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Chapter : 01
Prologue
From early morning, the Scroll Department office had been in chaos.
A middle-aged man—the Minister of Education—stormed straight into the minister’s office without warning.
“I saw the official cooperation document you sent to our department this morning. I clearly called for you to visit the Ministry of Education, didn’t I?”
But no matter how agitated the Minister of Education became, a woman simply looked at him with calm eyes.
She was Namia Roapi, who had become the Minister of the Scroll Department at just twenty-three years old.
She replied slowly, as if she wasn’t particularly surprised.
“Oh, really? I was busy, so I didn’t see it.”
The Minister of Education took a sharp breath.
You send a rude official cooperation request in the morning—and now you say, “I was busy, so I didn’t see it?”
He forced down his rising anger and protested.
“We may both be ministers, but you are far younger than me, and the Scroll Department is far smaller in scale than the Ministry of Education. In the end, making me come here personally—don’t you think that’s impolite?”
“Is that so?”
Namia answered indifferently while filing her fingernails.
“Well, I guess it was a bit impolite…”
Namia Roapi.
Until just a few days ago, she had been nothing more than a low-ranking civil servant in the Scroll Management Department—publicly known within the government as the “hopeless department.”
But recently, she had suddenly been placed into the position of minister due to the Tower Master’s absurd tantrum.
More precisely, she became the Minister of the newly reorganized “Scroll Department,” after the upper leadership of the Scroll Management Department had all been purged following the Crown Prince’s sword-wielding purge.
In other words, from an outside perspective—she was the perfect parachute minister.
“But if you had waited a bit, I might’ve come myself.”
That infuriating tone made the Minister of Education see red.
But he couldn’t shout. He couldn’t even grab her by the collar.
Because the Empress and the young Crown Prince were currently visiting the Scroll Department office.
So she’s favored by the royal family—and she’s this arrogant too?!
The Minister of Education glanced toward the Empress and Crown Prince outside the glass door.
Although the door was transparent, Namia and the Minister were currently separated inside the minister’s office.
Aside from the black-haired secretary standing behind Namia, it was practically just the two of them.
He gritted his teeth and warned her.
“Now that I see it myself, the Minister of the Scroll Department is far too short-sighted. Ignoring the imperial family and sitting idle in your office? This is truly… ha.”
“Hmm? Why is that a problem?”
The authority of the imperial family in the empire was absolute.
They were “Dragon People,” beings with dragon blood. Just their presence was enough to make ordinary people instinctively submit.
And yet—this shameless attitude?
The Minister of Education seized the opportunity and raised his voice.
“To speak so casually about the noble Dragon People—do you think a minister can behave so disrespectfully?!”
“Oh, so that’s disrespectful? I didn’t know that. There’s no law like that.”
Namia tilted her head, completely unfazed, and blew lightly on her nails.
“Personally, I just feel more comfortable around the royal family…”
“What? Are you insane?!”
As the Minister of Education exploded, Namia finally looked up and crossed her legs.
“His Highness the Crown Prince himself told me not to treat Dragon People as something distant, and to speak comfortably.”
“…What?”
“He told me, ‘My cute, adorable, lovely baby Namia, do whatever you want. Your Yong Oppa will protect you. Just marry me. I even secretly prepared a wedding.’”
Behind her, the secretary coughed violently.
Namia shrugged.
“So I’m not really afraid of anything.”
“You… you really—”
“So please cooperate with this event from the Ministry of Education.”
“What are you even—”
“If you don’t, I’ll tell Yong Oppa. And you know how he gets when his eyes are fixed on someone he likes.”
The Minister of Education bit his lip, swallowing a groan.
Rumors had already spread throughout the imperial palace that Crown Prince Kiaros had gone into isolation after being rejected by Namia.
But to think he was still obsessively attached to her to this extent…
And above all—
Her tone is the most infuriating part.
Trembling with rage, he glared at Namia.
After a few more exchanges, the Minister of Education finally stood up, seething.
He looked around the department with a sharp, searching gaze—clearly hoping to find any fault.
But…
There’s nothing to find!
Namia watched his retreating back with a satisfied expression.
Just a few days ago, this place had been the “Scroll Management Department,” infamous for its endless problems.
Attendance was terrible, the office was messy, and sensitive documents were being circulated carelessly.
But after I, Namia Roapi, became minister through an unprecedented turn of events—
How is it? Perfect, right?
Documents were neatly organized. Employees were at their desks. Everything was orderly.
Even the Empress and Crown Prince, visiting the department, were calmly browsing the scrolls in a comfortable environment.
Finally—
“You’ll regret this, Minister of the Scroll Department.”
The Minister of Education left with heavy, echoing footsteps.
Namia watched his back and smiled inwardly.
Wow, so this is what it feels like to mess with another minister as a minister. Amazing.
Normally, she would never have been able to act like a reckless, arrogant girl relying only on royal favor.
Of course, this was all for a greater purpose… but—
This kind of acting actually suits me.
She reached for her documents again, her posture and expression shifting completely.
“Minister…”
Her secretary, Kibon, who had been standing like a shadow behind her, spoke cautiously.
“About the ‘Yong… Oppa’ thing… maybe that’s a bit…”
It seemed even he was shocked by her calling the Crown Prince “Yong Oppa.”
Namia smiled and waved it off.
“It’s fine. I already got permission. His Highness said I can use his name however I want.”
“…I don’t think he expected you to use it this freely.”
“Then he shouldn’t have allowed it in the first place.”
“……”
“Besides, what’s he going to do later? Complain? It’s all for the imperial family anyway.”
“……”
“Do your job. You don’t have time to worry about His Highness right now.”
At her words, Kibon returned his face to the pile of documents, dark circles clearly visible under his eyes.
Namia, too, was busy—far more than her secretary.
But she couldn’t help it.
If I were still a low-ranking civil servant, I couldn’t have done anything even knowing the Minister of Education’s intentions.
Now that she had become a minister, everything had changed.
Higher salary. Prestigious events. No more incompetent superiors. Freedom to show her abilities openly. Full authority to lead the department.
But above all—
I get to act even more villainously than the villains in the original story.
After recalling the original plot, she had unexpectedly risen to power thanks to the Crown Prince and the Tower Master.
She never imagined she would end up with such a prestigious position.
But…
Power is sweet.
Authority is great. Honor is great. Promotion is great. The atmosphere at the top is great.
Originally, she hadn’t planned for things to go this far.
She only intended to slightly prevent the tragedy of the original story…
But now—
I will never let go of this path to success.
There was no longer any “original story.”
There was no longer a lifeless Namia Roapi, drifting through each day with dull, empty eyes.
Her eyes, now burning with power, flashed sharply.
Absolutely not.
And so… how did all of this begin…
