I’m Just a Counselor

A moment later, I saw his face flush in real time.

 

I bit my lip and quickly pointed to the glass beside him.

 “Duke, hurry up and have some water, no, there’s wine there, it’ll dilute the astringency.” 

Estella gleefully laughed at Jeremiah. Jeremiah took my advice and gulped down his wine.

 

At least he didn’t spit out the tteokbokki, which was a victory in itself. Good job for you brother…

 “Esti, is this good? Where the hell are you…… Hugo, get me some more wine.” “Duke, there’s no shame in not being able to eat spicy food.” “Ahhhh, Your face is bright red, ahahahahaha!” “Esti, stop laughing, how did Miss Vanessa do this…” 

Jeremiah’s dignity instantly crumbled in front of the giggling Estella.

 

He gulped down the wine, wiping his face with his hands, but the spiciness didn’t seem to fade.

 “…pfft.” 

I looked at him, having failed spectacularly at the tteokbokki tasting, and finally failed to hold back my laughter.

 

Jeremiah’s red face was just too cute to look at. The image of the cold northern duke, warm only in the presence of my brother, seemed to vanish in an instant.

 

‘This is a big deal…’

 

Now Jeremiah could threaten me with anything and it would be cute.

 “Duke, this isn’t because I want to… No, I’m sorry…” “Vanessa, it’s funnier that way… uhhhhh.” “…….” 

Estella was practically crying now.

 

Jeremiah, who had downed three glasses of wine in quick succession, kept his mouth shut with a stern face. It was a look that said he was happy for Estella.

 “Oh, he’s cute.” 

I muttered, looking at Jeremiah, and was startled to realize that his hazel eyes were looking straight at me.

 

I quickly averted my gaze.

‘Well, I didn’t see you peeking now…’

 “You asked for it.” 

I shoved the tteokbokki into my mouth and chewed hard. It was definitely not meant to get Jeremiah high.

 “Miss Vanessa. Come see me after you eat.” “…….” 

‘What, are you going to tell me I made something weird?’

 

A rebellious retort rose in my throat, but I could only nod meekly. Unfortunately, I was just another counselor who couldn’t refuse his request.

 

But I had Estella with me, my trusty backup.

 “What are you going to tell my sister? Do it in front of me!” 

Estella’s eyes were welling up with tears.

 

This time, the fact that she was in tears of laughter reassured me. She wiped it away and said,

“No, no. Brother, before you do that, apologize to sister.” “…I don’t know what you want me to apologize for, Esti. Can you tell me exactly?” “For being mad at her earlier, you scared Vanessa.” “…….” “If you’re not going to apologize to her, then I’m going to be mad at you too.” “Ha…” 

Jeremiah sighed heavily at Estella’s accusation and pressed his brows together.

 

He closed his eyes for a long moment, then opened them and stared at me. I didn’t want to have to apologize to him, but there was nothing else I could do to stop Estella, so I offered an awkward smile.

 “I’m sorry, Miss Vanessa. I seem to have offended you.” “It’s all right, Duke.” “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” “Yes, I know.” 

I didn’t think he was sincerely feeling sorry for me. He probably did mean to scare me. He was probably trying to intimidate me, just like he had the other day.

 

I answered right away so I wouldn’t have to keep saying things I didn’t mean, but for some reason, Jeremiah didn’t like my answer. I scratched my head.

 “What’s wrong?” 

I felt a little bad for laughing, so I deliberately answered more meekly…

 “…Again, Miss Vanessa. Meet me in my office.” “What do you mean, in your office?” “I think my brother really needs to talk to you, Miss Vanessa.” “So… haha.” 

Whatever she was thinking, Estella’s stern demeanor softened.

 

She narrowed her eyes at Jeremiah, but then she smiled and nodded.

 “Well, then, sis, I’ll go to my room first. You talk to my brother and then come right back to my room!” “Estella?” 

I looked at Estella pleadingly, but she only smirked.

 

‘Ha, I don’t want a private meeting with the Duke…’

 

* * *

 

With Estella’s agreement, my last hope of avoiding a private meeting with Jeremiah, I stumbled after him.

 

It’s not like there was anything I could do about it in the first place.

 

‘No, let’s stay positive.’

 

Let’s think of it as ending the day with a handsome face.

 

Because honestly, Jeremiah looks like he’s going to make me dream happy dreams on his own, yeah, just by looking at his face.

 

The problem is, I have to have some kind of conversation with him.

 “Have a seat, Ms. Vanessa.” 

Jeremiah said, nudging the couch in his office. I obediently did as he said. The couch was very plush.

 

A few moments later, Jeremiah returned with two handmade teacups, each filled with a small amount of liquor instead of tea.

 “Do you drink every time you work? Do you work drunk?” 

I blinked, looking back and forth between the teacups and his face. Jeremiah chuckled lightly at how my face looked.

 “I mean, relax.” “Oh… Mmm. Yeah.” “Are you going to say no this time?” “…….” 

Well, I used to drink a can of beer when I got stuck on a report, so it’s kind of like that. Jeremiah’s not the kind of guy who’d do a half-assed job when he was drunk.

 

I picked up my teacup and glanced at him again. Now that I think about it, where did I get this attitude from…

 

‘He’s like a professor.’

 

The way he monitors my work, calls me aside whenever he wants to, uses respectful words that don’t sound polite, and has a strangely overbearing demeanor.

 

It’s like a professor who asks you to drink and asks you if you’re going to refuse, but secretly pressures you to behave…

 

‘Now that you mention it, I remember the TAs being jealous of the handsome professor in the School of Natural Sciences.’

 

I wonder if that professor was like Jeremiah, although of course Jeremiah was much more handsome than him.

 

I sipped my tea slowly, wondering anew.

 

The liquor was quite high quality and didn’t have much of the bitter taste of alcohol. Instead, it tasted a little angry and sweet.

 “Delicious.” 

I muttered, my eyes narrowing, and Jeremiah crossed his legs as if I were making an obvious comment.

 

He downed his share in one gulp.

 “It’s a whiskey produced only in Loasen. It’s distributed exclusively by the Dukes of Oppenheim.” “Ahhh…” “I’m glad to hear it’s to Miss Vanessa’s taste.” 

I don’t know how strong it is, but if it tastes this good, I’m sure I can sip it while working.

 

I finished the rest of the drink in my teacup, and Jeremiah, who had been watching me, cut to the chase.

 “Although what Miss Vanessa cooked was not at all to my taste.” *cough* 

I barely restrained myself from spitting the liquor into my teacup.

 “It doesn’t matter, though, because Estella certainly seemed to like it.” 

He’s definitely a professor, right down to the way he picks people up and drops them. It’s a good thing Jeremiah doesn’t like teaching.

 

I set my teacup down gently on the table, listening to Jeremiah’s ever-changing assessment.

 

‘I’m glad he doesn’t seem to be upset, anyway.’

 

I don’t think he’ll hold me accountable for smiling at him. So what else was there to talk about?

 “I haven’t seen Estella laugh like that in front of me in a very long time.” “That’s true.” “Although she did cry, too.” “Well, that’s…” “Anyway, I’m sorry for being suspicious of you, Miss Vanessa.” 

If you’re going to praise, praise, and if you’re going to scold, scold. It’s a professor’s hobby to ride roller coasters in circles.

 “Miss Vanessa didn’t seem to think my apology was sincere.”