The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 42

“Hahahahahaha!”

The Tower Lord burst out in boisterous laughter.

Then he looped an arm around the sulking Minister of Justice’s and pulled him upright.

“Well then! Minister of Justice, time to get back to whatever you were doing! I must’ve interrupted you, huh? Hahahaha! I’ll escort you back to where you came from!”

Come to think of it, this all did start with the Tower Lord’s unannounced intrusion, which brought the Minister of Justice here in the first place.

We’d all just… kind of forgotten.

The Tower Lord happily hoisted the Minister of Justice over his shoulder like he weighed nothing. The man was truly a powerhouse, even in his old age.

“I’ll just drop this guy off and come right back! I still have a few things to discuss with Miss Namia Roaphie—no, the Minister of the Scroll Division! Wait for me a moment!”

Before the Minister could even protest, the Tower Lord had slung him over like a sack of potatoes and marched out of the Empress’s chambers.

Only the rest of us and the aide remained.

“Whew.”

The Emperor let out a quiet sigh, still gently holding the Empress’s hand.

“It feels like a storm has just passed.”

I agreed. My head was still spinning from everything.

I carefully nodded while my gaze wandered to their clasped hands.

A middle-aged couple, yet still so affectionate with each other.

Honestly, it looked like the Emperor had gotten just a little jealous when the Empress high-fived the Tower Lord earlier.

‘Baron Roaphie and his wife only ever fought over money…’

Having never seen my own parents get along, this was honestly kind of fascinating.

The Emperor must have noticed my gaze, because he spoke with mild embarrassment.

“Ah, well… truth is, beastkin tend to be a little… obsessive about their mates.”

Ah, yes. That was mentioned in the original novel too.

The Emperor squeezed the Empress’s hand tighter as he continued.

“So forgetting one’s first love… that’s truly difficult for a beastkin. I really tried, but in the end, I couldn’t.”

“Kkhyahhk, kkhahahk, kihihihihahk!”

The Empress, clearly embarrassed by the cheesy line, violently smashed her teacup. The aide’s job had just gotten harder.

“In that sense…”

Not knowing how to respond, I just nervously glanced around, but the Emperor smiled warmly and continued.

“Namia Roaphie, your official appointment as Minister will proceed soon… but before that.”

Before that?

Was there more?

Unable to contain his excitement, the Emperor turned to Kiaros.

“Kiaros, isn’t there something you haven’t said yet?”

Unlike the excited Emperor, Kiaros remained perfectly calm.

“Yes. There is. I’ll say it now.”

He nodded with the same composed expression he always wore.

“Namia Roaphie.”

The Emperor and Empress squeezed each other’s hands nervously.

Kiaros, in contrast, was as unshaken as ever. He asked with his usual perfectly measured tone,

“Do you remember the price you requested when you saved me back then?”

****

Kiaros sipped his tea amid the chaos.

A lot had happened in the meantime, but his business with Namia wasn’t over yet.

He already had a good idea of how she’d respond.

[“I want to marry a man with tons and tons and tons of money!”]

Fifteen years ago, little Namia had declared that.

[“But I wouldn’t marry some gross old man just for money!”]

Even now, she’d said she preferred someone her age—no matter how wealthy.

And when he’d asked a casual question out of just a little curiosity…

[“Well, if it were Your Highness… considering my current situation, I suppose I would marry you…”]

Basically, the answer was already obvious. There was no reason to be nervous.

Everything would unfold rationally, just as he expected.

“Uuugh… hrrrngk.”

“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, Fron. Nghh. I’m just… nervous…”

While the Emperor fidgeted, Kiaros glanced at Namia.

‘She’s smart and competent. She’d make an excellent addition to the royal family.’

He and Namia would make a fine match. Even as future Empress, she’d likely be outstanding at managing domestic affairs.

And honestly… she did seem to have a healthy appetite for power.

‘Just the way she eyed the Tower Lord’s position and the Minister post…’

So surely, she’d agree to be Crown Princess. Exactly as predicted.

Looking at Namia’s unreadable expression, Kiaros said calmly,

“You did say you’d grant anything I asked for.”

“Yes.”

“You said you wanted to marry a man with a lot of money.”

Her eyes looked a little blank.

Different from the fierce determination she’d shown over the Minister position. But Kiaros chose not to misjudge her.

Even someone like Kiborn Artes had a woman he cared for deeply.

“And among men your age, I’m probably the wealthiest.”

“Yes…”

“Knowing that, I’ve refrained from entering into any engagement.”

The Emperor was now gripping the Empress’s hand like a lifeline and breathing heavily.

“So, if you desire it… I would be willing to marry you.”

Kiaros elegantly sipped his tea again, completely unshaken.

“What do you say? Shall we get married?”

Hmm.

I blinked, staring at the perfectly sculpted Kiaros.

There was nothing logically wrong with anything he said.

‘Come to think of it, he did say he’d grant me anything I wanted. And I still went through all that struggle anyway?’

But seeing the bright, energetic Empress now… I didn’t regret a thing.

Helping someone wrongly accused was worth it on its own.

‘So… that’s why he never got engaged all this time…’

Back then, I’d been obsessed with my “Cinderella Operation.”

Since my debts were caused by marriage, why not pay them off with another one?

Dad had yelled at me for saying that. Said marriage should be for love.

‘Ha… honestly… none of Dad’s advice ever turned out well.’

I pondered for a moment.

After all, Dad also married for love, and it completely wrecked his life.

He always made good-hearted choices—and it always ended in disaster…

Should I really follow his last piece of advice?

‘If I married Kiaros now…’

Becoming Crown Princess and wielding that level of power sounded appealing.

Traveling as a VIP, eating delicious food, wearing fancy clothes—totally my style.

But then I imagined married life…

[“Consort, I believe it’s time we have a child.”]

[“Of course, Your Highness. I await your command and shall perform my best.”]

It’d be like living with my boss 24/7.

[“Consort, it’s time for a second child.”]

[“Understood. Please inform me of what was lacking last time so I may correct it.”]

It’d be a life with no off hours.

And most importantly—

‘He already promised to find Dad. And even if he committed a crime, they’ll spare his life…’

I no longer needed to win over the royal family.

‘Besides, I saved Kiaros twice. If he has a conscience, he’ll let my dad live no matter what crimes he committed.’

Honestly, if this had been just 30 minutes ago, I would’ve nodded eagerly at the prospect of becoming Crown Princess.

I needed more face time with Kiaros to give him intel about the original plot.

‘But now I’m the Minister! If I need to speak to him, I can just go straight to him! I’m not some bottom-feeder anymore!’

In short, marrying Kiaros wasn’t necessary for me anymore…

“Ah.”

And honestly, Kiaros didn’t seem to have any real feelings for me.

It wasn’t affection—it was just him “doing me a favor” by allowing me to marry him.

Which made sense.

He hadn’t even seen my face as a child, and this was only our second real conversation.

So I gave my answer, without hesitation.

“No.”

Clink—! Tink.

The Emperor, who’d been holding his breath with a kkkff, dropped his teacup.

The shattering sound of porcelain echoed through the room.