I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 68

As Estella chewed and swallowed the bite, wondering what it was, it was Sir Melvin who answered.

 

“It’s from an island in the south. They say they came all the way to the islands specifically for the New Year’s festival.”

 

“An island?”

 

“Yes. They said it’s a snack made from tomatoes and potatoes. They said it’s seasoned with a lot of traditional southern spices, and the flavor is quite spicy.”

 

I nodded, disappointed that it wasn’t tteokbokki.

 

Estella, however, seemed excited enough to have found something that looked similar to tteokbokki. Given her earlier mutterings, it seemed like she wanted to try this kind of street food.

 

Even though it’s not really tteokbokki.

 

I guess it’s more about the atmosphere.

 

I smirked and looked at Estella, then suddenly realized that it wasn’t spicy enough for Jeremiah to eat.

 

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I opened my mouth.

 

“Estella, why don’t you give the Duke a bite, too?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“No, I’m fine…”

 

Jeremiah shook his head in disbelief, as if he’d developed a bad taste for red food after my last rash attempt.

 

But it seemed to bring out the playfulness in Estella. She grinned mischievously at her brother’s disgust and wiggled her tiny fork.

 

“Come on, big brother, do it.”

 

“Esti. You’re brother is…”

 

“You’re not going to eat it when your sister gives it to you? I feel bad for her.”

 

“…….”

 

Jeremiah, crushed by Estella’s cute complaints, finally opened his mouth with a crinkled brow.

 

Estella shoved another rice cake into it. I giggled and nudged Jeremiah.

 

“Don’t worry, it’s not very hot.”

 

“That’s not all…”

 

Jeremiah is a northerner, so maybe the southern food doesn’t suit his palate.

 

“At least you didn’t blush like last time.”

 

Jeremiah chewed slowly, trying to keep his expression straight. Estella said with a twinkle in her eye.

 

“Delicious, isn’t it, big brother?”

 

“Yeah….”

 

“We’ll have to get some more when we get home! Sir Melvin, you remember that place, don’t you?”

 

“Yes, Princess…”

 

Making both men blush, Estella slipped her arm around me as we ate our leftovers.

 

She grinned at me bashfully.

 

“By the way, sis, did you enjoy the parade?”

 

Estella’s question gave me pause. The Empress’s appearance had brought back to the forefront of my mind something I’d briefly forgotten. My heart was pounding in my chest.

 

I answered nonchalantly, hoping Estella hadn’t noticed.

 

“Uh-huh. And Estella?”

 

“I had fun watching, too. By the way, sis, did you hear that? Candy…”

 

“Yeah. I got some, but I picked the sour one. What flavor did you get, Estella?”

 

“I chose the sweet one…”

 

As Estella and I walked away, the sound of two men’s footsteps followed behind us.

 

I followed her chatter, glancing back as I walked. Jeremiah was walking behind us, not too far away, not too close.

 

Suddenly, his gloves in my pockets seemed to add a new weight.

 

I was holding Estella’s hand now, but it still felt like I was holding his.

 

I’d never been conscious of holding someone’s hand before, but today I was acutely aware of the flesh-on-flesh contact.

 

I bit my lip and thought again.

 

‘Jeremiah likes me. It’s impossible.’

 

…And what about me? What do I think of Jeremiah?

 

“…….”

 

My heart, which had been pounding, now felt strangely throbbing.

 

I turned my head away before I could make eye contact with Jeremiah.

 

 

* * *

 

 

We returned to the mansion just as the street lights were dying down.

 

Estella insisted on riding Sir Melvin’s white horse this time.

 

As a result, I was forced to ride with Jeremiah again, but fortunately, by then, I had almost gotten over the strange feeling in my stomach.

 

I gave him back his gloves before dismounting.

 

When we arrived at the mansion, the first thing that greeted us was an invitation from the imperial family. Apparently, the Empress had sent the invitation as soon as she returned to the palace.

 

[I will send a carriage tomorrow afternoon around three o’clock].

 

When Estella saw the invitation, she exclaimed.

 

“Vanessa is going to the imperial palace?!”

 

“Oh, that’s…”

 

Earlier, I had put it off for a while, not wanting to spoil the mood, but now it was time to tell the truth.

