I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 42

I looked at Jeremiah with a skeptical eye.

 

“Does this mean that I’m going to start spoiling you in earnest from now on?”

 

Wait, was there anything in the contract about anything other than counseling?

 

I quickly racked my brain. But it wasn’t the contract that came back to me, it was the memories of my previous life.

 

I remembered my rough graduate school life, filled with all sorts of paper work and professor errands… And the dreadful nagging of the professor that followed me every hour…

 

“Professor, please help me…”

 

“…Did you just call me professor?”

 

“No, you misheard me.”

 

The sound of my heart must have leaked out of my mouth without me realizing it.

 

Feeling embarrassed and disgraced by Jeremiah’s question, I asked him cautiously.

 

“Are you planning to use me differently?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Like, are you thinking of having me do the books or some other paperwork or something…”

 

“That’s not your job, Miss Vanessa, and why would I want you to do that?”

 

Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the look on my face.

 

“You don’t like the room?”

 

“Oh, it’s…”

 

“Well, if you don’t like it, tell me right now and I’ll change it for you.”

 

He must have read the displeasure on my face. He’s a quick study in a place like this.

 

My jaw clenched as I listened to his low voice.

 

‘What is it, what is it, that scowl…!’

 

I had a vision of his eyelashes fluttering pitifully as they descended in a gentle, windy breeze. Jeremiah’s scowl made my conscience ache.

 

‘I haven’t done anything, and I feel like I’ve rejected him in the worst way in the world…’

 

I fidgeted in frustration, then gently squeezed the hem of my robe.

 

“No, Duke, I love it, I really do, I just thought… it was too much for me…”

 

Yes, I was suspicious of the man who had given me the office, but it wasn’t that I didn’t like the room.

 

All the furniture looked so nice, and my favorite part was the view from the window. There was a winter scene right in front of me, with the snow falling hard and fast, as if it had been framed.

 

Plus, the garden is close by, so when the camellias are in full bloom, I’ll be able to enjoy them to my heart’s content, and on a clear day, I’ll be able to enjoy the sunshine.

 

“……?”

 

I looked at the glass window and sensed something was wrong.

 

The windows were that big and the curtains were wide open, but I didn’t feel cold at all. I wondered if it was the fireplace, but it didn’t seem possible for the flames to make the air in the room so warm.

 

I think it’s safe to say that it’s spring, not winter.

 

I scratched my head, then turned to Jeremiah.

 

“But… Why is the room so warm?”

 

“See that thing over the fireplace?”

 

At Jeremiah’s words, I turned my head in the direction he was pointing.

 

On the mantelpiece were some lovely ornaments, among which Jeremiah pointed out a large, egg-shaped gemstone.

 

Its surface was a clear milky color, and at first glance it looked like a large pearl.

 

Underneath, a golden, inlaid base supported the jeweled egg, which was also adorned with tiny gems.

 

“Wow, that looks very expensive.”

 

‘That’s also in this room, so… he wants me to take it, right?’

 

I was dazed by the scale of the thing. Jeremiah said nonchalantly.

 

“It’s a magic tool.”

 

“It’s…?”

 

“I’ve dusted the whole room with it, and with that, you can adjust the temperature to whatever you want.”

 

“…….”

 

“Because Miss Vanessa gets cold a lot.”

 

“…….”

 

So… what Jeremiah is saying is that there’s a boiler in this room, and that egg is the boiler switch.

 

The problem is, there’s no boiler here.

 

Jeremiah’s voice was nonchalant, like it was no big deal, but I couldn’t believe it.

 

A gemstone the size of half my fist was incredibly expensive, and how much money would it have taken to powder it and smear it all over the room, and how much more to make the tools…

 

“No, that jeweled egg must be a gemstone, right?!”

 

Turns out, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Jeremiah’s gift was much bigger than I had imagined.

 

I stared at the jeweled egg with trembling pupils and tugged on Jeremiah’s arm with a shaky hand.

 

“Duke… I think it’s too much for me after all…”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Well, for one thing, the gemstone powder would have been prohibitively expensive…”

 

“It’s okay, it’s from the Duke’s own mine, and that’s less than 10% of the supply.”

 

“How about the magic tool…?”

 

“Don’t worry about that, it’s made by the Duke’s own wizard. He likes it because it helps him with his research.”

 

“…….”

 

“Miss Vanessa must have underestimated my family.”

 

Jeremiah’s words sounded vaguely proud, and I fell silent.

 

Jeremiah was right, I did indeed underestimate the Oppenheimers…

 

‘This is nothing to the richest family in the Empire.’

 

I burst out laughing in disbelief. But after the room upstairs, I’m not sure I’m good enough… to get this one.

 

I’m not as brash as I thought I was.

 

I gave a small hunch of my shoulders and pursed my lips to say no once more. But Jeremiah beat me to it.

 

“Miss Vanessa has suffered things because of me that she shouldn’t have to.”

 

“Why would that be because of you, Duke…”

 

“I didn’t think I could let this end with just words.”

 

As if to cut me off, he sighed low and sat down on the couch.

 

“That’s why I chose this way, because it means the most to me.”

 

“…….”

 

“Oh, are you disappointed because money is all your suitor has to offer?”

 

“It’s not like that at all…”

 

I can see that Jeremiah wanted to reward me with something other than words.

 

‘Then he could have just given me a little more money on top of my salary, but I don’t know why he went to all this trouble.’

 

‘Is there an ulterior motive?’

 

Jeremiah sighed again as I looked at him with narrowed eyes.

 

He purses his lips, unsure of how to get the words out, then swipes his hand across his face, and then, as if he’s lost, he begins his confession.

 

“This is actually the first time I’ve ever said this to anyone, but… I’m not sure how I feel about Miss Vanessa.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I don’t want to bother you too much, but I can’t seem to get past you. So I get close to you and you draw a line in the sand. I also find that annoying…”

 

“…….”

 

“I wish you would just accept it.”

 

He said, like a child being insistent.

 

“Take it, don’t say you don’t deserve it.”

 

“…….”

 

“It’s for you, Miss Vanessa, and that’s all you need to think about.”

 

Jeremiah’s words sobered me, and I looked around the room again.

 

After hearing his words, something else caught my eye first.

 

There were things that made me realize that the other person had thought about me and my comfort, especially the thermostat.

 

Jeremiah wouldn’t have put that in the room if he didn’t care that I get cold a lot. Everything in this room was prepared for me, as he said.

 

‘I should have thought of that first.’

 

When it comes to gift giving, the most important thing is the other person’s heart. It’s not about them giving it to me, or how expensive it is.

 

‘Maybe this is why I thought I was drawing the line.’

 

I don’t know why I started to think about other things first when I was dealing with Jeremiah.

 

I looked at Jeremiah a little reflectively.

 

He was staring back at me with his clasped hands in his lap, as if waiting for my decision.

 

I met his eyes and opened my mouth.

 

“I’m sorry, I, um, I didn’t know why the Duke was doing all this… so I guess I was thinking too much. He was just looking out for me.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’m too late to say thank you. Thank you. For thinking of me.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’ll take it, you said I’d like it, so just give it to me.”

 

Jeremiah didn’t respond to my words, just stared at me blankly.

 

Just as I was about to cough and turn away, feeling slightly embarrassed by his stare, Jeremiah’s mouth slowly opened.

 

“As expected…”