TSIMG 00

It all began one morning with a single piece of mail delivered to Histein Roat’s office.

“Sir.”

Histein, who had come to work earlier than usual, frowned as his secretary, Ricard, held out a thick envelope. It was an unexpected letter for so early in the morning.

“It arrived from Attorney Donaus of Lombelli Law Firm.”

Why would that troublesome, exhausting lawyer be contacting him?

Using the letter opener lying on his desk, Histein broke the wax seal and unfolded the contents.

To Mr. Histein Roat,

The letter began with impeccable formality.

Greetings, Mr. Roat.

As winter reaches its deepest season, I am contacting you as the appointed representative of our client, Mr. Damian Prokheit, as the deadline of his entrusted request has now expired.

Resting his feet casually on the desk as he read, Histein suddenly froze.

“Damian?”

His eyes widened at the familiar name, and he immediately sat up straight.

“Don’t tell me… that Damian Prokheit?”

Three years ago, Mr. Damian Prokheit instructed our firm that, should the regular correspondence he personally sent us cease for longer than one year, his legal guardianship over his underage younger sibling was to be transferred to Mr. Histein Roat.

As you are undoubtedly aware, under the national laws of Heint, a guardian may designate a successor in advance in the event that they lose guardianship due to death or unforeseen circumstances.

“What?”

Histein brought the letter close to his face, then held it farther away, reading it again and again. Of course, no matter how many times he looked, the elegant handwriting didn’t change.

As of December 15, 1675, it has now been more than one year since we last received Mr. Damian Prokheit’s scheduled correspondence.

Histein hurriedly flipped to the next page, moving so quickly it hardly looked like he was reading.

By the legal authority of the enclosed documents, effective December 16, 1675, and until the designated termination date, Mr. Histein Roat has become the legal guardian of Miss Rodia Prokheit, younger sister of Mr. Damian Prokheit.

As you are not her closest blood relative, you may regard this role as that of a legal guardian with custodial authority.

“…What the hell? What is this? A legal guardian? Me?”

Attached behind the lawyer’s letter was the official guardianship document for Damian’s younger sister.

At the bottom was Damian’s signature.

And beside it…

Histein’s own signature.

Clear. Authentic. Undeniable.

His face filled with bewilderment.

When did I ever…?

It was far too convincing to be a forgery, yet he had absolutely no memory of signing such a document himself.

Histein already knew Damian had fought tooth and nail to wrest legal guardianship of his little sister away from their hopeless father.

But why had that hard-earned responsibility suddenly landed in his hands?

Along with a signature he couldn’t remember writing.

Now saddled with a ward out of nowhere, Histein could only continue reading the lawyer’s letter in stunned disbelief.

The remaining pages contained endless explanations of the legal rights and obligations he now possessed as the guardian of one Rodia Prokheit, but none of it truly registered.

His eyes darted frantically across the pages.

Enclosed with these documents is a personal letter Mr. Damian Prokheit requested we deliver to Mr. Histein Roat.

A letter from a friend he hadn’t seen in years.

Histein quickly searched through the envelope for the different stationery.

The lawyer had included a page of formal congratulations behind it, but he couldn’t care less.

Dear Histein, my friend.

The letter began simply.

If you’re reading this, then one of two things has happened.

Either it’s been a full year since anyone heard from me…

Or I’m dead.

I honestly hoped this letter would never reach you.

“You crazy bastard…”

Histein cursed aloud.

His friend spoke of his own death as though it were nothing.

If Damian had been standing in front of him at that moment, Histein would have punched him without hesitation.

You’re thinking about hitting me right now, aren’t you?

“…”

His friend knew him far too well.

Good thing I’m not there.

You know… these past few years, I’ve been happy to have you as my friend.

I can’t honestly say whether I was the same kind of friend to you.

But as you already know, my father has never inspired much confidence.

Honestly, I trust you more than I trust him.

So, my friend…

If something happens to me, I’d like you to take care of my little sister, Rodia.

Calling you her “legal guardian” sounds grand, but in reality it’s closer to being her guardian or caretaker.

You don’t remember that signature beside mine on those documents, do you?

Of course you don’t.

I think it was the day we graduated from the Academy.

We went to that pub downtown—the first one we’d ever visited—and pretended to be adults while drinking for the first time.

That’s when I asked you this favor.

You agreed immediately.

You probably don’t remember.

Honestly, I was surprised.

I didn’t expect you to say yes without hesitation.

You signed the papers…

Then immediately passed out drunk with your face on the table.

Honestly…

But anyway!

At least those papers have finally become useful.

There’s a bank account under my name at Canesis Bank.

If anything happens to me, ownership of that account will automatically transfer to Rodia the moment you receive this letter.

I’ve left enough money for her to graduate safely from Promboat University, become independent from our father, and one day marry someone truly wonderful.

Please make sure she uses it wisely.

“So you’re telling me…”

Histein rubbed his face with one hand while holding the letter.

“I don’t even know what your precious little sister looks like…”

Three years ago, Damian had sold the Prokheit family’s old castle.

While sorting through it, he’d discovered an ancient treasure map left behind by one of his ancestors.

Then, almost as if someone were chasing him, he’d left Heint carrying that map.

All he’d said was that he was going to find the treasure.

Then he’d disappeared.

That had been three years ago.

According to this letter, he’d written it a year ago.

Which meant two full years had passed without Damian showing his face even once.

I know this must feel sudden.

Confusing.

I know you’re an important man now, and you may not have room in your life to worry about someone else.

But there’s no one else I can entrust Rodia to.

I’ve thought about it endlessly.

No matter how much I rack my brain, the answer is always you.

Just… for a few years.

Until Rodia meets someone she can trust and rely on enough to marry.

Just until then.

I’m sorry for asking something so burdensome of you, my friend.

Thank you…

For everything you’ve done.

Thank you.

And I’m sorry.

With trust and friendship,

Dim

“…Damn you…”

Histein let out something closer to a groan than a whisper as he tossed Damian’s letter onto the desk.

That was exactly the kind of man Damian had always been.

Hopelessly impulsive.

Unpredictable.

Yet emotional and passionate.

And someone who trusted Histein enough to leave his beloved little sister in his care.

This letter was, in every sense, Damian’s last will.

Histein could almost see his friend’s teasing smile.

Documents he’d signed without remembering…

Now that Damian had explained it, Histein vaguely recalled that night at the pub after graduation.

Only vaguely.

Running a hand over his troubled face, he tried to organize the situation.

It came down to this:

Long ago, Damian had appointed Histein as the person who would inherit legal guardianship of his underage sister if anything happened to him.

Something had happened.

The legal documents had taken effect.

And now Histein was Rodia Prokheit’s legal guardian…

Until she got married.

“…Ricard.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Prepare the carriage. We’re going to Promboat University.”

“…Right now?”

As Histein stood, slipped on the jacket hanging nearby, and reached for his hat, his secretary stared in surprise.

“That’s right.”

He adjusted the brim of his hat.

“My damn fool of a friend entrusted me with his ward.”

“The least I can do is meet the girl.”

Whatever appointments waited for him that day no longer mattered.

His closest friend had asked him for one final favor.

Histein intended to honor it before anything else.

By a cruel twist of fate, Histein’s first meeting with his ward would come at the exact moment Rodia received the devastating news that a member of her family had died.