I’m Just a Counselor – Chapter 78

Author: Dakku-san

It wasn’t until we entered the lobby of the mansion that Estella noticed the handprint left on my wrist. The handprint was now turning a sickly blue color.

“Uh, sis, what happened to your wrist?!”

Estella, alarmed, immediately took me into her room. At her urgent command, the maid came with an ointment, also with an urgent face.

I could only sit there awkwardly while Estella fussed and fussed and applied the medicine.

Estella sobbed and blew on the ointment, her warm breath tickling my skin.

“That must have hurt. Sis, who did this to you, I’m going to kick his ass!”

I let out a small laugh as Estella balled her fists and shouted.

“It’s okay, Estella. It doesn’t hurt.”

It was true that it didn’t hurt much. But when I looked at the handprint still clearly visible, my anger rose.

‘Gale Huons. Is this the real…’

At the same time, I remembered the face of the crown prince as he carefully tied the handkerchief around me, and my heart tingled.

His handkerchief was still in my arms. I would wash it well and return it to him later.

“But I have something else to tell you, Estella.”

I opened my mouth, pushing the flush away from my face.

Estella, who had stopped blowing her lungs out after applying the medicine, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I felt my heart sink slightly as I gazed into her face, but I forced myself to speak.

“I think Estella is much better now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you don’t hate home as much as you did when we first met…, and you’re getting along with your brother now.”

Estella pursed her lips in a frown at my words, but she didn’t interrupt me.

I continued as if to soothe her.

“I think you’re ready to live here now, Estella, and you don’t think this world is just a novel anymore, do you?”

“…Yes.”

“And you don’t think anymore that people will turn away from you because you’re not the main character, that Estella doesn’t belong to you, right?”

“…….”

“You know now that even if you’re not the main character, the people around you, the duke, will love you.”

Estella must know that. That she’s changed the way she treats this world. That she has come to truly love and embrace this life.

I waited for her to acknowledge it, and finally she nodded.

Now it was time to get to the real point. I spoke carefully.

“I think Estella will be fine without me now.”

“Sister Vanessa…!”

It was something I’d been thinking about since the ball tonight. Of course, I’ve come to regard Estella as a genuinely loving little sister… but apart from that, maybe I don’t need to be by her side anymore.

When she first came to the Secret Garden, she was very sensitive and depressed, and she needed me to be there to calm her down.

I knew that, and that’s why I followed her, and that’s why I’ve been so accepting of her foolishness.

‘But now I don’t think I have too anymore.’

The way I saw it, Estella was doing well enough on her own now, and it was time to stop her seeking me out like she did with her separation anxiety.

‘Not because the crown prince told me to change from the duke’s leash to my own, but…’

Anyway, I think it’s time to let go of whatever line I’m on.

‘It might be bad for Estella if I keep going.’

I don’t know if Gale Huons, for example, will try to take advantage of Estella or the Duke on some pretext.

I’ve gotten a lot from Estella. I’ve been to New Year’s balls on the subject of fallen aristocrats, and tried on dresses like this one…

I’ve gotten more than I deserve, and it’s time to let go.

“Sister, does that mean… you want out of the Ducal?”

Estella asked in an urgent tone.

“Seriously, did you like it so much here that you want to stay?”

“Of course not. I’m going back to the north.”

“Then…”

“Well… I was thinking maybe I could go back to Hazel rather than Loasen and reopen the Secret Garden, and maybe Estella could come visit me once in a while.”

“Well, that’s…”

Estella fidgeted with her hands, looking puzzled, then jumped to her feet, opened the door, and turned to me.

“I’m not sure about that… because you just said that out of the blue, but I’ll think about what you said today.”

“Okay.”

What Estella was saying was clear as she opened the door and looked at me with shaky eyes.

I shook my head and pushed myself up. After all, I had to go downstairs to see Jeremiah, too.

Finally, I greeted Estella.

“Happy New Year, Estella.”

“…you too.”

Estella mumbled something grim and ended the visit. Then I heard the door click shut.

I let out a small sigh, thinking she must have been burned, and made my way down to Jeremiah’s office, which I often visit.

I knocked on the door in front of me, and Jeremiah answered immediately.

“Come in.”

His voice sounded strained.

I shook my head, opened the door, and stood frozen in place.

I didn’t know if he was dressed or naked. Jeremiah’s shirt was only halfway on. I could see his upper body through the untucked shirt.

“…….”

I turned around quietly. After a moment’s silence, I heard the snap, snap, snap of his collar as he put his shirt back on.

The sound was so suggestive that I squeezed my eyes shut.

‘You’re just getting dressed! Why did you yell at me to come in! I knocked; I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m innocent!’

“It’s okay, you can look again.”

Jeremiah said shortly. With his permission, I stiffly looked at him again.

Jeremiah had meticulously buttoned his shirt all the way up, and now he looked like a well-groomed peacock again.

He sighed deeply as he looked at me, his set hair falling loose.

‘No, why would the duke sigh? I’m the one who needs to sigh.’

“What’s the matter?”

“No, I’m… it’s just that…”

As I stammered in front of Jeremiah’s innocent question, I suddenly felt very guilty.

‘I’m innocent, the fault lies with that duke over there!’

I squeezed my eyes shut and glared at Jeremiah.

Jeremiah sat back down at his desk as if nothing had happened. I snorted softly and cleared my throat.

“I have a message for the duke…”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I was supposed to tell you in great detail what I was doing in the garden.”

“I see you haven’t forgotten, which is to be commended.”

Jeremiah’s expression quickly turned serious. He seemed very curious about what I had done there.

I took a deep breath and began to speak.

“Actually, I met the eldest son of Count Huons there, and he’s the one who gave me this handprint.”

I began by explaining that Gale Huons had sent me a note.

Jeremiah’s body twitched slightly. One eyebrow rose, and I could tell he was angry.

“I thought you had settled all your debts with Count Huons.”

“I thought so, too,” I said, “I can’t believe he’d change his tune like that. I should have received the paperwork that said I didn’t have to pay the debt, but I overlooked it, and I didn’t expect it to come out this way…”

He was listening to me and asked quietly.

“How much do you owe exactly?”

“…….”

That was the problem. I didn’t know the exact amount.

The only way to find out was to ask Count Huons himself, and if I asked him, “How much do I owe you?” he would inflate it many times over.

He won’t even show me the ledger.

And then they’d add interest and markups.

“…Well, I was wondering if the salary I’ve been earning… would do for now…”

“Vanessa, just pay the full amount.”

Jeremiah cut in, frowning.

“Or tell him to bill you under the name of the duke.”

“Duke!”