The Emperor held his forehead and shook his head.
“So let get this straight. You got rejected, and now you want to stick close to Namia as an excuse? Didn’t I make it clear? Since you’ve already been turned down, absolutely don’t pressure her by lingering around......”
The Emperor’s slow voice continued.
“You think if you’re hovering ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) around, Namia’s just going to show you her vulnerabilities.......”
“Of course not.”
Kiaros answered imdiately.
He wasn’t an idiot. He knew that sticking to her in his Crown Prince status would only stir up unpleasant rumors.
“I’ll handle that part myself. Your Majesty only needs to manage my temporary absence from work for now.”
“Well... I was planning to anyway since you're in a blackout, but......”
The Emperor responded with a reluctant expression.
Kiaros resud sipping his tea elegantly, as if that settled it.
‘I’ll just go back into the Scroll Managent Departnt—no, the Scroll Departnt.’
Fortunately, even during a blackout, he could still use his special ability.
Using that, he could re-enter as an intern, and if he stayed close, maybe he could uncover sothing.
[If Your Highness finds sothing suspicious and investigates, I’ll cooperate fully. I believe it’s for the peace of the empire.]
Namia had said so herself.
If sothing was suspicious, investigate it.
‘Even if Namia’s innocent, it’s true the Scroll Managent Departnt is shady.’
Like the Tower Master said, it was hard to believe Oson was the only infiltrator.
There had to be more. Ones who were cautious and hadn’t been caught yet.
‘I might be able to find them myself.’
That’s why he would personally launch an undercover investigation.
The Emperor had stepped in and lessened his workload, so spending ti in the Scroll Departnt would be no problem.
‘Besides, it didn’t look like there was much work there anyway.’
He wasn’t the least bit afraid to go back as an intern.
Namia had said this once:
[If that first intern I ever had cos back sohow...... I’ll make sure to clear up the misunderstanding and help them feel completely at ease.]
Even if he returned, she’d help him feel at ease.
That ant he could enter the departnt and calmly root out the infiltrators.
‘And... if Namia is innocent, I might even be able to protect her.’
If a traitor still lurked inside, they would definitely try to harm Namia for interfering and protecting the royals.
Thinking that way, he needed to stick close to her to keep her safe.
‘It’s the duty of royalty to protect civil servants.’
Kiaros thought logically.
‘I’m simply trying to protect the civil servant who protected .’
It was absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not out of personal feelings.
This was him using his special ability for the sake of the empire.
“Kiaros, I trust in your excellence. If my son suspects sothing, of course he should investigate. Do as you wish.”
The Emperor spoke gently.
“But one thing: don’t cling to a woman who said no. Don’t make her uncomfortable by pushing with your authority or status. Understand? Even if your long first love didn’t work out.”
That’s when the Empress, who had been quietly reading the room, cautiously interjected and shouted.
“I disagree, Your Majesty! If there’s sothing you want, seize it! Struggle and take it, no matter what! If you actively use that face and body without holding back, I believe you can seduce her!”
Kiaros sighed deeply inside.
It seed neither of them understood his pure intention for the empire.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Kiaros ignored the Emperor and Empress, who now wore pitying expressions.
‘I’m simply acting for the sake of the empire.’
For the empire’s sake, he would beco Kibon Altess again starting tomorrow.
And stick close to Namia to monitor the Scroll Departnt.
Interns wouldn’t be assigned serious work, so the conditions were perfect.
***
At that ti.
The Tower Master and I were heading to the Scroll Managent Departnt office.
“Hmph!”
It was past 7 PM.
Obviously, all the staff had gone ho.
When he saw confidential docunts scattered all over the desks, the Tower Master clicked his tongue.
“They’re seriously insane...... No wonder the Crown Prince grinds his teeth and wants to shut this place down. With the departnt in this state, of course spies would crawl in.”
“Yes. Honestly, this place was a spy paradise and a god-tier civil service job.”
I agreed imdiately.
The Tower Master picked up a sheet of scroll parchnt and sneered again.
“They sure feasted on this. Said it was S-grade, but even at a glance this is B-grade. Clearly, they assud regular folks wouldn’t know how to read scrolls, and cut shady deals with the vendor.”
As the Tower Master circled the office, similar incidents kept happening.
“Hah, what’s with this template? They don’t even know the spell properly. What is this, expired ink? Scroll won’t even activate with this stuff.”
There was no end to what he could point out.
Frustrated by his own disbelief, he finally turned and shouted at .
“You’re internally cursing right now, asking why I let this place rot, aren’t you?!”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The Tower Master sighed deeply at my answer.
Then he swatted the naplate of the now-dismissed minister off the desk and grumbled.
“I know. I know the Tower Master shouldn’t have let it get like this. The Crown Prince is right to see this place as a thorn in his side.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But I couldn’t help it. I’ve got serious problems with my daughter. I didn’t have the ntal space to worry about this place.”
“......”
“You think I’m pathetic, can’t even do my job right because of family stuff, don’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The Tower Master pressed his forehead.
I quietly watched him, then softly added.
“But... I still think it can’t be helped.”
That was my honest feeling.
“......Even if you know you’re pathetic, sotis you just... still can’t help it......”
So people would definitely think I was pathetic.
Luka had said that once — why are you living like this?
‘But I couldn’t help it. It’s family......’
How can you let go of soone when you’re full of mories of loving and being loved?
Honestly, I didn’t have many hopes or regrets left in this world.
So many awful things had happened in this Scroll Managent Office. There were days I’d thought, just let the whole world fall apart.
But even as a lowly worker, I tried everything I could to stop a war......
‘I miss you, Dad. I want to see you again.’
If not for that wish, that single hope—
‘......Being alone is too lonely.’
I didn’t want to admit it, but that was my true feeling.
When the Baron and his wife had dinner with just Juan.
When no one ca to see during Academy parent visit day.
When I passed the Imperial Palace civil service exam and had no one to share the news with.
Every ti, I swallowed the loneliness by thinking of my dad. It was the only way to survive.
‘I’m an adult now, but still......’
All my mories of being loved stopped at age eight.
Like an eight-year-old, I swallowed back my tears.
‘I still need my family......’
When I saw the Emperor affectionately caring for Kiaros earlier—
Even then, sothing in ached.
Seeing the royal family believe in and lean on each other made suddenly feel so alone. Like I was the only outsider.
“......I can understand living that pathetic kind of life. Honestly, I have a missing family mber too......”
I murmured, holding back my tears.
The Tower Master looked at intently, then sighed once more.
Then he perched on the ssy forr minister’s desk and finally spoke.
“I have a daughter.”
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