I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 63

As I scratched my head at Estella for her unexpected choice, she said cheerfully.

 

“I don’t like black horses. I like white horses.”

 

Since Jeremiah has been riding that black horse since last time… I’m guessing that’s his pet.

 

‘Jeremiah, this is going to hurt.’

 

But maybe a white horse would be prettier. It’s what princes ride in fairy tales.

 

I smiled wryly and watched Sir Melvin being led away by Estella.

 

Sir Melvin, tasked with the great duty of carrying the young lady in comfort, looked a little dizzy for a moment, but then he put his arm around Estella’s waist and mounted the white horse.

 

I watched, then turned to Jeremiah.

 

“No.”

 

Unexpectedly, Jeremiah was nonchalant and held out his hand to me.

 

“You did it last time, so you know what to do this time.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

I took his outstretched hand, and he scooped me up in his arms and swung me onto the horse.

 

I wiggled in Jeremiah’s arms for a moment before settling down. Leaning against him as comfortably as I’d done before.

 

Jeremiah patted me on the arm as if to say I had done well.

 

“I hope it’s warmer than it was in Loasen, Miss Vanessa.”

 

“Comparatively, yes. I am from the Islands after all.”

 

“Vanessa, don’t you like being cold?”

 

Jeremiah asked meaningfully, and I looked up at him for a moment. His unusually dark hair fluttered in the light breeze, then settled down.

 

His hazel gaze was straight ahead, but somehow, I thought I was making eye contact with him.

 

Jeremiah’s warmth enveloped me, protecting me from the winter wind.

 

In Loasen, the wind was colder and sharper, which made me feel his warmth even more. On the islands, the gentle breeze made it feel a little lukewarm.

 

‘Do I like being cold?’

 

Most of the time, yes. I get cold a lot, but right now I’m glad I’m not.

 

I mumbled, leaning into his arms.

 

“…It’s not always like that.”

 

Jeremiah’s lips curled into a faint smile at my answer, and soon the two horses were galloping away from the snowy manor.

 

* * *

 

We soon arrived at the shopping district where the parade was taking place.

 

The streets were crowded with people, and Jeremiah and Sir Melvin dismounted before entering the crowded streets.

 

I dropped to the ground, looking at the New Year’s banners everywhere, when I heard Estella, a little behind us, grumbling to Sir Melvin.

 

“Is Sir Melvin like this when he rides his horse with his lover?”

 

“…No, I’m sorry, my lady.”

 

“Well, try it some other time, I’ll be, eh, just like that!”

 

“Yes, I will be careful…”

 

Estella is dismounting Sir Melvin, so apparently the ride over there wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.

 

‘We’ll switch on the way back.’

 

I thanked Jeremiah for another comfortable ride and turned back to Estella.

 

Estella, who had been fussing over Sir Melvin, beamed when our eyes met and came running up to me.

 

“Sis, did you have a good time with my brother?”

 

“Oh but…?”

 

“No, I mean did he make you comfortable?”

 

While Estella giggled as she fumbled with her words, Sir Melvin left the two horses he had brought with him in the stables of a nearby inn.

 

When he returned and finished reporting to Jeremiah, Estella took my hand in one and Jeremiah’s in the other.

 

“Ah, so this is what Estella was talking about at the manor.”

 

Unlike my smiling face, Jeremiah seemed surprised by the sudden touch.

 

“Esti…?”

 

“We’re doing this today, like a close-knit family.”

 

Jeremiah couldn’t say anything more but nodded at Estella’s innocent smile.

 

“All three of us have dark hair, so maybe we’ll look more like a family.”

 

I tightened my grip on Estella’s hand.

 

“Oh, come to think of it, if the three of us go around like this, will Sir Melvin be able to…?

 

I snapped out of my reverie and looked at Sir Melvin, who was already trudging away from us, looking dejected.

 

“Hmm… I think Sir Melvin is more of a distant uncle concept to the rest of the family.”

 

I watched him with a salty eye, then turned to Estella.

 

Estella seemed genuinely excited. She waved and held Jeremiah’s hand as we walked around, and whenever she saw something interesting, she’d run over to look at it, and then hold our hands again.

