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Chapter 88
I ‌‌‌hastily opened the letter.
Minister,
I sincerely apologize, but I've suddenly fallen ill and cannot attend the banquet.
Since you mentioned you were comfortable entering alone, ‌I won't burden myself with excessive apologies.
I hope the banquet brings you joy.
'He seemed perfectly fine just yesterday.'
Despite Jayden's relentless harassment, Kibon had refused to cancel ‌‌‌as my partner.
Yet now, to suddenly declare his absence like this—it was ‌‌‌entirely unlike him.
At the same time, I wondered just how ill he must ‌‌‌be to do something so uncharacteristic.
I immediately wrote a reply and sent it through a maid.
Don't ‌‌worry and rest well. As you said, I'm quite happy to enter alone.
I'm concerned about how much pain you must be in. I hope you recover soon.
The staff members watching me write the letter exchanged meaningful glances.
"...So... the man who agreed to be your partner just bailed, right?"
"While that ex-flame who was managing your romantic interests is still attending?"
I nodded.
The staff members' eyes gleamed with determination as they rolled up their sleeves.
"Sit down right now, Minister! Immediately!"
"We won't let you look shabby! We'll make you the most beautiful person at that banquet!"
"We'll make you shine brighter than Crown Prince ‌‌Kiaros himself!"
That day,
I experienced true professional dedication.
* * ‌*
The banquet hall of the ‌‌‌Imperial Palace where the Saint Kairo Banquet was being held. ‌‌‌
The recently remodeled banquet hall was magnificent and elegant.
It was spacious and comfortable, though not crowded—only those of high rank were permitted to attend.
Before the banquet officially began, civil servants bustled about preparing for the opening ‌‌‌ceremony.
"I heard ‌‌the Scroll Department is handling the opening ceremony?"
"So the Empress is attending, I've heard."
"It's been so long since all the Royal Family gathered like this. Even the Emperor, who was ‌‌‌in the Western Region, has come."
The Empress, attending a banquet for the first time in ages, laughed between Jayden and Crown Prince Kiaros.
Catching glimpses of this, the ministers who had arrived early gathered to converse.
"I heard you even ‌‌‌‌mobilized the Ministry ‌‌‌of Education this time?"
"Really? Your staff ‌‌didn't ‌‌‌object? If they were from our department, they'd have refused, saying they felt insulted."
The Minister of Education merely smiled at the ministers' questions, but internally he was seething.
The civil servants Namia Loapi had requested as support staff were already quite upset. They openly hoped the minister would ‌‌refuse.
But...
[Since Riedan was arrested through the Empress and Scroll Department's covert investigation this time, I have no choice but ‌to show some deference.]
[But that's Team Leader Riedan's mistake, not ‌‌‌‌something we're responsible for, is it?]
[Just do ‌‌‌‌it!]
Small sacrifices ‌were inevitable ‌‌for the greater good.
In the end, the Ministry of Education staff forcibly mobilized for this event made their displeasure abundantly clear.
As a result, the department's atmosphere had been quite poor these past few days.
"Still, aren't you looking forward to it? Hehe... If she's a minister recognized by the Tower Master, wouldn't she display ‌‌‌incredible magical prowess?"
"That's true. ‌‌If the young minister is confident enough to plan an event like this, it must mean something. It does feel different from the old Scroll Management Department somehow?"
A few ministers who harbored no great resentment toward Namia Loapi's ‌‌appointment began chattering with ‌anticipation.
"Did you see how the Finance Minister set the initial budget for this? If he went that far, there must be something to it."
The ‌‌‌Finance Minister was not present at this gathering.
True to his station as a high-ranking nobleman, Marquis Awin was currently conversing with the Emperor.
With such a powerful Finance Minister allocating a generous initial budget to the Scroll Department, everyone had reason ‌to whisper about it.
"Well, we'll see once the event unfolds."
"We don't know much about magic anyway. It's ‌‌possible that for the Scroll Department specifically, Namia Loapi might actually be a capable minister."
The Minister of Education ground his teeth inwardly.
If this event proceeded smoothly, a different evaluation would begin to attach itself to Namia Loapi—no ‌‌‌longer just the Tower Master's parachute ‌appointment.
Knowing this, wasn't that why Namia Loapi had planned such a grand-scale event, even involving the Royal Family?
