I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 48

‘Or is he upset?’

 

I speculated, unable to meet his gaze, so I looked away. Jeremiah let out a low sigh.

 

“I hope you don’t mean that, Miss Vanessa.”

 

“…….”

 

“Because I don’t want to weigh you and Estella against each other, and I don’t… think you’re worthless.”

 

“Duke…”

 

“So I will keep you both, because I can.”

 

“…okay.”

 

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out why he was looking at me like that, or why he was saying those words.

 

Unable to find a good answer, I shook my head, looking at my lap, avoiding Jeremiah’s gaze. He let out another small sigh.

 

“Anyway, I’m going to the Islands this time, and I’m going to root out this slave top.”

 

“During the New Year’s festival?”

 

“The slave trade is booming during that time, because there are more people to buy.”

 

People are like goods to them, and the more people they have, the better business they do.

 

I frowned at the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.

 

Still, Jeremiah said he’d get rid of the slave masters.

 

I looked at him. Of course it didn’t occur to me that he would fail.

 

“You’ll be doing something dangerous.”

 

Jeremiah gave a small laugh at my comment. As if I had said something new.

 

I felt myself blush slightly at his amusement, but I didn’t stop speaking.

 

“I want you to be careful.”

 

“Does that mean you’re worried about me?”

 

“Um… yes.”

 

“Well, I see I am finally getting to hear Miss Vanessa worry.”

 

Jeremiah said playfully. I flicked him off and straightened my posture.

 

The most important question remained. I took a deep breath and turned to him.

 

“So what do you want me to do?”

 

Jeremiah raised his eyebrows at an angle as he heard me.

 

‘Uh, I thought Jeremiah was going to ask me to do something, too.’

 

I shrugged and looked at Jeremiah, then smiled dismissively. Jeremiah, seeing me, let out a small sigh and smiled as if he couldn’t help himself.

 

“Miss Vanessa. As I said, the reason I’m telling you this is because you could be in danger if you don’t know anything, so you’re helping me more by doing nothing than by doing something.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Because if you’re in danger, I won’t be able to do anything.”

 

Jeremiah added, but I shook my head, not understanding what he was saying.

 

“Um, you’re worried because if I’m in danger, there’s a good chance Estella will be in danger too?”

 

I guess that’s what he meant. Estella is the only thing that could possibly stop Jeremiah from moving.

 

I nodded seriously, suddenly convinced by his words.

 

Jeremiah looked at me as if he wasn’t sure I understood him, and then he asked one last time.

 

“You said you were sorry to me the other day, that you were sorry for not listening to me and being so stubborn.”

 

“I did.”

 

“I wouldn’t go so far as to apologize, but when we get to the… Islands, you’d better do as I say, no matter how sleepy Estella is.”

 

“…….”

 

“And make sure you have an escort when you go anywhere. Even with an escort, I don’t want you to go anywhere scary, not even with Estella.”

 

Jeremiah’s tone was becoming more and more like that of a man scolding an unruly puppy, and I winced a little.

 

Of course, it’s because he has a history, but I don’t intend to run roughshod over the islands either, and it’s the other way around that I’m afraid.

 

I let out a small sigh.

 

‘I’ll have to agree with Jeremiah on that one, even if Estella is asleep.’

 

After all, the islands are not under Jeremiah’s control, unlike the north, so his movements would be more restricted than here.

 

‘No matter how much Estella dislikes being escorted, she’ll have no choice in the Island.’

 

My head was already spinning at the thought of convincing her.

 

Well… still, Estella wouldn’t want to tangle with a human trafficker or slave master twice, so I’m sure she’ll agree with Jeremiah for once, and she doesn’t want to interfere with his work.

 

‘If Jeremiah is telling me this first, he also wants me to tell Estella for him.’

 

Maybe it’s still a little difficult for Jeremiah to bring up such a heavy subject to Estella’s face.

 

While I pondered his intentions, Jeremiah, who had finished his tirade, shut his mouth and whirled around.

 

“Duke?”

 

Puzzled by his sudden fussiness, I called out to Jeremiah in a low voice.

 

Jeremiah stopped scanning his surroundings, coughed a couple of times in disbelief, and rose from the couch. It looked like he was going to go back to his room now that the job was done.

 

“We’ve got about a week before we leave for the Islands, so if you have anything to pack, you’d better get it ready.”

 

“I don’t have anything to pack.”

 

“Well, in the meantime, can you reassure Estella? It’s her first time going to the Islands, and I think she might be a little anxious.”

 

Come to think of it, Estella might indeed be anxious. Strange people and unfamiliar places might make things worse for her. She’s very sensitive, after all.

 

I don’t want her to get more depressed.

 

Maybe that’s more of a problem than the slave top…

 

“Maybe I should talk to her more.”

 

I muttered an acknowledgment, trying to figure out how to steer the conversation. Jeremiah waited until he had heard my answer before he moved toward the door.

 

I followed behind him to see him off.

 

“I’ll see you later, Vanessa.”

 

Jeremiah hesitated in the doorway, then turned and held up his hand. I blinked at the hand that gently touched the top of my head.

 

A light but unmistakable touch.

 

Jeremiah smiled faintly and walked out the door, his silver hair flying in my face.

 

‘Did he mean to leave… late?’

 

His gaze darted around abruptly, as if searching for something. His pacing was a little slower.

 

I tilted my head, stroking his hair.

 

There’s no way Jeremiah was unpleasantly surprised by the warmth of the room. That leaves…

 

“What are you thinking?”

 

Jeremiah looks a little surprised, having never been so intimate with me before.

 

I twist the ends of my hair into a belly-button twist, feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, and close the open door.

 

The cold breeze that lingered for a moment quickly dispersed.

 

* * *

 

A few hours after my conversation with Jeremiah, I returned to my room in the Oval Office and sat down with Estella.

 

After summarizing what Jeremiah had told me, I cautiously checked Estella’s mood, but she looked surprisingly somber.

 

“I heard you were going to the Islands,” she said, “but I didn’t realize you were planning to do that.”

 

She didn’t seem as anxious or depressed as Jeremiah or I had feared, so I was relieved. Maybe that would change once we got to the Islands.

 

Still, Estella didn’t seem to mind the idea of traveling to an unfamiliar place.

 

“What about the fact that you’ll have to carry an escort with you at all times in the islands?”

 

“I can’t help it…”

 

Estella looked back at me with a slight frown.

 

“Last time I was so stubborn that Sister Vanessa got kidnapped, and I don’t want that to happen this time, and I’m not going to let anything I do get you in trouble!”

 

“Estella…”

 

“Like I said, I’ll protect you!”

 

Estella exclaimed, pumping her fists in the air and laughing bashfully. I nodded, trying to stifle my cringe.

 

Estella is so pretty and cute and adorable.

 

I vowed to stick by her side in the islands. I would protect her as much as she protected me.

 

“Who, by the way, sent my sister the invitation?”

 

Estella asked, her pretty face suddenly puzzled.