I’m Just a Counselor

Was he trying to get back at me for rejecting his proposal… or was he offended that I grabbed his face?

 

I looked at him uncertainly, then at the dark hallway, my shoulders slumping slightly.

 

Jeremiah shook his head slowly.

 “Why do you think I’m following you? I’m on my way to the kitchen too.” “…….” 

At first, I tried to shrug it off as my own self-consciousness, but as Jeremiah followed me to the kitchen and back, I could no longer think about it.

 

Jeremiah seemed to really notice that I was lost.

“It’s just good manners,”

he said, nudging me in the right direction when I stopped.

 

I thought to myself,

‘This is all just good manners, right?’

 

And that wasn’t the only thing.

 

It was nighttime and the lights were off, so I was able to walk safely through the corridors of the old castle thanks to him. I would have been terrified if I had been alone.

 

I rolled my eyes at his continued goodwill.

 

This was clearly not my fault. It’s not Jeremiah’s fault for suddenly proposing to me at this time of night…

 “Uh, I should probably get back inside.” “Sure.” “…Thanks for taking me.” “I was on my way.” 

I think Jeremiah’s room was a long way from here.

 

I gave a small smile at his stubborn insistence to the end.

 

After all, Estella and Jeremiah looked like each other, so maybe things could work out again.

 “Miss Vanessa.” 

Jeremiah called out to me in a whisper. I looked up at him.

 

Jeremiah looked down into my eyes as he had earlier.

 “I was born and raised in Loasen, and I swore to defend it for the rest of my life.” “…….” “So I have no choice but to love this place, my land.” 

I shook my head, not quite sure what he was talking about.

 

Jeremiah took a step back and continued.

 “Miss Vanessa’s eyes resemble the winter sky of my beloved land, very beautiful.”

He said, as if drawing an afterthought.

“So I thought it couldn’t be bad, and I don’t know what you were thinking, but that’s all I know.” 

With that, Jeremiah wished me a good night and walked away.

 

I pursed my lips, then stepped through the door.

 “…….” 

Barely closing the door behind me, I leaned against it and buried my face in my hands.

 

‘If confession is a mental shake-up, maybe I succeeded…’

 

My heart continued to pound frantically in my chest. I shook my shoulders to cool my flushed cheeks.

 

‘It’s not all about you, you duke…’

 

* * *

 “Sis, did you sleep well?” “Mmm…” 

I struggled to open my eyes in response to Estella’s cheerful morning greeting.

 

‘Ah, this is the Duke of Oppenheim’s castle.’

 

I yawned softly in a non-dreamy voice, realizing that this is where I would wake up every day from now on.

 

Estella giggled.

 “You’re a morning person, aren’t you?” “My bed is so comfy, I stopped being one…” “Vanessa, you’re so cute~!” 

Estella exclaimed impatiently, jumping into my arms.

 

I lay back down on the bed, overcome by her weight, and hugged her tightly as she squirmed in my arms.

 

As I watched Estella’s silver hair glisten in the morning sun, I thought of Jeremiah from last night.

 

‘Miss Vanessa’s eyes resemble the winter sky of the land I love,’

 

Let’s not overthink it, the man is a man of chivalry and manners.

 “Sister, Sister, I want to do something with you today!” “Something you want to do?” “Yes!” 

Estella nodded and smiled broadly.

 “I can’t stay up late and sleep in when my Estella has something she wants to do!” 

I quickly cleaned up and followed Estella out the door.

 

We headed to the kitchen, the same place we had been yesterday.

 

Unlike last night, the kitchen was bustling with activity this morning.

 

When the chef saw Estella coming, he rushed over and greeted her.

 “Good morning, young lady, have you come to order breakfast?” 

It was actually morning, and the sun was already high in the sky. I smiled awkwardly, feeling a little groggy.

 

Estella put her arm around me and whispered to the chef, as if relaying a secret order.

 “Enough with breakfast, you know that thing I made you do a while back?” “Oh, yes, I’ve saved it, my dear!” 

The chef replied coolly and led us to a corner. What I saw there was…

 “Chili powder?” “Ahem!” 

It was gochugaru, the soul seasoning of Koreans. I picked up some red gochugaru and popped it into my mouth.

 “Spicy…” 

I thought I had forgotten this flavor. I shuddered at the spiciness that spread in my mouth.

 

When the chef saw me tasting the chili powder, he stuck out his tongue.

 “Me and my children can’t even eat a little bit of it, but you ladies can handle it!” “It’s our specialty, gochugaru.” “What do you mean… But can you really put this in your food?” “That’s right!” 

Estella replied confidently. I nodded in agreement.

 

The tingling sensation was very pleasurable, even though I didn’t think I’d ever be able to eat it again.

 “So it’s possible here.” 

There were peppers in this world, too. They weren’t used for food, mostly thrown away or used for self-defense due to their pungent nature, but Estella had brought them in and spent all fall drying and grinding them into chili powder.

 “I didn’t think of them as food, but they come in all kinds! Here’s some garlic and onions…” 

Estella said, showing me the other ingredients she had collected besides the chili powder. I was a little impressed with her drive.

 

‘I had no idea,’

I thought.

 

She probably never would have dreamed of it in the islands.

 “The thing I wanted to eat the most when I came to this world was tteokbokki, and I couldn’t get it.” 

After sending the chef away, Estella whispered something to me that only I could hear, and I couldn’t help but smile.

 “I used to eat tteokbokki really well.” “Really?” “I ate it at least once every three days, even while writing my thesis.” “Good! You liked it too!” 

The staple food of this world is wheat, which means bread and meat. It’s so different from what she’s used to, it’s no wonder Estella can’t get used to it.

 

Besides, the spices are not spicy at all. I wonder if they use pepper as often down south.

 “But I don’t think I’ve ever complained about food that much.” 

Even if I liked Tteokbokki that much… Was it just because I was jaded?

 

Estella muttered sullenly while I remained silent and reflected on the past.

 “But no matter how I make the chili powder, I’ll never be able to make gochujang… I’m not a good cook.” “I don’t think I can make gochujang either…” “That’s a shame… but it’s good to have someone to share it with, because people here can’t eat anything spicy.” 

Estella said cheerfully,

“I’ve got rice, too.” 

It was cute, like a squirrel bragging about burying acorns. I stifled a laugh and stroked Estella’s hair.

 

Estella giggled at my touch and hugged me.

 “Now that Vanessa’s here, I think I’ll have some rice and kimchi.” “Sure.” “Actually, I don’t even know how to make kimchi… Well, maybe the two of us can figure something out?” “Don’t worry, Estella. I know how to make kimchi.” “Oh, really?” 

In a previous life, I lived on my own and learned a bunch of recipes. I don’t remember them all, but…

 

Well, I remember everything in my major, so why not that? Estella’s kimchi doesn’t sound like a big deal.

 

I flipped the switch and pumped my fist in the air.

 “I’ll give the tteokbokki a try, too. Whether it’s gochujang or chili powder, it’s all about the spice!” “Wow, you’re the best, then I’ll make the tteokbokki first!” 

Rice cakes are easy to make with just rice flour, and you don’t need any other ingredients.

 

I rolled up my sleeves with Estella’s encouragement.

 

Soon, the assembled kitchen crew was watching to see how much I could do.