I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 73

Jeremiah paused for a moment as Estella pushed off his back and then started walking.

 

I stared at him, wide-eyed. Today, Jeremiah wore bright blue-gray robes.

 

It was so refreshing to see him in such a bright color after wearing only dark colors like navy blue and black. It was also more colorful than his uniform. It matched his silver hair very well.

 

‘But something… about it makes me feel like it was made for me, doesn’t it?’

 

I looked away from him and down at my dress. My dress was also a light blue-gray color.

 

At first, I thought it was just my eyes, but then I noticed that Jeremiah’s robes were also this color…

 

“Can’t Estella be…?”

 

Then I remembered that Estella, Madame Cornelia, had whispered something in her ear when she went to adjust Jeremiah’s robes.

 

I squinted and looked at Estella, her hands clasped together in front of her chest, her eyes sparkling.

 

Looking into those bright chartreuse eyes, I felt instantly relieved.

 

“…Maybe it’s the kid.”

 

I sighed heavily, deciding to give up on telling Estella.

 

In the meantime, Jeremiah, who had come to stand right in front of me, spoke to Shane, who was still holding my hand.

 

“I know you have work to do, but what are you doing here?”

 

“Oh, come on, Jeremy. Have you ever been the type to take advantage of people like this?”

 

“…….”

 

Shane smirked at Jeremiah’s sharp retort. Jeremiah’s brow narrowed slightly.

 

He spoke up, his voice even lower than before.

 

“I think we can go now.”

 

When he finished, he turned to me and spoke. His tone was soft, unlike when he spoke to Shane.

 

“Come here, Miss Vanessa.”

 

I blinked, alternating between his face and the hand he held out. But now it was really Shane’s time to go to work.

 

I was about to pull my hand away from his. Suddenly, Shane squeezed my hand.

 

“Vanessa, why don’t I just go with you to the dance?”

 

He asked, ignoring my startled reaction. I tilted my head at his out-of-the-blue statement.

 

I wondered if he was joking, but there was no mischief in his dark eyes. Even Jeremiah was staring at my face as if he wanted to know my answer.

 

I rolled my eyes, feeling like I was sandwiched between the two of them.

 

“You said you had work to do.”

 

“I do.”

 

“You have to find and put on your robes…”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be right back.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

For a moment, Shane’s eyebrows seemed to twitch, but soon he shrugged and let go of my hand. I moved my hand to Jeremiah’s.

 

There was no smile on Jeremiah’s face, but somehow I could feel the satisfaction in his eyes as he looked at me. Like he was congratulating me on a job well done.

 

“……?”

 

I cocked my head, not sure why he was looking at me that way. But Jeremiah didn’t bother to answer my question, just grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.

 

I turned quickly to Shane.

 

“I’ll grab something for Shane on the way.”

 

“Okay. Bye, Vanessa. Don’t forget I told you to be careful.”

 

“Yeah, thanks.”

 

Shane grinned and waved. I smirked back at him and walked after Jeremiah.

 

His pace gradually slowed. Soon, when I realized he was matching my pace, I heard his voice in my ear.

 

“Is your foot okay?”

 

Like Shane, Jeremiah must have been concerned about my shoes. I nodded.

 

“Yep. But I’m worried that I might step on the hem of my dress while walking.”

 

“Well, if that’s what you’re worried about, I don’t think you need to be.”

 

Jeremiah whispered, leaning slightly toward me.

 

“I’ll be right there with you the whole time.”

 

“…….”

 

I guess that means it’s okay to mess up a little.

 

“I think I’ve heard that before.”

 

I didn’t know why I felt so tickled all over again. I coughed softly and fumbled with Jeremiah’s hand.

 

“Sis! Sis!”

 

Estella threw her arms around me with excitement.

 

“You look so pretty today. Even prettier than the last time you showed me!”

 

“I guess it’s all about the right makeup for the right dress.”

 

“And you look great with my brother.”

 

I glance over at Estella, not wanting to offend her, but she’s just smiling broadly, her eyes off the clock.

