I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 89

“Are you sleeping?”

 

I asked, trying not to show my disappointment.

 

‘She must be angry with me.’

 

It’s Sir Melvin. Estella said she was very worried, but you never know what the truth is. Besides, I’ve had a bit of a falling out with her before…

 

In this situation, I may have to wait for Estella to speak to me first. I smiled bitterly.

 

“You must be tired, go back inside and get some rest.”

 

Jeremiah patted me on the back. I thanked him and reluctantly walked away.

 

Estella’s door next to mine was firmly shut. I looked at the doorway with a wistful glance, then went into my room.

 

But even after washing up and getting into bed, sleep did not come easily. My body felt tired, which was strange.

 

I found myself staring blankly at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep.

 

Knock!

 

There was a knock on the door.

 

“Vanessa, it’s me. Are you asleep?”

 

It was Shane’s voice. I quickly sat up and pulled on my shawl.

 

“No!”

 

I replied before Shane could get to me, straightened up, and pushed open the door.

 

Shane stood still in the darkness. His dark eyes widened in relief when he spotted me.

 

He smiled and held out his hand.

 

“Are you going to bed right away or would you like to take a little night walk, young lady?”

 

Shane must have been tired from his work today, too, because his uncharacteristic attire told me he’d come straight to me as soon as he was done.

 

I hesitated a moment, then took his hand. Shane gripped my hand firmly and led me toward the garden.

 

The night air was cool and dry in the darkened garden.

 

Even with my shawl on, the wind chilled my shoulders, and Shane took off his jacket and gave it to me. I unwrapped my stiffened shoulders.

 

“Thanks.”

 

Shane merely shrugged in response.

 

“Let’s see. Are you hurt?”

 

“As you can see, I’m fine. Were you worried about me too?”

 

Shane sighed heavily at my question. 

 

‘Oh, not again.’ 

 

The same thoughtful look I saw on Sir Melvin’s face…

 

I shrugged and huffed in front of Shane, who gave me a stern look, like a big brother spoiling his little sister.

 

“Jeremiah did all the nagging, so I wasn’t going to do it.”

 

Shane narrowed his eyes at me and gave me a small tongue-lashing.

 

I just smirked back. The relief was still evident on his face as he said it.

 

“I wish I could tell you that I’m fine and everything’s okay, but…”

 

Out of nowhere, Shane looked back at me. His eyes became serious, and I stopped my playful glare and looked back at him.

 

“I think you could have been in real danger this time, Vanessa.”

 

“…….”

 

“Because they could have done anything to you.”

 

I shook my head meekly at Shane’s words.

 

I shook my head meekly, because there was no way that people who buy and sell people with impunity could have done anything to me, and in fact, I had just thought myself lucky.

 

Shane had probably assumed the worst. I could see now why he was so relieved.

 

“I’m sorry I worried you, and I think I know what you’re talking about, but now that you know I’m okay, please don’t think too badly of me.”

 

“It’s so like you to say that, Vanessa. You know you shouldn’t think too positively, right?”

 

“…Well, but aren’t we done with the slave top now? Thanks to you and the Duke, I think I’m free to go about my business.”

 

“For now, yes, but don’t get too comfortable. Vanessa, you seem to have a way of getting into trouble.”

 

“Haha. Well, now that we’re done with the islands, we can head back up north. How about we grab a bite to eat when we get back? I haven’t had a drink in a while.”

 

I purposely sounded casual to make Shane feel more at ease. He grumbled a bit more but eventually agreed to go along with me.

 

After our little nighttime stroll, I felt myself drifting off to sleep. Shane kept pace with me all the way back to my room.

 

It wasn’t until I opened the door and stepped into the room that he spoke for the last time.

 

“When I was a kid, rolling in the back alleys…”

 

I reflexively pause at the mention of his past, which I’d heard in passing before. I glanced up from my grip on the door handle, and he smirked.

 

“There’s something I’ve always wanted you to get when I come back from a difficult mission.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Shane opened his arms and pulled me into a tight hug.

