I’m Just a Counselor – Chapter 96

Author: Dakku-san

This, too, is an imperial banquet, so it may not be appropriate for me to apply my own makeup.

“I’ll need an expert anyway.”

Why look any further than the experts at Snowflake Manor? Besides, Estella will definitely be joining us for this banquet, and while I’m decorating her, I might as well…

“No, I’m still a bit sorry.”

The maids who helped me last time were only able to fulfill half of my requests.

‘Would they mind if I paid them separately… for their labor this time?’

Just as I was leaning towards the latter, someone else came to the mansion.

It was the afternoon before the banquet. As I stepped out of the carriage and made my way to the front, my eyes widened when I spotted a woman lurking at the entrance to the manor.

“If you’re here for any reason…”

“Lady Vanessa?”

I said, and she turned to face me and smiled.

Dressed in a classy dress and with her hair elegantly up, she didn’t seem like an ordinary person at first glance. I nodded nervously.

“Since this is not something to be said outside, may I come in?”

She asked in a cordial tone, and I hesitantly let her into the mansion.

She sat down on the couch in the parlor, snorting and looking around. I snapped out of it and opened my mouth.

“Can I at least get a…”

….Ah. No such thing.

“I’d offer…, but…”

“It’s okay, I heard about your situation. I also heard that no one else is using it.”

“Oh, yeah…?”

I asked, puzzled, and then realized that I had just spoken to the man who had brought Julian’s invitation. Did he also have…?

“Did His Highness the Crown Prince send you this?”

“Yes. My name is Seitra, and I am the head maid at the crown prince’s palace.”

She bowed cordially. I bowed in return.

“Julian… you have prepared very well…”

Suddenly, I understood why he’d been so prying a few days ago.

Perhaps Julian wanted to find out something, so he could send them away if I didn’t have the maids I needed to prepare for the banquet.

He’s determined to keep me from going to Snowflake Manor. Isn’t he trying to keep me here, too?

He said he was sorry for trying to take advantage of me last time, but not this time.

Besides, a lady-in-waiting, isn’t that a higher rank than a maid or handmaid?

I fidgeted and looked from myself to Seitra. She looked at me with hawk-like eyes and said,

“The crown prince has told me that Lady Vanessa is a very gracious and beautiful woman.”

‘Did Julian call me…?’

“I don’t think so…”

Apparently, a lady-in-waiting is supposed to filter her boss’s words. Hmm, now that I think about it, it’s more like Kianton.

“Well, now that I’ve seen you in person, I think you’re right. You’re very upright and have a great attitude.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

“By the way, the banquet is tomorrow, and you haven’t prepared anything yet?”

“What?”

The banquet is tomorrow evening. So I should start preparing tomorrow afternoon. It was the same for the last New Year’s ball.

I shook my head and looked at Seitra. She sighed deeply at my cluelessness.

“The Lady is not in need.”

“Yeah, yeah, is that what you mean?”

“Yes. Besides, I’ve heard that tomorrow’s banquet will be your first appearance as Viscountess Asell. His Highness the Crown Prince is very much looking forward to it, which is why he sent me!”

Seitra’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“I, Seitra, the Handmaiden of the Crown Prince’s Palace, will never disappoint His Highness!”

“No, I…”

“I’ll put my honor on the line and make you the star of the banquet!”

“Why would you need to put your honor on the line for that…”

Besides, it’s a birthday banquet, and the guest of honor is Julian…

I timidly retorted, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears of Seitra, who was on a mission.

“But where’s your dress? You’re supposed to be attending the banquet in a dress given to you by the prince?”

“That dress is somewhere else right now… Oh, I didn’t know you were coming today, would you like to wait here for a while? I can bring it in about twenty minutes by carriage.”

“Then I’ll call a few more children while the lady brings the dress, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it alone.”

Calling a few more people, surely they’re not all as mission-minded as Seitra?

I shared the task with her, a little worried, and boarded the carriage to return to Snowflake Manor.

A short time later, I arrived at Snowflake Manor and was greeted by a bewildered Shane.

“Vanessa, didn’t you just go back to the manor? Did you forget something?”

“Shane…”

I confessed to Shane sheepishly as I gathered up the things Julian had given me.

Shane burst out laughing when I told him that the crown prince’s handmaiden was waiting outside the mansion.

“The crown prince must have really gotten his act together. I wonder if he’s organized some kind of special event in the ballroom.”

“He’s not going to do anything weird, is he? It’s his birthday party after all…”

“Well, it sounds like fun. Vanessa, can I come?”

Shane’s eyes twinkled, and I glanced at him and nodded weakly.

By the time I arrived at the manor, Shane was there with a dress and a box of jewelry at his side.

Fortunately, the people Seitra had summoned were not as responsible as she was.

The two maids who stood in front of Seitra, looking a little nervous, exchanged an “Oh?” when they spotted Shane following me in.

Seitra raised an eyebrow.

“And him?”

“Oh, he’s a friend of mine, his name is Shane.”

“I was wondering if there’s anything I can do for you. Anything is fine, just ask.”

I introduced Shane under Seitra’s watchful eye, and he nodded.

His nudge must have worked, because Seitra relaxed her expression and took the dress from me. The dress was a champagne color, just a shade lighter than my hair.

Seitra’s eyes lit up.

“As expected, His Highness the Crown Prince has great taste!”

I looked at her unstoppable praise of Julian, then back down at the dress. It was the first time I’d ever looked at it so closely.

‘It’s pretty…’

Compared to Madame Cornelia’s dress, I don’t know what’s prettier, but it was a beautiful dress with an elegant feel.

I wonder if Julian had picked it out carefully, and if so, I’m sorry I didn’t see it before. I wonder if Julian was secretly disappointed and insisted that I wear it this time.

“I’ll have to make some alterations to fit your figure, but that’s not a big deal.”

“How do you think Shane looks in it?”

“I like the blue-gray dress better, but hey, Vanessa, you look good in anything.”

Shane smirked and patted me on the head. Then I heard another faint “Oh!” from behind me.

Apparently, Shane had made a fan out of me as soon as he got here. Regardless, his compliment felt good to hear, and I smiled wryly.

“With all the jewelry, it shouldn’t be hard to come up with a concept, but Lady…”

“Well, you keep calling me Lady, so it’s a little… Just call me Vanessa.”

“No, no. His Highness specifically requested it, and I can’t just call you that. If you don’t like Lady, I’ll call you Viscountess, because that’s what she is.”

Seitra said firmly. Both were uncomfortable titles, but to say more than that to her seemed forced, so I closed my mouth.

After staring at her for a moment, I sighed softly and spoke.

“Then I will… toward the Viscountess.”

“Viscountess Asell, then. Oh, and you may speak as you please.”

“I’m comfortable with this.”

Fortunately, Seitra nodded without comment. I’m glad she’s satisfied with the title cleanup.

‘I suppose I’d better get used to being called Viscountess anyway.’

As I scratched my cheek in thought, I was suddenly struck by an ominous premonition. Seitra’s eyes were burning again.

“The dress you wore to the New Year’s ball belonged to that woman…, Madame Cornelia, didn’t it?”

“What? Yes.”

“No way, I can’t lose!”

Seitra shouted. I realized that my premonition had not been wrong.