Chapter 89
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Chapter 89
"Namia! I've been waiting for you!"
Young Prince Jayden immediately clung to Namia Loapi, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Then he suddenly startled himself and declared petulantly.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I'm hugging you because I'm such a genius that I have no friends! It's absolutely not because I'm happy to see you!"
Everyone fell silent.
Their expressions simply conveyed: 'What? Even the Young Prince, notorious for his lack of manners?'
Young Prince Jayden continued speaking as he clung affectionately to Namia Loapi.
"By the way, Namia, where's that Intern you're always dragging around with you? Didn't you say you'd be partners?"
"Oh, he contacted me just before the banquet saying he was ill."
"Is that so? I don't know which pathogen it is, but I'd like to give that pathogen an award. It's admirable that he conveniently disappeared, but still—physical fitness management is part of his duties. I'll make sure to scold him until tears stream down his face later!"
Meanwhile, Victor had moved to stand right beside Namia Loapi.
He waited for her conversation with Young Prince Jayden to end.
Even as the heir to a marquis house, he couldn't interrupt the Royal Family's words.
Since Namia Loapi had no partner, he intended to ask to be her escort.
With Kibon absent, it felt like a nagging tooth had finally fallen out. Of course, even if he had come, Victor would have used his status to force him aside.
But then it happened.
"Would everyone mind stepping aside for a moment?"
All eyes turned to the tall, handsome man who suddenly extended his hand to Namia Loapi.
"I shall serve as the Minister of Scrolls' escort. After all, I too lack a partner."
Gleaming golden hair, a finely sculpted muscular frame, and piercing crimson eyes.
The man offering his hand to Namia Loapi was none other than Crown Prince Kiaros of Polariud.
As he naturally extended his hand to her, everyone gasped in shock.
"What? What is this? Didn't he say he'd been rejected?"
"Yes. That's why he's been in seclusion this whole time. And his complexion looks absolutely terrible, but it seems he still hasn't given up."
"Wow... he really is persistent."
Everyone shook their heads in admiration.
The entire Imperial Palace had been in an uproar from his rejection, and yet here he was requesting to be her partner again.
Even Namia Loapi looked startled.
Young Prince Jayden, who had been chattering while holding onto Namia Loapi, suddenly shrieked "Kyaaaaa! This is it!" and quickly stepped aside. Beside him, the Empress made strange sound effects like "Kwaak! Cackle cackle! Kwaaaak!"
"Ah, yes. I-it would be an honor, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Namia Loapi carefully took Crown Prince Kiaros' hand.
Who in the Empire could possibly refuse an escort from the Crown Prince?
"Well then."
Completely ignoring the Empress and Young Prince Jayden's "Ughugh! Cackle cackle!" sounds, Crown Prince Kiaros smiled with elegant grace.
"Shall we head over there? I'm quite looking forward to the Scroll Ministry's event as well."
"Ah, yes..."
As Crown Prince Kiaros led Namia Loapi forward, he glanced at Victor standing nearby.
Victor was seeing Crown Prince Kiaros for the first time. Their eyes met, and just as Victor was about to bow respectfully, Crown Prince Kiaros spoke.
Crown Prince Kiaros looked down at him with an indifferent tone and said:
"Move aside."
Victor flinched and stepped backward. Kiaros chuckled softly and continued walking.
But as Kiaros escorted Namia Loapi past, he deliberately stepped hard on Victor's foot.
'Ugh!'
For a mere step, the pain was excessive. Yet Kiaros offered no apology, simply brushing past him.
Victor swallowed his groan and bit his lower lip.
'It... it must have been an accident, right? He doesn't even know who I am...'
Crown Prince Kiaros had an excellent reputation. I'd heard he wasn't the type to belittle others or suppress them with authority.
Why would the Crown Prince stoop to such childish harassment of someone he hadn't even properly introduced himself to? Victor forced himself to dismiss the unease.
* * *
The opening ceremony proceeded magnificently.
The Empress and Young Prince Jayden ascended the platform together and began tearing through the prepared scrolls in sequence.
"Wow!"
"My goodness... it's absolutely stunning."
Each time the Empress and Young Prince Jayden tore a scroll, brilliant sparks erupted.
The crowd stood mesmerized, watching the fireworks illuminate the Banquet Hall in splendor.
Specially crafted for safety, the sparks dissipated like smoke the moment they burst forth.
