Chapter 56 - Hair (1/2)

Al wasn't in the room when I came back—probably getting someone to bring us a warm drink—so I hurriedly put on my nightgown and a different dry robe for warmth and sat on a couch by the fire with my hair wrapped in a towel turban.

”What on earth are you wearing?”

I turned and saw Al holding a tea tray complete with doughnuts with a very confused look on his face.

”This helps dry my hair faster. It's a trick from the countryside.”

”The countryside sounds like a very interesting place,” he said while setting the tray down.

”No hot chocolate?” I asked with a crestfallen expression on my face.

This was tea! Al knew I didn't like tea so why…?

”Apparently this kind of tea is meant to prevent colds. I expect you to drink two cups.”

”Two?!”

”Two,” he confirmed sternly. ”I don't want you to get sick because of your little stunt in the rain. I brought doughnuts to compensate for it.”

Alright, I'd accept that. I begrudgingly sipped my tea though my tongue recoiled at the taste. This wasn't the worst tea I ever had but it wasn't the best either.

Taking bites of doughnuts between sips helped. Marcy had made glazed and cinnamon sugared ones this time. Bless her.

A thought occurred to me. ”Al, did you go all the way to the kitchens like that?”

”No! I put on shoes and a coat first. A long one. I would never let other people see me in my nightclothes,” he said indignantly. ”What do you take me for?”

Ah yes. A palace isn't like a house. One does not simply walk around in their pajamas where the staff could see.

”Alright, no need to get defensive about it.”

”Drink your tea,” Al muttered.

I complied though I hated it. He sat as far away from me as possible while still on the same couch and drank a cup of his own while looking like a sullen child.

What was his problem? This whole excursion had gone so wrong. I was never going to bring him to play in the rain again.

Eventually I finished my nasty tea and unwound my turban to check on the status of my hair. It was damp but much better than before.

Now was the time to brush it out so the curls wouldn't be horribly tangled in the morning. I absentmindedly detangled a few sections before the brush was snatched out of my hand.

”Let me do it.”

I hunched over with my arms around my knees, too tired to argue. Fine. He wanted to brush my hair, he could go right ahead.