The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success
Chapter 124

Kiaros couldn’t believe what was happening right now.

Even though Namia had told him everything before she left.

[It’s true that I know the future, and that I have some strange power.]

There had definitely been things that seemed suspicious. That’s why he’d investigated so closely.

The Emperor didn’t doubt her. The Empress didn’t either. Kiaros had been the only one suspicious. And his suspicion had been correct.

But he didn’t feel the slightest bit satisfied.

“Ah...”

From his perspective, the riddles were finally being solved.

Namia had kept saying she felt nauseous, and after coughing up blood once, she had seemed completely fine.

Kiaros had also noticed that those symptoms were identical to the High Priest’s. And apparently, those were symptoms of an experimental subject.

That explained everything he had doubted.

And yet, he still didn’t feel the slightest bit relieved.

[Hah, but even if I die, I’ll die on my own. I’ll never let the Empire fall into chaos.]

Instead, a great fear crushed down on him.

She said she’d die on her own?

Who gave her permission?

And yet, if it was Namia—he could believe she’d really do it.

No.

His hand was trembling. No, his entire body was shaking.

Even when he’d faced death during his second blackout period, it hadn’t been like this.

No...

He couldn’t say anything to Namia.

The confession of love he’d braced himself to say, the truth that he was Kibon—none of it.

Namia had left without hearing any of it. No—she didn’t even know there was something to hear.

I have to find her.

That was the only thought in his mind.

I have to find her.

He had no idea where Namia might have gone, but just in case—just in case she was planning to go off somewhere and die—

He leapt to his feet and ran.

It was the first time he’d ever run in the Imperial Palace.

It was also the first time he’d run out somewhere without any warning.

The people inside the palace who saw him running at full speed all froze with shocked expressions.

The place he arrived, breath ragged and chest heaving, was the Emperor’s chambers.

It was still early morning—before the day’s official schedule had begun.

A startled attendant cried out.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is here!”

At the same time, the Emperor’s door opened.

The Emperor, the Empress, and Jaden had been eating breakfast together, and all turned to Kiaros in surprise.

The first to rise, clearly flustered and unsure what to do, was the Empress.

“Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince! T-this is, um, w-we were just... It’s just that Your Highness said you preferred to have breakfast separately...”

It had been Kiaros who declined eating together with them.

Because he never knew when Namia might summon Kibon.

And yet, the Empress’s face clearly showed guilt at the fact that the three of them had shared a pleasant breakfast without him.

The Emperor, too, surprised, quietly set down the spoon with which °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° he’d been feeding pudding to Jaden.

“Kiaros? Did something urgent happen?”

Kiaros quietly looked at the family he loved.

They were always thoughtful people, always considerate of whether he might feel lonely.

Only then did he finally begin to understand the emotions he’d long avoided facing.

He’d been lonely... even among people who cared for him.

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Though he’d ruled as the Empire’s future, he’d never truly understood it.

Working side by side with Namia, securing budgets and whatnot—only then did he realize. That he, too, had wanted to be with someone.

“I wish to leave the palace for a while.”

So when he spoke to the Emperor, there was no hesitation.

“Leave the palace? Just a moment.”

The Emperor quickly signaled to the Empress with his eyes. She left the room at once with Jaden.

Now the Emperor and Kiaros were alone.

The Emperor asked in a calm voice.

“Kiaros. What’s going on? You’re still in your blackout period. You should be resting as much as possible. Why are you talking about leaving the palace?”

Kiaros didn’t even consider sitting. He just replied.

“Namia ran away. I have to find her.”

The Emperor’s eyes widened in alarm.

“She ran away? From the Imperial Palace? Is that even possible?”

“Uh, well, the Master of the Magic Tower helped her, apparently.”

There was no time to explain in detail, so he answered vaguely.

It wasn’t a lie. She had disappeared using a scroll from the Master of the Tower. The Emperor clenched his jaw and muttered.

“That useless old man... No, no. That’s not really the issue here.”

Then, in a sighing tone, the Emperor spoke in pain.

“...So in the end... Miss Namia got fed up with your imprisonment and obsession and ran away. What am I supposed to do with you...”

“That’s not it. I haven’t even properly confessed yet...”

The usually elegant Emperor suddenly erupted in anger.

“What? You mean this idiot—this total fool—still hasn’t even confessed and already went straight to locking her up?!”

There was no time to explain everything, so Kiaros decided to just say what he needed to.

“I know you’re not well, and I truly apologize—but please look after palace affairs and the rest of the Reformist matters for now. I’ve just arrested the High Priest, so—”

“The High Priest?”

“You can get the details from the Crows. Really, I’m so sorry but...”

Leaving the palace like this, Kiaros felt heavily burdened.

Leaving the sick Emperor to manage everything in his absence just because of a blackout period—that didn’t sit well with him. And now even the Crows were involved...

But the Emperor’s expression was strange.

“Hmm, don’t worry about that.”

“...Excuse me?”

“My health... uh... don’t worry about it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

The Emperor paused for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. As if making a decision, he straightened his posture.

“I’m fully recovered.”

“...What?”

Suddenly?

Kiaros furrowed his brow in disbelief, stunned.

The Emperor sighed again.

“At the Saint Cairo banquet... apparently Jaden manifested a special ability.”

“Ah... and?”

“Jaden’s ability turned out to be Dragonblood Healing. When it comes to Dragonbloods, including himself, he can heal them. So he healed me.”

“What? How...”

“I don’t know all the details, but he said there was something unnatural in my body. And he could neutralize it because it was related to Dragonbloods.”

Then the Emperor added with a sheepish look.

“I meant to tell you... but you know how special abilities of Dragonbloods are supposed to be secret even from family. I figured I’d tell you more gradually, through another channel.”

“In a way, I guess it’s thanks to Miss Namia. She restored the relationship between Fron and Jaden, and deepened their bond during the banquet. That’s probably what let Jaden awaken his powers... Kiaros? Kiaros? What’s wrong?”

Kiaros stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him.

That’s why Namia had been watching closely during the banquet, even while being interrogated.

Namia had done so much for the Imperial Family.

And all Kiaros had done was suspect her, clinging to this idea that “he was the Empire’s future,” without ever once truly expressing how he felt.

“Anyway, I’m healthy now. Completely fine.”

The Emperor slowly stood and took Kiaros’s hand. Then he smiled gently and said,

“So don’t worry about the palace. Go. Grab her skirt, kneel down if you have to, just try confessing for once. She’ll probably reject you—but at least you won’t have regrets.”

“Your Majesty...”

“I know that ‘the Empire’s future’ has been a heavy burden for you. And yes, this is an important time. But it’s okay to set it down, just for a little while. I’m at least strong enough now to shelter you for that much.”

Kiaros nodded.

Only then did his mind start to clear.

Where would Namia—now suddenly someone with incredible power—have gone? It probably wouldn’t be hard to figure out. After all, what she always wanted... was “Dad.”

So just as he was about to head straight for the southern region—

A line flashed through his mind like lightning.

[Please just tell Kibon I left him a letter.]