Eaton! You’re Entrusting That Role To Me?!

It happened that evening.

“Shitoen, are you all right?”

When I hurried to the bedroom, she was sitting in a chair while Eaton brushed her hair.

Damn, I forgot to knock, I realized when I saw Eaton’s expression.

“Thank you. Prince Saryu, you must have been busy too… Were you all right?”

Shitoen lowered her eyebrows apologetically, so I shook my head vigorously.

“It doesn’t matter what happened to me.”

I declared that and rushed over to her.

Even though the attempt had failed, Shitoen had still been attacked.

At first, Mail had fallen into a severe panic, so everyone had been occupied dealing with her…

But Shitoen must have been so frightened that she wanted to cry and scream too.

After the attackers escaped, we drove the carriage until we reached a place that seemed safe, then reunited with Crown Prince Arios and the others.

Their carriage had also been badly damaged, but apparently they had heard me shouting to Shitoen, “Get down, Shitoen, get down!” Because Crown Prince Arios and the chancellor had immediately crouched down together, the window glass shattered, but neither of them had been struck by a bolt or injured.

After that, we placed Crown Prince Arios and Mail, as well as the chancellor and Shitoen, in the decoy carriage and returned to the royal palace.

Mail had wailed until we handed her over to Crown Prince Arios, and Shitoen had struggled greatly to calm her down.

It seemed Crown Prince Arios and the chancellor had also had their hands full speaking gently to her and comforting her inside the carriage.

I had wanted to free Shitoen from that burden immediately, but even I could not abandon my assigned position until we had returned safely to the royal castle.

Although it had been outside normal legal procedure, Crown Prince Arios had ordered the escort knights, “I am temporarily entrusting Prince Saryu with authority.” Thanks to that, there was no confusion. Instead, we had been able to keep the carriages moving toward the royal castle while ensuring everyone’s safety, and even the chancellor had personally thanked me.

After reaching the royal castle, I mobilized Eaton, our head maid, and nearly every other servant and sent them to Crown Prince Arios’s lodging to care for Mail, so it seemed they were grateful to us for now.

I had just returned after finishing my report to my eldest brother.

“Thank you, Eaton. I’m sorry I kept you so busy today. Prince Saryu has returned now, so please go and rest as well.”

Even after Shitoen spoke to her, Eaton continued staring at her while clutching the brush, looking reluctant to leave. Then she abruptly turned toward me.

“My lady is extremely exhausted. She was tense, and I believe she also went through a terrifying experience.”

“That is certainly true.”

When I agreed earnestly, Eaton maintained her solemn expression and placed the brush in my hand.

“…What is this?”

“My lady becomes very relaxed when her hair is brushed.”

“Eaton!”

Shitoen’s eyes widened in surprise, but Eaton tightly clasped both of her hands around mine as I held the brush.

“Ever since I began serving my lady, that has always been my duty… But… Ngh… Tonight, I shall entrust it to Prince Saryu…!”

“Eaton! You…! You’re entrusting… entrusting that role to me…?!”

“What are you two talking about, Eaton?! P-Prince Saryu, you don’t need to do that either!”

Shitoen, who was sitting in the chair, became flustered, but Eaton entrusted the brush to me.

“It cannot be helped. This is as far as I can go… I leave the rest to you!”

“I shall faithfully carry on your final wish!”

“Wait, um…!”

“Come on, Shitoen. Sit down, sit down.”

I guided the confused, red-faced Shitoen back into the chair and stood behind her.

She’s tiny…

Shitoen was really small. Even when standing, she did not reach my shoulder. Sitting made her seem even…

No, even if I bent at the waist, the brush would not reach the ends of her long hair, so I brought over a nearby chair and sat directly behind her. Good, preparations complete.

“Begin brushing from the ends, all right? After that, please braid it loosely. Well then.”

“B-Braid it?!”

Before I could ask how, Eaton quickly left the room.

Damn… I thought I could somehow manage brushing.

It was necessary when caring for horses, after all.

But braiding… Braiding, huh? Well, I would try somehow while asking Shitoen.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

As I spoke, I lightly touched Shitoen’s hair.

Just as Eaton had instructed, I intended to begin brushing from the ends.

Wait… It was so silky…

It was silky even before I brushed it!

When I picked it up, it slipped smoothly through my fingers.

It was soft and fine, yet also supple…

What was this hair made of?!

And on top of that…

This was bad…

When it slid smoothly through my fingers, it smelled wonderful… I felt dizzy.

“Um… You truly don’t need to do this, Prince Saryu.”

Shitoen turned her head slightly as she spoke, and I hurriedly returned to my senses. No, no. What was I doing relaxing instead of her?!

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just face forward, Shitoen.”

I resettled myself and tried to empty my mind as I gently ran the brush through her hair.

Its texture and softness were completely different from a horse’s.

Her hair was already so perfectly straight. Did it even need brushing?

I quickly finished the ends, then brushed around the back of her neck, and finally from the crown of her head down to the tips. As I brushed as slowly and gently as possible, strangely enough, I could feel Shitoen’s tension gradually easing.

“Does it hurt?”

When I asked, she gave a small nod.

Without saying anything unnecessary, I continued moving the brush with soft, smooth strokes. Her silver hair reflected the light of the oil lamp in the room and looked as though it were faintly glowing.

As I moved the brush while thinking how beautiful it was, Shitoen’s body suddenly tilted to the left, startling me.

When I supported her with the hand not holding the brush, Shitoen’s body jolted.

“I-I’m sorry. I became sleepy…”

She turned around and said that. Her pink face was adorable, and nothing could have made me happier than knowing she had relaxed that much.