On their respective worlds, pary governors wielded near-absolute power. They could establish their own ws, design their political systems, and dictate social norms. Some ps still practiced archaic systems like svery simply because their governors allowed it, while others were barely gover all. The Imperium maintained a hands-off poliless a governor openly rebelled. As long as tithes were paid and loyalty to the Emperor remained uioned, a governor’s rule was their own.

  In his youth, Kayvaan had despised the idea of living under his father’s shadow as a noble. He had wao prove his worth through his own abilities, not by relying on his family hat determination had driven him to leave, eventually crossing paths with Corvus Corax, the Raven Guard primare of the Emperor’s sons and the founder of the chapter.

  Under Corax’s guidance, Kayvaan had risen to prominence as a Space Marine. He fought valiantly for the Emperor, the Raven Guard, and humanity itself. His efforts earned him tless honors, yet none of his achievements could erase his name or lineage. No matter how far he climbed, he remained Kayvaan Shrike—the heir to a Sub-Sectovernorship.

  “Who hasn’t made foolish choices in their youth?” the old man said with a small smile. “But we grow, mature, and learn to shoulder the responsibilities tied to our names.”

  “If iing the governorship is my responsibility, I will accept it.” Kayvaan straightened, his tone resolute. “Still, there’s something I don’t uand. housand years have passed. How is this iaill intact?”

  “Time is irrelevant,” the envoy replied. “Even if the universe itself were to colpse, your family’s cim over the three systems would remain. The only exception would be if your family had no heirs left, in which case the Imperium would recim the systems. But that has never happened, and the Navis Nobilite exists to e never does. Proteg the rights of noble families like yours is essential for the stability of the Imperium. Nobles are its foundation.”

  “I see… I only express my gratitude.”

  “This is our duty, Lord Kayvaan. However, your thanks should go to your sister. Without her efforts, the nds rightfully belonging to your family might have been seized long ago.”

  At the mention of his sister, Kayvaan’s brow furrowed. “If we’re discussing my sister, then I have a question.”

  “Please, go ahead.”

  “When I left home, wasn’t the governorship meant for her? My father had more than one child. The title didn’t have to fall to me. My sister had just as much of a right to i as I did. By all logic, the governorship should have passed to her desdants. So why is it ing bae now?”

  "This is a family matter, and I don't know much about it," the old man said, bowing slightly. "I’m sorry I ’t provide more insight, but there’s o worry. Within three days at most, your detention will be lifted. Your family has already sent a ship to retrieve you. If the journey goes smoothly, it should arrive in three months. When that time es, you’ll naturally learn the full story from them."

  Only a fool would speak on matters they didn’t uand, and he was no fool. A person who couldn’t trol their words would never be trusted with a role as important as steward of the Navis Nobilite. He nodded, suppressing the curiosity bubbling within him. After all, pared to housand years, three months wasn’t very long. Soon enough, he’d learhing.

  "I uand," he replied.

  The old man ined his head in aowledgment. "Sir, I’ve brought some dots for you today. These include a general overview of the three systems under your trol. Please take a look." With that, he opened a sleek bck briefcase and carefully id a dozely bound files oable before Kayvaan.

  Kayvaan picked up one of the files and skimmed through it, but the dense nguage and teical terms quickly made his head spin. Tossing it aside with a sigh, he said, " you summarize this for me instead? I uand how to lead a world, but these imperial bureaucratients? They're like deciphering a xenos script."

  "It would be my honor," the old man said graciously. He approached the table, pulling a folded star map from the files. Spreading it out, he poio three faint markings. "Here are the general locations of the systems under yovernance. Unfortunately, the Navis Nobilite hasn’t piled a detailed star map of the Eastern Fri. This map will have to suffice for now."

  Kayvaan frowned as he studied the map. "The Eastern Fringe? And it’s this far from the Imperium’s core?"

  The old man nodded. "That’s correct. While you hold cim to three star systems, they’re located in a remote er of the Eastern Fringe, far beyond the reach of the Emperor’s direflueo the Imperium, the Eastern Fringe is an undeveloped frontier, often sidered uhe systems under your trol are in an especially isoted region."

  Kayvaan's brow furrowed deeper. "So, I’ve been grahree star systems, but they’re in the middle of nowhere? That’s a rare arra for any Sub-Sectovernor."

  "It is indeed rare," the old man agreed. "An ielr sul like yourself, g multiple systems, is almost unheard of. The only drawback, as you noted, is their remoteness."

  Kayvaan narrowed his eyes. "What happens if those areas are attacked? How does the Imperium respond?"

  The old man didn’t flinch at the question. "Under normal circumstahe Imperium rarely allocates military forces to defend such distaories."

  Kayvaan snorted. "You don’t o tell me that. I’ve served as a Space Marine—I know how the Imperium operates. If a p is attacked, the surface troops try to hold the line. If they fail, the ander retreats, abandoning the p while summoning an Imperial battle group for a terattack. That’s how it works in well-ected territories. Ie areas like this? They’d likely leave it to burn."

  He leaned ba his chair, suspi fring in his chest. "Three star systems—such immense power handed over so casually to someone who just woke up from stasis? Something’s off here. Wait a minute." His eyes sharpened. "You mentioned earlier that these systems are 'so far away that even the Emperor's will ot reach.' That wasn’t just a figure of speech, was it?"

  The old maated, then sighed. "I assumed you were already aware. My apologies. No, that phrase isn’t metaphorical. Allow me to expin."