If that was the case, then for now, I would simply give her what she needed.
"Hinako... you’re going to be okay."
Sweat had plastered strands of amber hair to Hinako’s forehead. I gently brushed them aside and continued to stroke her head.
"Mnn..."
A soft smile played on Hinako’s lips.
"..................Papa............"
Hearing that small, sleep-talked word, I finally understood what my role as her caretaker truly meant.
—I see.
Now I knew how Hinako felt about me. Everything clicked—the strange sense of distance between us until now finally made sense.
—Family.
Hinako was starving for a family.
I thought back on our time together. Letting her use my lap as a pillow, taking a bath together... Hinako had been seeking the warmth of a family from me.
"...I understand that feeling," I whispered, continuing to stroke her head. "You’re longing for a family, aren't you?"
Memories of my own family surfaced. My parents were both complete deadbeats, but that was precisely why I cherished those fleeting moments of kindness. Like the time they bandaged my wounds when I got hurt, or when they bought me a cake for my birthday. I still resent them for skipping town in the middle of the night, but those memories aren't going anywhere.
As a daughter of the Konohana family, Hinako must have lived a life isolated from her kin.
Her mother had already passed away. Her father, Kagon-san, was always working at the Main Residence, so they rarely saw each other. Instead, this mansion was populated by numerous servants—all hired by Kagon-san. They likely didn't sit well with Hinako, who clearly had no taste for a stiff, formal atmosphere.
"Itsuki-san."
A voice called out from behind me. I turned to find Ms. Shizune standing there.
"How is the Young Lady's condition?"
"...She just fell asleep."
Ms. Shizune gave a slight nod as she watched the sleeping Hinako.
"Itsuki-san. I have something important to discuss. Would you mind stepping out of the room for a moment?"
"I understand."
I moved to follow Ms. Shizune's lead, given her serious expression. However, as I tried to stand, Hinako’s hand tightened around mine.
I met Ms. Shizune’s eyes in silence.
"...It can't be helped. We will talk here."
"...Please."
I nodded with a complicated expression as Ms. Shizune lowered her voice.
"This concerns the circumstances of the Konohana family. Do you remember what Kagon-sama told you regarding the reason the Young Lady maintains her act?"
"If I recall correctly, the Konohana Group's business is struggling, so it's to find her the best possible marriage partner."
"That is correct. However, that is merely the secondary objective."
"Secondary...?"
Ms. Shizune began to explain.
"The primary reason the Young Lady maintains her act is to welcome an adopted son-in-law into the Konohana family."
An adopted son-in-law, not just a husband. In other words, a man would be brought into the Konohana family as Hinako’s spouse.
"The Konohana family has a legitimate successor—Kagon-sama's eldest son, Takuma-sama. He is the Young Lady's older brother."
"An older brother...?"
"Yes. However, there is a significant age gap between them, and they have almost no relationship. Takuma-sama moved into a separate villa when the Young Lady was only five years old."
It seemed the brother was just as distant from Hinako as her father was.
"There have long been doubts as to whether Takuma-sama is fit to inherit the Konohana Group. If he is not chosen as the successor, the role will fall to the Young Lady's adopted son-in-law."
The pieces fell into place. They needed an adopted son-in-law because they needed a viable heir.
"In the Konohana family, both the Head of the House and his wife are involved in the business. This means that if an adopted son-in-law is chosen as the successor, the Young Lady will eventually be deeply involved in the Konohana Group's operations as well. She maintains her act every day in anticipation of that future. Since she will one day lead the Konohana Group alongside the Head of the House, she must be perfect—a figure who commands respect from all. If she were to be dogged by a poor reputation, it would create friction within the Konohana Group. Such friction could affect the company's very fortunes... and potentially create many victims."
Ms. Shizune looked down at Hinako’s sleeping face.
—Hinako Konohana was no ordinary girl.
With total assets of approximately three hundred trillion yen, she was the daughter of the Konohana Group—a conglomerate known by everyone in the country.
"Do you understand now? Do you see the weight she carries?"
"...Yes."
Until now, I had thought I should help her simply because she was suffering.
I wasn't wrong to think that, but I should have understood the reality of her situation sooner.
"Am I... not allowed to do anything for her?"
"If you wish to be of strength to the Young Lady, Itsuki-san, I have no right to stop you."
I blinked, surprised by her answer.
"But yesterday, you told me to know my place..."
"I did. And I still mean it. Therefore—while knowing your place, please support the Young Lady. That is the role of the caretaker."
Ms. Shizune looked me straight in the eye as she spoke, then turned on her heel and left the room.
After watching the door close quietly, I turned back to Hinako.
"While knowing my place... support Hinako."
I turned Ms. Shizune's words over in my mind.
There were a few ways Hinako could stop her act.
First, her brother Takuma could successfully inherit the Konohana family. If he did, Hinako would marry into another house and wouldn't be tied to the Group's business.
Alternatively, even if an adopted son-in-law inherited the position, Hinako could be placed in a role where she wasn't required to be involved in the business. That way, her true nature wouldn't impact the Group's standing.
But neither of those was something I could control. I was just a hired hand. There was no way I could overturn the traditions or strategies of the Konohana Group.
Even so...
"The role of the caretaker..."
There was something I could do. As her caretaker, I could continue to support her.
The role of the caretaker is to protect Hinako's public image as a perfect lady. In other words, to support her from behind the scenes so that her true nature does not come to light.
I remembered Kagon-sama’s words. He said my role was to protect her public image, but... I didn't think that was it.
The true role of the caretaker was to be the one she could relax with.
To heal her when she was exhausted by her charade.
To be the person she could be her true self around.
That was something I could do.
"...Let's do this."
The sight of Hinako shivering with fever overlapped with memories of my younger self being cared for by my parents.
As she slept there, gripping my hand, I found her incredibly precious.
I wanted to protect her.
I wanted to be kind to her.
She deserved to be treated with kindness.
Because here she was, in this small body, carrying a burden that was far too heavy.
Someone had to be there for her.
If she collapsed from exhaustion, I would be the one to help her recover.
If that was what she needed... I would give her all the warmth a family could provide.
"Hinako... I'm going to give this everything I've got."
Squeezing her small hand, I made my vow.