I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 95

The next morning, I woke up in a non-lucid dream.

 

“Ugh…”

 

I must have had too much to drink last night, judging by the groaning sound.

 

Stretching, I realized I was in my bedroom, not the dining room, which meant someone had moved me after I’d fallen asleep.

 

“It must be Shane.”

 

I was a little embarrassed, but quickly changed my mind. It has happened many times in Hazel.

 

“Come to think of it, I’ve never slept with Sherry before, have I?”

 

I’d always wanted to sleep with a friend at least once, and I’d felt a little bad when she’d refused to sleep with me.

 

“Now that I think about it, it’s actually because he’s a guy.”

 

I scratched my head, realizing the truth.

 

I realized that Shane had already been protecting me from then on. It must have been hard for him because I was so stubborn.

 

“I’ll go out and thank him when I see him.”

 

But the first thing I had to do was nurse my hangover. I stretched once more and headed out of the bedroom.

 

The hallway was quiet, even though it must have been quite a while ago. Somewhat puzzled by this, I descended the stairs and heard a faint murmur.

 

“Melvin, that’s not that way!”

 

“Then this way? No, you’re going to have to make me understand!”

 

“Sir Melvin and Shane… are getting along so well.”

 

I stole a peek under my nose at the two men doing something in the garden and went to the kitchen.

 

While they were outside, I was going to make breakfast. Haejang to be exact.

 

“Oh, I want kimchi stew…”

 

Estella would have agreed, but unfortunately, there’s no one like that here.

 

Feeling a little wistful, I lit the stew from yesterday’s leftovers.

 

Naturally, there was no chili powder in the kitchen of this mansion, so I reached for some black pepper instead. I don’t know if sprinkling a bunch of it on top will give it the flavor I want, but it’ll do.

 

“Huh? Vanessa. Are you awake?”

 

Shane walked into the kitchen just then. I tasted the stew and added more pepper. Maybe I should add some onions while I’m at it.

 

“Shane, are you feeling okay?”

 

“Uh, meh…”

 

I put the onion on a cutting board and chopped it into large pieces with a knife. Shane looked into the pot and muttered.

 

“I don’t think this is the same stew we had yesterday…”

 

But when he saw me with the knife, he didn’t say anything more.

 

I pretended not to hear his muttering as I added the onions to the pot, topped up the water, and picked up the pepper shakers again.

 

“Why don’t you and Sir Melvin wash your hands and come and join for breakfast.”

 

“Um… sure.”

 

Shane looked at the pot gravely, shook his head, and left the kitchen. I scooped the finished stew into bowls and grabbed cutlery.

 

A few moments later, Sir Melvin and Shane sat down at the table. I set the bowls in front of them one after the other.

 

“Is this… the same stew you had yesterday?”

 

“What? Yes. You have to eat the whole thing.”

 

“Miss Vanessa, I’m really sorry, but I can’t… ugh.”

 

“I’ll eat it, Vanessa!”

 

Shane said cheerfully, shoving a spoon into Sir Melvin’s mouth as he was about to say something.

 

I smiled back at him in greeting and took a spoonful of stew.

 

“Mmm… not bad, huh?”

 

It doesn’t taste like the kimchi stew I was hoping for, but the texture of the onions is similar to kimchi. It’s bland because it doesn’t taste like chili powder, but the pepper flavor isn’t too bad.

 

I give my breakfast a passing grade and look over to see Shane eating his stew without comment.

 

“You looked so serious earlier, but now that you’re eating it, it’s actually good, right?”

 

I smirked and turned my head the other way. Sir Melvin had a very determined look on his face.

 

He gulped dryly and scooped the stew into his mouth. Then he began to cough loudly.

 

“Miss Vanessa, it’s too peppery, kulk, kulk, kulk, kulk, kulk, kulk, kulk, kulk!”

 

Sir Melvin’s face flushed red. I quickly handed him the water and laughed under my breath. Sir Melvin’s reaction reminded me of Jeremiah’s first time eating tteokbokki.

 

“Oh, come to think of it, didn’t Sir Melvin eat something similar at the festival?”

 

I shrugged my shoulders.

 

I glanced back at Shane, thinking about the taste of northerners…

 

He was casually draining the stew while Sir Melvin reacted violently. I watched him curiously, then asked.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Yeah? Yeah. It’s a little too peppery for my liking, but whatever… Vanessa, didn’t you say that at the castle, they served the princess whatever she wanted to eat?”

