I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 75

It’s no secret that the Dukes of Oppenheim are the richest men in the Empire. There was no way the Huons would miss it. He would do everything in his power to rip it away from Oppenheim.

 

‘He can’t get away with knowing that.’

 

I couldn’t embarrass Jeremiah or Estella any more than this. I bit my lip hard.

 

Gale chuckled, as if amused by my vehement reaction, and then offered an alternative.

 

“If you don’t like that, I have another idea.”

 

It didn’t occur to me that that might be the right way to go, but I was fooled and asked.

 

“What’s that?”

 

“My dad’s starting a new business, and he’s in need of a bitch like you.”

 

“…….”

 

I narrowed my eyes at Gale, who didn’t budge and continued to stare at the unspecific ‘like you’.

 

Gale seemed to give me a choice, but it didn’t last long.

 

He grabbed my wrist with a vicious grip. I cried out in horror.

 

“What the hell are you doing!”

 

“I don’t know what you think I’m waiting for, bitch. Just come with me!”

 

“Get off me, I’m going to scream!”

 

I said in a warning tone, but Gale didn’t even pretend to hear me.

 

There was music playing in the ballroom, and with no one else around, I doubted I’d be heard if I yelled.

 

‘No, there’s got to be a way.’

 

I refused to give up and gritted my teeth to get out of this situation, but there was only so much I could hold on to.

 

I was about to be dragged away by Gale.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

A voice came out of nowhere and stood between me and Gale.

 

Just as I thought I recognized the voice from somewhere, a familiar male figure slowly stepped out of the bushes, his golden eyes flashing and glowing.

 

“I have never invited a brute to my banquet.”

 

Someone who had the audacity to refer to an imperial ball as “my banquet”.

 

I blinked in surprise at his appearance. I had no idea why he was out here when he should be surrounded by people in the ballroom by now.

 

Gale seemed to recognize him, too. He released his grip on me in a huff and bowed low.

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet His Highness the Crown Prince!”

 

“I asked, what are you doing here?” he asked.

 

“None of your highness’s business. This bitch…a commoner bitch gave me a hard time, so I was going to show her how to scare a nobleman.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. Haha, let the stupid commoner know how scary the laws of the Empire are!”

 

The crown prince’s golden eyes turned toward me at Gale’s pathetic excuse.

 

I staggered backwards, nearly spinning out of control as Gale abruptly let go of my hand and managed to find my center and bow.

 

“…His Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

I saw the crown prince’s eyebrows furrow slightly at the sight of me.

 

“You’re not going to take it, are you?”

 

‘What’s the law? I’m being bullied, I’m being forced, and I was just called a beast of burden!’

 

I shouted desperately at the crown prince, but to my dismay, he ignored my soundless rant.

 

“That’s right. The Empire’s laws are strict. Finish what you were going to do, then, without too much fuss.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

 

The crown prince glared at me, then turned away.

 

Gale’s mouth curled into a wicked grin again at his offer of acquiescence.

 

“Come with me!”

 

He grabbed my wrist again, roughly. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open in disbelief at the crown prince’s unbelievable betrayal.

 

No, it wasn’t so much a betrayal as a lack of trust between him and me, but still…

 

“I… I know your mother.”

 

‘What if I tell your mom about this? What if I tell your mom later that you’re such an asshole!’

 

Of course, now was not the time for me to assume ‘later’, because right now the only person who could save me was the crown prince.

 

I opened my mouth before he could fully turn around.

 

“This…”

 

“……?”

 

“You childish bastard!”

 

My exasperated shout stopped the crown prince in his tracks. He glared back at me with his golden eyes, then turned to Gale.

 

He, too, seemed dumbfounded that I had dared to yell at the crown prince.

 

Gale’s face soon flushed red.

 

“Ah, how dare a commoner, no matter how foolish, speak to the Crown Prince…! I’m sorry, Your Highness, I’ll take her away and make sure she gets an education!”

 

“No.”

 

The crown prince, who had spoken so briefly, strode toward me. I flinched, expecting him to lay a hand on me, but he merely pulled Gale’s hand away from mine.

