The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 89

 

“Namiaaa! I’ve been waiting for you!”

Jayden threw his arms around Namia’s waist like a child clinging to his mother.

Then he quickly pulled back, flustered, and huffed.

“Don’t get the wrong idea! I only hugged you because I’m too much of a genius to have friends, okay? It’s definitely not because I was happy to see you!”

No one could say a word.

Everyone just wore the same look—“Even that bratty prince?”

Still clinging to Namia, Jayden continued chatting cheerfully.

“But hey, Namia, where’s that intern you’re always dragging around? You said he was going to be your partner.”

“Ah, he sent word right before the banquet that he fell ill.”

“Really? I don’t know what kind of germ did that, but I’d love to give it an award. Smart little virus knew when to step back. Still, maintaining your stamina is part of the job—make sure he cries when you scold him later!”

By then, Victor had quietly made his way right up beside Namia.

He waited patiently for her conversation with the royal prince to end.

No matter how high his standing as a marquis’s heir, he couldn’t cut in on a royal.

Since Namia no longer had a partner, he’d been planning to ask her for the honor of escorting her himself.

With Keyvon out of the picture, it felt like a long-standing headache had finally gone away. Though honestly, even if Keyvon had shown up, Victor had already decided to pull rank and force him aside.

But just then—

“Would everyone step aside for a moment?”

All eyes turned to the tall man who extended his hand toward Namia without warning.

“I’ll be the Scroll Minister’s escort. I don’t have a partner either.”

Golden hair gleaming, a well-toned figure, and piercing red eyes—

The man reaching his hand toward Namia was none other than Crown Prince Kiaros Polariwood.

As he effortlessly extended his hand, the room buzzed with gasps.

“W-wait, didn’t she reject him?”

“Yeah, and he basically locked himself away after that. He still looks pretty pale too—guess he couldn’t give up.”

“Wow… talk about persistence.”

Everyone shook their heads in disbelief.

After getting dumped in the most public way imaginable, he was here… asking to be her partner again?

Even Namia looked taken aback.

Jayden, who had been babbling beside her, shrieked, “Kyaaah! This is it!” and quickly stepped aside. Then, with the Empress, he started making bizarre sound effects like, “Kyaaak! Kekeke! Krrraaaah!”

“Ah, yes. It would be… an honor, Your Highness.”

Namia cautiously took Kiaros’s hand.

Who in the Empire could possibly reject the Crown Prince’s escort?

“Well then.”

Completely ignoring the odd noises coming from Jayden and the Empress, Kiaros offered Namia a graceful and refined smile.

“Shall we head over? I’m looking forward to the Scroll Division’s event.”

“Ah… yes.”

As Kiaros led Namia forward, he glanced at Victor, who stood nearby.

It was Victor’s first time seeing the Crown Prince in person. Just as their eyes met and Victor began to bow—

“Move.”

Kiaros glanced down at him, voice utterly disinterested.

Victor flinched and stepped back.

Kiaros gave a faint smirk as he passed.

But as they walked by, he stepped hard on Victor’s foot.

Gah!

The pain was far too sharp to be accidental. Yet Kiaros didn’t offer even a glance, let alone an apology.

Victor bit his lower lip and swallowed a groan.

I-it must’ve been an accident. He doesn’t even know who I am…

The Crown Prince was known for his good temperament. He wasn’t the type to bully or throw his authority around.

Why would the Crown Prince bother with childish antics—especially toward someone he hasn’t even been formally introduced to?

Victor tried to dismiss the unease he felt.

****

The opening ceremony began with spectacular flair.

The Empress and Jayden took the stage and began tearing the scrolls, one by one.

“Wow!”

“This is… incredible.”

Each time they ripped a scroll, a brilliant burst of fireworks erupted.

The audience watched in awe as the fireworks lit up the hall in dazzling colors.

The scrolls had been crafted with safety in mind—each explosion vanished instantly into harmless smoke.

