Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Are You Serious About Guarding The President’s Daughter While Cross-Dressing?

―――――The Sakimori family, a lineage of bodyguards that has been protecting dignitaries since the Edo period.

Every person born into this family has without exception become a first-rate bodyguard, protecting key government officials and royalty from assassins, all while putting their lives on the line.

And here I am, Reito Sakimori, a humble member of this distinguished family, who has undergone harsh training since childhood to become a bodyguard.

“…Don’t be nervous.”

Holding an aluminum briefcase in my left hand, I gazed at the towering mansion of the Sakimori family before me.

The ancient mansion, made of brick, was covered in ivy, and the garden was overgrown with weeds.

It’s been five years since I last returned here, but… its appearance hasn’t changed much at all.

After taking a deep breath, I opened the rusty gate and stepped inside.

Five years ago, when I was ten years old, my grandmother sent me to a special training camp in America, where I was taught all sorts of combat skills.

My instructor was a real soldier who had fought in wars.

From him, I learned survival techniques, how to maintain and use guns, knife handling, close combat, and various other things.

Though, he also taught me some useless knowledge, like how to woo women or guaranteed ways to win at gambling.

Nevertheless, learning combat skills from someone with real battlefield experience was invaluable.

In peaceful Japan, where there are no wars or large-scale anti-government protests, it’s not like you run into killers every day.

There are areas you can only understand if you’ve actually faced someone and taken their life.

“This place really hasn’t changed in five years.”

Unlocking the mansion door and stepping inside, I was greeted by a slightly musty smell typical of old houses.

The interior of the mansion was built in a European style.

A luxurious chandelier hung from the ceiling of the entrance hall, and the floor was covered with red carpet. A stern-looking portrait of an elderly man glared at me from the front wall.

I smiled at the portrait of my great-grandfather, removed my shoes at the entrance, slipped on some slippers, and walked inside.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked down the long corridor to the right.

The red carpet stretched endlessly down the hallway, much like a red carpet used for special events.

As I walked down the hall for a few minutes, a man appeared from the end of the corridor.

“…Hmm? You must be… Reito?”

The man before me had golden hair and blue eyes, indicating some foreign ancestry, and was dressed in a suit.

I bowed deeply to the man standing in front of me.

“It’s been a while, Uncle. After five years of training, Reito Sakimori has returned.”

“Hmph. I sent you to America to get rid of you, and you’re back after just five years.”

“I had some valuable experiences in America.”

“Is that sarcasm? Tch, listen, Reito. No matter how much you make a name for yourself as a bodyguard, the head of the Sakimori family will still be my son. Even if you’re my brother’s child, you’re still young and have no real achievements.”

“Yes, as I said five years ago, I have no ambitions for such things.”

“Remember that well. You’re nothing more than my trained dog.”

With those parting words, my uncle walked past me and disappeared down the corridor.

After watching his back for a moment, I continued walking down the hallway.

As I walked further down the hallway, a beautifully decorated door came into view.

After placing my hand on my chest and letting out a short breath, I knocked on the door.

“This is Reito Sakimori.”

“Come in.”

I pushed the doorknob and entered.

The room was surrounded by large bookshelves, and in the center was a single table.

Sitting there, reviewing some documents, was an old woman with a monocle on her right eye.

After finishing her review, she tapped the papers neatly into place and put them in a drawer.

Then, folding her hands together, she shot me a sharp gaze.

“You’ve grown, Reito. You look quite different from five years ago.”

“Haha… After being thrown into a place like that, anyone’s personality would change.”

“Five years ago, you lost your parents and came to this house. My son, Makihito Sakimori, abandoned our family name, married a commoner, and gave up being a bodyguard. That his child would come to me… even now, it’s still quite the surprise when I think about it.”

“I had nowhere else to turn at the time… I didn’t fit in at the orphanage, the staff were creeped out by the recent incident, and kids my age bullied me, calling me ‘girly’. With no maternal family to rely on, I came here in desperation to the Sakimori family, my paternal relatives.”

“Nowhere else to turn, you say…”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. …Reito, do you remember what I told you five years ago?”

“Yes, of course. You told me, ‘If you want to live as a member of this family, you’ll need to work. But you’re severely lacking in skills to do so.'”

“That’s right. And now, in just five short years, you’ve passed the test I set for you and completed your training. Frankly, I’m surprised. That training camp usually takes more than ten years to graduate from.”

“Eh? It does…?”

As I stood there, frozen in surprise, my grandmother smiled and pulled out a piece of paper from her drawer.

“How fluent are you in foreign languages?”

“Since I was living in America, I can manage English to some degree. I also know a bit of French and German. However… my English is mostly thanks to my teacher, so it’s full of rather crude slang.”

“That’s fine. Now, I have a job for you. Read this.”

My grandmother handed me the paper she was holding.

On the paper was a photo, a name, a profile, and detailed personal information.

The photo showed a foreign-looking girl with orange twin tails glaring angrily, her face showing clear displeasure.

The name written was Charlotte L. Jay Wilford.

I tilted my head and looked at my grandmother.

“Grandmother, who is this person?”

“She’s the illegitimate daughter of the President of the United States. For certain reasons, she’s secretly attending a high school in Japan.”

“…Huh? The president? Illegitimate daughter?”

“I’ve heard that this girl has an extreme dislike for men. So… I told her people that my granddaughter would be assigned to guard her.”

“Wait, hold on, Grandmother. You mean I am going to take on this job, right?”

“That’s correct, Reito.”

“But… I’m a boy…?”

As I responded, my grandmother gave me a sly grin.

“This job doesn’t just come with a hefty reward, but it could also serve as a diplomatic bridge to strengthen relations with America. It’s an important mission for the country… So, Reito, you’ll have to cross-dress and disguise yourself as a girl.”

“Wait… what?”

At my grandmother’s words, I could only tilt my head in confusion.