Charles lay back in the bath, steam rising softly around him. The warmth of the water helped soothe the aching tension in his lower back. Bretum stood nearby, quietly shampooing Charles's hair with practiced care.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
Charles blinked, startled, and looked up—only to see Edeline entering the bathroom.
"Edeline?" he stammered, voice hushed in surprise.
Edeline smiled gently. "Brother Edward has already left. I just wanted to check in on you."
Charles let out a breath and nodded slowly. "Yeah... I got tired," he mumbled.
Edeline moved closer, her voice warm and inviting. "May I shampoo your hair instead? If you don't mind?"
Charles hesitated, embarrassed. "Ah… It's alright. Bretum was doing it…"
But before he could finish, Edeline was already kneeling beside the tub. "It's okay," she said softly. "I'm your wife, after all."
