Japanese to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature literature

I'm reading a story about ancient Japan and I have a problem with what seems to be a title of some kind (?): 近侍の臣. Here's the context:

この年の春、樹々 の芽吹く ころから、クナ国の兵がしきりに国境を侵しはじめた。ここ数年、たえて無かったことである。 辺境から報を受けたヒミコは、ただちに兵を派そうと考え、いつものように年若い近侍の臣ヌナサキを通じて、群臣に諮った。すると、弟のクニヒコが、まず異を唱えた。 いま兵を動かすのは得策ではない、と言う。


I understand that kuna soldiers began to invade the borders and Himiko decided to dispatch soldiers. Then she consults with Nunasaki or through Nuna saki. I don't get many results for this term. This looks like some position of social status. The kanji meaning got me to "Attendant of Samurai". Is that a special position close to the samurai?

Could you please help me out?