I’m Just a Counselor

“Miss Vanessa?” 

A chirpy voice interrupted from the side. Jeremiah called out to her again.

 “Vanessa Assel?” 

He called her by her full name, but she didn’t respond.

 “She’s completely asleep.” 

Jeremiah frowned. The drink he’d given her was similar in strength to champagne. It wasn’t that strong, and it was served in a teacup, not a shot glass. Seven shots in a teacup is about three shots in a shot glass, right?

 “Without fear…” 

He was the one who kept pouring her drinks.

 

Jeremiah clicked his tongue again, this time in a small way, and then pulled himself up to lay Vanessa down properly. No, he tried to get up. Until he saw her face, sleeping soundly with her cheek buried in his shoulder.

 

A sweetly scented breath escaped through her slightly parted lips.

 “…….” 

It was a sight that made him laugh out loud.

 “So fearless.” 

He knew he’d told Vanessa not to be scared, but it’s been a long time since he’s seen someone actually not scared in front of him.

 

Jeremiah looked her in the eye, her pale light-blue eyes looking straight into his.

 “Winter sky.” 

Had he said that about those eyes the last time?

 

He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now that he looked at them again, he realized he was right.

 

The winter sky in Loasen is the most beautifully colored sky he’s ever seen anywhere.

 “That doesn’t mean her eyes are like that, just that they’re similar.” 

Jeremiah didn’t wake Vanessa in the end, and he just leaned back on the couch.

 

Next to him, Vanessa stirred and hugged his arm.

 

‘She’ll do it in her sleep, and I won’t be able to shake her off.’

Jeremiah finally gave up and gave Vanessa one shoulder.

 “It’s partly because I kept giving her alcohol.” 

Rationalizing his behavior, Jeremiah pressed his other hand firmly to his forehead.

 

He hasn’t slept in days.

‘Five days this week?’

 

He listened to the ragged breathing next to him, and his head felt like it was turning gray.

 

‘I’m not going anywhere until she wakes up anyway, so I might as well keep my eyes closed…’

 

With a low sigh, Jeremiah closed his eyes.

 

* * *

 *Chirp, chirp, chirp.* 

The sound of a bird tapping at my ear jolted me awake.

 

I flinched at the bright sunlight piercing my eyelids and forced my eyes open.

 

‘Wait, bright sunlight?’

 

Surely it was evening when I was drinking with Jeremiah.

 

I jerked my head up with a start.

 

The sun was shining in every corner of the office. The clock seemed to be pointing to morning.

 

‘Did I just sleep right in front of Jeremiah, all the way through the morning? Oh my God, I must be crazy!’

 

I scrambled to my feet and froze, hearing an even breathing next to me.

 

I slowly looked over to where Jeremiah was sleeping like an angel.

 “…….” 

His silver hair was disheveled over his forehead, his white eyelids fluttered down, and his long, rich silver lashes stretched out.

 

The nape of his clean-shaven neck stretched smoothly through the open collar of his shirt. Jeremiah’s body swayed lightly as he inhaled and exhaled, the brilliant morning sunlight streaming gently over him.

 

‘Wow…’

 

What does he look like? For a moment, I stared at him, mesmerized.

 

His eyelashes fluttered, and I flinched. I didn’t want to wake Jeremiah. This scene was too perfect.

 

‘Wait.’

 

I think I just woke up leaning against Jeremiah’s shoulder, so that warm cushion is… Jeremiah?

 

My pupils shook like an earthquake as I realized something. 

 

‘I didn’t drool on him, did I?’

 

I swallowed back the urge to scream and quickly checked Jeremiah’s shoulder. Thankfully, his shoulder was clean.

 “Phew.” 

I breathed a sigh of relief and began to ponder what I had done to Jeremiah.

 

‘First of all, he didn’t give me any shots… I don’t know, I’ve never drank to the point of intoxication since I came to this world. But maybe the possession gave me an injection I didn’t have.’

