Before I knew it, ink was spilling all over Victor’s report.
Kibon had slamd Victor’s pen onto the report earlier—breaking it.
Kibon, completely unfazed, said,
“I apologize. I didn’t understand properly.”
Hey.
That’s not the ti to use that line.
“I’ll compensate you several tis over.”
“Ah... That was a gift from little Namia when she first joined the departnt!”
“Then I, the younger Namia, shall now gift you one hundred of the sa pen to celebrate my return. That should make it even.”
“No, hey, intern? How’s that the sa? The person’s different, the timing’s different, and even the aning’s different!”
“I apologize. I didn’t understand properly.”
Hey.
That’s still not the ti to use that line.
One thing was certain:
Kibon had a nasty and petty personality. His character needed serious adjustnt.
“Well, anyway,”
Victor gathered up his broken pen and smiled lightly.
“Guess chatting at the office is impossible after all. Let’s talk as much as we want at the Saint Cairo banquet. I’m making a reservation now—your second dance is mine, Minister.”
He gave Kibon a glance and scratched the back of his head, murmuring as he slowly left,
“To think I’m only the second in Namia’s list... Feels kinda sad, doesn’t it.”
That’s when it happened.
Bang! The Scroll Departnt’s door burst open with a loud slam.
“...Ha.”
The one who entered was none other than the Education Minister.
As soon as the door swung open, he glared daggers at inside the office.
“I’d like a word with the Minister of the Scroll Departnt.”
His expression was livid, lips trembling with fury.
I smiled sweetly, not even bothering to get up from my seat.
“Yes, Minister.”
Still, I had to force myself to suppress the laughter threatening to bubble out.
‘Gotcha.’
It was finally ti to spring the trap I’d so confidently bragged about to Kiaros yesterday.
[May I use Your Highness’s na... just a little?]
Getting prior permission was all for this mont!
Seeing the bright smile on my face, Kibon visibly flinched in his seat.
At that mont—
The Empress, who was practicing scroll activation with Anastasia in one corner, waved enthusiastically.
“Oh! Education Minister?”
She blinked innocently and called out,
“My son’s teacher turned out to be an absolute bastard—say, you didn’t know about that, right? If you did, and still swept it under the rug, your corpse will be swept under with him.”
“Ahaha. I’ve already proven my innocence to the Knights’ Order, Your Majesty.”
The Education Minister answered quickly and bowed perfectly.
“I greet Your Majesty the Empress and Prince Jaden. But may I ask what brings you to the Scroll Departnt office?”
“Oh, just practicing for the Saint Cairo banquet. Gotta learn how to use scrolls from the staff themselves.”
The Empress waved a scroll as she spoke.
The Minister’s brow furrowed.
“...In that case, the staff should have been summoned to the separate palace or Your Majesty’s quarters. For the royal family to co in person to a departnt office...”
“Oh, I just had soone I wanted to roast a little. Didn’t seem right to summon an intern just to chew him out.”
She glanced sideways at Kibon.
She had roasted him, yes—but at least she hadn’t summoned him just for that. So technically, it wasn’t entirely abusive. Even Jaden nodded in agreent.
“Plus, once we started practicing here, it felt like a pain to head back to the separate palace.”
The Education Minister bit his lip, clearly displeased.
He must’ve thought their behavior tarnished royal dignity.
“Well, do what you ca to do. Just know this—I’ve got a bad feeling about you. And that’s not going away anyti soon. Keep that in mind.”
The Empress glared and warned him, then returned to practicing with Jaden.
Ultimately, the Education Minister clicked his tongue and stepped into my office. He sat down and glared at , speaking lowly.
“I saw that cooperation request you sent our departnt this morning. But I recall I summoned you to the Education Ministry, didn’t I?”
I shrugged.
Then, with great ceremony, I activated a soundproof scroll.
aning: this conversation would not leak beyond these walls.
Once the scrolls were fully activated, I replied slowly,
“Oh? Did you? Must’ve missed that—I’ve been terribly busy.”
This morning, I’d sent another incredibly rude cooperation request to the Education Ministry.
It was the second. The first had co on the day Liden was arrested, a completely pointless letter just to taunt them.
Now that it had happened a second ti, of course the Education Minister had told to co to him personally. I’d ignored it.
And if I ignored it... well, what could he do but co himself?
“We may both be Ministers, but you’re much younger than I am—and the Scroll Departnt is far smaller than the Education Ministry. Forcing to co all this way—is that really proper?”
“You’re right.”
I replied while pretending to inspect my nails.
“It was kind of rude~ But if you’d waited just a little longer, I might’ve co over myself~yom.”
Kibon twitched his brow at my sudden change in tone.
The Minister seethed, angrier than ever.
“To sit still in your office instead of assisting the royal family—doesn’t that show a serious lack of thought for a Minister?”
“Yesh? Why’s that~yom?”
“Letting the royal family walk into a departnt office like this undermines the dignity of the Dragonbloods—ah...”
He stopped mid-sentence, as if realizing sothing, and shook his head.
“Well, I suppose it’s not surprising from Her Majesty. She was never properly educated, after all.”
True enough. It was rare for royalty to visit a bureaucratic departnt in person.
Jaden had clearly co just because his mother asked him to.
Rembering that, the Minister sighed deeply and narrowed his eyes at .
“Fine, let’s say Prince Jaden is excused. But a Minister should know better. Are you really okay acting so improperly yourself?”
“Oh, was that improper? I didn’t know~yom. I couldn’t find any such clause in the law.”
I tilted my head, blew on my nails, and muttered without even looking at him,
“Personally, I just think royalty are easier to deal with, that’s all~”
“What? Have you lost your mind?”
He blinked rapidly, utterly dumbfounded.
His face was turning red—probably from rising blood pressure.
‘Perfect. Right on schedule.’
I’d sent that rude cooperation letter expecting him to chase down.
And I knew the Empress and Jaden would show up early in the morning because of Kibon.
All of it—set up just to bait the Education Minister.
[You’re going to use my na? How?]
[I plan to spin the rumors a bit—make it sound like His Highness has so feelings for . Is that okay?]
[Didn’t the whole palace already hear I got dumped by Miss Namia? Use it however you want.]
That conversation yesterday was now armor, shielding .
If Kiaros himself said I could use it—what was there to fear?
I looked up and crossed my legs.
“His Highness told not to worry about the Dragonblood thing. That I should just treat him casually~yom.”
“...What?”
“He said, ‘Our cute, adorable, precious baby MiaMiaNamia~ just do whatever you want. Dragon Oppa will protect you. Just marry . I already secretly planned the wedding~’~yom.”
He told to use it however I wanted. So I did. Liberally.
Behind , Kibon coughed awkwardly.
I continued, all innocence.
“So there’s nothing for to be afraid of~yom.”
“You... really...”
“That’s why we’d really appreciate the Education Ministry’s cooperation for this event~yom.”
“What are you even—”
“If not, I’ll tattle to Dragon Oppa~ He’s madly in love with , so he won’t let it slide~yom.”
What do you think? Doesn’t that sound trashy? Totally improper? Infuriating?
Doesn’t it make you think the Crown Prince has lost his mind over so ridiculous girl?
Makes you worried for the future of the empire, doesn’t it?
I gave a sharp smile and instantly changed both tone and expression.
“But... what’s with that face?”
“...What?”
“I was just trying to ease the tension with a little joke. We’re civil servants—shouldn’t we get along? «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» I was being friendly first, but you’re not matching the mood. That hurts my feelings a bit.”
The sudden shift to dead seriousness made the Education Minister flinch.
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