“I’ve never seen scrolls like this. It feels like another world.”

“Where’s the Scroll Minister? I need to ask her to help with our next diplomatic event!”

People cheered and gazed, spellbound, at Jayden, the Empress, and the magical spectacle surrounding them.

Indoor fireworks at a banquet—no one had imagined such a thing.

Of course, the Scroll Division staff had to keep activating scrolls throughout, so the Education Ministry workers had to carry the large scroll boxes the entire time.

“Huff… huff… urgh…”

“Ugh, I’m going to be bedridden tomorrow…”

Passing out scrolls nonstop from those giant boxes was grueling physical labor.

That’s what I had enlisted the Education Ministry staff for—to do the heavy lifting and assist my own staff.

[Are you insane? Why the hell are Education Ministry civil servants being used for this kind of labor? Hire palace attendants instead!]

[But this is such an important event~ It’s only right that civil servants support one another!]

[If you need extra hands, hire new ones! Why are you dragging in fifth-years!?]

[Uuuuuh~ I feel like using fifth-years. Dragon oppa said I could always do what I wanted~ I’m just obeying the Crown’s will~]

And so, they ended up assisting the very same Scroll Division officials they had once mocked and driven out.

The Education Minister watched the scene with a sour expression.

Meanwhile, Anastasia—who was directing the event on-site—looked positively radiant. That was a relief.

“It’s truly spectacular.”

As I stood tensely watching, Kiaros spoke beside me.

“Looks like all those late nights were worth it.”

We were standing together in the VIP section. I was just about to nod proudly and reply when—

“Looks like my funding was well spent, Minister.”

Marquis Arwyn—Victor’s father and the Finance Minister—had appeared beside me, smiling broadly.

“Now everyone will see it clearly. The old Scroll Administration and the Scroll Division under your leadership are entirely different beasts. And that I was the first to recognize the talent of the so-called parachuted Tower Master’s girl.”

Victor stood beside his father, smiling. He raised his champagne glass slightly toward me in a gesture of toast.

“Yes, Father. Namia really has gone through a lo—ugh!”

But before he could clink glasses, he stumbled. Kiaros had struck the top of his foot—hard.

With a chilling gaze, the Crown Prince curled his lips.

“You were blocking my view.”

…Even though Victor hadn’t been standing in his line of sight at all.

Still, neither the Finance Minister nor Victor dared to protest.

Victor bit his lip and glanced down. I glanced too—his foot was already bruising.

Kiaros, unfazed, turned his gaze back toward the stage and spoke indifferently.

“The climax’s about to start.”

And he was right. The Empress and Jayden were about to tear the grand finale scroll together.

“Now, just like this!”

As the crowd looked on with rapture, the emcee from the operations support team cried out with glee,

“We now declare the opening of the St. Cairo Banquet!”

With practiced precision, the Empress and Jayden tore the enormous scroll together. Instantly, cascades of small fireworks burst forth with a loud whump!

“Wooooaaah!”

Images filled the air—Saint Cairo and the mother who had wrapped him in love.

People shouted in disbelief, overcome by the spectacle.

And just then…

If I’m right, it should be now!

I turned to Jayden’s face.

As expected, something flickered across it—a mix of awe and something else entirely.

The boy stood still, stunned, his cheeks slowly flushing red.

“Hmm.”

Next to me, Kiaros muttered.

“Looks like Jayden’s special ability has awakened.”

I nearly dropped my champagne glass.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one watching Jayden’s expression closely.

No, but still—was that really something to mutter loud enough for me to hear!?

Wasn’t his special ability supposed to be a state secret, not even shared with family? I turned to him, whispering in shock.

“Your Highness… were you watching Prince Jayden’s face?”

He looked down at me silently.

Then, ever so slowly, he leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“No.”

I nearly jumped in surprise.

I had whispered first, but I hadn’t expected that whisper to feel… so ticklish.

“I was watching you watching Jayden.”