 

I couldn’t help but put my arm around her shoulders and say something I should have said long ago.

 

“You look beautiful today, Estella. So beautiful.”

 

“As long as I look good to you.”

 

A short time after we left the mansion, a carriage arrived to take us to the palace.

 

The carriage was more colorful than usual, perhaps because of the day. At the front of the carriage were four pure white horses, trotting along.

 

“I thought Estella said the other day that she liked white horses.”

 

I laughed out loud at Jeremiah’s sense of humor. Jeremiah raised an eyebrow at me, wondering what I was laughing at, but soon found himself chuckling too. Today, he too would be riding in the carriage.

 

After helping Estella and me into the carriage, he climbed in himself and closed the door.

 

“Just relax until we get there.”

 

Inside the carriage, which began to move slowly, Jeremiah seemed to be speaking to Estella, but somehow I had the feeling he was addressing me.

 

I focused my gaze straight ahead and saw Jeremiah’s figure.

 

He had his arms crossed, peering out the carriage window, and when his eyes locked with mine, he smiled. Outright, gorgeous.

 

His hair glistened in the light from the window.

 

‘Is it because I’m not used to seeing him dressed like this?’

 

It still felt different from the usual…

 

I looked down, unable to smile back.

 

In hindsight, I realized that Jeremiah might not be amused, but I couldn’t help it. I squeezed Estella’s hand unnecessarily.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Wow.”

 

The New Year’s Ball was held in the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace. As we got out of the carriage and walked to the hall, Estella looked around curiously.

 

From the outside of the Great Hall, there was already an atmosphere of splendor and excitement.

 

It was something she hadn’t seen the last time she had been invited by the Empress.

 

“This is finally like the palace I knew.”

 

“The one you knew?”

 

“Oh, no, I mean, the palace I imagined, and now that I’ve seen it in all its splendor and grandeur, my expectations are being fulfilled.”

 

Estella, excusing herself from Jeremiah, smiled confidentially as she put her arm around me. I smiled faintly in return, but it didn’t make me feel any less nervous.

 

In fact, I’d been feeling the stares ever since I stepped out of the carriage. Small talk was constantly in my ears.

 

“Oh my, there’s the Duke of Oppenheim, looking so dapper today…”

 

“He still doesn’t have a fiancée, do you think he’ll find one this time?”

 

“That must be the Princess of Oppenheim next to him, I’ve never seen her before.”

 

“What a beautiful brother and sister. I guess Oppenheim blood runs in the family…”

 

Kianton was right about people being interested in Jeremiah. People were constantly talking about Jeremiah and Estella.

 

‘If it’s good enough for me, it must be good enough for Jeremiah.’

 

I glanced up at Jeremiah’s expressionless face.

 

Judging by the lack of change in his expression, Jeremiah was quite used to this kind of attention. So much so that he could shrug it off.

 

‘No, perhaps it is to be expected.’

 

I lowered my gaze, a little smugly. Meanwhile, their attention had shifted to me, the only foreigner between the silver-haired siblings.

 

“Who is that young lady?”

 

“Judging by her dress,… is she the Duke’s partner?”

 

“She looks close to the Duke. Which family in the north is she?”

 

“It must be a pretty powerful family to even be the Duke’s partner…”

 

I couldn’t let their condescending remarks pass unnoticed. Most of all, I felt cold at the realization that I wasn’t from a noble family.

 

A northern family, no less. I wonder what they’d say if they realized I was a fallen noble.

 

‘I thought it would be fine.’

 

The chatter seemed to affect me more than I realized.

 

‘I was too confident that I could handle the situation.’

 

I smiled bitterly at the thought. He was right, I realized, when he said he was only good when he didn’t know what he was doing.

 

As I froze in my tracks, Estella turned to me with a questioning look. She didn’t seem to have heard anything.

 

“What’s wrong, sis?”

 

As I pursed my lips, searching for words to answer her, Jeremiah turned to me as well.

 

He stared at me, then glanced at the group of people who had been chattering about me.