The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 88

I tore open the letter in a hurry.

Minister,
I’m sorry, but I suddenly fell very ill and will be unable to attend the banquet.
Since you said you were fine with going alone, I hope you won’t feel too bad.
Wishing you a wonderful evening.

He seemed totally fine just yesterday…

Despite all of Jayden’s provocations, Keyvon hadn’t once brought up canceling our partnership.

For him to suddenly back out right before the event—it was unlike him.

And precisely because it was so unlike him, I couldn’t help but worry. How sick must he be to do this?

I immediately wrote a reply and sent it with my maid.

Don’t worry and just rest. Like you said, I really don’t mind going alone.
But I am worried you might be in a lot of pain. I truly hope you’re okay.

The staff helping me get ready exchanged glances as they watched me write the letter.

“…So just to confirm… your partner bailed at the last second?”

“And that old flame of yours—the one who played mind games—is still attending?”

I nodded.

The staff rolled up their sleeves, their eyes burning with purpose.

“Take a seat, Minister. Right now!”

“We’re going to make sure you don’t look even remotely pitiful! You’ll be the most stunning person at that banquet!”

“More dazzling than the Crown Prince himself, we promise!”

That day…

I witnessed what true professional pride looked like.

*****

At the palace banquet hall where the St. Cairo Banquet was being held.

The newly remodeled venue was elegant and magnificent.

It was spacious and comfortable, though not very crowded—only those of high status were allowed to attend.

Before the banquet officially began, government officials bustled about preparing for the opening ceremony.

“The Scroll Division’s handling the opening ceremony, right?”

“I heard Her Majesty the Empress will be in attendance too.”

“All the royals have gathered for the first time in ages. Even His Majesty came back from the west.”

The Empress stood between Jayden and Kiaros, smiling.

Nearby, ministers who had arrived early were chatting as they stole glances at her.

“They even mobilized the Education Ministry for this?”

“Weren’t the employees furious? If it were my staff, they’d have caused a riot from feeling insulted.”

To their questions, the Education Minister merely smiled. But inside, he was seething.

The Scroll Division had requested assistance from the Education Ministry, and the selected officials had been furious. They were openly hoping the Minister would reject the request.

But…

“With Her Majesty and the Scroll Division’s undercover investigation recently exposing Liden, we have no choice but to play along.”

“But that was Team Leader Liden’s fault! It has nothing to do with us!”

“Just do what you’re told!”

A small sacrifice for the greater good was unavoidable.

The Education Ministry employees, now forced into this event, made no attempt to hide their displeasure.

The atmosphere in the department had been terrible for days.

“Still, don’t you think it’ll be impressive? Hehe… They say the Tower Master personally approved this minister. Maybe we’ll see some incredible magic?”

“Exactly. She must be confident to organize something like this. Seems like the Scroll Division isn’t what it used to be.”

A few ministers who didn’t object to Namia’s appointment were chatting excitedly.

“Did you see the initial budget the Finance Minister allocated? If he gave that much, there must be something to it.”

The Finance Minister himself wasn’t present.

As a high-ranking noble—Marquis Arwyn—he was off chatting with the Emperor.

The fact that someone with that kind of authority had given such generous funding to the Scroll Division was more than enough to get people talking.

“Well, we’ll know once the event starts.”

“We don’t know much about magic ourselves. For all we know, Namia might actually be a great fit as minister—at least for the Scroll Division.”

The Education Minister ground his teeth internally.

If this went well, the so-called “Tower Master’s parachute appointee” Namia would start getting a whole new kind of recognition.

She had to know that—which was why she’d planned such a grand event involving the royal family.

But I know what that wretch really is.

He recalled Namia’s smug, dismissive tone from their private meetings.

I did this for the Empire’s sake. I just couldn’t stand by and watch some lowborn deceiving everyone.

Staring at the Scroll Division staff working diligently in the distance, the Education Minister downed his wine.

This is the right path. I made this choice for the good of everyone.

According to his plan, today’s Scroll Division event would fall apart. Namia would be forced to resign as minister.

There might be a few unfortunate casualties, but such was the price for the greater good.

Today is the end. Namia Roapia, your arrogant little charade ends here.

The thought lifted his mood ever so slightly.

At last, he managed to fix his expression. Another minister turned to him.

“Well, if the Education Ministry agreed to help… you must like the Scroll Division Minister, no?”

“Hardly…”

He scoffed dismissively.

“I merely cooperated. I wouldn’t exchange a single word with that uncultured woman.”

“…Excuse me?”

“She’s utterly insignificant. I truly don’t understand why the Crown Prince would have any interest in someone like her.”

Just then—

“Lady Namia Roapia has arrived!”

A servant rang a bell and called out loudly at the entrance.

Many of the nobles had never seen Namia before. As she prepared to enter, she leaned toward the servant and whispered,

“I’m not attending as a baron’s daughter. Please announce it again.”

“O-oh… My deepest apologies. Presenting the Minister of the Scroll Division!”

Every eye in the room turned to her. Murmurs and quiet gasps spread throughout the hall.

Namia entered the banquet alone, her dress sparkling with elegance.

Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, her makeup refined, her jewelry perfectly matched…

With her upright posture and graceful gait, she instantly stole everyone’s attention.

“I get it now.”

One of the ministers beside the Education Minister murmured.

“I think it’s just because she’s beautiful. The reason’s obvious.”

Namia didn’t seem even slightly intimidated by the gazes.

If anything, she looked like she was enjoying them.

And among the crowd, one man stood frozen.

“Oh, she’s the new minister? What a beauty.”

“I heard the Roapia family went completely bankrupt. So the rumor that Namia cut ties with her parents must be true.”

Victor Arwyn was surrounded by noble ladies—contrary to the idea that she didn’t know anyone here.

The people around him whispered constantly.

“So she’s Victor’s boss?”

“Well, maybe temporarily. Surely Marquis Arwyn will pull Victor into the Finance Ministry sooner or later.”

Victor gave no response. He simply offered them a vague smile.

Then he began quickly walking toward the woman entering the hall alone.

But just then—

“Namia!”

The Empress, a woman of imposing presence, bellowed her name as she strode over. Everyone froze in shock and quickly bowed.

“We greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”

The muscular Empress waved them off carelessly, then firmly grasped Namia’s arm.

“What took you so long! I was waiting so long my eyeballs nearly fell out, and this whole banquet almost turned into a massacre!”

Not only the nobles, but even the ministers were dumbfounded.

Their faces all said, “The Empress… can be this warm?”

“Anyway, you look absolutely stunning! Hahaha! If I were born an appearance-obsessed tyrant, I’d have taken you as my concubine on the spot!”

“Thank you for the… chillingly honest compliment, Your Majesty.”

Namia responded with a bright smile.

Victor had just made it over and was about to speak to her—

When someone else suddenly came dashing in.