The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 87

“Huh? Why?”

“Your complexion just seems…”

“It’s nothing. Just a little indigestion.”

As I answered, Keyvon’s brows furrowed slightly.

We hadn’t even made it into the Minister’s office yet when—bang!—the door to the Scroll Division burst open.

“Namiaaaaa! It’s finally tomorrow!”

It was Jayden again—he’d been stopping by the Scroll Division daily these days. His wide eyes flicked to Keyvon, who was standing unusually close to me, and immediately narrowed in suspicion.

“Hey.”

Jayden looked up at Keyvon, his tone sharp and accusatory.

“Aren’t you even a little sick?”

“No.”

“You’re not nervous or scared about attending the banquet either?”

“No.”

“Ugh, unbelievable. So you really are attending? Huh?”

“Yes.”

“You, of all people, being Namia’s partner… sigh.”

Keyvon kept his answers short and clipped, clearly not interested in engaging. At that, Victor, standing nearby, offered a friendly chuckle.

Lowering himself to Jayden’s eye level, he spoke kindly.

“Indeed, Your Highness. You must be quite upset, considering how much you care for Minister Namia.”

As always, Victor the social genius was kind to children too.

He practically radiated “experienced babysitter energy” as he smiled warmly and gently tried to soothe the boy.

“I was disappointed myself, you know. I was lining up to be Namia’s partner, too. But hey—this was her choice, and we have to respect that.”

He was good at defusing tension. But—

“And who the heck are you? Who said you could butt in? What do you mean, lining up?”

Jayden, of course, was no ordinary child.

“What’s with that dumb grin? Think that’s enough? Huh? Who said you could get in line? Looking like a big fuzzy bear… Get away from Namia. Now.”

“Y-Your Highness? Um…”

“Until Namia becomes my sister-in-law, I’m going to be impossible to deal with around any man near her. And since I’m still an immature child, none of you are allowed to scold me. Got that?”

Victor’s lips twitched with restraint.

Jayden had succeeded in completely throwing off this so-called mature adult. Then the boy turned his gaze back to me.

“During the St. Cairo Banquet, Her Majesty and I are going to stick right by Namia the whole time. Just so you know.”

I suppressed a laugh as I watched his haughty declaration.

And replied politely.

“Yes. I’m very much looking forward to the banquet as well.”

How could I not look forward to it?

Because I’m going to make sure Jayden’s special ability awakens at this banquet.

Jayden still hadn’t manifested his special power. Most children awakened theirs naturally at a much younger age.

In the original story, his ability didn’t emerge until adulthood—but I was determined to awaken it tomorrow.

Because I absolutely need that power to screw over the people pulling strings behind the scenes.

For many reasons, this banquet was critical.

Since I came to know the future, this would be the first time I publicly used my power before others.

Suppressing the persistent nausea, I clenched my jaw.#

***

That evening, after work.

After personally checking the scrolls in the warehouse one last time, I returned to the now-empty Scroll Division office.

On my desk sat a note in clean handwriting from Keyvon:

“If it gets worse, please go to the hospital.”

Along with it were bottles—bottles—of digestive medicine.

“W-what the…”

He must’ve gone out to get them at some point. There were so many kinds, the entire desk was covered with just about every digestive remedy in the Empire.

***

That night, deep in the imperial palace.

Following an aide, Kiaros descended into the underground prison.

“Kiieeeek, kyaaak, kyaaak!”

A newborn monster cub shrieked and thrashed violently. At the cell, a Crow agent greeted Kiaros.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

“…That one just born?”

“Yes. The mother didn’t show any unique traits, but the cub manifested rare magical energy.”

Kiaros stared at the young creature, his face unreadable.

“Additionally, after injecting the mother with a special drug, we observed reactions in the cub. Even post-separation, the experiment results remain linked.”

“Kyaaaargh! Kreeeek! Kaaaaah!”

The moment it saw Kiaros, the cub shrieked with intense hostility.

“What about the other specimens?”

“There are none like this one. It’s as if someone purposely left only this one behind. Which is strange—it doesn’t seem like a failure.”

“In that case, nothing else to gain from it.”

Having heard enough, Kiaros slowly drew a dagger from his coat.

Without hesitation, he threw it through the bars.

The cub died instantly, not even letting out a final cry.

“Eliminate the mother, too.”

His voice was cold.

“They’re too dangerous to keep alive.”

Turning with no change in expression, he paused as if remembering something.

“Ah, for mild indigestion… digestive medicine is fine, right?”

“Usually, yes.”

One of the Crows—who had earlier been ordered by the crown prince to collect every digestive medicine from the palace pharmacy—answered dutifully.

Kiaros muttered, visibly concerned.

“…You don’t think it’s a sign of something worse, do you? She’s been furrowing her brow every two hours and ten minutes, and her mouth droops about 0.2 degrees lower than usual.”

“…”

“Maybe I should’ve hospitalized her in the palace infirmary the moment she said her stomach was upset… No, it’s not too late. I should send the palace physician to her house right now…”

“…”

“Be honest. This is a serious issue.”

“…In that case, Your Highness, I recommend you see the palace physician.”

The Crow, dressed in black, answered with solemn concern.

“For severe health anxiety about others.”

“…”

****

The next day.

The day of the St. Cairo Banquet.

Leaving preparations to the team leads, I returned home after the final check.

“Minister! Hurry, hurry! You’re going to be late!”

The dressmaker staff were waiting for me at the house.

I didn’t have any maids dedicated to grooming or makeup—just one for household chores—so I’d asked the atelier to help me get dressed.

“Are you doing some kind of experiment with digestive medicine?”

One of them asked as she stared at the vanity crowded with bottles.

“I didn’t even know this many kinds existed…”

“Honestly, neither did I…”

I had brought home all the medicines Keyvon left me.

I still remembered that one night back in the Roapia barony—after eating stew for the first time in a while and throwing up all night—when I desperately wished I had just one of those bottles.

Just seeing all these now comforted the part of me that was still that little girl.

“Anyway, your fitting went perfectly. Everything should be just right!”

The staff began dressing and grooming me with practiced hands.

Given the price of the dress and jewelry, their attitude was incredibly courteous.

“You bought this with your salary? You’re a literal role model.”

“I thought dresses like this only came as inheritances or gifts!”

Apparently, I was the first client they’d seen who bought such a high-end dress with her own paycheck.

These dresses weren’t even priced for working folk.

“You’re right. I probably didn’t deserve to wear something like this until now.”

“Oh—sorry if that was rude—”

“No, it’s wonderful. I feel like I’m floating. I’ve definitely moved up in the world, and I don’t even have to say ‘thank you’ to anyone for it. That’s the best part.”

Nothing beats the freedom of buying things with your own hard-earned money.

As I admired my reflection in the mirror, I widened my eyes with satisfaction.

“Make me look like a young and rich self-made woman. Put the most expensive jewels in front.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

As they styled my hair, one of them asked playfully,

“Any fun motivation you can give us? Like an ex-lover showing up?”

“Oh, no exes… but…”

I let my eyes drift thoughtfully.

“There is a man coming—one who pushed me to the back of his priorities when I needed him most. But now that I’m partnering with someone else tonight, he suddenly feels hurt.”

Just then, the sole housemaid came running over and handed me a letter.

“Miss, urgent message! It just arrived!”

“Oh?”

The envelope was from Keyvon.