The Villainess Wants to Make Her Husband Slim Down

CHAPTER 26

2-10

After bringing Nicole back to her room, Camilla pressed a brush into her hands.

"Comb my hair."

Once she said that, Camilla undid her braids by herself and sat in the chair with her back to Nicole. Behind her, Nicole simply stood there, looking confused as she held the comb.

"Um..."

"Comb my hair."

Camilla repeated her own words back ad verbatim. She looked straight ahead, exhaling a deep breath as she tried to keep a lid on her feelings. The anger swirling in her chest had far from settled. Although her true intention had been to strike at those maids, she ended up taking Nicole's hand by some strange instinct.

It was probably not the right move, in hindsight. But, even if Camilla had the chance to do it all over again, she knew that she would take Nicole's hand that time as well. And as much as she would like to vent her rage at someone, what point is there in getting angry at that girl who trembled silently behind her?

Nicole hesitated for some time as she stood behind Camilla. But, she couldn't simply leave Camilla alone without being dismissed and she was hardly about to be disobedient now.

".......Please excuse me."

With a quiet voice, she took Camilla's hair in her hand.

Nicole's hands were as clumsy as usual.

She didn't know how to control the force in her hands. She didn't know how to let hair flow through the comb. The only way she knew how to brush Camilla's hair was to simply sweep through it with power.

"Ow!"

When her hair got tangled up in the comb, Camilla yelped out in pain and Nicole brought her hand to a stop. Fear ran up her spine. There was no boundless enthusiasm anymore. None of the regular Nicole.

"I-I'm sorry. Really, after all, I'm..."

"Even if you cannot comb properly, I did not tell you to stop. This time try to be gentle with my hair."

"......Yes."

It was as if her body was conditioned to obedience. Nicole simply nodded without any sort of defiance. With trembling fingers, she took Camilla's hair in her palm once more.

There were few words spoken between the two of them as she brushed. Every so often, Camilla would admonish Nicole's combing. She felt herself getting angrier as she had to repeat the same thing over and over. Yet, even though her anger was rising, Camilla didn't yell or shout at Nicole.

"Um..."

Nicole finally spoke out of turn, as if she couldn't bear this strange atmosphere anymore. As she stopped coming Camilla's hair for a moment, her words were coated in anxiety.

"...You're... Really angry, right...? About what I did..."

"Of course I am."

"Right... Any punishment you have for me, I'll take it. Anything."

"Start moving your hands again. They've stopped."

Nicole started combing again straight away, as if she were startled by Camilla's words. And naturally, she hardly put any thought into controlling her strength as she panicked, yanking at Camilla's hair with the comb.

"That hurts!"

"I-I'm sorry!"

"Stop using so much force, and stop making me repeat myself time and time again. You will never be able to take care of anyone at this rate."