I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 59

“Miss Vanessa… ouch.”

 

Kianton, who had been crouching, made a pained sound. Apparently, he had a rat in his leg.

 

“Karma…”

 

He looks like someone spying on someone else’s mansion. I clicked my tongue.

 

Kianton patted his thigh in frustration, then sighed as if the pain had passed.

 

The gatekeeper who guarded the manor’s entrance was looking at him, his eyes as cloudy as mine. Kianton looked away from the gatekeeper.

 

“Miss Vanessa, it’s been a long time.”

 

“Oh, yes… well. I see.”

 

“What is it, that shaky reaction?”

 

“I was just wondering why Sir… made a very unnatural appearance here.”

 

Kianton coughed loudly, as if he’d been stabbed.

 

“I… just know that the master of Snowflake Manor has returned. Glad to see you.”

 

“Snowflake Manor?”

 

At Kianton’s title, I turned to take in the view of the mansion.

 

A beautiful white mansion stood like a picture against the setting sun.

 

“You call it the Snowflake Mansion.”

 

It was probably because of its white exterior. The owners were from the snowy north, and it was a fitting name.

 

I smiled at the mansion, then turned back to Kianton.

 

“But we haven’t even gotten here yet, and you already know about it?”

 

“The duke’s carriage drove through the main street, and it didn’t take long for word to spread. People are so interested in His Excellency, and this time, the Princess is coming for the New Year’s festival.”

 

I nodded, the explanation making sense at once.

 

Kianton shrugged, glanced over my shoulder, then asked.

 

“I’d like to see the Princess, too.”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re still after our Estella, aren’t you?” I opened my axe-eyes and glared at Kianton. “If you want to do anything with Estella, you’ll stop spying on her!”

 

Again, huh? I thought he was snooping around here for some kind of information, otherwise why would he be sitting so suspiciously?

 

“Why are you really here? Did the crown prince send you here to spy on Estella or Jeremiah?”

 

He didn’t know what to do with my surprise question. I narrowed my eyes and looked him up and down.

 

Kianton coughed again, pretending not to see my distrustful gaze, and then, catching the gatekeeper’s eye, tugged on my arm.

 

As soon as I was pulled away from him, Kianton leaned down and whispered in a low voice.

 

“Miss Vanessa. There’s someone who wants to see you.”

 

“You mean me?”

 

“Yes. It’ll only take a moment, but I’d appreciate it if you could spare a moment.”

 

I was puzzled for a moment, but then I realized.

 

This is the crown prince, 100%.

 

Though it’s a little odd that he’s calling me and not Estella.

 

‘Maybe he’s trying to get something done with someone more worthy first?’

 

Like, “I’m trying to meet with the princess, and I need you to help me,” or something. Or he will ask me about the princess or the duke.

 

‘Of course, I have no intention of giving him a straight answer.’

 

The crown prince is the one who sent me the invitation… I don’t know what Kianton knows about me, but I do know that he has every intention of using me. There are many uses for a duke’s servant close to a princess.

 

‘I wasn’t sure about that in Loasen, but now that Kianton’s doing this, I think it’s clear.’

 

I crossed my arms and gave a small snort. ‘I’m not going to let him get away with it.’

 

Sure, he’s the crown prince, but I’ve got Jeremiah behind me, so I should be able to walk out with a little dignity, right?

 

“Very well, if you say so, Lord Kianton, but I think I should tell the duke that I’m going out for a while, as the sun will be setting soon.”

 

“What?! No, no, it will only be a moment, and I don’t think you need to tell His Excellency…”

 

“Because I once caused the duke a great deal of trouble by going out without telling him.”

 

Kianton said coldly, and as I started to turn away, he quickly caught me.

 

“Miss Vanessa, please spare me. I really can’t go alone this time. As I told you the other day, His Highness the Crown Prince is a real…”

 

“You mean… like a psycho?”

 

“Ku, kuluk! Kuluk, no!”

 

I sighed, looking at the begging Kianton with a salty glance.

 

After I patted him on the back a few times, he finally stopped coughing and opened his mouth with a look of embarrassment on his face.

 

“Anyway, if Miss Vanessa informs His Excellency the Duke, I’m sure he’ll just send me away…”

 

“You don’t think the duke would do that, do you?”

