I’m Just a Counselor Chapter 99

I’ve apologized in person, and I’ve been feeling a little less close to Julian since we met at the cafe. You know, I’ve been feeling a little less close to him. 

 

He even offered to make me his vassal…

 

As for what happened after the kidnapping, I just think that Julian is more caring and compassionate than he seems… as a victim of events in his own country, and as a crown prince…

 

“The way your highness looks at Miss Vanessa is exactly the way I look at the Princess.”

 

I blinked at Kianton’s stinging words.

 

I’d realized with Jeremiah that I was a terrible liar in these matters.

 

“…Does Julian really have a crush on me?”

 

Shane interrupted, just as I was about to get serious about my doubts.

 

“No.”

 

Laughing softly, Shane looked at Kianton and denied firmly.

 

“He didn’t.”

 

“No, he didn’t.”

 

Kianton changed the subject immediately. I shook my head and looked at Shane.

 

I don’t know what Kianton was looking at, but when our eyes met, Shane was smiling as pretty as ever.

 

He opened his mouth as if I were a child.

 

“He’s just doing what he’s supposed to do as a crown prince to his people, but this guy is blowing it way out of proportion.”

 

“…….”

 

“You did the same thing to the guests at the Secret Garden, I believe?”

 

Shane’s tone was strangely forceful, and I shook my head in disbelief. When he saw my nod, the corners of his mouth twitched upward.

 

Beside me, I heard Kianton suck in a small breath.

 

“Don’t overthink it, Vanessa. It’s not what I’m hearing at all.”

 

“Isn’t it?”

 

If it’s Shane versus Kianton, Shane wins. I decided to take Shane’s word for it, erasing the doubts I had heard earlier.

 

This time, I almost lost it.

 

Because of Kianton!

 

I glance at Kianton, who lets out a small groan and avoids my gaze.

 

The carriage was quiet again, and Shane seemed content enough with that.

 

We traveled a short distance before the dark carriage was flooded with the brilliant glow of lights from outside. Soon they were almost in front of the hall where the birthday banquet was to be held.

 

“I will return to His Highness the Crown Prince now, as I have someone to escort you…”

 

“As you wish, Lord Kianton. I may see you again later.”

 

“I believe His Highness will have Miss Vanessa as his partner…”

 

Kianton trailed off, glancing at Shane again. Still, he said he’d see her later and slipped out of the carriage first.

 

He held the carriage door open and glanced around to see the carriages already lined up in front of the hall, each bearing the coat of arms of a family.

 

‘Has Jeremiah arrived? Has Estella also…’

 

But it was hard to find the Oppenheim coat of arms among the carriages. I lowered my arms, determined to find them again in the hall.

 

Shane leapt from the carriage and held out his hand to me with perfect poise.

 

“Shall we go, then?”

 

“….Yes.”

 

I made a show of purring and took his hand. It was comforting to not hear the chatter around us, but somehow… I felt empty.

 

At the New Year’s Ball, Jeremiah and Estella held me from either side.

 

“I don’t think I’m as nervous as I was the first time, maybe because it’s my second time, maybe because my status is different, but…I’m a little snobbish, don’t you think?”

 

“Don’t be snobbish. Isn’t it just because I’m around?”

 

I let out a small laugh at Shane’s smirk and handed the invitation to the knight at the front of the hall. The knight acknowledged the invitation and opened the door.

 

The atmosphere in the ballroom was a little different from the New Year’s Ball. Whereas the New Year’s Ball was more weighty and traditional, this banquet was more lighthearted and playful.

 

‘Well, Julian is nineteen now…’

 

Perhaps it was because the banquet hall was decorated according to Julian’s age. The music and food also seemed to have changed.

 

“Ah, I see you’ve been invited too!”

 

As I stood near the entrance, looking at the banquet hall in the distance, someone said to me.

 

I turned my head at the unfamiliar voice and saw a man with a vaguely familiar face, looking pleased to see me. I didn’t have to look hard to recognize him as Young-Sik, who had asked me to dance at the previous New Year’s ball.

 

“You were His Excellency the Duke of Oppenheim’s partner then,” he said, “and there have been many speculations as to the Lady’s identity. If you don’t mind, may I be the first of them to ask for an answer?”

 

Apparently there had been a lot of gossip after the dance with Jeremiah. I’m paraphrasing, but it’s like, “Tell me who you are.”

