I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 65

Jeremiah lovingly brushed the pollen out of my hair. Before I knew it, the parade had begun, and I could hear upbeat music playing nearby.

 

“So, you don’t feel awkward that there’s no Estella between us, and you call me by my name sometimes.”

 

“…….”

 

“So that I’m not just hugging my little sister.”

 

I still had no answer, but Jeremiah squeezed my hand again as if it didn’t matter.

 

I don’t know if his hand is actually hot, or if my mood is making it feel hotter.

 

Either way, I wiggled my hand, which was definitely hot, and walked after him.

 

“Let’s see what’s in the parade this year.”

 

I could barely get my words out after letting my emotions spill over the sound of the music.

 

“Duke…, this isn’t your first time, is it?”

 

“No, it isn’t.”

 

“But…”

 

“But it is my first New Year’s Eve with Estella, and my first parade with you.”

 

I could see the expression on Jeremiah’s face now, his lips forming a nice arc.

 

People danced happily to the music that filled the streets.

 

A large float celebrating the New Year passed by, and masked men handed out large candies to people.

 

I grabbed one and popped it in my mouth. Jeremiah explained to me that it’s a tradition on the island to eat this candy to welcome the new year.

 

“Bite into the candy.”

 

Jeremiah said, and I bit the candy I was sucking on. A sour flavor popped out with an audible pop.

 

“What does it taste like?”

 

“A sour flavor.”

 

“Well, one of the ingredients in the candy is the juice of a fruit called jadran, and the flavor varies depending on the blend.”

 

So, it was a bit of a mixed bag. If the candy made with jadran tasted sweet, it would be a lucky year, if it tasted bitter, it would be a bad year, and if it tasted sour, it would be a bad year.

 

“I guess it’s not a very lucky year, but it’s not the worst.”

 

“It’s just going to be a moderately tough year?”

 

“I guess so.”

 

Or maybe he meant that it’s okay because I’ll have someone there to stop me if something bad happens.

 

I nodded and bit off the last piece of candy. Meanwhile, the parade ended, and the fireworks started.

 

Pow! Pow!

 

I scratched my chin as I watched the fireworks explode. Estella still hadn’t returned. She should be riding with Sir Melvin.

 

‘I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to stay alone with Jeremiah like this…’

 

Jeremiah had told me not to be awkward, but it wasn’t easy.

 

Jeremiah’s words, his gaze, his seriousness. It all seemed to clutter my brain

.

And then I had a harsh thought.

 

‘What if Jeremiah likes me?’

 

The thought made me laugh out loud. Oh, no.

 

Just because Estella keeps calling me a stepsister doesn’t mean that Jeremiah does like me.

 

It’s just that I’ve fallen completely inside Jeremiah’s circle. Within the bounds of his affection.

 

It’s just that Jeremiah is no longer the big brother who only looks out for his little sister. I tried to calm my mind with that summation, but somehow my hand still felt hot against his.

 

“Why don’t we sit down and rest?”

 

Jeremiah suggested. The parade and fireworks were over, and the streets were once again crowded with people heading home.

 

My legs were starting to ache, so I took him up on his offer.

 

Looking for a secluded spot, Jeremiah found a bench near the clock tower and led me to it. As we sat down, his hand fell away.

 

I patted my leg, a little relieved, and Jeremiah sat down next to me and spoke.

 

“How was your day?”

 

I replied nonchalantly.

 

“I’m glad Estella seems to have enjoyed it.”

 

I had spent the whole day with Estella and Jeremiah today, and I really did feel like one of them. They were of noble ducal blood, so maybe I was being arrogant to think so.

 

“No, Vanessa.”

 

Just as I was thinking that Jeremiah broke off and turned to me.

 

“What I asked was how you were.”

 

I felt my hands grow hot again. They burned where his affectionate gaze had touched them.

 

Reflexively, I looked down to avoid his gaze and barely managed to stammer out a reply.

 

“I had a… good time, too.”

 

Jeremiah nodded at my answer.

 

“And what about the duke?”

 

“It was fun.”

 

It was a simple answer, but it didn’t feel hollow, because I knew he had been smiling the whole time.

 

I let out a small laugh at his answer.

 

There were times when I didn’t think Jeremiah would enjoy watching the festival, but it turns out I was pleasantly wrong.

 

Looking back on the day, I feel like I have a lot more to say.

 

I loved being with Estella, I loved being with Sir Melvin.

 

I loved being with Jeremiah…

 

I liked the fact that he tried to pick a glass rose for me, and the things he said to me were sweet and warm.

 

‘Oh, it was nice.’

 

Jeremiah’s final words of pleasure seemed to complete my pleasant day.

 

“I grabbed your hand earlier and it was cold, so you wear these.”

 

I realized that my hands felt cold.

 

Jeremiah pulled out a glove from his pocket and slipped it on my hand. It felt like I was holding hands with him all over again.

 

Jeremiah’s glove was obviously too big for me, but it was enough to convey the warmth of his hand.

 

I squeezed and unclasped our thawed fingertips lightly.

 

“Thank you.”

 

My heart seemed to melt along with my fingertips. I tried not to think about it, but Jeremiah’s thoughtfulness kept bringing a smile to my face.

 

A crisp night breeze blew through my hair, and stars twinkled all around.

 

I looked around, trying not to get swept up in the atmosphere, searching for something to take me out of this awkwardness.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Luckily, I found that something quickly.

 

“Woof.”

 

A robe-covered figure was holding onto a tree, head down, gagging.

 

I stared at him in disbelief and stood up from the bench. He looked like he needed help.

 

“Duke, a moment, please.”

 

“Miss Vanessa?”

 

Jeremiah called after me as he jumped to his feet, but I moved toward him.

 

As I got closer, I could see the wiry blonde. I spoke carefully so as not to startle her.

 

“Hey… are you okay, can I help you?”

 

At my words, she looked up at me. She was wearing a butterfly-shaped mask over her face, so I couldn’t see the whole thing, but her eyes were very blue through the mask.

 

I was suddenly seized with a sense of dread. Those eyes must be from somewhere…

 

“Vanessa…?”

 

“What?”

 

“Why is Miss Vanessa here, ugh.”

 

She stammered, then put her head back down and started gagging.

 

I was surprised that she knew my name but soon began patting her on the back.

 

Then something sharp brushed through my hair, followed by a low, gruff male voice.

 

“You’d better not touch her body.”

 

“…….”

 

A creepy warning. I froze in place, realizing that it was the blade against my neck.

 

But before I could offer any explanation, I heard another man’s voice.

 

“Is it your chivalry to hold a sword to the throat of an unarmed lady?”

 

The voice echoed through the night, a cold fury in its tone. Jeremiah was fuming at the man who held a sword to my throat.

 

I couldn’t move for fear of being slashed if I made a mistake, and… just as I was swallowing hard at this breathless confrontation, the masked woman barely stopped gagging and spoke.

 

“That’s enough, Sir Jason. I’m fine, so go ahead and sheathe your sword, and… Oh, my, the Duke of Oppenheim?”

 

“Your Excellency, the Duke of Oppenheim?”

 

The man who had thrust the sword at me exclaimed in panic, quickly putting it away.

 

Jeremiah removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. It looked like he, too, was about to draw his sword.

 

I straightened up from my fumbling.

 

“Pardon me, but can you identify yourself?”

 

“Of course, Duke. It’s been a while.”

 

She recognized Jeremiah’s dyed hair at once and wondered about her identity myself. Then she removed the mask covering her face and smiled.