I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 35

Fortunately, she didn’t cry long enough to worry me.

 

I patted her back, and she quickly dried her tears, clutching my hand tightly and examining every inch of my body.

 

“Sister, they didn’t do anything strange to you?”

 

“The Duke was there before that happened. I’m perfectly fine, Estella.”

 

“Thank goodness, really. It’s just that if my brother wasn’t late…”

 

Estella sobbed.

 

I looked into her tear-stained but still lovely face and smiled broadly to reassure her. And I didn’t forget to say this.

 

“Thank you, Estella, for finding me. If it wasn’t for you, I would have been sold.”

 

“…Are you sure I was helpful to you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“But…”

 

Estella hung her head and spoke sullenly.

 

“If I hadn’t asked you to go to the market today, you wouldn’t have had to go through this.”

 

Estella sounded like she regretted even bringing up the idea in the first place.

 

I grabbed both of her cheeks because I knew she would continue to beat herself up if I left her alone. Looking her straight in the eye, still wet and glistening, I spoke up with a sense of determination.

 

“I had so much fun with Estella today. I was happy to be around people. I liked seeing people like her.”

 

“…….”

 

“I don’t want an accident like this to overshadow such a pleasant experience, and I hope Estella doesn’t either.”

 

“…….”

 

“So don’t think about it. Just remember what was good about today, and that you were brave. Okay?”

 

Estella shook her head at my words and sobbed again, clinging to my waist. But now her face showed more joy than surprise and sadness.

 

I turned my head toward Jeremiah, relieved to see it.

 

He stood a few feet away, allowing me and Estella to fully process our feelings, and then, when Estella had calmed down, he approached and spoke.

 

“I think we should let Miss Vanessa rest now.”

 

“Yeah, okay, sis, it’s been a long day.”

 

For once, Estella seemed to agree that I needed to rest.

 

I nodded and turned to go up to my room, suddenly realizing that I was still wearing Jeremiah’s clothes, which still sent warmth through my body.

 

I shivered slightly as I removed the jacket, and then handed it to Jeremiah.

 

“Thank you, Duke. You’ve kept me from freezing.”

 

“…….”

 

Jeremiah wordlessly took the jacket from my hand.

 

His fingers brushed lightly against mine. His gloved hands were cold, unlike his arms.

 

“Rest.”

 

With Jeremiah’s brief words, I climbed up to my room.

 

The first thing I did after closing the door was strip off my clothes and soak in the warm water.

 

“Ugh…”

 

I thought I’d had a relatively easy ride in Jeremiah’s arms, but my muscles were still screaming.

 

Once in the tub, I let out a low groan as my tight muscles loosened up.

 

I worked my back and legs hard until they were loose enough.

 

I thought to myself, ‘I might as well practice in case I have to go horseback riding again in the future.’

 

Come to think of it, riding is supposed to be an essential nobleman’s skill, so I might as well brush up on it now. Perhaps I could learn with Estella.

 

“Speaking of which, does Estella know how to ride?”

 

Jeremiah rides well, so maybe Estella can too. With that thought, I finished my bath.

 

As I dried off with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom, I noticed a chemise dress lying on the bed. Estella had probably prepared it for me.

 

As I slipped into the dress and got into bed, a languid feeling quickly enveloped me.

 

The fluffy duvet seemed to lull me into a dream.

 

“Estella… must be so relieved.”

 

I hope I’m not thinking in a negative way.

 

I yawned softly, hoping that my sincerity about being happy with Estella was enough to convey to her.

 

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep.

 

Knock, knock, knock!

 

There was a sudden knock on the door.

 

“Is that Estella?”

 

I sat up, remembering Estella’s unexpected visits in the middle of the night.

 

“Miss Vanessa. I need to talk to you about something, do you mind if I come in for a minute?”

 

“……?”

 

But it wasn’t Estella’s voice I heard.

 

I snapped my mouth shut, almost asking him to come in without thinking.

 

“Jeremiah? Suddenly?”

 

No, he used to call me to his room when he had something to say!

 

I nervously checked my outfit.

 

I was wearing a chemise dress, but it was technically a dress, more like a dress, so I didn’t think it would matter if Jeremiah saw me.

 

I smoothed down my unruly hair, found a shawl, and wrapped it around me, then jumped out of bed and answered.

 

“Come in!”

 

Only after I answered did Jeremiah open the door.

 

I was still not sure if he was really looking for me, but when I saw his silver hair through the crack in the door, I realized I was not dreaming.

 

The ends of his hair were slightly damp, as if he had just bathed.

 

Jeremiah stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. I tensed a little as I heard the door click shut.

 

“…….”

 

‘Why do I feel so… weird?’

 

It’s not like this is the first time I’ve been alone in a room with Jeremiah. I’ve been in his bedroom in the middle of the night before.

 

But the tension I feel now is nothing like that.

 

Once I thought it was funny and let it go, and then I thought it was work and let it go.

 

…Because it’s neither now?

 

Also, it was in my room, not Jeremiah’s room.

 

Jeremiah’s room might be a little bit personal, but my room is not at all, and it seems like we’re going to be talking about something completely private!

 

I stared at Jeremiah, who also seemed a little awkward about being in my room.

 

I couldn’t keep Jeremiah standing in the doorway like this, so I finally spoke up.

 

“Please, have a seat.”

 

Jeremiah walked over with a slightly stiff step and sat down on the couch I pointed to.

 

I could tell he was just as nervous as I was, which made me even more curious.

 

I shrugged and sat down across from him, wondering if this was going to be a casual conversation.

 

Jeremiah paused for a moment, then spoke.

 

“I’m sorry, I was getting ready to go to bed but I don’t think we should put this off until tomorrow.”

 

“That’s okay, what were you going to say?”

 

He paused again at my question. I waited patiently for his voice to pick up.

 

My fingers were fidgeting with nervousness, and then Jeremiah, eyes downcast and seemingly gathering his words, finally spoke.

 

“After I found Miss Vanessa, I thought I owed you an apology.”

 

“Apology?”

 

“For doubting you.”

 

I guess I’d gotten an apology from Jeremiah before, for similar reasons.

 

I had accepted his apology then, recognizing that he was genuinely sorry for me.

 

‘But he’s apologizing again? What is it?’

 

I shook my head, not realizing Jeremiah’s intentions.

 

Jeremiah didn’t smile, but continued in a very serious tone.

 

“When I saw Estella’s crying face, I suspected you this time, too, and wondered what you were doing while she was like this.”

 

“That’s…”

 

“I know, and that’s why I apologized to Miss Vanessa last time, but that’s even worse, because it means I didn’t fix it at all.”

 

There are some things in the world that just don’t get fixed. Jeremiah’s attitude is probably one of them.

 

But at least I felt that he recognized it and tried to fix it, which is much better than some people who are just full of themselves.

 

So Jeremiah didn’t need to apologize to me again.

 

Just as I was about to tell him so, Jeremiah interrupted me.

 

“And I also want to apologize for being so focused on Estella that I didn’t think about Miss Vanessa at all.”

 

“…….”

 

“Because any problem that could happen to Estella could happen to Miss Vanessa, and I wasn’t thinking about that at all, I was just busy giving you instructions.”

 

“Uh…”

 

“Miss Vanessa is just as much under my responsibility, and you were even helping me.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’m sorry. For being so selfish.”

 

The words were so unexpected. I just opened my mouth and blinked.

 

Jeremiah lowered his eyes, as if he was willing to accept my anger. He even looked a little frowny.

 

‘What the hell…’

 

I really didn’t expect it to be Jeremiah who would be the one digging.