'But ‌‌‌I know what that damned thing really is.'
The Minister of Education recalled Namia Loapi's infuriating demeanor when they met ‌‌privately—that absurd tone of voice.
'That's why I made this choice for the Empire. I couldn't bear to watch such a lowborn creature ‌deceive everyone.'
Watching the staff busily preparing the event in the distance, the Minister of Education gulped down his wine.
'This is the righteous path. I made this choice for everyone's sake.'
According to his plan, ‌‌‌today's Scroll Department event would be a disaster. Thus, Namia Loapi would have no choice but to step down from her ministerial position.
Of course, there would be some innocent ‌‌casualties, but that was unavoidable. Wasn't it a sacrifice for the greater good?
'Today is the last day. That arrogant Namia Loapi will finally stop her insolence.'
The thought ‌‌‌brought a slight improvement to his mood.
The ‌Minister of Education ‌‌‌barely managed to maintain his ‌‌‌‌composure. A minister beside him spoke to him.
"In ‌‌any case, seeing that the Ministry of Education also helped... it seems the Minister of Education has taken a liking to the Scroll Department's minister?"
"What...."
The Minister of Education let out a derisive snort.
"I merely provided cooperation. I have no desire to exchange words with such an uncultured woman."
"...Pardon?"
"It's a ‌mystery why His Highness the Crown Prince would ‌take a liking to such an unremarkable and contemptible woman."
It was at that moment.
"The young lady of Baron Loapi has arrived!"
An Attendant rang the bell and announced loudly ‌‌from the entrance.
Among those gathered, many high-ranking ‌‌nobles were seeing Namia Loapi for the first time. As Namia Loapi prepared to enter, she whispered something to the Attendant.
"I didn't come in the capacity ‌‌of a baron's daughter. Please check again."
"Ah.... My sincerest apologies. The Minister of Scrolls has arrived!"
All eyes turned toward the entrance. Everyone let out a soft gasp of admiration.
Namia Loapi, dressed in a glittering gown, entered the Banquet Hall alone.
Her hair was elegantly pinned up, her makeup refined, and her jewelry perfectly complemented her appearance.
Combined with her impeccable posture and graceful gait, my presence was more than enough to captivate every eye in the ‌room.
"I think I understand now."
A minister chatting beside the Minister of Education murmured.
"It seems ‌‌‌‌‌you simply took a liking to her because she's beautiful? The reason is quite ‌‌‌‌obvious, isn't it?"
I showed no sign of being intimidated by the flood of gazes directed at me.
Rather, I seemed to be enjoying them. ‌‌‌
And there was a man who had gone rigid upon seeing me.
"My, so that's the new minister. She's ‌‌‌quite beautiful."
"I heard the Loapi Marquessate had completely collapsed! So the rumor that Namia Loapi severed ties with her parents is true?" ‌‌‌‌
Despite claims ‌‌‌‌that he knew no one, Victor Awin found himself surrounded by numerous noble ladies.
People continued to whisper around him.
"Then ‌is she Victor's superior?"
"Well, she'd be his temporary superior, I suppose... Surely Marquis Awin won't take Victor to the Ministry of Finance?"
Victor offered no response. He merely flashed them an awkward smile.
Then he quickly ‌‌‌‌‌moved toward her, who was walking in alone. That was when it happened.
"Namia Loapi!"
The robust Empress called out my name with hearty enthusiasm and strode over. Everyone froze and offered their respects.
"Your Majesty the Empress, we greet you."
The muscular Empress waved her hand dismissively at the crowd and responded casually. Then she grasped my arm firmly and exclaimed.
"Why are you so late! I've been waiting for you, and my eyes nearly fell out of my head—this banquet was about to become nothing ‌but the sound of these people drowning in their own mediocrity!"
Not only the nobles present but even the ministers were shocked.
Their expressions seemed to ask, 'Could the Empress really speak so kindly?'
"Anyway, you're absolutely stunning! Ahahahahaha! If only I'd been born as a shallow, appearance-obsessed tyrant of a man instead of what I am, ‌‌‌‌I'd make you my concubine on the spot!"
"Thank you for the unsettling yet sincere compliment, ‌‌‌Your Majesty."
I responded with a bright smile.
Victor was about to approach and speak to me again.
But then someone else came rushing over.

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Brought to you by ‌Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------