I’m Just a Counselor

Everyone has a story they don’t want to tell.

 

My job is to listen to those who suffer in silence. I also offer a little help to those who need my advice.

 

What I do, in short, is counseling.

 

* * *

 “Thank you very much for today!” 

Another client bowed and left.

 

Vanessa saw him off, came back in, and closed the door.

 

She was a graduate student in counseling psychology when she had an accident and when she woke up she was in a strange world.

 

She possessed the body of Vanessa Asell, a fallen viscountess.

 

Vanessa used her previous life to open a counseling center in a rural northern town.

 

Now that she thinks about it, she doesn’t even have time to panic. she didn’t know if she was going to starve… Vanessa just had to do what she could.

 

Some people are ashamed to talk about their secrets. Even in the modern world, and in a place with a medieval worldview.

 

When she first opened her counseling center, most people thought she was crazy.

 

They also mocked her, saying

“who would come to such a place?”

Vanessa was told to stop before it got worse.

 

But she didn’t give up. It was the only thing she was good at in this strange world.

 

Because when she heard that, it means her target market is a crazy blue ocean!

 

So here she is, three years after she possessed Vanessa Assel. The counseling center is well established. Thanks to her hard work and a little help from those around her.

 

Of course, there were still some problems, but she was able to take care of the immediate needs.

 

‘You’ve done a great job, me.’

 

Vanessa choked back tears as she remembered the days when she had been running headlong into the ground, and she slumped in her chair as the counseling session ended.

 “Oh, I’m hungry.” 

As she mumbled this, her hunger became more acute. She realized she had been starving all day.

 

By now the sun had set and darkness was falling outside the window. Night comes earlier in this part of the world because it’s under the mountains.

 “I’ll do it while I’m eating,”

she thought,

“I’m trying to survive.” 

Vanessa winced in pain as she tried to stand up again. She patted her stiff shoulder and turned to the kitchen.

 

Just then she heard a knock at the door.

 “Huh?” 

She looked back at the door she’d just closed with a confused expression. Then the knocking started again.

 *Knock! Knock!* “Oh, come to think of it, I forgot to change the sign outside the door from [OPEN] to [CLOSED].” 

Still, I’m not expecting any visitors at this hour.

 

Vanessa looked out the darkened window.

 “Who is it?” 

There were the occasional curious visitors, pranksters who knocked on the door and talked nonsense. She almost got robbed the other day when she opened the door thinking it was a guest.

 

Self-defense is a must for times like this.

 

Vanessa rummaged through her desk drawer, grabbed a self-defense tool, and crawled to the door.

 

It was a medieval version of a stun gun, and it had the power to stun a mugger with a single blow.

 “I’m going to stun him with one blow.” 

She said to the person on the other side of the door, her hand tightening on the weapon.

 “Who are you?” “…….” 

After a moment of silence, a thin reply came from the other side of the door.

 “…This is the “Secret Garden,” right?” “Huh?” 

The woman’s voice was much thinner than she had expected. She could almost feel the weakness in her voice.

 “Are you really a customer?” 

Most of the clients who came to her sounded like that. They’re either holding on to secrets or struggling with something no one wants to do: counseling.

 

So just the thought of confiding in someone makes them feel vulnerable.

 

Anyway, the voice at the door sounded similar to the people who usually come to her.

 

Vanessa hesitated for a moment, looking at the self-defense weapon in her hand.

 

‘Hmm… I’ll hold off on it for now.’

 “Yes, this is the Secret Garden. Just a moment.” 

She roughly tidied up her messy hair and pushed open the door. Standing in the doorway was someone with a hood pulled down tight.

 

She’s a little shorter than her, with a slight build. She could see her long hair swaying under the hood.

 “Is your hair… silver?” 

The beautiful silver hair glittered in the darkness.

 

After a moment of admiring the rarely seen color, Vanessa spoke in a reassuring tone for the other person, who must be nervous.

 “You’re welcome to come in.” “…Thank you.” 

The silver-haired woman entered the house with a stately walk and carefully sat down in a chair.

 

She could tell she was a noble by the way she walked, and she put her weapon back on the desk.

 

Then the woman removed her hood, and Vanessa couldn’t help but admire her. Her fine silver hair spilled out like twinkling stars.

 “Are you a fairy…?” “What?” “No, no!” 

She couldn’t help but blurt out, the woman’s appearance was stunning.

 

Her shimmering, fine silver hair and delicately drawn features on her pale white face made her feel protected.

 

Her bud-like, pale green eyes stared back at her. Silver lashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly.

 “I’m Estella.” 

She clasped her hands awkwardly and lowered her eyes.

 

Vanessa scrambled to her feet and replied hastily.

 “Hi, Estella. I’m Vanessa, and you can talk to me about anything, because nothing we say here will ever get out.”  * * * 

The Secret Garden. That’s what she called this counseling center.

 

A secret garden where they can say what they can’t say to anyone else and walk away with their secrets buried forever.

 

Vanessa has met many people in this secret garden and heard their secrets. From the most trivial to the most profound.

 

Among them, Estella shared this.

 “When I’m at home, I feel suffocated, and when I see my brother, I feel guilty and sorry…” 

She wondered if her secret had something to do with family history because she was so quick to share it.

 “This world has a lot of domestic problems.” 

It’s medieval, you know? Bastards, governments.

 “Well, I have a pretty complicated family history myself.” 

Anyway, Vanessa nodded to indicate that she would continue to listen. Because communication and empathy are the most important things in counseling! She wanted Estella to feel more relaxed and comfortable.

 “Okay. So why is Estella feeling the way she is? Have you ever thought about that?” 

As she asked her, she pulled a piece of paper and a pen from her drawer.

 

Vanessa wanted to write down Estella’s story so she would have a better idea of what to say to her.

 

But then Estella stopped speaking.

 

She grabbed her pen, looked up, and smiled awkwardly when she realized Estella was staring at her.

 “Why, why are you looking at me like that?” 

‘Is it because she’s curious… or has she lost the will to speak?’

 

She shook her head, trying to gauge her reaction.

 

Then Estella’s pretty lips parted slowly like a flower bud.

 “I know exactly why I feel the way I do.” “Really? Can you tell me?” “It’s because I’m not really ‘Estella.‘” “You’re…?” 

Vanessa’s eyes widened as she stared at Estella, not understanding her words for a moment.

 

Estella took a shallow breath and then clenched her fists, looking determined, as if she had decided something.

 

While her head was still slowly rolling, Estella didn’t wait for Vanessa to finish and dropped another bombshell.

 “I’m…” 

‘Yes, you are…’

 “I possessed the body of Estella!” 

‘Um, you’re possessed. Yeah, yeah, yeah… No, wait. No, wait. What?’

 “And this world is in a novel I read!” 

Estella’s cheerful confession rang in her dazed ears.