 

Gritting my teeth, I decided to just go with it.

 

I won’t know until Jeremiah wakes up and tells me anyway.

 

‘Let’s just let him sleep for now.’

 

I gingerly made my way to the door of the office so as not to wake Jeremiah.

 

Jeremiah seemed to be unusually alert… and, judging by the fact that he didn’t wake up until I opened the door to his office, he must have fallen into a deep sleep.

 

I glanced back at him as I stepped through the doorway.

 “Sweet dreams, Duke.” *Snapped* 

Closing the door as quietly as I could, I sighed again.

 

A few of the staff passing through the hall narrowed their eyes at the sight of me coming out of Jeremiah’s office in the morning.

 

I greeted them with an awkward smile and shuffled off to my room.

 

‘Estella said she’d be waiting for me.’

 

I ran up the stairs, worried that I had unwittingly broken my promise to her.

 

If I didn’t show up, she’d just sleep, right? I hope she didn’t think I was being weird.

 

Almost running to my room, I stopped when I spotted Estella pacing in the doorway.

 

She hadn’t even changed out of her pajamas and was shuffling her feet.

 “Estella?” 

At my call, she turned around immediately.

 

The morning sun, sliding over Jeremiah’s body, shone like a halo behind her.

 

As I was reveling in the beauty of these siblings, one after the other, as they assaulted my vision in the morning, Estella ran to me with a twinkle in her eye and hugged me.

 “Sister Vanessa!” 

I hugged her like a puppy running to its master.

 “I’m glad you slept well last night.” 

They say that eating good food increases your happiness. So I’m sure Estella was happy enough to sleep well last night, although I’m sorry I didn’t fulfill my promise.

 

Just as I was about to apologize, Estella, the one who hit the ball, said cheerfully, “

What happened? You were with my brother all night, weren’t you?” 

‘Am I mistaken to see a certain expectation in Estella’s eyes?’

 

I glanced away from her glowing eyes.

 

‘How am I supposed to tell her that Jeremiah gave me a drink as a reward and I got drunk and slept through it?’

 

Well, it’s true that I was with Jeremiah all night.

 

I pondered how to tell Estella the truth.

 

In the meantime, Estella, who had taken my silence as an affirmation, exclaimed excitedly.

 “Did you kiss my brother?” “……?” “Did he jump on you?!” “Huh?!” 

‘Gee, what is Estella talking about now!’

 

Freaking out, I shoved Estella into my room and quickly closed the door.

 

I was witnessed exiting Jeremiah’s office in the morning, and I didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding I would have with the castle’s employees if anything more happened.

 

Entering the room, I called out to calm an agitated Estella.

 “Why is the Duke jumping on me!” “I’ve read in romance novels that this is what happens when you accidentally get into trouble!” “Estella, you were underage!” “Eh, you think I don’t even know what underage means?” 

Clearly, drinking and getting into accidents isn’t something you see in romance novels…! 

 

Neither Estella nor I could misunderstand in this state of excitement.

 

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure.

 “I don’t know why Estella seems so excited…” 

Forget it. Never mind.

 “…I was drinking and talking to the Duke, and I fell asleep, and he was worried about me, so he stayed with me.” “You didn’t really do anything with my brother?” “Of course not. The Duke is a gentleman. What would he do with a drunk woman?” 

I was right. Jeremiah is the most gentlemanly man she’s ever met, even making excuses to get me to my room so I don’t feel uncomfortable, so what would he do against me? The question is, what did I do to him?

 

I ran a hand through my greasy hair. Estella heard me and muttered in disappointment.

 “He’s an idiot… He thinks he listens to me…” “What? Estella, did you say something?” “Nothing, but Vanessa, I feel sorry for you.” “…what?” 

‘What the hell are you talking about!’

 

Once again, I was flagged down by Jeremiah’s TMI that I didn’t want to know.