The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 81

Before I knew it, ink was spilling all over Victor’s report.

Kibon had slammed Victor’s pen onto the report earlier—breaking it.

Kibon, completely unfazed, said,

“I apologize. I didn’t understand properly.”

Hey.

That’s not the time to use that line.

“I’ll compensate you several times over.”

“Ah... That was a gift from little Namia when she first joined the department!”

“Then I, the younger Namia, shall now gift you one hundred of the same pen to celebrate my return. That should make it even.”

“No, hey, intern? How’s that the same? The person’s different, the timing’s different, and even the meaning’s different!”

“I apologize. I didn’t understand properly.”

Hey.

That’s still not the time to use that line.

One thing was certain:

Kibon had a nasty and petty personality. His character needed serious adjustment.

“Well, anyway,”

Victor gathered up his broken pen and smiled lightly.

“Guess chatting at the office is impossible after all. Let’s talk as much as we want at the Saint Cairo banquet. I’m making a reservation now—your second dance is mine, Minister.”

He gave Kibon a glance and scratched the back of his head, murmuring as he slowly left,

“To think I’m only the second in Namia’s list... Feels kinda sad, doesn’t it.”

That’s when it happened.

Bang! The Scroll Department’s door burst open with a loud slam.

“...Ha.”

The one who entered was none other than the Education Minister.

As soon as the door swung open, he glared daggers at me inside the office.

“I’d like a word with the Minister of the Scroll Department.”

His expression was livid, lips trembling with fury.

I smiled sweetly, not even bothering to get up from my seat.

“Yes, Minister.”

Still, I had to force myself to suppress the laughter threatening to bubble out.

‘Gotcha.’

It was finally time to spring the trap I’d so confidently bragged about to Kiaros yesterday.

[May I use Your Highness’s name... just a little?]

Getting prior permission was all for this moment!

Seeing the bright smile on my face, Kibon visibly flinched in his seat.

At that moment—

The Empress, who was practicing scroll activation with Anastasia in one corner, waved enthusiastically.

“Oh! Education Minister?”

She blinked innocently and called out,

“My son’s teacher turned out to be an absolute bastard—say, you didn’t know about that, right? If you did, and still swept it under the rug, your corpse will be swept under with him.”

“Ahaha. I’ve already proven my innocence to the Knights’ Order, Your Majesty.”

The Education Minister answered quickly and bowed perfectly.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress and Prince Jaden. But may I ask what brings you to the Scroll Department office?”

“Oh, just practicing for the Saint Cairo banquet. Gotta learn how to use scrolls from the staff themselves.”

The Empress waved a scroll as she spoke.

The Minister’s brow furrowed.

“...In that case, the staff should have been summoned to the separate palace or Your Majesty’s quarters. For the royal family to come in person to a department office...”

“Oh, I just had someone I wanted to roast a little. Didn’t seem right to summon an intern just to chew him out.”

She glanced sideways at Kibon.

She had roasted him, yes—but at least she hadn’t summoned him just for that. So technically, it wasn’t entirely abusive. Even Jaden nodded in agreement.

“Plus, once we started practicing here, it felt like a pain to head back to the separate palace.”

The Education Minister bit his lip, clearly displeased.

He must’ve thought their behavior tarnished royal dignity.

“Well, do what you came to do. Just know this—I’ve got a bad feeling about you. And that’s not going away anytime soon. Keep that in mind.”

The Empress glared and warned him, then returned to practicing with Jaden.

Ultimately, the Education Minister clicked his tongue and stepped into my office. He sat down and glared at me, speaking lowly.

“I saw that cooperation request you sent our department this morning. But I recall I summoned you to the Education Ministry, didn’t I?”

I shrugged.

Then, with great ceremony, I activated a soundproof scroll.

Meaning: this conversation would not leak beyond these walls.

Once the scrolls were fully activated, I replied slowly,

“Oh? Did you? Must’ve missed that—I’ve been terribly busy.”

This morning, I’d sent another incredibly rude cooperation request to the Education Ministry.

It was the second. The first had come on the day Liden was arrested, a completely pointless letter just to taunt them.

Now that it had happened a second time, of course the Education Minister had told me to come to him personally. I’d ignored it.

And if I ignored it... well, what could he do but come himself?

“We may both be Ministers, but you’re much younger than I am—and the Scroll Department is far smaller than the Education Ministry. Forcing me to come all this way—is that really proper?”

“You’re right.”

I replied while pretending to inspect my nails.

“It was kind of rude~ But if you’d waited just a little longer, I might’ve come over myself~yom.”

Kibon twitched his brow at my sudden change in tone.

The Minister seethed, angrier than ever.

“To sit still in your office instead of assisting the royal family—doesn’t that show a serious lack of thought for a Minister?”

“Yesh? Why’s that~yom?”

“Letting the royal family walk into a department office like this undermines the dignity of the Dragonbloods—ah...”

He stopped mid-sentence, as if realizing something, and shook his head.

“Well, I suppose it’s not surprising from Her Majesty. She was never properly educated, after all.”

True enough. It was rare for royalty to visit a bureaucratic department in person.

Jaden had clearly come just because his mother asked him to.

Remembering that, the Minister sighed deeply and narrowed his eyes at me.

“Fine, let’s say Prince Jaden is excused. But a Minister should know better. Are you really okay acting so improperly yourself?”

“Oh, was that improper? I didn’t know~yom. I couldn’t find any such clause in the law.”

I tilted my head, blew on my nails, and muttered without even looking at him,

“Personally, I just think royalty are easier to deal with, that’s all~”

“What? Have you lost your mind?”

He blinked rapidly, utterly dumbfounded.

His face was turning red—probably from rising blood pressure.

‘Perfect. Right on schedule.’

I’d sent that rude cooperation letter expecting him to chase me down.

And I knew the Empress and Jaden would show up early in the morning because of Kibon.

All of it—set up just to bait the Education Minister.

[You’re going to use my name? How?]

[I plan to spin the rumors a bit—make it sound like His Highness has some feelings for me. Is that okay?]

[Didn’t the whole palace already hear I got dumped by Miss Namia? Use it however you want.]

That conversation yesterday was now armor, shielding me.

If Kiaros himself said I could use it—what was there to fear?

I looked up and crossed my legs.

“His Highness told me not to worry about the Dragonblood thing. That I should just treat him casually~yom.”

“...What?”

“He said, ‘Our cute, adorable, precious baby MiaMiaNamia~ just do whatever you want. Dragon Oppa will protect you. Just marry me. I already secretly planned the wedding~’~yom.”

He told me to use it however I wanted. So I did. Liberally.

Behind me, Kibon coughed awkwardly.

I continued, all innocence.

“So there’s nothing for me to be afraid of~yom.”

“You... really...”

“That’s why we’d really appreciate the Education Ministry’s cooperation for this event~yom.” freёweɓnovel.com

“What are you even—”

“If not, I’ll tattle to Dragon Oppa~ He’s madly in love with me, so he won’t let it slide~yom.”

What do you think? Doesn’t that sound trashy? Totally improper? Infuriating?

Doesn’t it make you think the Crown Prince has lost his mind over some ridiculous girl?

Makes you worried for the future of the empire, doesn’t it?

I gave a sharp smile and instantly changed both tone and expression.

“But... what’s with that face?”

“...What?”

“I was just trying to ease the tension with a little joke. We’re civil servants—shouldn’t we get along? «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» I was being friendly first, but you’re not matching the mood. That hurts my feelings a bit.”

The sudden shift to dead seriousness made the Education Minister flinch.