The door to August's room opens as the head maid, Anna-May steps into the room. Sakura looks at her with a calm expression as August pretends to feel sleepy.this is all an attempt to dissuade her of whether they were talking.
[Anna-May]:"Master August, you've finally woken up, I'm glad!!"
"Yes, I here I've been asleep for the past six days?!"
[Anna-May]:"Yes, you were. You arrived at the manner carrying a blindfolded Miss Sakura in your arms, six days ago. You seemed heavily broozed when you came. Before either Regis or myself or even any other servant could intervene, you were already face first into the grass bed.
We feared the curse has returned since you seemed unresponsive. However, it's joyous news that you've awakened".
A blonde haired maiden knocks on the door, excusing herself as she enters
[Collette]:"Miss Anna-May, may I inform Master August's family that he's awake?"
[Anna-May]:"Please do so..."
[Anna-May]:"Now that you've woken up, might I ask what exactly happened? The trauma has left Miss Sakura unable to recall much of what occured".
[Thought]:"trauma, Good job Sakura..."
"I had to find a place to expel all the Measma I had drained from the injured villagers and in my search, ended up getting caught in the monster stampede.
I fought my way through until I encountered the young miss, tied up and blindfolded by goblins. I managed to kill the goblins and administer a healing potion. But, she was still unconscious from exhaustion. I decided to cut her loose and carry her, forgetting to remove the blindfold.
We were later ambushed by ogres who I barely escaped if it hadn't been for the intervention of a masked man who wielded a giant black scythe with a red cross on it.
After killing the ogres, he asked me to carry her easy since the Measma was too thick to see the way at that time".
[Anna-May]:"A masked man? I see, and you didn't manage to catch their name?"
"No, he seemed to be in a hurry".
[Anna-May]:"Miss Sakura, might I ask where you hail from if its fine by you?"
[Sakura]:"I am of lowly birth to a couple in the Claudius domain of the Baltimore Empire. My parents died and to make ends meet, I took to being an adventurer. On my way to the Capital, I was hunting small monsters to afford a Warp Gate trip. However, as I arrived at the village, I encountered a horde of ogres just out side the forest. They captured me with relative ease. I was bound by my hands andfeet and blindfolded by the ogres. It was at that moment, when the measma's effects finally kicked in, and I fainted. I soon woke up in Master August's arms as he attempted to flee with me. Wewereonce again overpowered. I believe that the masked man's intervention is what saved us".
I was astonished at her ability to weave a believable story. I just couldn't wrap my head around how she contorted her demeanour to come off as believable.
She continued, catching Anna-May's attention with her theatre level performance.
"If it pleases Master August and The House Black, I'd like to serve under his command in order to repay my debt. I will gladly put my skills as an assassin to good use to protect Master August".
Her words put Anna-May in thought. Unbeknownst to me, she had been worried that my job as my sister's guard and shield, left me vulnerable and unprotected.she saw Sakura's offer as a good idea, but wasn't the final decisive word in the matter.
"Miss Sakura, I understand your need to show gratitude. However, it is not me who should give the final word, but my Lord..."
As she says this, the door to my room swings open and my father, mother and sister enters. Their presence in the room solicited a polite bow from Anna-May and Sakura. My father's gaze seemed fixated on Sakura as he gave a sly grin. I knew instantly what that grin meant.
He had an idea.
[Lady Ariella]:"Oh Augie!! Why do you persist in making me worry so much!!!?"
My mother burst into tears, cradling me in her arms as she cried, not caring about those who watched her. She was usually so composed. However, when it came to her family, she spared no bravado.
My father decided to give his consent after hearing the story, making Sakura my personal escort, assistant and bodyguard. He gave her the name of Grimmseley-Black, a privilege that all House Black servants had, even to the smallest.
Alesha and mother seemed excited and approved of his idea, Alesha sitting and patting me on the head beside my bed as she welcomed Sakura into the family.
[Anna-May]:"Welcome to House Black, Miss Sakura. I hope you will serve the young master with the dignity and pride that overshadows the great name of Grimmseley-Black!".
Her words carried emotion, as if she was giving her very heart and soul into those words. I felt honoured to have people who showed much concern about my safety, thanking Lumina that she reincarnated me.
"Yes Miss Anna-May, I will..."
Later that night...
The sound of a sword slashing through the air could be heard across the yard of the Black Manner. The moonlight from the five moons created a light reminiscent of day, but softer, more subtle for the eyes and the skin.
I had to grow stronger and force my powers to evolve.
"I have never had someone express such worry over my safety before, it felt good. However, it made me realize, for their sake, I needed terrifying power. The kind of power to keep them safe and keep myself safe for their sake.
My level is almost in the eight thousands. But, it's not enough. I have to grow stronger. It took a heaven defying God arms, just to defeat a black dragon. And of I heard his rank right, there will be even more scary monsters to deal with.
I have a theory, I can boost my overall magic levels with the black gem I coveted. However, it's also likely the gem will corrupt my mental state. I may still be immortal from the blessings Melanie gave me. But, if the gem is a factor of Causality, I'm going to break eventually from the strain".
As I swing the night away, above my head, a young blonde in a maid's official suit looked down into the yard. She seemed entertained with my practice. However, I was too engaged to turn around and ask, although I had noticed her gaze from the start.