 

‘I kind of knew this was coming.’

 

But I’m the one who danced with Jeremiah, so I can’t help it if they ask. I swallowed hard and opened my mouth.

 

“I’m Vanessa Asell, Viscountess Asell.”

 

A glimmer of disappointment flashed across Young-sik’s eyes. But he quickly wiped it away and smiled wryly.

 

“Ah, the young lady of the Viscount…”

 

I guess he thinks I’m too young for him. I thought about letting it go, but I quickly corrected him. One of my reasons for attending this banquet is to announce that I am Viscountess Asell.

 

“I’m not the young lady, I’m Viscount Asell’s head of household. You seem to have misunderstood.”

 

“Oh, so you’re… Viscount Asell? Excuse me, I don’t think you’re the head of the family…”

 

“It’s okay, I know that.”

 

Seitra kept calling me Viscountess Asell, and thankfully, I was more familiar with the title than I was at first.

 

Young-sik’s mouth closed unnaturally, as if he thought I had some sort of special reason for being a lord. I smirked at him.

 

“Hmph, Viscount Asell, I see you’re not the Duke’s partner tonight, so perhaps you’ll accept my dance request this time?”

 

Last time I refused his dance request, it was because I was a commoner. But not now, so should I accept this time?

 

I stared at his hand extended to me and considered.

 

But before I could answer, a hand reached out from the side and grabbed Young-sik’s hand.

 

“I’m sorry, sir. He already has a partner.”

 

Shane smirked. Young-sik blushed again.

 

He patted Shane’s hand away and turned to me.

 

“Did you have a partner? I don’t see him…”

 

“I think he’s behind you.”

 

Young-sik turned around in surprise at the voice from behind him, and my eyes widened as I saw the other’s face before he did. His languid golden eyes scanned my dress, and they curved coolly.

 

Young-sik called out in a panicked voice.

 

“I didn’t know His Highness the Crown Prince was… Viscountess Asell’s partner, I apologize!”

 

A crown prince as a partner after a duke? A mere viscount, I think he said with his eyes, now.

 

I decided to pretend I didn’t see the stare. I was surprised, too. Since when was I Julian’s partner?

 

“If you’ll excuse me, we must be going.”

 

“Yes… Yes, Your Highness. I hope you have a good time with Viscount Asell.”

 

Julian, who had dismissed Gale the last time, and this time he’d dismissed Young-sik as well, glanced pointedly at Shane, who stood behind me.

 

“Kianton’s back early for some reason, is that you again?”

 

“You’re not the partner I was talking about.”

 

“He wasn’t, but it happened. Glad to see you did your duty.”

 

Shane raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn’t seen this coming. I sighed, trying to decide which of them I should stop first, Julian or Shane.

 

Julian, who had been jockeying with Shane, turned to me.

 

“Your clothes look great on you.”

 

“Thank you for sending me…  You’ve almost reinvented me.”

 

“What? It’s because I picked the right dress. Don’t you wish you’d worn it earlier?”

 

“Are you still saying that?”

 

I nudged Julian. Julian smirked and shrugged.

 

“Eh. It’s my birthday.”

 

I grumbled to myself and turned to Julian.

 

“Happy birthday, Your Highness.”

 

“No presents?”

 

“Oh.”

 

I suddenly remembered that birthdays are supposed to have birthday gifts. And I was empty-handed.

 

“My time sacrificed for you, Your Highness…?”

 

“What? That’s a bad pun.”

 

“…I didn’t think of it, I’m sorry.”

 

I glared at him again, feeling condescending that he would still ask me for a gift, but Julian had already received so many good birthday presents.

 

Julian snorted.

 

“Never mind. I didn’t think you’d bring one.”

 

“That sounds very odd, and while it’s true that I’m not in a position to give His Royal Highness a fancy gift right now…”

 

“If not another gift, then perhaps a partner for this banquet.”

 

Julian held out his hand in front of my grumbling face.

 

“You wouldn’t dare refuse the crown prince’s request to dance, would you?”

 

“Are you daring me?”

 

Shane, who had been silent, snorted after Julian.

 

He restrained me with one hand and was just about to grab Julian’s hand when someone from behind beat him to it and yanked my arm.

 

I stumbled back a couple of steps, and my shoulder slammed into someone’s hard body.

 

In my panic, a familiar voice called out.

 

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I believe I’m the one who has a pact with her.”