The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 61

“Ah…”

Keyvon flinched noticeably.

Startled, I hurriedly let go of his hand.

‘My goodness. Imagine if Osone thought I held his hand.’

I got chills all over. I apologized in a panic.

“S-sorry. I’m really sorry. I’ve committed an unforgivable crime against an intern of all people. If you were uncomfortable, you’re welcome to report me. According to Article 42, Clause 8 of the Civil Service Act…”

“It’s fine.”

Keyvon shook his head immediately.

A brief awkward silence passed between us.

“Are you really okay? If you change your mind later, you can report me anytime. It’s my fault.”

“I’m fine.”

I found myself quietly staring up at Keyvon again.

Something I’d come to realize over several days of working overtime—Keyvon’s posture was impeccable.

Even after long hours of sitting, he never lost his composure.

‘Did he receive noble training back in his homeland? Even his outfit is always flawless.’

Once he was taught something, he’d sit upright and carry it out to perfection. His manner of speaking was still a bit stiff, but it suited his aloof image well.

He was almost always expressionless—never smiling or frowning. Except for the occasional flinch when I laughed, his face never changed.

That’s why I didn’t realize he was pushing himself to the point of getting a nosebleed…

‘But even after that, he said he wanted to keep working. He’s the real deal. There was a reason he stormed out of the Scroll Management Division on his first day.’

A chuckle slipped out against my will.

To think someone like him would show up as my intern during a time like this.

It felt like I could work him hard without even the slightest twinge of guilt.

‘Thanks to him, I might be able to save the suffering child just a little sooner.’

Keyvon, as always, stood there with an unreadable expression.

I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t stop my lips from curling up in joy and relief.

“You know what this means, right?”

I added with a beaming smile.

“That’s right, more overtime today…”

Only then did Keyvon’s face show a flicker of realization.

5. Jaden Polariwood’s Circumstances

Rumors had even reached the detached palace.

“Did you hear? His Highness the Crown Prince fell ill from heartbreak.”

“I heard the woman in question was Namia Roapia, the Scroll Minister.”

The palace maids, busy cleaning, whispered amongst themselves.

Just then, the door burst open with a bang.

“Don’t chatter while you’re cleaning.”

A boy with golden hair, shining like sunlight, had entered. He was only eight years old, short and still adorably chubby in the cheeks.

It was Prince Jaden Polariwood, who resided in the detached palace.

“You’re disturbing my reading.”

But the child spoke with the sharpness of a blade.

“Just because a child is staying here, you think you can slack off and fool around while working?”

The servants immediately fell silent.

The detached palace, which once housed the young royals, was now occupied solely by Jaden.

Kiaros had also lived there during his childhood.

Though Kiaros had been a formidable figure even as a child, he had only expressed displeasure through his eyes. He never directly scolded others like this.

“Especially gossiping about adult scandals in front of a child. What am I supposed to learn from that? Would you like it if I told my brother that the servants were talking like that when he visits?”

“S-sorry, Your Highness. We were truly in the wrong.”

“You should be thankful I matured early and can tell what should and shouldn’t be said.”

Jaden lifted his chin haughtily.

Then he handed a letter to one of the maids.

“Deliver this to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Yes, Your Highness! I’ll deliver it immediately.”

The maid hurriedly accepted the letter.

Jaden, slamming the door shut once more, returned to his book.

He frowned slightly as he opened it.

“My brother got dumped?”

His puffed-up cheeks made his muttering seem even sulkier.

“What in the world… Who is this woman, anyway…”

He internally repeated the name “Namia Roapia.”

There was no time for further pondering—it was nearly time for class.

Soon, an official from the Ministry of Education entered.

“Good morning, Your Highness. Are you ready for your lesson?”

“Yes, Ridden.”

Ridden Hyael, the head of the Imperial Education Team within the Ministry of Education, was a viscount by birth.

He was in charge of Jaden’s entire education.

He was also one of the few adults Jaden felt comfortable around.

“Did you write a reply to Her Majesty the Empress, just like I advised last time?”

“Yeah.”

Jaden answered while flipping open his book.

“I just sent it.”

“Well done.”

Ridden grinned warmly.

***

“Look at this.”

After spending three full days sorting through only the scroll inventory records of the detached palace with Keyvon, I finally showed him the finished report.

“The scroll inventory records from the detached palace—they’re definitely suspicious, right?”

Keyvon’s expression grew grave. He furrowed his brow as he scanned the documents.

“…They’re definitely strange.”

“Right? I’ve had a bad feeling about this for a while.”

“Then why didn’t you raise it earlier?”

“I did.”

I shrugged and muttered.

“I reported it to Team Leader Osone, and got scolded for making trouble. Same with the other team leaders.”

“Then above them…”

“I couldn’t say anything more than ‘Hello’ to the Minister. Someone like me, a bottom-ranker, she couldn’t even be bothered to speak to.”

“And above that…”

“Above who?”

“……”

“I can’t even say ‘Hello’ to a royal, so what do you expect?”

But things were different now.

Now I could say “Hello,” and even “I need to talk to you,” to a royal.

I gathered the documents.

“Anyway, if even you find it strange, I’m going to make a report.”

“Report to whom…?”

“To Her Majesty the Empress, of course. She’s the prince’s mother.”

Keyvon’s expression turned subtle at that.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke.

“But the relationship between them… uh, and will Her Majesty really be able to handle something like this…”

Hmm. Did Keyvon see the Empress during her old court hearings?

If so, it made sense he’d be concerned.

“Then where else should I go? I can’t bring something like this to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“What about His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Ah…”

Still, it made more sense to bring this matter to the Empress.

Because there was a misunderstanding between Jaden and the Empress that needed to be resolved.

Of course, I couldn’t reveal I knew this because of the original story, so I made up an excuse.

“His Highness the Crown Prince would definitely be helpful, but… he’s in seclusion, and I don’t want to trouble him.”

Just as I stood to leave, saying I’d go see the Empress—

Keyvon suddenly stood up with me.

“Um… then I’d like to request early leave.”

“Hm? Sure.”

He had worked hard all this time. I approved his early leave immediately.

After a polite bow, Keyvon quickly exited the office.

Left alone in the Minister’s Office, I straightened my clothes.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen Her Majesty.’

The Empress had often invited me to visit.

[Come by anytime! I don’t have any friends, so I’m always bored alone!]

So it felt like now was a good time to go.

After summoning a servant to deliver a visitation letter to the Empress, I leisurely left the office.

As soon as I stepped out, Anastasia sprang to her feet.

She moved so fast that the book on her desk—The Double Life of My Secretary—toppled over. She clearly had a taste for workplace romance novels.

“Mi-Mi-Minister? W-would you like some c-coffee?”

“No thanks. But I’ll take a cup when I come back.”

I didn’t want to make Anastasia brew coffee, but she had already made it a habit.

Every morning she would carefully grind the beans and keep hot water ready at all times.

To show my appreciation for her effort, I’d accept a cup now and then.

“A-a-and, w-when is Victor coming…?”

“Oh, I heard he’s coming back to work in three days. Why?”

“I-I, um, I-I’m not very good at handling things… I thought it’d be helpful… if Victor were here…”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll be off now.”

After that short exchange, I headed to the Empress’s chambers.

“Namiiaaa! You came! What’s the matter? Huh? You’ve been so busy you’ve been neglecting me!”

Hmm?

To my surprise, the Empress wasn’t alone.

Startled, I froze in place.

“I have a guest here, but it’s fine, right?”

Why is Kiaros in the Empress’s room?