The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 73

I wasn’t even surprised—but Kibon? Why was he reacting like that?

Wait... don’t tell me, he really does like me.

I stared at Kibon in disbelief, but before I could say anything, Jaden slammed his hand on the table and snapped at him.

“Hey. Intern.”

“......”

“What? I’m talking to you. Are you not going to answer?”

“...Yes.”

“You. Get out. I’ve got a very important conversation to have with Namia now. And a lowly intern like you has no business being here. Feel insulted? Then grit your teeth and work your way up. Got it? I said, got it?”

“......”

“Answer.”

“...Yes.”

Kibon clenched his teeth so hard it was audible.

But he didn’t have a choice. It was the command of a prince.

Looking sour, Kibon stood and walked out of the Minister’s office.

Then, he stopped just outside the door. I watched his back and thought—

‘...He’s going to hear everything anyway.’

Honestly, the Minister’s office wasn’t soundproof.

But Jaden didn’t seem to realize that as he began in a serious tone.

“Anyway. This is about my brother.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

While Jaden cleared his throat, I glanced sideways at Kibon’s silhouette.

If he wasn’t fully alert—or if Jaden started saying something too sensitive—I was ready to cut in immediately.

“Ahem, so...”

But Jaden kept hesitating, unable to bring himself to speak.

To ease the tension, I offered kindly,

“Would Your Highness like a cookie? It’s not much, but I’d like to offer you something.”

“I’m kind of picky about what I eat, but sure. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Yes, of course.”

I pulled a cookie from my drawer—along with a small scroll.

It was a transport scroll. Short-range only, so usually useless... but for something like this, it was perfect.

When I activated [N O V E L I G H T] the scroll, the cookie floated up on a glowing strip of parchment and gently landed in front of Jaden.

“Whoa!”

Jaden’s eyes went wide with wonder. I held back a smile.

‘What a rude little kid... but so cute!’

He hadn’t received proper love growing up and got stuck with Liden’s warped worldview—“normal people are inferior,” “idiots should be ignored”—but still, he was adorable.

‘Even in the original novel, he matures a lot over time...’

Now that Liden’s gone and he’ll be getting real parental guidance, his behavior should improve.

I waited patiently while Jaden finished his cookie.

Brushing crumbs off his mouth, he coughed lightly.

“Ahem. So. Namia—you said everything Liden told me was a lie.”

“Ah... well, except for the factual parts.”

“Liden said you were trash. That you were arrogant, vulgar, from a low-class family, and too stupid to know your place.”

I expected that, but hearing it from a child’s mouth left a weird taste.

Jaden continued calmly.

“But logically, if all of that was a lie, then you’re actually a pretty decent person.”

“Hmm... yes. I think I’m reasonably competent, come from a rough background, sure—but I know my role and perform it well.”

“Exactly. And now that I’ve met you in person... I can tell. You seem like a good person.”

That’s... a generous evaluation for giving him a cookie and putting on a scroll trick.

With an exaggeratedly arrogant pose, arms crossed and chin lifted, Jaden said,

“I’ll get straight to the point. What does my brother need to fix? What should he do?”

“...Excuse me?”

“Just humor this problematic child and give me a hint.”

He chomped on another cookie and went on.

“My brother is a lonely person. You mere humans may tremble in front of him, but he’s actually a good guy.”

“Ah...”

“The Empress and Emperor... they’re too dignified to ask you directly. But they both want you and the Crown Prince to work out. So I’ve decided, as the unruly child of the family who doesn’t care about appearances, to ask for them.”

My head was spinning.

I looked at his chubby cheeks and replied carefully,

“I’ve met His Highness the Crown Prince exactly three times. Briefly, in an official setting, always with others present. It’s not about fixing anything—I just don’t really know him yet.”

Jaden swallowed his cookie and beamed.

“So you don’t know each other well yet, but that doesn’t mean there’s no potential. Got it. Then what kind of man would you want to marry?”

“Uh... hmm. Someone I feel comfortable around. Someone I don’t need to tense up in front of. Someone who’s always on my side...”

But trying to have an honest conversation with Jaden? That was asking too much.

“What? So you want a slave?”

“No, not a slave, just—”

“Slavery was abolished 392 years ago. You should give up on that ideal. Sure, there were a lot of garbage arguments for keeping it back then, but I think Oraton’s final words during the repeal had some real merit—”

And just like that, Jaden launched into a monologue about the history of slavery.

My eyes drifted to Kibon’s back. He was still standing there, not moving a muscle. Calm and steady, as always.

‘Hmm...’

If I said “Come in, Kibon” right now, I knew he’d walk in without a word.

For some reason, that brought me a strange sense of calm.

‘God. I really do like being the one in control...’

The people around me never did what I wanted.

Honestly, I wanted my mom to still be around. I didn’t care about academy prestige—I just wanted Dad to stay by my side.

Back then, I’d wished Victor hadn’t gone on that long mission during my rookie year. I’d hoped the Master of the Magic Tower would’ve stayed in the capital to support me.

‘But they all left, for their own reasons.’

I didn’t even ask them to stay. I knew they wouldn’t listen, so I didn’t bother.

‘So... isn’t it okay if just one person in this whole world listens to what I say?’

I suddenly remembered what Kibon had said the day he became my assistant.

[You only need to remember one thing when dealing with me, Minister. If you give an order, I will obey it. Don’t waste time second-guessing—just command me.]

It wasn’t just an empty promise.

From that day on, Kibon had followed every single order without question.

So I’d gotten used to giving him commands without hesitation, without thinking twice.

‘If I asked him not to leave... I bet he’d just say “Understood.”’

With that blank, emotionless face of his.

Meanwhile, Jaden was still rambling about slavery.

I was half-tuned out, lost in thought, when—

“Jaaaaadeeeeen!”

The Scroll Department doors slammed open with a thunderous bang.

“Kyah!”

Anastasia shrieked—understandable, considering the door had been ripped off its hinges.

The Empress stepped through, sheepishly rubbing her ear.

“What the heck? Why’s this door so flimsy?”

She clicked her tongue and kicked aside the broken remnants with her foot. Anastasia was so stunned, she couldn’t even offer her coffee.

“M-Mother?!”

Jaden shot to his feet, completely startled mid-rant.

The Empress burst out laughing as she strolled toward the Minister’s office.

“Jaden! I heard you were here, so I came! Wahahaha!”

Her face was radiant—she had clearly decided never again to hide her true self from her son.

I could just imagine the conversation they must’ve had:

[Jaden, the truth is... I’m uneducated and foolish, and I was scared you’d be ashamed of me...]

[I see. But even so, I still want to receive your love. I promise I won’t be embarrassed by you—at least until puberty.]

[Bwahahaha! Good! Great! Let’s aim to survive until puberty together, dear son!]

A piece of the broken door was still dangling from the hem of her dress.

Laughing heartily, she shouted,

“We’re going to get outfits tailored for the Saint Cairo banquet, so—uh?”

Right in the middle of her booming announcement, the Empress suddenly stopped.

Her eyes had locked on Kibon, standing just outside the office.

He bowed slowly and respectfully.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.” freeweɓnovel.cøm

Her gaze sharpened in an instant.

The change in her expression startled me, and I rushed forward instinctively.

“Hey, you.”

The Empress rolled up her sleeves with a grin and declared to Kibon:

“Let’s fight. Right now.”