 

I reluctantly told Estella what had happened at the meeting with the Empress.

 

“Esti, what do you want to do?”

 

Jeremiah asked softly from beside me.

 

“If you say you don’t want to go to the palace, your brother will do something about it.”

 

“But if I don’t want to go, then you’ll have to go alone, Vanessa.”

 

“…, right?”

 

“I can’t let you go alone!”

 

Estella stood there with a serious look on her face, then shouted and grabbed my arm, leaving the two men in the lobby, and hurried upstairs to her room.

 

Staggering back to her, I said to her.

 

“But Estella, we’re going to the palace, and maybe we’ll meet the crown prince…”

 

“You’re more important than that!”

 

“I’m sorry, Estella, for accepting the Empress’s invitation in the heat of the moment…”

 

“I’m fine, why are you looking so sorry for yourself, I can’t let you go alone anyway!”

 

Estella, who spoke in a harsh tone, slammed the door of the dress room open. I stared at her behavior distantly, not knowing what to say.

 

“I didn’t expect this, but life is full of unexpected things!”

 

Estella’s more cheerful than I thought she’d be…

 

“What are you going to do?”

 

I looked at her with an uneasy sense of foreboding, but it seemed that there was no stopping Estella already.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The next day, at three o’clock in the afternoon, a carriage arrived from the palace like a knife.

 

The carriage was not as shiny as I had expected, but the imperial coat of arms was painted on the door in large letters to recognize it as a palace carriage.

 

A knight stepped out of the carriage, handsomely dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Knights.

 

“Greetings, Your Excellency, Duke of Oppenheim. It is good to see you after so long.”

 

“So am I. How are things going at the palace?”

 

Jeremiah exchanged a few words with the knight as if they were acquaintances, then quickly turned his head toward me and Estella as we stepped outside.

 

The imperial knight, noticing the concern on her face, smiled broadly.

 

“I hear His Highness the Duke cares for you so much. I’ve only heard rumors, but now I’m meeting you.”

 

I suspect that most people who meet Estella are like this knight. They’re curious about her, they have preconceived notions about her, or they’re trying to use her to see what she can do to Jeremiah…

 

It wasn’t that long ago that there was an attempt to use Estella as a hostage to manipulate Jeremiah.

 

‘Maybe that’s why Jeremiah was trying to give Estella more time.’

 

From his point of view, he wanted Estella to come with him to the islands, but he was also worried that it would be the first time his precious and vulnerable sister would face someone’s enmity.

 

‘Even if Estella is strong now…’

 

You can never be too careful in the imperial court. I squeezed Estella’s hand, remembering Jeremiah’s warning from yesterday.

 

Even at the palace, I would need to be useful to Estella.

 

“Miss Vanessa, Estella, please.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And.., Miss Vanessa, be careful where you go.”

 

I nodded at Jeremiah’s greeting, though I wondered what the point was.

 

An imperial knight escorted Estella and placed her in the carriage. My hand was held by the duke’s knight. I thanked him and climbed into the carriage.

 

Estella and I, the imperial knight and the duke’s knight. With the four of us in the carriage, the carriage finally set off toward the palace.

 

“You are even more beautiful than I had heard. Did you say you turned seventeen this year, Princess?”

 

*Dag-dag, dag-dag*

 

Breaking the silence in the carriage, where only the sound of hooves could be heard, the imperial knight spoke to Estella first.

 

Estella looked strangely pouty. She seemed unhappy about the presence of knights in the carriage.

 

“Yes,” Estella replied gruffly to the imperial knight’s question.

 

She should have been embarrassed by the short answer, but the imperial knight still smiled coyly. It was as if he wanted to win her favor.

 

“So this New Year’s ball will be your debut in society, I take it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Haha, it’s a pity I’m on duty that day, so I won’t be able to ask her to dance.”

 

“…….”

 

Estella glared at the imperial knight who kept talking to her, and finally said in an annoyed voice.

 

“I beg your pardon, but can we be a little quieter? I’d like to clear my head before I see Her Majesty.”

 

“Oh… Yes, I apologize. I didn’t realize how much was on your mind.”

 

I barely suppressed a chuckle at the sight of the imperial knight being dumped by Estella, who was in full sulky mode.