 

One by one, Jeremiah dumped the items his sister had seen into the hands of Sir Melvin, who trudged along behind us, holding each item in his hands.

 

I think Sir Melvin is lamenting that we’ve come for nothing, but I’m mistaken.

 

‘My last trip to the market didn’t end well.’

 

That won’t be the case today, so hopefully today’s memory will erase the memory of that day from Estella’s mind.

 

I muttered a wish to myself and watched Estela. She bought a meatball from a vendor and came over to me.

 

“You’re supposed to eat street food in a place like this!”

 

“Haha, really?”

 

“Ah… I want tteokbokki and fish cake skewers…”

 

Estella mumbled a little as she savored her food, then shook her head.

 

“No, I like this better, it’s grilled with a special sauce, you should try it too!”

 

“Okay…”

 

Jeremiah, probably new to street food, stared at the meatballs Estella held out to him, almost glaring, before finally taking a bite, unable to resist.

 

Estella, giggling as she watched him chew the meat with arrogance, offered Sir Melvin one as well. But Sir Melvin already had his fork in his hand.

 

“It can’t be helped. Sir Melvin, just this once.”

 

“Princess, you don’t have to… even if you don’t… even if you don’t… oops.”

 

“Eat!”

 

Sir Melvin shook his head quickly under the glares of me and Jeremiah, but Estella was having none of it.

 

She picked up the meatballs with the fork in her hand and shoved them into Sir Melvin’s mouth. Crying, Sir Melvin accepted her offer with a mustardy mouthful.

 

“What do you think, is it good?”

 

“My lady. Thank you, indeed…”

 

Estella would never have known. Behind her, Jeremiah was looking at Sir Melvin with a look that said, “If you flirt with my sister, you’re a dead man…”

 

‘Honestly, if Sir Melvin was only seven years younger, I would have considered it.’

 

I shrugged, looking at Sir Melvin, who was currently suffering between two bosses.

 

The darkness grew thicker as we continued to frolic in our own way, but the crowds on the streets grew busier as time went on, and now Sir Melvin was walking closer, leaning more heavily on his escort.

 

“The parade must be starting soon.”

 

As Sir Melvin muttered this, Estella suddenly turned around.

 

“I have to run a quick errand, and I’ll take Sir Melvin with me!”

 

“Eh? Estella, you’d rather take the duke to…”

 

“Sis, you and brother are going to have fun watching the parade first! Okay? When you’re done, um… meet me over there by the clock tower!”

 

Before I could say anything else, Estella took Sir Melvin away. Sir Melvin seemed to have given up on whatever she was doing.

 

“…….”

 

I slowly lowered my grip on Estella and glanced at Jeremiah.

 

By now, he must have noticed. That Estella was deliberately attaching me to him.

 

“I try not to suspect it, but I can’t help but notice.”

 

I remembered what Estella had once said to me.

 

“Vanessa, why don’t you be my stepsister?”

 

‘…I thought you’d given up on that a long time ago, but I see you’re picking it up again.’

 

Now that I think about it, I didn’t say no outright then, and I also said I didn’t hate Jeremiah, so it’s not unreasonable that Estella hasn’t given up.

 

I smiled subtly.

 

‘I wonder what Jeremiah is thinking?’

 

Even if I were to fall for Estella’s little maneuver, Jeremiah would still be…

 

Of course, he’s asked me to marry him before, at his sister’s insistence, but I’m sure he doesn’t feel bad that Estella is trying to pull him away from her.

 

I looked at Jeremiah with that thought, but he remained impassive. It was the kind of look that made it impossible for me to see what he was really thinking.

 

“…Duke, what do you say?”

 

I asked, hesitating, then working up the courage to ask. Jeremiah stood still, staring at the spot where Estella had disappeared, then glanced at me and let out a small sigh.

 

“Estella told me to stay and watch the parade first, I can’t help it.”

 

He held out his hand to me, as if he was worried I might get lost in the crowd.

 

“Let’s go, then, Miss Vanessa.”

 

I cautiously took his outstretched hand, a warm, large hand clasping mine tightly.