 

“Yes, sometimes.”

 

“You’re already a good cook. It’s an honor to be served.”

 

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Shane nonchalantly emptied his bowl.

 

He looked at Sir Melvin, who still couldn’t stop sneezing, and clicked his tongue loudly.

 

“He doesn’t deserve to eat Vanessa’s food. He can’t even do a simple gardening chore, and he sits at the head of the desk with his…”

 

“Oh, you were just talking to Sir Melvin, weren’t you? Eat this and I’ll help you.”

 

Shane and I had another back-and-forth conversation. Sir Melvin looked somewhat disgruntled, but was too busy clearing his plate of stew to offer a proper explanation.

 

 

* * *

 

 

I traveled back and forth between the Viscount’s estate and Snowflake Manor. It was a ten-minute carriage ride, so it wasn’t too much of a strain.

 

Jeremiah frowned whenever I told him I was going to the viscount’s estate, but he didn’t stop me.

 

‘Although, now that I think about it, he might have gotten the wrong idea that I was reminiscing about the manor or something…’

 

…Well, I don’t think I need to correct the misunderstanding, so I don’t make excuses.

 

‘Maybe it’s because I think it’s my mansion, and I feel cozy the more I come.’

 

The furniture is old, but it’s not like I need to change it, and I don’t need to clean it much. Or maybe it’s because it’s quiet, unlike the peacock castles and snowy mansions where people are always roaming around.

 

I often came to the mansion alone and locked myself in my bedroom.

 

‘Is this… Julian’s ploy to make me stay here?’

 

Today, I came to the mansion alone, and I was lying in bed, thinking about nothing.

 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, as if I had a visitor. I jumped out of my aesthetic bed and headed to the lobby.

 

“Wait!”

 

No one in this mansion knows I’m here. ‘Did Jeremiah send someone?’

 

Shaking my head, I straightened my clothes and opened the door. The knocker was an unfamiliar face.

 

“Viscountess Asell?”

 

He said. I stood there dumbfounded, then realized that the “Viscountess Asell” he was referring to was me.

 

Julian got me back, by the way. I’d forgotten for a moment.

 

“Oh, yes. I’m Viscountess Asell…that’s right.”

 

“I’m glad you’re here. His Highness the Crown Prince has extended an invitation to you, Viscountess.”

 

The man bowed and pulled something out of his chest. I suddenly noticed that he was wearing very nice clothes.

 

“Does he work for the imperial court?”

 

Julian had sent me an invitation. I took what he handed me in disbelief.

 

It was similar in design to the New Year’s invitation I had received at the Duke’s castle. As I traced the smooth surface of the paper, the man smiled.

 

“His Highness is very much looking forward to meeting you, Viscountess”

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

“And since the Viscountess herself is accepting the invitation, is there no one else?”

 

“I’ll be returning to the North soon, and… don’t really need one.”

 

“I see, so you don’t plan to use the name in the future?”

 

I was a little suspicious of why he was being so probing, but I nodded. The man nodded his understanding and soon left my mansion with a bow.

 

Only after he disappeared from the doorway did I check the invitation.

 

It was written with all sorts of platitudes, announcing that I was invited to the crown prince’s birthday banquet, and at the end of the invitation was a short postscript that seemed to have been added by Julian himself.

 

[Don’t forget your promise.]

 

‘Sorry. I already forgot.’

 

So… what did I promise Julian?

 

‘Didn’t I tell him that I would wear the dress he gave me for the birthday banquet, and that I wouldn’t ride with Jeremiah in the carriage?’

 

I scratched my cheek as I held up the invitation.

 

The birthday banquet was three days from today.

 

‘My dress is at Snowflake Manor, so I’ll have to get that first.’

 

I’d already told Jeremiah about my conversation with Julian, and I don’t think I’d said anything else, so I’d just have to leave it at that.

 

I organized my tasks in my head.

 

“Wait, but… it’s not just the dress. It’s jewelry, it’s a set, it’s makeup, it’s…”

 

Should I just borrow the makeup this time since I saw her do it last time, or should I get ready at Snowflake Manor and come to the manor to wait for Julian’s carriage?