 

“Good job.”

 

When he said he hoped I’d get it, he probably meant he didn’t.

 

I felt bad about that, but I didn’t let it get to me and turned to face Shane.

 

“Actually,” I said, “I didn’t do anything today, you and the duke did.”

 

I whispered to him, knowing he’d just finished another difficult mission tonight.

 

“Good job.”

 

“…….”

 

“Good night, Shane.”

 

“You too.”

 

With a pleasant good night, Shane and I parted ways.

 

 

* * *

 

The day after the auction house raid. Sitting across from Jeremiah again, Julian clicked his tongue at the things Jeremiah held out.

 

The ledgers, the papers. Jeremiah’s evidence was clear enough to incriminate every nobleman involved in the slave auction. It looked like he’d been gritting his teeth and scraping by.

 

“Some of the nobles are doing everything in their power to get out of jail. This should be enough to stop them in their tracks.”

 

“What happened to the Marquis of Alpen?”

 

“We caught him trying to flee in haste at dawn. The emperor will be taking special care of him.”

 

Julian chuckled at the memory of the Marquis’s misbehavior, the arrogant stranger who had dared to show himself in the presence of royalty now cursing as he was taken to prison, his face streaked with nervousness.

 

In all things, the most important thing is the finish.

 

Julian was confident that he had the perfect ending, and with this, he could become Emperor with a powerful imperial mandate.

 

Except that he wouldn’t be able to do it alone.

 

“But is this true?”

 

Julian asked, pointing to a document. Jeremiah answered.

 

“As you can see.”

 

It detailed what Earl Huons had done against Viscount Asell three years ago.

 

But it was somewhat less organized than the others. Jeremiah had prepared it in a hurry.

 

“I’m still looking for more evidence on some of the things, but the facts are pretty clear,” he said.

 

“The victim was Vanessa Asell, I see why you prepared this.”

 

“I don’t suppose you’ll have any trouble getting Viscountess Asell back on the nobility rolls?”

 

“If all this turns out to be true, you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”

 

Not only that, but Earl Huons will be stripped of his earldom and forced to rot in prison for the rest of his life. So would his eldest son.

 

Julian tapped the papers with his index finger.

 

“Speaking of which, Gale Huons was found passed out at the Earl of Huons’ manor, was that the duke’s doing?”

 

“I don’t know, I wasn’t at the auction house at the time.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

At the questionable answer, Julian narrowed his eyes and looked at Jeremiah, but he could read nothing from the expressionless face.

 

Jeremiah merely sipped his tea with an elegant touch and then spoke as if he’d had a sudden thought.

 

“Speaking of which, Sire, did you know that Lady Vanessa was at the auction house?”

 

“…Vanessa?”

 

“The Earl kidnapped Vanessa and took her away with him, apparently to blackmail me.”

 

“What?! kidnapped her?”

 

Julian exclaimed, his eyes widening as he had no idea what was going on.

 

Jeremiah continued calmly, even in front of him.

 

“Vanessa, of course, I managed to rescue her safely.”

 

“…….”

 

“She told me that she had met His Highness the Crown Prince just before she was kidnapped.”

 

Jeremiah set down his teacup.

 

Julian said nothing. That she had been seeing him right up to that point was something he knew better than anyone else.

 

But he never knew that she had been kidnapped on her way home. He’d seen Kianton enter the mansion, and he’d seen him well enough to know…

 

“You don’t think His Highness the Crown Prince allowed her to be kidnapped?”

 

“…….”

 

Forgetting to retort to Jeremiah’s sarcasm, Julian glanced back at Kianton.

 

Kianton had been fidgeting in alarm since the story of Vanessa’s kidnapping had begun. It was obvious that something was bothering him.

 

If he’d watched her closely enough, he wouldn’t have reacted like that.

 

“Kianton Bell… What did you do?”

 

Julian’s words drew Jeremiah’s icy gaze to Kianton.

 

Kianton genuinely felt threatened with having his head chopped off.