I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 103

I stared at the two of them in disbelief. Next to me, I could hear Jeremiah angrily arguing with Shane.

 

“There’s no way in hell, Estella’s only seventeen.”

 

“No, you’re talking about seventeen like she’s seven, Jeremiah, you should know better. Seventeen is old enough to get engaged.”

 

“I don’t think she’s interested in the crown prince at all, …by the look on her face.”

 

“But she’s a good dancer.”

 

Shane was right, Estella was a very good dancer despite her nervousness.

 

I couldn’t help but notice that the Empress’s expression grew even more smiling as she watched the crown prince and Estella dance together.

 

I found myself smiling a little too. It was my first time watching Estella dance. She was practicing her lessons very well.

 

‘And you two are the main characters…’

 

They are who they are, and whatever they do, it’s bound to look good to the onlooker, and it did to me.

 

I watched them for a bit and shook my head. ‘They’re a good match, but I’d say the romance is over.’

 

“But what happens when the empress tries to marry them?”

 

Is it the kind of story where the main characters are forced to get together no matter what?

 

I wonder if there’s some kind of compulsion in the original story, and seeing the two of them fit together so well, I think there is.

 

I was interrupted by a voice next to me.

 

“Not until Estella says yes, anyway.”

 

Jeremiah said seriously. I was relieved that he would never go against his sister’s wishes.

 

“Oppenheim is not a family of great wealth that needs an imperial union.”

 

‘Marrying someone my Estella doesn’t even like. We can’t do that.’

 

‘Well, I doubt Julian would go along with it either…’

 

I nodded and turned away when I suddenly felt prying eyes staring at me. As if waiting for me to look away, Jeremiah continued.

 

“You should marry someone you like, even if it’s not necessarily Estella.”

 

“Oh, Jeremiah, since when are you so romantic?”

 

Shane said, surprised. It sounded so out of character for the man he’d once planned to marry based on her sister’s words.

 

But Jeremiah wasn’t taking his eyes off me as he said it, so I averted my gaze first.

 

“Didn’t you used to say that all you needed was a woman, ah, a woman who would take good care of your sister?”

 

“Well, values can change.”

 

“That’s true. I’ve changed a lot, haven’t I, Vanessa?”

 

Shane asked me, smirking. I narrowed my eyes in surprise, then nodded, trying not to look awkward. But Shane gave me a questioning look and then shrugged.

 

In the meantime, the dance ended. Estella, who had finished her perfect dance and bowed to Julian, then turned and bowed to the Empress, came pacing over.

 

When she spotted me, she laughed heartily and threw her arms around me.

 

“Sister, sister, sister, do you know what she said to me?!”

 

She had been ranting about Julian, but suddenly she looked at my lips and asked,

 

“But your lips…”

 

“Kollock.”

 

“There’s dirt on… Let me brush it off!”

 

Estella lightly brushed the corners of my mouth, trying not to smudge my lipstick. I glanced over at her and coughed again.

 

Estella straightened her back and this time glared at Jeremiah.

 

“But, brother, your lips…”

 

“Ugh.”

 

“They’re… drying up, so can you get me something to drink, maybe yours too?”

 

“Sure. I’ll get you a non-alcoholic cocktail.”

 

“Sis, are you okay?”

 

Estella asked with concern, noticing that I was cackling as I tried to catch my breath. Jeremiah went to get the cocktails with calm steps.

 

But somehow I couldn’t help but think he was smiling. My face flushed red.

 

“No, the question is not what happens to the main characters now.”

 

I’d forgotten for a moment. Jeremiah had kissed me.

 

It was a light, polite peck, hardly a kiss, but it was his lips against mine nonetheless!

 

‘A kiss because I like you. No, a peck. Anyway, something lovers do…’

 

The warmth of his lips and his breath on mine came back to haunt me. I don’t know why it stuck with me for so long when it was obviously just a moment.

 

Is it because it was something I had never thought about?

 

‘No, maybe I’m the only one who’s conscious of it.’

 

Jeremiah had seemed so calm up until that point, and I suddenly felt a twinge of resentment.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them, feeling dizzy. Estella was still looking at me with concern.

 

“It’s okay, it’s okay, Estella.”

 

I was so busy trying to steady the flames that I didn’t notice the growing number of suspicious eyes on me.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Unable to move in front of his mother, Julian was glued to the Empress for the rest of the day, and thankfully there were no further embarrassing situations.

 

However, I had to endure curious glances that were more blatant than before. That was to be expected, since today I was playing with the Duke and then the Crown Prince.

 

‘It’s a burden…’

 

I have no idea what Julian was thinking.

 

I let out a long sigh and slipped out of the hall, hoping to make it to the middle of the banquet as I had before.

 

‘I suppose I don’t need to say goodbye to Julian.’

 

By the way, the carriage was sent by Julian, so… should I leave it behind when I go back, or should I rent a separate carriage?

 

As I scratched my head, I grabbed Shane’s arm as he walked beside me. He was yawning slightly and looked at me as if to ask what was wrong.

 

“Do you want me to carry you if your feet hurt?”

 

“What are you talking about, man. I’d rather have a carriage…”

 

“Sis!”

 

I was interrupted by Estella running down the hallway, shouting at the top of her lungs. Jeremiah, who was following, shouted at her to stop running, but she ignored him and ran, shoving Shane hard.

 

Trying to hold on, Shane glanced at Jeremiah and feigned a shove.

 

“Sis, we’re going to the carriage!”

 

Estella said cheerfully, grabbing my arm.

 

“I’m going back to my manor, not the Duke’s…”

 

At that, Estella’s maritime face turned sour. But after shaking her head, Estella didn’t give up and spoke up.

 

“It’s important to remove your makeup and change your clothes, but let’s just relax and go to my place!”

 

“But…”

 

“Now that the birthday banquet is over, we have to get ready to go back to the north, and you have to come anyway, so let’s just do as I say for now.”

 

Estella urged, followed by Jeremiah.

 

“I’m sure Seitra has gone back anyway, and… it’s not at the mansion.”

 

Jeremiah was right, the birthday banquet was over, and it was time to return to my seat.

 

I hesitated a moment, then nodded. Estella smiled wryly, then turned to Shane.

 

“I’ll give you a special ride, Mr. Shane.”

 

“That’s very flattering, my lady.”

 

Shane replied in disbelief.

 

With that, Estella and I returned to Snowflake Manor, and my time on the islands was complete.

 

True to Jeremiah’s word, preparations for my return to the North began the day after the banquet, and three days later my bags were packed.

 

I hired someone to take care of the manor while I was up north, thanks to Shane’s recommendation. I was lucky to have enough money.

 

I thought to myself, ‘I can have a lot of money and still waste it.’

 

My hands shook as I paid him, something I hadn’t realized until now. I hardly ever spent my own money…

 

‘No, but I don’t think Estella and Jeremiah have ever been wasteful with my money…’

 

That probably means I was worth every penny they spent on me.

 

It was a little embarrassing, but it tickled me to the core. I felt a newfound appreciation for them.

 

And so it was. Going back up north.

 

Because I realized that even though the island is where I’m from, the north is where I really belong, with people who genuinely care about me.