"I've never seen scrolls like this before. It's like another world entirely."
"Where's the Minister of Scrolls? I'd like to arrange cooperation for the next diplomatic event!"
The crowd cheered, entranced by Young Prince Jayden and the Empress, and the fireworks swirling around them.
Fireworks inside the Banquet Hall—it was an event no one had anticipated.
However, since the Scroll Department staff had to continuously activate the scrolls, the large scroll boxes had to be held by Ministry of Education staff the entire time.
"Huff, huff. Huff."
"I'm going to be bedridden tomorrow..."
Endlessly retrieving scrolls from the massive boxes and handing them over was grueling labor.
The cooperation I'd secured from the Ministry of Education was precisely this—having them assist the Scroll Department staff while performing this backbreaking work.
[Are you insane? Why do we Ministry of Education civil servants need to do this kind of manual labor? Use the Imperial Palace attendants.]
[But entrusting it to attendants for such a critically important event... well, we civil servants help each other out, you know...]
[No, if you need civil servants, call new recruits. Why a five-year veteran...?]
[Uuuugh, I just feel like using a five-year veteran. Dragon oppa said I could do whatever I wanted. I'm simply following the imperial will.]
So they were now working for the very Scroll Department officials they had previously dismissed and driven away.
The Minister of Education watched the scene with a pained expression.
Meanwhile, Anastasia's face, as she directed the event on-site, looked absolutely radiant. It was fortunate.
"Truly magnificent."
As I watched the event with bated breath, Kiaros spoke from beside me.
"All those nights of overtime will have been worth it."
Kiaros and I stood together in the VIP section. Just as I was about to nod in agreement with a satisfied expression—
"It was worth allocating the budget, Minister."
Marquis Awin, who had appeared beside me without warning—that is, the Finance Minister—spoke with a knowing smile.
"Now everyone will understand. The old Scroll Management Department and the Scroll Department you lead are entirely different entities. And that I was the first to recognize you, once dismissed as merely the Tower Master's young protégé."
Victor stepped beside the Finance Minister. With a smirk, he tilted the champagne glass he was holding toward me, attempting a subtle toast.
"Yes, Father. Namia has certainly endured much hardship during this time... Ugh!"
But before his glass could even touch mine, he staggered. Crown Prince Kiaros had struck his foot hard. He gazed at Victor with a chilling expression, curling his lips upward.
"You're obstructing my view."
It seemed to be at an angle completely unrelated to Crown Prince Kiaros's line of sight, yet neither the Finance Minister nor Victor dared protest to the Imperial Servant.
Victor swallowed a groan and glanced briefly at his foot. When I peeked as well, I could see bruises already forming on his instep.
Crown Prince Kiaros shifted his gaze toward the stage without concern and added indifferently.
"The climax is coming soon anyway."
He was right. Soon the Empress and Young Prince Jayden were scheduled to tear apart a massive scroll together to mark the finale.
"Now, like this!"
Watching the audience members with enraptured expressions, the Administrative Support Department staff member in charge of proceedings called out cheerfully.
"I declare the opening of the Saint Kairo Banquet!"
The Empress and Young Prince Jayden smiled and tore the large scroll apart together as rehearsed. Simultaneously, delicate sparks burst upward with a crackling sound.
"Waaaaaah!"
The image of Saint Kairo and his mother who had embraced him with love appeared vividly. Everyone cheered with expressions of disbelief.
And at the same time...
'If my prediction is correct, it should be now!'
I looked at Young Prince Jayden's face. Indeed, an expression of astonishment different from joy flashed across his features. The boy's face, which had been dazed for a moment, flushed crimson.
"Hmm."
Crown Prince Kiaros murmured beside me.
"It seems Young Prince Jayden has awakened a special ability."
I nearly dropped the champagne glass I was holding without thinking.
It seemed I wasn't the only one observing Young Prince Jayden's expression.
'No, but even so, how could he mutter it loud enough for me to hear!'
Wasn't the Imperial Servant's special ability a secret not even shared with family? I whispered to him in surprise.
"Your Highness, were you perhaps observing Young Prince Jayden's expression?"
He looked down at me quietly, then slowly lowered his head. And he whispered directly into my ear.
"No."
I nearly jumped in startlement for a moment.
I was the one who had whispered first, so I didn't know the sensation would tickle like this.
"I was watching you watching Young Prince Jayden."
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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
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