I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 100

I looked up at him, wide-eyed. Jeremiah was dressed in navy blue robes. His silver hair glistened in the chandelier light.

 

He released his grip on my arm and scanned my attire. I swallowed dryly.

 

“Grumpy, too.”

 

“You’re…?”

 

“No.”

 

Jeremiah shook his head at me, then turned to Julian with a slight frown.

 

“I think you’d better leave it at that, Your Highness. I think Vanessa has already congratulated you sufficiently.”

 

Then he turned to Shane.

 

“Why are you here?”

 

I rolled my eyes in bewilderment, suddenly sandwiched between three men.

 

Shane was the first to speak up, sounding somewhat exasperated.

 

“Why am I here? Because I’m Vanessa’s friend… and I’ve been doing her a favor since she doesn’t have a knight yet! If it weren’t for me, she would have been escorted by the crown prince’s bodyguard, Jeremiah, which would you rather have?”

 

“…….”

 

“No, you can’t go see Vanessa because you have too much on your plate. Should I? I’m free?”

 

“Is that why the people under you look so dying?”

 

Jeremiah sneered, and Shane snapped at his point.

 

“And by those under you, Shane, I assume you mean the Winter Crown?”

 

He couldn’t say for sure in front of Julian, but it sounded like it.

 

They must have been working while he came to play with me.

 

I looked at Shane with stern eyes, realizing the truth in hindsight.

 

I’d assumed that with all the work for the Winter Crown done, he’d be free. But it turns out he’s been procrastinating and fooling around with his subordinates.

 

I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought that he must have been someone’s bad boss, and it made the members of the Winter Crown cringe.

 

“It’s not like that, Vanessa, I’m competent and I got it done quickly!”

 

Shane defended, but it didn’t work. I shook my head vaguely, avoiding his gaze. Shane gave me a look of amusement at my attitude.

 

Julian was the next to speak.

 

“What do you mean, Duke, by ‘enough’?”

 

“Quite literally, I think you’ve asked enough of her, and Vanessa has done everything you’ve asked of her so far, so I think you’ve already used the birthday excuse.”

 

“So now you’re going to take Viscount Asell with you, impudent of you to come so late?”

 

“I would have been with Vanessa from the moment I entered, if your highness hadn’t tried to prevent me from seeing her.”

 

Jeremiah, who had been almost glaring at Julian as he spoke, turned to me and said,

 

“Vanessa, the crown prince has thrown everything at me to keep me from going to your mansion, otherwise I might have been able to pay more attention to you.”

 

“Hey, you can’t say that!”

 

“Shouldn’t I?”

 

Jeremiah’s pouty retort made Julian look like he was about to lose his mind.

 

Jeremiah gave a small snort and gently grabbed the back of my hand. I stared in surprise at his lips against the back of my hand, and he laughed.

 

His gorgeous eyes twinkled and he whispered in his sweetest voice.

 

“If you knew I’d spent such a pitiful time missing you, you’d be willing to be my partner, wouldn’t you, Vanessa?”

 

“Wow, Jeremiah, look at that fox-like behavior.”

 

“Duke, hands off, will you?”

 

The two men muttered in amusement at Jeremiah’s seemingly determined demeanor, but unfortunately, I didn’t have time to pay attention to their reactions.

 

With the crown prince as the center of attention and Jeremiah the center of everyone’s attention, the banquet was becoming increasingly crowded.

 

The others at the banquet glanced over, wondering what they were doing here. And when I saw Jeremiah kissing my hand, I realized I was the center of attention.

 

My face grew hotter and hotter, unable to ignore him. At that moment.

 

“Big brother, get out of the way!”

 

Another figure stepped between us.

 

“Wait, Esti… ugh!”

 

Estella appeared, shoving Jeremiah out of the way and snatching my hand from his.

 

Estella, looking strangely energized, declared triumphantly.

 

“Vanessa likes me best!”

 

Jeremiah and Julian simultaneously looked at us with a “what the hell?” look on their faces. Shane’s lips twitched as if he was trying to hold back laughter.

 

Estella clasped my hand tightly in hers and pulled me toward her.

 

“So I’m taking you home!”

 

Estella declared, tugging on my arm like a villain proclaiming, “I’ll take the princess!”

 

I was willingly dragged into the hands of this adorable villain.

 

 

* * *

 

 

With my wrist still in her grasp, Estella left the hall. I breathed in deeply, relieved to be out of the hot air and away from the burdensome stares.

 

Outside, total darkness had fallen. I breathed in the crisp night air, feeling my eyes relax from the chandelier light.

 

“Whoa…”

 

Estella, who only stopped when we reached the corner of the garden, let go of my hand and gasped. I caught my breath and looked up at her.

 

She was wearing a light pink chiffon dress that looked as soft as cotton candy. My admiration automatically burst out.

 

“Estella, you look so pretty today.”

 

Estella took one look at me, her eyes wide. It was the most I’d ever said to her, so there wasn’t much else to say.

 

I let out a small laugh, and then I realized what Estella and I were in for.

 

“I was in a cold war with Estella.”

 

But after hearing Shane’s words, I don’t know what I did wrong. All that was left was to tell Estella. And it was obvious that now was the perfect time.

 

I swallowed hard and looked over at her.

 

“And judging by the way you acted earlier…, I think Estella has made up her mind.”

 

Unable to keep her waiting any longer, I spoke up before she could.

 

“I’ve been thinking all wrong.”

 

Estella’s eyes lit up with surprise. I took a light, deep breath and gave her a wry smile.

 

“I was going to wait for you to talk first. I thought it would be better.”

 

“…….”

 

“I should have started something first. I feel like I’ve been wasting time thinking about it.”

 

Estella’s pretty lips parted slightly, then closed again. She meant for me to continue.

 

With her permission, I calmly continued. As honestly as I could, as Shane had said. So that Estella would know how I felt.

 

“I guess I haven’t realized that you and I are friends, and I’m sorry. You’ve always been genuine with me, and you’ve always shown it.”

 

Fighting back a mild flush of embarrassment, I told her what I thought of her, what I’d been thinking after this kidnapping, what I’d been thinking at Snowflake Manor, and finally, how much I liked her.

 

Fortunately, Estella seemed to accept my clumsy confession.

 

“Thank you for at least telling me now, big sister.”

 

Estella’s lips parted slightly as she listened to my story.

 

“Actually, I’ve been worried. You didn’t say anything, so I thought… you were disappointed in me.”

 

“No, no, no! Why would I be disappointed in you, Estella?”

 

“Because I’ve been so ineffective… that all I do is whine to you.”

 

Shane was right, Estella was waiting for me, and in the meantime, her insecurities and misunderstandings were growing.

 

“All you do is think, and you don’t know.”

 

I patted Estella’s shoulder gently, regretting once again that I hadn’t been the first to speak up.

 

Estella let out a small sigh.

 

“Actually, I thought that might be why you said you were going back to Hazel the other day, that you didn’t need me anymore, but you’re a sweet girl, so maybe you’re just saying it back.”

 

“That’s not possible! I’m sorry I didn’t say that properly, too. I just thought Estella might be able to do a better job… and I was worried that my situation might bother you. I had some, um, unresolved issues with me then, which are all resolved now.”

 

“So, sis, do you take back what you said then?”

 

Estella asked, and I couldn’t say anything. Estella smiled wryly, as if she knew I would.

 

“I’ve thought about what you said to me since you left, but no matter how many times I think about it, I still need you.”

 

“Estella…”

 

“But that’s not all I’ve been thinking about!”

 

Estella shook her head and spoke up.