The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 85

The Imperial Palace’s royal physician had been summoned urgently to examine Kiaros in his office.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you—from head to toe.”

The physician was a renowned expert who had dedicated his life to studying Dragonblood. He was also one of the few who knew Kiaros was undergoing a second blackout period.

“That can’t be.”

Kiaros frowned.

“My head’s spinning, I feel nauseous, my heart keeps pounding, and it’s like my blood’s boiling. I suddenly want to break everything in sight and stomp my feet in a full-on tantrum. I’ve never felt this kind of suffocating, uncontrollable rage before.”

“Hmm.”

The physician listened carefully to Kiaros’s description and then spoke without hesitation.

“I know the diagnosis. Jealousy.”

“...What?”

“His Majesty the Emperor described those exact symptoms for fifteen years. They disappeared completely after he married Her Majesty the Empress. This kind of uncontrollable outburst of power typically stabilizes once you and your partner emotionally connect.”

Kiaros’s jaw dropped.

“Before that, even just seeing Her Majesty laughing with the male knights in the Order would set him off—he’d fly out to the outskirts and smash a whole hill.”

The royal physician said in a grave tone.

“It’s a relief you’re in your blackout period. Your symptoms are already severe. If you weren’t, you might’ve uprooted a few palace pillars by now.”

“You’re telling me this is all from jealousy? That’s absurd.”

“Dragonblood don’t typically fall in love. They’re detached from others, reigning from above. That’s why their marriages are usually political.”

That part was true.

Which was why the royal family couldn’t understand when the current emperor rejected an arranged marriage. They simply couldn’t grasp the idea of romantic love.

“If a Dragonblood does fall in love, it usually goes extremely smoothly.”

Humans revered Dragonblood, after all—so that also tracked.

Fron had only resisted the emperor’s courtship out of loyalty and her own sense of dignity, not because she didn’t like him.

“But when things don’t go smoothly... these new emotions can become too much to handle.”

The physician paused and looked Kiaros over.

“Is the subject in question Miss Namia Roafi?”

There was no denying it. When Kiaros stayed silent, the physician sighed, looking sympathetic.

“Even after all your time in seclusion... seems your feelings never went away.”

No, he hadn’t even been aware of his feelings for that long—and yet the entire palace seemed to know.

To think he’d fallen for the one woman he had pretended to be rejected by... just to cover up his blackout.

“For the peace of the Empire, I urge you to make another attempt at seducing her. Why are you wasting that face and body holed up in here?”

The physician advised him with a perfectly serious expression.

“Or... are you not confident in your skills? I’ve heard there’s a secret romance expert in the Scroll Department—an absolute master of love who’s read every dating book out there. Should I reach out to them for a consultation?”

Kiaros had a strong hunch who that was supposed to be. He waved it off quickly.

“No. Tell them to stay hidden.”

“Well... let me know if you change your mind. In any case, be careful.”

The physician packed up his medical bag and added:

“If the jealousy gets too intense, even in a blackout, your aura and mana could manifest in abnormal ways.”

“Oh? Wouldn’t that actually be a good thing?”

Kiaros perked up, clearly frustrated by his current powerlessness.

But the physician shook his head.

“No, no. Because it’s an abnormal manifestation, there will definitely be aftereffects. If you don’t want to spend several days bedridden, take care.”

“Hmm.”

“Especially with the upcoming Saint Cairo banquet—you’d do well not to let Miss Namia end up alone with another man. Unless, of course, you’re prepared to destroy the venue and your own health.”

“Understood.”

Kiaros nodded easily.

“So aside from jealousy, nothing else to worry about?”

“Oh, well... try not to get too excited.”

“Excited? What do you mean?”

“Uh... never mind. It’s probably fine. I mean, there’s no way Miss Namia would, say, touch Your Highness intimately while your hearts are still unaligned...”

The physician trailed off, making it sound like no big deal, bowed, and left the room.

***

Deep inside a large building in the southern region—

Click, clack. Click, clack.

The sound of high heels echoed down the corridor, causing the man locked behind iron bars to open his eyes wide.

“...You!”

The moment he tried to rise, clang—his restraints yanked tight, locking down his limbs.

The muscular, middle-aged man collapsed ungracefully to the floor.

The footsteps came to a stop in front of the bars.

“You’re still as slow to learn as ever. I told you—you can’t control your body in its current state.”

A woman approached the cell and sneered.

The man, panting, looked up at her.

Her face was hidden behind a flamboyant mask. Arms crossed, she spoke coldly.

“Have you thought about my offer?”

The man shook his head immediately.

“I already said no.”

“It’s a proven experiment. It’s not even dangerous. Once this one’s complete, you’ll be free. I promise that on my own authority.”

“No. Let me repay you with another experiment instead. But don’t touch my memories.”

The woman clicked her tongue and stared at him.

“You’re still not getting it. You’re not even the same man you used to be. So what’s the point of clinging to old memories?”

“...I made a promise. To my daughter—Namia.”

The man’s voice was hoarse.

“I told her to wait for me. That I’d definitely come back. I have to keep that promise.”

The woman silently looked down at him.

His name was Cedric Roafi.

Fifteen years ago, when he first came here, Cedric had been a slender, pale young scholar.

Now, there was no trace left of that pure young man. His appearance had been completely altered by years of body modification experiments.

His once-fair skin had tanned, and his frame was now thick with muscle.

Only the shining silver hair and lake-blue eyes remained unchanged.

“A parent should keep their promises. They’re the child’s first world. A child who can trust their parents can learn to trust the world. That’s why—”

He still rambled on like a middle-aged moralist, just like always.

The woman cut him off with a look of disgust.

“Ugh, just shut up already. So is that a no?”

“Yes.”

Cedric answered without hesitation.

“If I lose my memories, I won’t even remember I’m supposed to find Namia. Even if I’m free, it won’t matter.”

“You’re going to forget everything anyway, so what’s the difference?”

“To me, it doesn’t matter.”

His voice softened, tinged with a lonely smile.

“I stopped caring about myself a long time ago. But what I do care about... is Namia. Who’s probably waiting and worrying about me every day.”

“...”

“If you’re that desperate to go through with the memory experiment, there’s one condition.”

“...What is it?”

“Tell Namia the full truth.”

The man—whose body now resembled a human weapon—spoke gently.

“Tell her her father willingly joined the Modificationists, sold himself off as an experiment, and that after fifteen years of tests, this vile organization now wants to tamper with his memories. Let her know the outcome is the same either way: whether I disappear forever or forget everything, she’ll never see me again. And then ask her to understand.”

“...You’ve got to be kidding.”

The woman snapped, furious.

“Think about it realistically. That’s never going to happen.”

“Then I’m not doing it either. I’ll just wait for this disgusting criminal organization to collapse.”

“We’re not going to collapse!”

She screamed, practically shaking with rage.

“You must be suffering every day from those restraints. Don’t you want your body back? Don’t you want freedom?”

At that, Cedric looked down.

After several experiments, he had gained superhuman strength.

But ironically, that made the organization fear him. So they bound him with multiple restraints—devices that caused constant pain just by being worn.

“I’m fine.”

He said it calmly, showing no sign of pain.

“I can endure worse.”

“What’s so damn important about some promise you made fifteen years ago?”

“I already told you. And since you clearly didn’t get it the first time, I’ll say it again. Parents are—”

Still speaking kindly, even as he lectured, Cedric’s tone never changed.

The woman grimaced and turned away.

“Whatever. If [N O V E L I G H T] you change your mind, let me know. I’m leaving.”

“...You.”

Cedric stopped mid-explanation and called after her, voice low.

“Why do you want to erase my memories so badly?”