The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 99

Now that he thought about it, it did kind of feel like he’d tattled...

While Kiaros sat in embarrassed silence, unable to respond—

“He was first place, yeah.”

Namia’s casual reply made Kiaros’s heart drop with a thud. A tingling sensation even spread to his hands and feet as she spoke indifferently.

“Because back then, I didn’t even have a second place.”

“...Pardon?”

“I had no friends, no family, nowhere to put my heart. Senior Victor liked me, and there wasn’t really anyone else who thought I was special, even to that degree. If he’d confessed to me then, I might’ve said yes.”

Namia spoke with a composed expression.

“But I knew he wouldn’t confess. I think he wanted me to desperately cling to him first. But you know, I had no reason to indulge that kind of selfish wish...”

Kiaros clicked his tongue inwardly. That was so like Namia.

She’d notice other people’s intentions, but not particularly care...

“But since Victor was still my senior, it would’ve gotten awkward if I rejected him without even getting a confession. I liked him well enough, so I just stayed quiet. And then today, he did something kind of like a confession.”

Now that she put it like that—it was laughably simple. Why had he agonized so much over something so trivial?

“But it wasn’t a real confession, more like... he was bestowing favor or something. It rubbed me the wrong way, so I flat-out rejected him. I’m his boss now, so it’s not hard to reject people anymore.”

Namia spoke about it as nonchalantly as if she were describing the weather.

Then she added with a question.

“But why’d you ask?”

He was suddenly snapped back to reality. He had no idea what to say now.

No...

Whenever he faced Namia Roafi, all calculations crumbled. He always approached with a plan, but it ended in a tangled mess.

“That is... um.”

He blinked slowly, then spoke.

“Actually, Minister... I have a secret from you.”

“Huh? A ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) secret?”

“Yes... It’s something I absolutely, absolutely cannot reveal right now... but I swear, it’s not anything that would harm you, the Scroll Department, or the Empire.”

“Really? But you still can’t tell me?”

“...Not yet...”

Someday he’d have to tell her everything. Honestly, he wanted to spill it all right now—but still, not yet.

She had helped him a great deal. But the suspicious parts about Namia hadn’t been completely resolved.

Even just telling her about the Reform Faction had been a huge decision for him.

This was something that concerned the future of the Empire. Kiaros clung to his reason with all his might.

***

I swallowed dryly and thought.

‘In the end... the fact that I came all the way here means Kibon is someone pretty special to me too, right? Spending tonight with Kibon—maybe that’s what I really wanted.’

Maybe someday I’d be able to tell him how I felt, but—not yet.

He’s treated me with so much kindness. But he could still be a spy.

Just coming here tonight had already been a huge decision for me.

This was something that concerned the future of the Empire. I clung to my reason with everything I had.

“I see, so you’ve got a secret... I figured as much.”

I nodded quietly as I spoke.

With everything he’d told me before, like about his stepmother, it wasn’t all that surprising.

And besides—he just didn’t seem like someone who was used to being beneath another person.

“You’ve got a secret about your birth, right...? You’re some noble’s illegitimate child, aren’t you...”

“Pfft! Cough cough!”

“No? Then wait... royalty? No, no, don’t answer. You don’t have to. It’s fine.”

Kibon had an odd look on his face, but his eyes slowly started to blink as sleep overcame him.

I stood up quietly and went to the bathroom to rinse the wet towel.

This house was really... a wreck. It was clean, yes, but very shabby, with barely any belongings.

‘The rent must be dirt cheap... I respect the survival instincts.’

Whoever’s illegitimate child he was, one thing was clear: he wasn’t receiving a cent of financial support.

Even in this rundown life, he had split what little he had to bring me all those antacids—that hit me all over again in the heart.

I’d told him “This tiny, worn house is really nice” so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed, but... the condition of this place was dire.

Still, poverty should never be used to shame someone. To voice an objective evaluation of this haunted house—no, this house—would be a problem of character.

‘So that’s why he asked me to buy so much food... I admire the hungry spirit.’

When I came back with the rinsed towel, Kibon had already fallen asleep.

I gently placed the cool cloth over his forehead.

***

Blink, blink.

Kiaros opened his eyes.

‘...Huh?’

Memories from earlier slowly began returning.

No matter how sick he’d been, it was unbelievable that he’d fallen asleep just like that.

The fever didn’t seem completely gone, but it was much better than before.

‘Ah...’

As he tried to sit up, he froze and sucked in a breath.

Namia had fallen asleep, leaning against one of his arms.

He had no idea when she’d dozed off, but she had clearly fallen asleep while checking on his fever by his side.

He could feel her body heat through their overlapping arms. That awareness sent his blood rushing and his heart pounding.

‘What is this...’

His body froze up, like when she had once banged her fist and threatened, “I’ll drag it all the way up.”

But that time, they hadn’t been touching skin like this...

And then—bang! The door shattered with a loud crash.

Just like how the balcony floor cracked or the railing broke at the banquet—it wasn’t his will.

Kiaros’s face turned pale.

[Then there’s nothing to worry about except jealousy, right?] ƒгeewёbnovel.com

[Ah, do try not to get overly excited. That could be even more dangerous.]

[Excited? What do you mean by that?]

[Well... never mind. It should be fine. It’s not like Miss Namia would get physically close to the Crown Prince when they’re not even emotionally close...]

No, no, damn it—this is what you meant by excited!?

‘But I’m... I’m busting down doors from a sacred moment of caretaking just because our arms touched?’

And to make matters worse, Namia stirred awake at the sound of the door breaking.

“Ah, Kibon? You’re up? What was that noise?”

“Ah... th-the door broke because it’s old...”

“Oh, I see! If it’s broken, that’s great for ventilation!”

Namia answered positively as ever and tried to sit up.

Well, she tried to sit up...

“...Ack!”

Maybe it was because she’d stayed in the same position too long—she groaned in pain, unable to straighten her back.

Still leaning over his chest, she smiled awkwardly and touched his forehead.

“Hmm, the fever’s still there.”

Their bodies pressed even closer together. Her face was right in front of his. His face turned bright red.

At the same time, the sink in the kitchen next to the broken door collapsed.

CRASH! Plates and utensils clattered loudly to the floor.

“Ahaha. The kitchen’s old too, huh...? I saw earlier it could use some tidying—this works out great!”

She sat up. At the same time, a creeaak echoed as the bathtub in the bathroom cracked.

‘Why is everything falling apart just because we touched!?’

Namia’s warmth lingered on his body. A powerful urge to pull her back in overwhelmed him.

‘I’m a patient. I’m a patient...’

Kiaros clenched his eyes shut and shouted inwardly to contain himself. Meanwhile, Namia’s incredible character just kept shining.

“Ah, I noticed earlier the tub doesn’t drain well. Now it’ll finally drain completely! Great, just great!”

Please... stop being so considerate...

Namia fully sat up and picked up the wet towel.

“Your fever’s still up, so let me just change the cloth one more time.”

Kiaros clenched his eyes tight and took a deep breath. He had to send her home—this was his best option.

He didn’t know where things had gone so wrong, but one thing was certain: they had gone wrong.

“Yes. It’s late... You should really—”

Just then—

Namia coughed. Kuhk.

Kiaros’s eyes snapped open, and he frowned, looking at her.

“Wait... you didn’t catch—”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

From Namia’s mouth, blood trickled down in a thin line.

“Wh-What is this... Kuhk!”

Namia, looking startled, coughed again—and blood surged up a second time, pouring out.