 

Grabbing my wrist, the crown prince gestured toward Gale as if to say goodbye.

 

“You may leave. I’ll see to your education, or whatever it is.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness…?”

 

“How dare you vomit on the Crown Prince’s words, with all your talk of the Empire’s sacred laws?”

 

Gale’s face flushed again at the crown prince’s threatening muttering.

 

He glared at me helplessly before finally curling his tail.

 

“I’ll do your bidding, then.”

 

And with that, Gale tucked his tail and disappeared.

 

Having just witnessed a hero of immense power defeat a villainous extra right in front of my eyes, I stood dumbfounded, staring at the back of the hero’s head as he stood in my way.

 

Only later did I realize that the crown prince was gripping my wrist with a very careful, gentle touch, as if he was afraid, he might hurt me.

 

“You. Child?”

 

‘Nope, I am mistaken.’

 

“How dare you?”

 

“…….”

 

Grabbing my wits about me, I quickly turned away from the crown prince’s gleaming golden eyes.

 

I had just lost my temper. I should have only blasphemed inwardly…

 

‘You’re taking childish tsundere too much to heart.’

 

Having belatedly discovered my identity as a Fallen Noble, I stammered out an excuse.

 

“No… I just thought His Highness was going to leave, so I didn’t know what to say… Well, if you see someone in such trouble and you’re just going to walk away like that…”

 

“Huh. You’re a good talker.”

 

The crown prince laughed in a cheerful manner and swept a hand through his disheveled hair.

 

I studied him carefully and decided that he didn’t seem all that upset.

 

There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he looked down at me.

 

“I thought you were a gentle lady, but that’s what you were thinking when you saw me?”

 

“No, Your Highness… I, uh, I don’t think that’s what I’m usually thinking… not…”

 

“Well, you dared to put me on probation because you had the nerve to do so.”

 

“Is that…?”

 

“Why? Isn’t that what you said to my mother?”

 

“I told the empress to put the crown prince on probation?”

 

I tilted my head, puzzled, because I didn’t remember, and then it hit me.

 

In the Secret Garden, I had given her advice about her son. I think I told her to make sure he knows what he’s doing wrong and to give him a good, hard scolding so he doesn’t repeat the mistake.

 

Of course, I was giving her advice when I thought her son was about seven years old.

 

‘I didn’t put you on probation, you earned it.’

 

I glanced at the crown prince and muttered to myself.

 

“Wow, now you’re acting like you’ve gotten all you need.”

 

The crown prince muttered playfully. I grumbled to myself and looked up at him in disbelief.

 

His tone had lost all of its arrogance, unlike when he had spoken to Gale or when he had met me earlier.

 

I sighed, wondering what this meant, but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

“You’re acting like a prude, even in front of Her Majesty the Empress…”

 

“You can’t shock her.”

 

“You do realize that the Empress would be shocked if she knew.”

 

“Well, I know best about me, don’t I?”

 

He smirked, helping me to my feet, then blurted out.

 

“Hey.”

 

Annoyed at the condescending title, especially coming from the mouth of a crown prince, I shot him a questioning look.

 

The crown prince stared down at me with his fat face, then asked bluntly.

 

“By the way, why didn’t you wear the clothes I sent you today?”

 

“What?”

 

“I personally sent you a dress to wear today.”

 

“……?”

 

I blinked at the crown prince’s words. I felt a momentary flush of disbelief at the unexpected comment, but then it passed.

 

It was enough to make him nervous. He’d sent me a dress and jewelry out of the goodness of his heart, but I was dressed completely differently.

 

‘Oh, no, that’s why…?’

 

My mouth dropped open as realization hit me like a thunderbolt.

 

Before I could turn around, the crown prince’s eyes scanned my outfit. And he made a disapproving face.

 

In other words… I was wearing a different dress, and I was trying to get away with it!

 

‘What’s with all this? I was acting so childish.’

 

I swallowed back a giggle, brushed off the crown prince’s hand, and stood up straight.

 

“Your Highness decides whether or not to help someone based on how they’re dressed.”