The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 76

I hurried to respond.

“Deceiving me, Your Majesty? Not at all. And Keyvon isn’t ill-natured—he just has poor adaptability.”

“Look at that unbothered face. You’re saying he’s not ill-natured?”

Keyvon stood straight and silent, as always.

Despite the Empress’s sudden theatrics, he didn’t even seem surprised.

Being so polite yet coming off as insolent—that too was a skill.

“He’s simply not fluent in the Imperial language or familiar with Imperial customs. I’m teaching him myself.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Honestly, I thought he was a rude little bastard at first, too.”

Keyvon turned to me with an expression of disbelief. The betrayal in his eyes was so palpable that it startled me more.

‘You acted like that in the beginning and still thought I had a good impression of you?’

Meanwhile, the Empress continued glaring at Keyvon in dissatisfaction. Her expression said her “gut” didn’t like him.

But perhaps even she wasn’t sure if that gut feeling worked on foreigners—she tilted her head uncertainly.

“Even so, he’s now the aide who knows me best. That alone says how much I trust him.”

“Hmph, alright then.”

The Empress smacked her lips and muttered.

“But I still feel the itch. Look at him. You can tell just by looking—he’s no joke. Can’t I just spar with him once?”

“Your Majesty, please…”

I ended up giving her a pleading look.

The Empress sighed deeply and shook her head.

“Namia, when you look at me like that… ugh.”

She blew a puff upward to move her bangs and finally rehung her warhammer on the wall.

Seeing the chance, I gave her a formal bow.

“Regardless, thank you for the honor, Your Majesty.”

Time to get Keyvon out of this room.

In workplace terms, ‘thank you’ meant: I’m leaving now.

“This is my first time trying on a boutique gown. I’m very grateful for the generous treatment.”

Until now, I’d always worn off-the-rack dresses. Even the accessories I used were fake gems.

Jayden tilted his head.

“Why’s it your first time? Don’t civil servant salaries pay well?”

“Well… my adoptive parents are worse than beasts, and they take all my wages.”

“You’re good at scrolls, right? Why not make some light-up scrolls on the side and sell them on the black market? You could at least afford basic boutique clothes.”

“Ah.”

I answered politely.

“According to Article 2, Clause 3 of the Imperial Civil Service Code, civil servants are prohibited from holding side jobs.”

“Huh? Who even follows that? Everyone does it on the sly. Reden used to sell his own textbooks at bookstores.”

“I follow it.”

Jayden stared at me, clearly surprised.

The Empress burst into laughter and waved her hand.

“That’s so Namia. That’s exactly why I liked you at first sight.”

She spoke roughly but looked at me with warmth.

That gaze of approval was almost too intense.

Then, she barked an order to the boutique staff, who were still trembling.

“Anyway, let’s try on the next dress. You brought lots, right? Let’s see the others.”

Spreading her legs confidently, the Empress grinned.

Then she spoke in a low, cool voice, with all the flair in the world:

“I’ll buy everything in here for you.”

I brought my hands together politely and said,

“That’s not necessary, Your Majesty. Madam’s eye for fashion is excellent—I believe her first recommendation suits me best.”

“Oh, come on, Namia! I could buy a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand of these! Don’t be shy—try more on!”

She flung the catalog at me.

I responded politely.

“According to Article 3, Clause 1 of the High Civil Official Code, ministers may not accept goods or favors from royalty or associated parties.”

“…What?”

“I’ll purchase this dress and jewelry myself. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to meet such a renowned designer.”

Even though Madam had whispered, “She looks like she’ll pay for it,” I’d never intended to accept the Empress’s gifts.

I stayed quiet because, as a minister, I could afford something like this.

‘After not buying anything nice for so long, I’m finally going to splurge—with my own money!’

The Empress blinked slowly in shock.

Then she stood up abruptly, dumbfounded.

“What did you just say?! Namia, you’re the savior of my family! You helped me, the Crown Prince, and even Jayden—yet you won’t accept a few dresses?!”

“Yes.”

I replied, face utterly composed.

“Accepting valuables is not allowed.”

“Th-Then how about some jewelry—”

“That’s not allowed either.”

“Even just a single earring!”

“Apologies. Still no.”

I declined firmly and added with determination:

“I absolutely cannot afford to lose this ministerial position.”

No disciplinary action! I would be the most squeaky-clean minister in history!

“Good grief…”

Jayden groaned dramatically.

“If my brother tries to win her over with gifts, she’s not gonna budge…”

“Right? I got a ton of stuff from His Majesty.”

“Really?”

“Swords, dual axes, shields, helmets… Gift-giving is such a clear way to express emotion.”

The Empress looked flustered for once, then turned abruptly to Keyvon.

“You say you’re the aide who knows Namia best? Then tell me—what can we gift her?”

“Nothing.”

Keyvon said with a completely straight face.

“The Minister is power-hungry, but scrupulously honest.”

Jayden clicked his tongue and sighed.

Realizing bribery was futile, the young prince made one last desperate attempt.

“Don’t forget, Namia—you have to go with the first man who asks to escort you. Got it?”

“Ah, well.”

I nodded easily.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

****

In the end, Keyvon escaped the Empress’s chamber without having to spar. Thank heavens.

[What?! So the Crown Prince likes a civil servant and still can’t even give her a gift?! Does that make sense?!]

She was so mentally shocked by my refusal of gifts that she completely forgot about Keyvon.

“Whew, that was close. Avoid Her Majesty for a while.”

I walked quickly, and after a moment, Keyvon asked quietly,

“…Do you dislike the Crown Prince that much?”

“No, I don’t dislike him. We’re just not close.”

“Then why did you look so reluctant when His Highness mentioned the escort?”

“Ah…”

I thought I hadn’t shown it, but I guess it was obvious?

Scratching my cheek, I replied,

“To be honest… I kind of want to make my entrance alone.”

“…What?”

“There’s no rule that says I have to bring a partner.”

Crown Prince Kiaros always entered alone. There were often others who came solo as well.

Jayden clearly wanted me to partner with Kiaros, but my real feelings were…

“I want all the attention on me.”

The reflection in the mirror showed someone truly stunning.

“I want to hear them announce the Scroll Minister’s entrance…”

This ball would be my first official appearance since being appointed minister.

If I entered with Kiaros, his status would eclipse mine.

“I want to enjoy being the minister for once.”

My eyes burned with fire.

“I want people to turn and stare and think, ‘How did she rise so fast?’”

When I declared this, Keyvon’s jaw dropped. Then he mumbled in disbelief,

“You really… You really say things I could never predict.”

“Well, you’re kind of the same.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Come on. Most people, when ambushed, say, ‘Aack!’ or something.”

“…Minister, did you really just say, ‘Most people would say this.’? You?”

We arrived at the office, walking side by side, just then.

“…Ah.”

I stopped mid-step, carefully avoiding the broken remains of the door the Empress had shattered.

Keyvon, following behind, also furrowed his brow and halted.

“Namia?”

was an unexpected visitor in the office.

“Ah, no. I should call you Minister now, shouldn’t I? Still, before that…”

Light brown, wavy hair. Pale sky-blue eyes. Tanned skin and a large build.

Eyes curved like crescent moons, lips drawn in a soft arc.

“Congrats on the lightning-fast promotion, junior.”

It was Victor Arwin—who I didn’t expect until at least tomorrow.