I’m Just a Counselor

“I didn’t have a clear idea of what a consultant was yet, so I specified family doctor.” 

Well, that’s fine.

 

What Estella needs most right now is someone close to her who can listen and empathize. She’s the best person for that.

 “Let’s not sweat the small stuff.” 

Vanessa read the rest of the contract. There was nothing wrong with the contract, except that it was too friendly to the employee.

 

Finally, she picked up a pen, signed the contract, and held it out to Jeremiah.

 

He eyed her warily, but when she finished signing, he smiled and held out his hand.

 “You are now a member of the Duke’s household, Miss Vanessa, and I wish you well in your future endeavors as a householder.” “Yes, yes. You too.” 

Vanessa took his hand in hers, sneaking a glance at Jeremiah, his demeanor different from yesterday. I felt like he’d crush my hand if I hesitated again.

 

The big hand was not as rough and hard as it looked. She could feel calluses here and there, indicating that he hadn’t had an easy life.

 

‘He doesn’t want to put his sister through what he went through.’

 

Vanessa rolled her eyes slightly, remembering Estella’s fine, smooth hands.

 

Jeremiah, who shook their clasped hands a few times before releasing them, spoke.

 “There’s only one part of the contract I want to emphasize to you, Miss Vanessa.” “And what is that?” “That you will report to me once a week on Estella’s condition.” “You mean you want to be in control of the situation.” 

That’s probably the most important thing for Jeremiah.

 

As her employer and Estella’s brother, it was only right that she provide whatever information he needed, so she nodded meekly.

 “Just know that the cycle can change at my discretion.” “Yes.” “If I decide that Miss Vanessa is not being of much help to Estella, I may decide to remove her from…” 

Jeremiah trailed off, his eyes shining.

 

She swallowed hard. Judging by his behavior yesterday, he’d been through enough…

 “If he decides I’m useless… he’ll kick me out in the dead of winter? Threaten me never to speak of the Duke again?” 

‘You’re not going to kill me, my lord, are you?’

 

Vanessa stared nervously at Jeremiah’s mouth as he gasped and opened it.

 “What are you thinking with that stiff face?” “What? Oh, it’s…” “Is it because you think I’m going to do something to you, Miss Vanessa?” 

She laughed awkwardly, knowing he had hit the nail on the head. Jeremiah grinned at her and shook his shoulders.

 “I wouldn’t want Estella to hate me for something like that.” 

After all, Estella has her back. Estella, I’ll be so good! She kept repeating to herself.

 

But she wasn’t reassured yet.

 

Jeremiah leaned back lazily and muttered.

 “Of course, there are many ways we can keep Estella from finding out…” “…….” 

She guessed that she could never let her guard down with this guy.

“As Miss Vanessa knows, the reason I’m hiring you is because I don’t think you can do any harm, at least to Estella.” “…….” “If what I have in mind happens…” 

Vanessa turned away from Jeremiah’s glaring eyes, not wanting to hear the back story.

 “Yes, if I do something wrong with Estella, I could disappear from here like a mouse or a bird.” 

Last night she had promised herself not to be too afraid of Jeremiah, but maybe that was harder than she thought.

 

She sighed heavily at the thought, then remembered her hastily prepared words, looked at Jeremiah, took a deep breath, and spoke.

 “Duke, now that I’m officially Estella’s doctor… I hope you don’t mind if I say something?” “Of course.” “I know the last time I told the Duke there was nothing wrong with you…” 

If she was taking the job as the Duke’s maid, she wouldn’t have said anything, but she was taking the job as Estella’s advisor.

 

‘So I can’t let Jeremiah take over completely.’

 

If she did, she might never be able to speak properly in front of him again.

 

She said, thinking about it.

 “I think the Duke would like to change the way he speaks as well.” 

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow at her remark.

 

He didn’t seem to like her much since yesterday, and even if he had accepted her into his realm because of her sister, that would still be the case, though she was sure he wouldn’t take too kindly to a woman like that pointing things out to him.

 

As she expected, Jeremiah looked like he had a lot to say, but eventually he moved on.

 “…What’s wrong with how I speak?” “Estella thinks the Duke is trying to control her too much.” 

That was her conclusion after talking to Estella last night.

 

She remembered what Jeremiah had said to Estella in the secret garden.

 “You don’t know how to read people yet.” 

And even during Estella’s kidnapping, the event that led to Jeremiah’s knighthood, he seemed to have said something to her sister with the nuance that it happened because she didn’t listen to him, because she let her guard down.

 

It’s one thing for Estella to feel sorry for Jeremiah, but it’s quite another.

 

Apparently, Jeremiah had often said things that sounded like he was blaming Estella or disrespecting her. It was enough to make Estella feel uncomfortable and to subconsciously turn her brother off.

 

Vanessa doesn’t know what the original Estella was thinking, but it was clear that she was avoiding Jeremiah even more now because of his attitude.

 

‘I know Jeremiah cares more about her, but she’s not Estella, is she?’

 

Estella is already confused, with little trust in her surroundings.

 

Right now she’s relying on information from the source material.

 

Even the reason she doesn’t dislike Jeremiah so much is because he’s a character with a very strong sense of dysfunction in the original.

 

So right now she’s letting him get away with his over-the-top behavior, but if he goes any further, she might actually hate Jeremiah, and that’s something she wanted to prevent.

 “Estella is in a very sensitive state right now, and she’s able to hang on the Duke’s every word.” “…….” “So if the Duke sounds like he’s blaming her, or like he’s saying, ‘I’m telling you what to do, so you have to listen to me!’ It’s going to be very difficult for her.” 

Jeremiah probably didn’t even realize how he sounded, not many people think about that, and his position is a position, so maybe he just gave that nuance out of habit.

 

‘I’m just giving you a heads up for now.’

 

He was probably the first person she’d ever heard say something like,

“Watch your mouth!”

 

Jeremiah glared at her. She blinked, trying to control her reflexive cringing.

 “…….” 

Jeremiah stared at her for a moment, first declaring defeat in their eye-contest, then sighing and slowly nodding.

 “Did I sound that arrogant?” “No, not that… No, um… yes… A little… something like that, I guess.” “I’ll try to be more careful… in the future.” 

He squinted at her for a moment, then slowly replied,

“I’m sorry.” 

‘They’re only letting you off the hook because of Estella, I’m sure.’

 

‘Siscom!’

She let out a sigh of relief.

 “That’s funny.” “What?” “No.” 

Jeremiah, holding the contract in his hand, grabbed the armrest as if to get up.

 

Realizing he was about to end the conversation, Vanessa spoke quickly.

 “I have to stay at the castle for the next few days, so I’d like to go to my house and get my things.” “I’ll arrange for a carriage and driver, and you can bring whatever you need.” “Yes, thank you.” 

Goodbye to the Secret Garden of her sweat and tears, though she never imagined she’d be moving like this.

 

As she turns to Jeremiah to thank him for the favor, Vanessa stops when she notices something.

 

A light shade of color fell across his face.

 

‘Come to think of it, I noticed that last time… I thought it was just fatigue, but was it?’