The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 54

 

“No, M-Minister, what brings you here…”

The first person to greet the Finance Minister in the Scroll Department’s office was Anastasia.

Anastasia Cayenne.

A ninth-year civil servant with a shy personality.

The team leader who’d been mocked by Education Department officials earlier at the café.

“I-If you had summoned us, w-we would’ve come to you…”

One of the two team leader positions in the Scroll Department was meant for Senior Victor Arwin.

‘He’s been on an overseas assignment for a while, but he’ll be back soon. I sent a request for early return this morning…’

The other was appointed to Anastasia Cayenne. She was unremarkable in all the right ways.

She had a small flaw of occasionally reading romance novels with questionable titles during work hours…

Even now, she hastily hid a book titled “The Super-Hot Boss Is Actually Hiding His Identity.”

But that could be solved with more workload.

“W-Would you like some c-coffee?”

Still, she was doing her best as a team leader.

She’d stood up for herself at the café, and now she was facing the sudden arrival of the Finance Minister.

The Minister asked in disbelief,

“Coffee? What, do I not have hands or feet?”

Anastasia rolled her eyes and asked,

“T-Then would you like c-coffee powder and hot w-water?”

“What? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“You s-said you had hands, s-so…”

There was a reason Anastasia kept bringing up coffee.

Oson had made her fetch coffee daily, even though she wasn’t on his team.

Simply because her desk was close to the pantry.

[Ahem, I’m sleepy. Anastasia, coffee!]

[W-What? M-Me?]

[Are there two Anastasias here?]

[But I joined through the same civil exam and do the same work, a-and I’m not even on your team…]

Her own team leader would chime in too.

[Then bring mine too, Anastasia!]

Even a passing Minister once called out,

[Mine as well, Anasteen!]

[M-My name is Anastasia, not Anasteen…]

[Too long. I’ll call you Coffeetashia from now on. Haha, Coffeetashia!]

And so, Anastasia ended up fetching coffee for her team leader and the Minister every day.

Unaware of that, the Finance Minister clicked his tongue.

“Do I look like someone desperate for a cup of coffee?”

“T-Then…”

She trembled.

“W-We also have green tea powder… a-always on hand…”

“What even are you?”

“Thank you for asking my identity, sir. I’m Anastasia Cayenne, newly appointed head of the administrative team.”

Hm?

Anastasia suddenly stopped stuttering.

I tilted my head, but the Finance Minister waved his hand.

“Forget that. Where’s the Scroll Department Minister?”

From inside the Minister’s office, I watched the scene closely.

Beside me, Keyvon tilted his head and muttered,

“He’s a Minister himself. Does he not know that the Minister would be in their own office?”

“….”

“…sir?”

That’s the problem with foreigners. His Imperial language still seemed rough.

I shook my head and answered,

“No, Keyvon. What he means is ‘Minister, come out here immediately.’”

“Huh?”

“Can’t be helped. I’ll interpret. Come with me.”

“…You’re saying you’ll interpret Imperial for me?”

“Yeah.”

I led the confused Keyvon out of the office.

The tall, dignified-looking Finance Minister stood with a document in hand, looking triumphant.

“Hello, Minister. Please come in.”

In terms of seniority, I was far below him.

He strode confidently into the Minister’s office.

I bowed politely and gave a quick explanation.

“Pardon me, but this young man is an intern. He’s not yet fluent in Imperial, but he’s eager to learn. I’ll interpret the more difficult parts. I’ll write everything down so the conversation won’t be hindered. Is that alright?”

“That’s fine.”

I held a notepad in my palm, facing only Keyvon.

He still looked confused.

The Minister began sternly,

“Frankly, it’d be better for us to speak privately.”

“Oh, yes.”

I wrote quickly so Keyvon could understand:

I’m about to crush you.

Keyvon’s eyes widened.

I smiled sweetly and replied,

“It’s fine for my intern to stay.”

“Well, then do as you like.”

The Minister continued gruffly.

“First of all, I’m a man of principle, let that be clear.”

I don’t like you.

“I reviewed the budget request you sent this morning and found some issues.”

I’ve been eagerly waiting all morning for you to make a mistake.

“Doesn’t seem malicious, just a basic error.”

You’re unfit to be a Minister.

“Budget handling is serious. Mistakes can lead to embezzlement charges and immediate dismissal. You know that, right? You’d lose your civil servant status.”

I scared you with the ‘man of principle’ line, but if you resign quietly, I’ll let this go.

“I came in person out of respect for your position.”

Let’s settle this quietly.

As I finished interpreting, Keyvon’s face remained puzzled.

This must’ve been a humbling moment for him to reflect on his lack of Imperial fluency.

“Now, the mistake you made…”

As the Minister flipped a page in the document—

I slowly opened my mouth.

“You’re referring to the surplus balance line on the second row of the disbursement sheet, correct?”

“…Hmm?”

Correct. But seeing you already knew that makes me uneasy. This might not go how I planned.

Having completed the last interpretation, I set the memo aside. That was the end of today’s Imperial lesson.

I smiled brightly and said,

“I’ve been expecting you, Minister.”

***

[Don’t worry, Mom. At this rate, rapid promotion is guaranteed.]

After getting hired, Juan would proudly say this during every dinner.

[Our Minister doesn’t care about status. He values merit above all.]

[But you’re a baron’s son… There are viscount kids in your department too, right? Even some from count families?]

Most palace officials came from lower nobility or commoners.

But occasionally, the truly exceptional—those raised with a deep sense of honor—came from high-ranking houses.

[My Minister is Marquis Arwin. To him, a baron or viscount is all the same.]

The Finance Minister was one such person.

Heir to a marquisate, yet still devoted to public service.

The Finance Department was a core agency—even the Imperial family tread carefully around it. Its Minister held more sway than other ministers.

‘Naturally. They control the budget.’

So to hold the title of Finance Minister as a high-ranking noble was to command immense prestige.

[He already remembered my name from my reports. That means I’ve caught his eye.]

Juan had boasted about it.

The problem was, all those reports had been written by me.

Juan would always bring home his documents and dump them on me.

[He pays close attention to who drafts the initial reports. Even my supervisor can’t steal credit.]

Hearing that always left me conflicted.

Not because Juan so shamelessly claimed my work as his own.

I’d gotten used to being robbed of credit since our academy days.

No, it was because… I found myself wishing our department’s Minister was like that.

But now…

Looking at the Finance Minister standing before me, I smiled even brighter.

The day to use all those moments has finally come.