TSIMG 04

Chapter 04

“What do you mean it doesn’t make sense?”

“I literally just explained it!”

Looking as though she might die of frustration, Rodia pounded her fist against her own chest.

This was the very reason the conversation with Hystein had dragged on until late into the night.

“According to Heint’s national law, a legal guardian has the obligation to provide housing for their ward.”

“Exactly, but that responsibility doesn’t automatically mean we have to live together.”

To summarize, Hystein had invoked that law to demand that Rodia move out of her dormitory.

As her legal guardian, he claimed he had the legal right to require her to leave the dorms and live in the Roat family estate instead, arguing that the dormitory was not a “residence provided by a guardian.”

It was an utterly ridiculous argument.

Naturally, Rodia opposed the idea.

Even Ricardt, ever devoted to his job, was trying to talk his superior out of his stubbornness.

“The problem is that Heint still has its social circles.”

“So what?”

“If word gets out that an unmarried woman like me is living in the same mansion as an unmarried man like you, Mr. Roat, your reputation might survive—but mine will be destroyed!”

Hystein Roat was famous in every sense of the word.

An unmarried man living under the same roof as a young, unmarried woman before marriage.

And that woman happened to be Rodia Prokheight.

If that rumor spread, tomorrow morning’s newspaper would undoubtedly plaster it across the front page in enormous headlines.

The very thought made her dizzy.

“I don’t care about anything else, but this is the one thing I absolutely refuse to compromise on!”

Rodia declared, glaring at him.

Beside her, Ricardt nodded in agreement.

No employee wanted their company’s president splashed across the newspapers over a personal scandal.

Ricardt looked more determined than ever.

“…Fine. Then I’ll back down on this issue.”

At his declaration of surrender, Rodia instinctively threw both hands into the air in victory.

Watching her celebrate, Hystein let out a quiet chuckle.

“But once you graduate, you’ll have to leave the dormitory anyway. At that point, you’ll move into my estate.”

“…?”

Still frozen in her triumphant pose, Rodia stared at him.

Her expression practically screamed, What kind of nonsense is that?

“It’s dangerous outside.”

His tone was firm.

“If people find out I’m your guardian, who knows what those people might try? While you’re inside the university, you’re relatively safe—but once you’re on your own, absolutely not.”

It was reasoning worthy of Hystein—a man whose father had been killed in a terrorist attack.

For a moment, Rodia was speechless.

She understood his concern.

But understanding it didn’t mean agreeing.

His worries were perfectly reasonable, yet she had no desire whatsoever to become the center of a ridiculous scandal.

She raised one hand as though asking permission to speak.

“Could someone explain to me how moving into your estate now is any different from moving in after graduation?”

Naturally, neither man answered.

She looked back and forth between them before continuing.

“And you live alone too, don’t you, Mr. Roat? How is that any different from me living alone?”

“…This estate has belonged to the Roat family for generations. It’s the safest place for me.”

“So, in other words, it isn’t the safest place for me?”

“……”

Rodia’s argument was admittedly a stretch.

But Hystein couldn’t deny it.

Even if she lived at the Roat estate, she was right.

It would never truly become her home.

“Then how about this?”

Having watched the exchange in silence, Ricardt stood up.

He fetched a clean sheet of paper and a pen.

At the top, in neat handwriting, he wrote:

Agreement

Then he began writing numbered clauses.

1. Upon graduating from school, Rodia Prokheight shall live independently. Hystein Roat shall make every reasonable effort to find a suitable residence for her. (All expenses incurred shall be paid by Rodia Prokheight.)

2. Unless there are serious issues with the residence chosen by Hystein Roat (such as safety concerns), Rodia Prokheight shall not object to moving there.

“Give me the pen.”

The moment he spoke, Hystein took the pen from Ricardt.

With a smug grin, he added the clauses he wanted beneath them.

3. Rodia Prokheight’s legal guardian shall be Hystein Roat. This shall remain legally valid until Rodia Prokheight marries and changes her surname.

4. Because of Clause 3, Rodia Prokheight shall not reject recommendations made by Hystein Roat concerning her safety or health without a legitimate reason. Likewise, Hystein Roat shall accept responsibility for matters concerning Rodia Prokheight’s safety and health whenever she requests assistance.

5. Because of Clause 3, Rodia Prokheight shall obtain Hystein Roat’s approval before withdrawing money from the account at Canesis Bank.

“Perfect.”

Ricardt looked at Hystein, who was smiling like a well-fed cat.

The agreement was far from perfect.

It lacked several things any proper contract should contain.

Still, he was employed by Hystein.

Without saying a word, Ricardt turned toward Rodia.

“…Miss Prokheight, would you like to add anything?”

He waved the paper, which still had blank space left.

In response, Rodia shot her hand into the air with lightning speed.

“Hystein Roat shall not address Rodia Prokheight informally!”

“…!”

“…What?”

Ricardt clamped both hands over his mouth.

If he relaxed for even a second, he knew he’d burst out laughing.

If I laugh now, I’m definitely getting my salary docked.

His face turned bright red.

“I mean, isn’t it obvious? You may be my brother’s friend and older than me, but constantly speaking informally to someone you’ve only just met is incredibly rude, isn’t it?”

“Then you may speak casually to me as well.”

“So you’re telling me to be rude to you?”

Be rude?

That sounded strange too.

Tilting her head innocently, Rodia looked genuinely confused.

Unable to find a response, Hystein simply fell silent.

Meanwhile, Ricardt had retreated into a corner, desperately trying to muffle his laughter.

“…Very well. I mean… very well. Ricardt, stop standing over there and finish writing.”

