I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 58

The room was exactly the same as Estella’s room in the Duke’s castle. The furniture, the decorations, the atmosphere. It was as if Jeremiah had ordered it so that Estella would not feel out of place.

 

I wondered if every time he came to the mansion alone, he imagined that one day he would come with her sister.

 

I ran my hand across the immaculate table and wondered what Jeremiah must have been thinking to make this room this way.

 

Maybe he wanted to show Estella this mansion every time he came to the Islands alone, and hoped that when that day came, she would be better, that she would have recovered from her wounds.

 

Now that he finally had that chance, I hoped Jeremiah would be happy.

 

“He must have been trying to be a big brother.”

 

Estella said, surveying the room. Her face showed joy and a hint of emotion. She, too, realized that Jeremiah must have thought of her and made the room this way.

 

“I know I said earlier that Jeremiah lacks detail, but…”

 

Jeremiah already seemed like a sensitive enough man to go to such lengths for someone.

 

But lately, the idea that Jeremiah’s tenderness was reserved for Estella only seemed to be fading. There’s been a change in the way he treats me.

 

Maybe it’s because I’ve fallen into his good graces, but… I keep thinking that maybe Jeremiah was always a kind person.

 

‘Maybe that’s why I’m mistaken.’

 

I smiled wryly, then turned to Estella.

 

“You know what, Estella?”

 

“Yes, sis. Why?”

 

Estella blinked innocently and came to stand beside me.

 

“I’m sure the Duke has always wanted to come here with you, Estella. Can you sense that?”

 

Estella laughed at my comment.

 

“Yes, I do. I can tell he decorated this room with me in mind.”

 

“He didn’t want Estella to have a hard time in a strange place.”

 

“I guess so.”

 

Estella replied dutifully. I nodded, listening to her answer.

 

“You’re not feeling anxious or depressed right now, are you?”

 

“Nope. Not right now.”

 

“In the future, you will be meeting people you don’t know, and I’m worried that you might have a hard time with that, and…”

 

I rolled my eyes and picked at my words.

 

The crown prince was the male protagonist in the original story, so I was worried that meeting him would make Estella feel even more disconnected than she already did. The disconnect between “Estella” and herself.

 

A disconnect between her as the protagonist and herself as the audience.

 

‘I’ve been feeling less of that lately, but…’

 

I was worried because I didn’t know where Estella would feel like that again.

 

But as if to reassure me, Estella spoke up before I could even open my mouth.

 

“You don’t have to worry about that, sis.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’ve come all this way, I’m really not worried, I don’t think I’ll mind running into the crown prince!”

 

Estella exclaimed, balling up her tiny fists.

 

“Because I have my sister and brother by my side, so I’m okay, because I know you really care about me…”

 

“Estella…”

 

“I’ll be strong. I don’t want my sister and brother to worry anymore!”

 

Apparently, Jeremiah’s affection, which could be felt throughout the room, made Estella’s heart stronger. After all, they were the prettiest siblings in the world.

 

“I guess I was worried for nothing again.”

 

I don’t need to reassure her or take care of her, she’ll be fine. Jeremiah has her back.

 

I let out a small laugh.

 

It seems that my goal of mending the brother-sister relationship was accomplished long ago, even though I hadn’t done much.

 

“Hehe. I’ll thank him later for preparing the room for me.”

 

“Estella, I’m sure the Duke would be delighted.”

 

I said softly and stroked Estella’s hair.

 

Estella rubbed her head against my shoulder and her eyes widened as if she had just remembered something.

 

“Your room is next to mine, of course!”

 

“I see.”

 

“And since Madame Cornelia’s dress is arriving the day after tomorrow… mmmm… you’ll be the first to show me in it!”

 

“Of course.”

 

“We’ve got some time until the ball, and in the meantime, you can come with me to see the island!”

 

The New Year’s ball was still a week away. But the New Year’s festivities on the streets start earlier than that.

 

There must be a lot to see. I nodded in agreement with Estella as she happily made plans.

 

The chattering Estella suddenly muttered wistfully.

 

“I wish my brother could come with us.”

 

It’s not a manor, so Jeremiah won’t be looking at papers in his spare time. But he does have work to do on the islands, so…

 

He’ll probably be busy gathering information on the slave masters until the ball starts.

 

‘He won’t have time to see the New Year’s festivities.’

 

Estella wished, and suddenly I wished too.

 

“Jeremiah’s been to the Islands often enough that it won’t be anything new, and I doubt he’ll be interested in seeing the festivities.”

 

But at least I’ll get to see what Jeremiah’s face looks like.

 

I love the Duke of Oppenheim, of course, but I’m curious to see what he looks like in his day-to-day life, what his face looks like when he’s relaxing outside, what kind of light shines in his hazel eyes.

 

“Maybe I should ask him, just in case.”

 

I blurted out, unable to resist the temptation. Estella was quick to chime in, since I had spoken first.

 

“I think he’ll be fine for a day or so, so you should ask him!”

 

“Me? I think it’s better for Estella to say it than for me to say it.”

 

I think he’ll think twice about it, even if it’s the same thing.

 

So, I deliberately spoke up, only to be dumbfounded when Estella suddenly turned Jeremiah over to me.

 

“Sis, what’s wrong?”

 

I paused, about to speak. Just then, the maids came into the room.

 

They set their luggage on the floor and said to Estella.

 

“Miss, please sit down for a moment. We’ll finish organizing your things in a moment.”

 

“Oh, yes, thank you!”

 

“I’ll help you too, just a moment.”

 

I stood up and folded my arms, unable to leave the working maids alone.

 

“I may have been kicked out of Loasen by Sir Melvin, but I can do a little packing.”

 

As I squatted down beside the maids, Estella asked,

 

“Sister, shall I join you?”

 

Apparently, she wasn’t comfortable sitting alone.

 

Estella squirmed as if she were about to stand up, but the maids stopped her.

 

“No! The lady must stay there!”

 

“Yes, miss. This is our job.”

 

“Miss Vanessa, you don’t have to help me with this…”

 

“Aww, we better get this over with, Estella, stay there for a minute.”

 

I smirked at the maids and started to organize the luggage.

 

As their hands became busier, the empty room began to fill up.

 

* * *

 

When I had finished with Estella’s room, the other rooms were more or less organized.

 

I couldn’t find anything else to do, so I left the mansion for a while before dinner.

 

“Wow, there’s a fountain.”

 

The castle’s gardens were also very large, so I wasn’t too interested in this kind of garden, but I was intrigued by the fountain and the simple table that I hadn’t seen in the castle.

 

In addition, there were still some flowers in bloom besides the camellias, which were blooming later due to the warm climate.

 

‘It’s a shame there’s no snow, but this isn’t bad.’

 

I slowly walked around the garden, taking in the sights. Then, as I neared the entrance to the mansion, I spotted a familiar silhouette peeking out from the entrance and raised an eyebrow.

 

As he moved, I caught glimpses of blue hair.

 

Of all the people I knew, only one had hair that color.

 

“Lord Kianton?”

 

At my call, Kianton popped his head out of the manor’s entrance.