent, but I misjudged him for not following conversation cues well…’

Maybe that slightly rude tone and the way he boldly declared he was leaving before the end of the workday—it was just because he was a foreigner.

‘Well, I mean, he’s from some weird country where asking how someone feels about marrying the Crown Prince is just a casual greeting.’

I had to give Kiaros the original story information.

Because of that unique situation, I had answered, “Of course I would marry him.”

‘But normally, no matter how high-ranking the guy is, you wouldn’t just marry someone you barely know, right?’

The more I thought about it, the weirder that culture seemed. But I tried not to show how thrown off I was, respecting cultural relativism.

‘Judging another country’s culture is rude.’

Still, if I were in a position where I could speak a bit more comfortably with Kiaros—like a minister or something…

‘Of course I’d reject him outright.’

My dad always taught me marriage should be with someone you love.

‘But seriously, is there a country where they just toss around the Crown Prince’s future like that? What kind of place is he even from?’

I didn’t know which country he was from. Honestly, I hadn’t cared.

But now I thought I’d better check the official documents later.

I was finally becoming a little curious about that intern.

[‘Anyway, if I return, I’d like to learn a lot from you.’]

He wanted to learn a lot from me?

Even though he couldn’t properly speak the Imperial language, he seemed more passionate about his work than I’d thought.

‘Well, I guess that’s how he ended up here as an intern despite being a foreigner.’

If I ever met him again, I’d have to treat him a little differently.

I’d keep him close and really teach him everything from A to Z, earnestly.

‘Hmm? Does that mean I’ll just roll him around like I originally intended?’

As I seriously pondered that, I let out a soft snort.

Not that I thought we’d ever meet again.

‘Well… he does have a good body though…’

I was spacing out, thinking about the intern, when someone grabbed my arm again.

For a moment, I seriously considered sticking a “DO NOT TOUCH” label on my arm.

But this time, the voice was familiar.

“Namia.”

“Come out for a second. Quickly. Quick!”

Urgent whispers and nervous, darting eyes.

A familiar yet surprising face.

It was Osone, who had been fidgeting on the prosecution bench the whole trial.

‘What the hell is this…?’

I stared in disbelief.

‘That face… it’s the face of someone about to shove a dirty job on me.’

A situation I’d grown sick of over the past three years and seven months. When he suddenly dumped some unreasonable task on me just to cover his own mess.

Normally, I’d instinctively put on an annoyed expression.

But this time was different.

‘Actually, this is perfect! Let’s hear what he has to say!’

Without a word, I let Osone pull me to my feet.

He hurriedly dragged me out of the courtroom.

Then he led me down a hallway where no one else was around.

“Namia.”

Osone’s eyes were more unsettled than ever.

Breathing shakily, he said,

“You know, right? That I care about you?”

“…Excuse me?”

I nearly fainted in shock at those words I’d never heard before.

“I’ve always looked out for you, haven’t I?”

“…What?”

“Honestly, I’ve always thought highly of your abilities. I just didn’t say it because I’m shy.”

“Whaaaat?”

“I know how talented you are. You’re incredibly skilled. I’ve always had my eye on you. Looking for the chance to support you and help you use your talents to the fullest.”

“Whaaaaaat?”

Suddenly, all those things Osone had always said—like ‘Don’t try to stand out,’ or ‘If you weren’t good enough to get into the Tower, just live quietly’—flashed through my mind.

Still, I blinked innocently and pretended not to remember.

“So, Namia…”

“Whaaaaaaaat?”

“You know I’ve always treated you specially and looked out for you, right?”

Now even his hands were shaking as he pleaded with me.

It was the first time I’d ever seen that kind of earnest expression on him.

“For the sake of our history together, help me out. Please?”

Our history…

Three years and seven months of unwavering consistency…

Of course, I remembered those days fondly.

Even the last conversation we had yesterday.

[‘His Highness the Crown Prince said he would review the documents, so I wanted to revise the draft just in case…’]

[‘Tsk, how stupid. This is why you’re no good. Huh? Do you think His Highness has time to review documents right now? Namia, can’t you read the room?’]

Sigh.

‘Why can’t our team leader read the room for once…’

I swallowed down everything I wanted to say.

And put on my usual blank expression.

Osone glanced around and whispered,

“Namia, make me a teleport scroll. Right now.”

What he asked for was totally unexpected.

I’d thought, at worst, he’d try to force me to testify falsely.

But a teleport scroll?

I blinked in surprise, and he pressed me harder.

“A teleport scroll! You can make one, right?”

His eyes were practically bulging now.

“Team Leader… suddenly asking for a teleport scroll…”

I was honestly stunned.

“They take forever to make, and frankly, walking 30 centimeters would be faster.”

Just like all scrolls, their actual physical effects weren’t that impressive.

It was literally quicker to walk than to use a teleport scroll.

“You can do it!”

Red-faced, Osone shouted.

“You made 166 defensive scrolls in one night, and you can’t do this?!”

Huh, so he did know it was impressive.

And yet he’d still yelled at me for showing off without having skills.

“I don’t even need to go far. Just get me outside the palace grounds. Please?”

Hmm?

I blinked and stared at him.

‘O-outside the palace?’

Asking me out of nowhere to bust him out of here.

Naturally, I didn’t have the skill to make a teleport scroll that powerful.

Even the Tower Lord probably couldn’t manage that.

Not that I could make it even if I wanted to—but his intent was obvious and completely absurd.

‘This guy… he’s planning to run during the trial!’

Clearly, Osone had something to hide.

Cowardly, petty, and rotten as he was, it seemed he really might be involved in the war plot.

He’d been suspicious ever since the accusation against the Empress, but still—it was wild.

“Namia, please! There’s not much break time left! You’ve always listened to me, haven’t you? Right? Haven’t I taught you well?”

Of course, that’s him being him, and this is me being me.

I had to stay true to our dynamic.

“Of course, Team Leader… I’ve learned so much from you…”

I nodded with a pitiful expression.

Just as Osone opened his squinty eyes wide and reached for my hand—

My weary voice continued.

“That I should stay quiet and not draw attention when I don’t have backing or skill… That I should never stick my neck out…”