“Ahem… yes… Is there anything else either of you would like to add? Shall I make another copy afterward?”

Still trying to steady his voice after laughing so hard, Ricardt spoke.

“Wait a second. This agreement—that isn’t really an agreement—is missing the most important part.”

Since Rodia still hadn’t signed, Hystein frowned.

What is she dissatisfied with this time?

His face said it all.

“Can more clauses be added later?”

She frowned seriously.

“Right now, almost every clause benefits only you, Mr. Roat.”

She had never looked so serious.

“According to this document, my legal guardian remains you until I get married. I have no idea when I’ll marry, if ever. A legal document without an expiration date isn’t appropriate.”

She had identified the agreement’s biggest flaw perfectly.

Ricardt looked toward Hystein as though asking, What should we do?

“…Add Clause Seven: ‘Additional clauses may be included through mutual agreement.’ And write in an expiration date at the end.”

“For how many years?”

Hystein thought for a moment before looking at Rodia.

She glared back with wide, sparkling blue eyes, silently asking, Why are you looking at me?

This young woman was a fourth-year student at Fromboat University.

She was still in her late teens, but five or six years from now she’d be well into adulthood.

Hystein decided that would be long enough.

Of course, if Rodia married before the agreement expired, then both the agreement—and his unwillingly accepted guardianship—would automatically come to an end.

If she ends up marrying someone before then, all the better for me.

Thinking that, he answered,

“Five years.”

“Until the thirty-first day of the thirteenth month, 1680. Miss Prokheight, do you agree?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

She paused.

“And one more thing. I understand that I need your approval before using the money in the Canesis Bank account. But if you’re going to spend that money on matters concerning me, shouldn’t you also need my consent? That money doesn’t really belong to either one of us.”

Looking him straight in the eye, Rodia calmly demanded fairness.

Hystein found himself studying her with interest.

Most of the time she seemed passive.

Yet whenever she believed something truly mattered, she became surprisingly assertive.

She was right.

There was nothing unreasonable about what she’d said.

Hystein nodded.

Seeing his employer agree, Ricardt added Rodia’s requested clause to the document.

Then he watched her reaction.

Reading through the agreement from the beginning one final time, Rodia finally signed her name in the space at the bottom.

Hystein had already signed.

He quietly watched the top of her head.

Sharp eyes.

For someone who had never truly experienced the world outside university, she noticed important details.

This wasn’t a formal legal contract, but the most important element of any agreement was its duration.

He had deliberately omitted it.

So had Ricardt.

Yet Rodia had caught the omission immediately, without anyone’s help.

Fourth-year student.

Fromboat University, Faculty of Law.

His investigation had revealed she’d earned a scholarship every single year.

She worked hard.

She was intelligent.

And she had excellent instincts.

As the president of a company, it would have been stranger not to want someone like her.

Folding his hands together, he called her name with complete seriousness.

“Miss Prokheight… have you considered working for my company after graduation?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“……”

Hystein’s perfectly natural attempt to recruit talented personnel was rejected without mercy.

Having never expected to be turned down so completely, he was genuinely shocked.

“I’m sorry, but there’s something I want to do first. So I’m putting employment on hold for the time being. It wouldn’t matter who asked—I would give the same answer.”

Smiling brightly, Rodia straightened in her seat.

She still had one more request to make.

“Mr. Roat… I don’t want to believe my brother is dead. I believe you feel the same way. Am I right?”

Hystein nodded.

Who would immediately assume that their closest friend had died alone in some distant land?

“Then I have a favor to ask. Could you continue searching for my brother?”

“…I already am.”

His answer came immediately.

“The last confirmed destination was Belgot Harbor on the northern continent. If that’s true, he most likely headed to Pasat. I’ve already sent people there, so we should hear something soon.”

“Pasat…”

It was the second-largest nation on the northern continent.

It was now December.

Even Heint, on the southern continent, was cold this time of year.

The winters of the north, however, were on an entirely different level.

Rodia’s face turned pale in an instant.

“Even if you hadn’t asked, I have no intention of giving up on that fool.”

Hystein swallowed hard.

It wasn’t a possibility he wanted to consider.

“If…”

He paused.

“If he’s dead… then I’ll at least bring his body home. You don’t have to worry about that.”

There was something in his voice.

Something in the unwavering conviction behind his promise.

It made people want to trust him.

“…I’m glad my brother’s friend is you, Mr. Roat.”

Rodia decided to believe him.

After all, he had already sent people to search for Damian without being asked.

That alone was enough to earn her trust.

“Damian Prokheight…”

A grinding sound escaped between Rodia’s clenched teeth.

“When I catch you, you’re going to answer for all of this.”

Watching her, Hystein silently slid the agreement across the table.

Beside him, Ricardt gathered the documents and tucked them neatly into his bag.

Only after watching him finish did Hystein turn back toward Rodia.

“As promised, I’ll begin looking for a house for you as soon as possible. The necessary funds will be conveyed through Ricardt, and you can reimburse them later.”

He nearly slipped back into speaking informally, catching himself just in time by biting back the words.

Seeing him frown at himself, Rodia couldn’t help laughing quietly.

“Yes. Thank you. I know you’re busy. It doesn’t have to be large, and I can’t afford extravagant furnishings, so I’d appreciate it if you could find somewhere modest.”

“Understood.”

As he answered, Hystein mentally reviewed the average property prices in the capital, Panyu.

In truth, purchasing real estate in the capital required far more money than most people imagined.

But Rodia had no reason to know that.

And Hystein saw no reason to tell her.

Without having the chance to discuss the matter in greater detail, the important financial arrangements were settled just like that.