A Truly Happy Family

A couple hours have passed and we've all settled down now. I've taken a shower to clean myself up and it turns out my sickness was caused by the immense amount of stress I had been feeling, so needless to say, I'm feeling much better now. My parents, Jeshan, the other two bodyguards, and myself are all sitting around the dinner table, and I tell them all the various stories I have to share about Jeshan. Jeshan's face is blank as he eats, but I can tell he's growing somewhat flustered the more I talk about him and the way he acts. I continue my various stories as an act of teasing him, and my parents quickly grow fond of Jeshan after hearing what I have to say about him.

Before dinner, my parents finished all the necessary work to sign up Jeshan as my third and final bodyguard, who will protect me and stay close at school. Essentially, that means we'll just be going back to how things were before, and his payment will be the various ways I choose to repay him, just like before. The other two bodyguards will protect me at home, but they're more or less bodyguards on call rather than bodyguards who work 24/7. They'll keep watch of the house, inside and out, and watch me from afar when I'm out and about with Jeshan or any other friends, if I ever make any, and basically just rush to my aid if I ever need it.

However, I've decided to change things myself as well. With everything that happened earlier, I learned that I need to be just as aware of the people around me as much as my parents feel the need to. Just as they had no idea how I felt, I had the complete wrong idea about how they felt towards me. So, I've decided to grow closer with all our employees and learn all about them, including our bodyguards, hence why I asked them to have dinner with us.

It turns out the guard who wears the white fox mask is actually a woman, and the two are happily married. They have a son who just recently graduated high school himself and moved out to become an adventurer. He was born with red hair supposedly, so they're both positive he'll be an amazing adventurer. The reason they took the 24/7 bodyguard job in the first place was because it paid so well apparently, and it's the best way they can support their son. Hearing their story makes me so unbelievably happy that I'm smiling like a fool. I can't help but wish to meet this son of theirs someday.

After dinner, my mother decides to cut my hair so it doesn't look like such a mess, and my father and Jeshan stay behind to talk. Airi, our head maid, offered to do it for her, but my mother insisted on cutting my hair. That means she wants to talk to me about something most definitely. As my mother clips my hair, she hums a soft lullaby she used to always sing to help me sleep when I was younger. "How do you feel about that boy Jeshan, Sara?" She suddenly asks in the middle of her humming.

"W-Wha..? H-How do I feel about him? W-Whatever do you mean?" I don't even have to look in the mirror to know my face is most definitely a faint red.

My mother lets out a hearty laugh. "I think I have my answer." I blush, too flustered to make any sort of comeback. "I was a lot like you when I was your age Sara. I met your father my senior year of high school as well. He was such a nerd about all this magic item business." She giggles at the memory.

I look at her reflection in the mirror and smile. "I'm guessing you were just as much of a nerd for magic and stuff as he was right?"

"I was indeed, but I kept it much more hidden than he would. He would talk to literally anyone about it, even me, someone who was considered a school idol. Oddly enough, he talked to me about it more than anyone else."

"So you were treated the same way as I was in your school years?"

"That's right. Although, it was more or less because of my looks and the facade I put up. I wasn't really of noble blood or anything of the sort. The only reason I act the way I do around you is to set an example, and to be someone you can look up to. Essentially, I did it to look good, just as I do now, but in all honesty, I'm really no different from how you act." She gives me a smile in the mirror, which I happily return.

However, I pause as a question pops into my mind. "What was it that made you crack and fall for Dad then?"

My mother pauses as well, but her smile becomes much warmer as she recalls the memory. "It was the look on his face when he described the things he was passionate about. Not only that, but the way he acted around me was different from how he treated everyone else. He didn't show it, but he saw right through my 'noble facade'. He wanted me to feel comfortable enough so that I wouldn't have to wear it around him. One thing led to another and...now we're happily married."

I smile as I imagine the two of them in high school, thinking to myself, "That's just like Jeshan and I in a way... I want to see how he acts when he talks or does something he's passionate about, and he can see through any facade I put up with ease, yet he respects me enough not to directly act on them..." I blush at the thought, which makes my mother giggle.

"I'm sure one day Jeshan and you will be just like your father and I was. Such love birds we were, it's embarrassing to remember some of it." She chuckles, finishing up with my hair. "How does that look?"

I look in the mirror and smile at my reflection, my hair now just barely out of reach of my shoulders. I stare at myself and then brush my bangs down over my forehead, smiling a bit brighter. "I think I like this look."

My mother smiles as well. "Your bangs nearly cover your eyes, are you sure you prefer it like that?"

"Yeah. After all, I'm 'The Black Fiend's Mistress', so I have to do my best to look the part." I giggle. My mother stays behind in the room to clean up the light mess, so I walk out to the dining hall to see if Jeshan and my father are still there, and to show off my new look.

I stop just before I enter as I hear what my father says. "Can you promise me that you'll keep my daughter safe no matter what? No matter what sort of danger occurs at that school, are you able to promise me that she will be safe with you?" I hide, pressing my back against the wall beside the door and just listening to the conversation without peeking.

Without skipping a beat, Jeshan responds. "I made a promise the day that I met Sara that I would protect her at school. The fact that you all trust me so much despite my appearance and attitude only solidifies my will to protect her even more. I should be thanking you really." My heart flutters and I feel like I might pass out if Jeshan speaks one more sweet word about me.

I hear my father chuckle before responding himself. "The way someone looks and acts doesn't define who they are, it's their actions. I know I've said it plenty enough already, but the fact that you came here simply because Sara wasn't at school for a day shows how much you care. You put yourself in danger."

"And I'd do it all over again if it meant her happiness and safety." Jeshan states clearly. My knees go weak and I slide into a sitting position, hiding my face in my hands. I wanna cry, squeal, and jump for joy all in one, but I stay silent. My heartbeat is erratic and my face must be all kinds of red, but I don't care anymore. The fact that Jeshan truly cares about me that much is more than enough to send me over the moon.