 

“Please, His Highness said he was only talking to Miss Vanessa today.”

 

“Today?”

 

I raised an eyebrow at Kianton’s words, finding yet another thing to poke fun at, but decided to let it slide.

 

After all, what’s wrong with Kianton, he’s just following orders from his boss…

 

“No, but weren’t you trying to hide the fact that it was the crown prince who wanted to see me? I think he’s revealed himself now.”

 

I sighed once again at Kianton’s weakness.

 

I sighed again at Kianton’s weakness. ‘Is he doing this on purpose?’

 

“…I don’t think so.”

 

I couldn’t ignore Kianton’s plea. The crown prince said he only talks about himself.

 

But the sun would be setting soon, and I couldn’t just leave. I offered Kianton a compromise.

 

“Then I’ll just tell the Duke and the Princess that I’m going out for a while, and then I’ll be back. She’ll be worried if I don’t show up.”

 

“And don’t tell the princess about the crown prince either.”

 

“Yes, sir. Then wait a moment.”

 

Leaving Kianton parked at the entrance to the mansion, I went straight back to the mansion to find Estella.

 

When I told her I had to go out for a quick errand instead of meeting the crown prince, Estella’s eyes widened, and she grabbed my hand.

 

“Are you sure you will be okay on your own?”

 

“Yes. I’ll be back in time, and you don’t need to tell the duke.”

 

“And the escort?”

 

“Um… I’ll find someone who looks like he’s free down there and we’ll go together. Don’t worry.”

 

Estella nodded reluctantly when I assured her that I would make sure I was properly escorted.

 

‘I don’t think I’ll need an escort since I have Kianton, but… just in case.’

 

Kianton is the crown prince’s escort, not mine. If anything happens, he’ll be on the crown prince’s side, not mine.

 

It would be better to have someone with me who would stand by me no matter what.

 

Preferably someone who won’t tell Jeremiah that I’ve met with the crown prince.

 

There was only one person left, then. I found Shane among those gathered in the manor’s lobby and called out to him.

 

Shane heard me and came straight to me.

 

“What’s wrong, Vanessa?”

 

“Shane, I have to go see someone right now… and I was wondering if you could come with me?”

 

“Who?”

 

“I’ll tell you that on the way.”

 

I smiled sheepishly at him as he cocked his head in confusion, and I took his hand apologetically.

 

“Sure, whatever,” Shane said nonchalantly, and he followed me to the entrance of the mansion, where Kianton stood fidgeting.

 

Kianton blushed when he saw me, then frowned when he spotted Shane.

 

“Miss Vanessa, this is…”

 

“He’s a friend of mine, but he’s filling in for my escort. I have a promise to the duke, and I must take him with me.”

 

“Why bother when I have… Ugh. No, never mind, you didn’t tell the duke, did you?”

 

“Yes. That’s why I’m only coming to see you for a few minutes.”

 

Kianton glanced at Shane with a quizzical look, then shook his head and started walking ahead, Shane following behind him, whispering.

 

“That’s the crown prince’s escort, right?”

 

I gave a small nod.

 

Shane seemed to have guessed who I would be meeting through him as well. He spoke in surprise.

 

“You’re going to meet the crown prince without Jeremiah’s knowledge?”

 

“They insisted that I shouldn’t tell the duke… The crown prince said he’d just talk to me. Well, I wanted to know why he invited me anyway, so that’s good.”

 

“Hmph. So, you don’t think I’m going to tell Jeremiah?”

 

“Partly because… You’re a colleague of the duke’s, but also because you’re a friend of mine. If the Crown Prince ever persecutes a powerless commoner, I want you to save me. You said before you came, you’d do something.”

 

“That’s right. I’m glad you remember that.”

 

Shane chuckled and patted me on the head.

 

As I giggled softly at his touch, Kianton seemed to finally arrive at our destination.

 

A café with a quaint interior. Kianton opened the door and stepped inside.

 

“Miss Vanessa, come here.”

 

He led me to the second floor of the café. I cautiously ascended the stairs, and unlike the first floor, which still had a few customers, the second-floor cafeteria terrace was deserted.

 

There was only one person sitting there.

 

“That’s the crown prince.”

 

Kianton looked at me and whispered in a low voice.