I’m Just a Counselor

I swallowed hard, feeling very embarrassed to be pondering this to myself.

 

‘He’s just embarrassed to be out here like that.’

 

I’d thought of him as someone with solid, high walls around his own space, and then all of a sudden he’s trying to let me in.

 

It’s like being unexpectedly accepted into his pack.

 

‘First he draws a line in the sand.’

 

After he opened up about his insomnia and nightmares, Jeremiah seemed to erase the line between us altogether.

 

‘Wow, there’s so little in between, it’s embarrassing.’

 

I swallowed a few more sighs before I managed to regain my composure.

 

Jeremiah was still waiting for me, the bedroom door slightly ajar.

 “Do you think it’s okay if I go in there?” 

I asked him nervously.

 

I asked just to be sure, in case he changed his demeanor later, but he frowned as if he was offended by that.

 “Then why else would I have brought Miss Vanessa all the way here?” “No, what… I thought she might barge in later and say something.” “Don’t nag me, come here, I’m tired.” 

Jeremiah’s voice took on an irritated tone. I sulked and followed him into the room.

 

Looking around, I realized that the bedroom didn’t look much different from the office. There was a large bed instead of a desk.

 

Once I was fully inside, I closed the door behind me and Jeremiah lit a fire in the fireplace. The air in the room, which had been somewhat chilly, was filled with warmth.

 “Pull a chair over there and sit here, not on the couch.” 

I paused for a moment, then obeyed.

 

I had assumed the couch was my place, but apparently Jeremiah had other ideas.

 

He pointed to the side of the bed. Uh, the chair by the bed is for…

 “Is it a caregiver concept?” 

That’s a little more familiar to me.

 “I have a big hunt tomorrow.” 

Jeremiah said casually, before lying down on the bed.

 

I pressed the back of my hand to my lips, feeling a little queasy.

 “That’s the way you used to say it when you started making excuses for me to go to bed…” 

Jeremiah was going to give me his own excuses again today.

 “Slaying a demon is not something even I can do lightly.” “Yeah.” “Is there a lot of damage if you don’t do it right…?” “No, a lot.” 

This time, he didn’t manage his expression as perfectly as before. Jeremiah stopped talking and glared at me.

 

I couldn’t help but laugh under his piercing stare, as if asking him why his laughter would make it even funnier…

 

I quickly turned my head so Jeremiah couldn’t see me.

 

‘Calm down, Vanessa Assel, you can’t keep thinking Jeremiah is cute!’

 “Hey, just lie down.” “…….” 

Jeremiah climbed onto the bed, still glaring at me.

 

The mattress squeaked with every movement he made. The sheets felt so soft against my fingertips.

 “Wow, this is amazing.” 

Of course, the bed in my room is very nice, and the bed in Estella’s room is also very luxurious, but it’s still not the same as the one in the duke’s room, is it? Of course, Jeremiah would give Estella something better, but…

 “Why are you jealous?” 

He whispers, leaning against the head of the bed, smirking at me when he notices my eyes on the bed.

 “Do you want to lie next to me?” “…….” 

Was this… an outright flirtation?

 

I blinked, and then snapped out of it when I saw the mischief in his eyes.

 “Why don’t you lie down with me when we’re not the same sex? 

Even if that weren’t true, in this day and age, it was unthinkable for an unmarried man and woman to lie in the same bed.

 

I shook my head, trying to get out of Jeremiah’s grasp.

 

Ha, if this man can pull a prank like this, he must have really gotten away with it.

 “I didn’t look at it because I wanted to…” “I know, but it’s weird because you’re in a chair and I’m in bed.” “Aren’t you going to lie down?” “I’m comfortable enough as it is. Just don’t get up from there, Miss Vanessa. Until I fall asleep.” 

Okay, so Jeremiah is lying down and I’m sitting up, but the picture is really weird. I sat up straight in the chair, vaguely convinced.

 

But I’m supposed to sit like this? If I’m going to do this, I should have brought a book. No, there are plenty of books in this room.

 

I turned to Jeremiah.

 “Do you mind if I fetch one of those, I’m sure I’ll get bored sitting here until the Duke goes to bed.” “Please do. I don’t know if there’s anything Miss Vanessa might like to read.” 

At Jeremiah’s permission, I headed coldly toward the bookshelves.

 

He was right, there didn’t seem to be much that would interest me.

 

Professional books on business, law, taxation, and the like. Tutorials on swordsmanship and military law. A dictionary that compiled information on horse numbers…

 

‘Ugh, I’m having a nightmare about specialty books.’

 

Jeremiah reads this stuff not only in his office but also in his bedroom? Well, it’s very desirable for a lord, but it’s a bit of a workaholic.

 

I grumbled and continued to scan the bookshelves.

 

Just as I was thinking about it, I spotted a thin book amongst the thick specialty books.

 “Fairy tales?” 

The title on the spine told me it was a collection of fairy tales.

 

It seemed to be the only book I could read, so I picked it up and returned to Jeremiah’s side. I nudged him and asked.

 “Duke, do you read fairy tales?” 

His chilly expression and the cozy fairy tales didn’t seem to go together.

 

In response to my curious question, Jeremiah looked at the complete set of fairy tales in my hand and replied.

 “When I was little, I used to read them to Estella when she came to me because she couldn’t sleep.” “…….” “By the time I finished reading her a story or two, she’d be fast asleep.” 

A soft smile appeared on Jeremiah’s expressionless face. He was probably reminiscing about those days.

 

A smile appeared on my face as I watched him, too.

 

A big brother reading a fairy tale to his little sister who couldn’t fall asleep. It was a heartwarming sight. Plus, both children must have been as pretty as fairies.

 

Of course, it wasn’t a pretty sight, considering the tragedy they’d suffered.

 

Jeremiah must have suddenly had to assume the role of duke as soon as his parents died, and he must have had this room from then on.

 

It suddenly made sense why he had all these books in his bedroom.

 

Jeremiah must have read them at night when his nightmares kept him awake. To become a more perfect duke and rule the north. To make sure no one would ever dismiss him as too young.

 “…….” 

My heart aches to think of Jeremiah spending those long nights trying. If I was right, he had never been at peace.

 “Duke, you’ve been working hard.” “Suddenly?” 

Jeremiah asked incredulously, but I didn’t hear him.

 

‘Yes, let him be comfortable in my presence!’

 

I snorted loudly, determined to be generous, and flipped through the entire collection of fairy tales. The stories were interspersed with illustrations, all of which were beautiful and fantastical.

 

I concentrated on reading.

 

I heard the crackle of embers in the fireplace. The darkness was growing thicker.

 “Miss Vanessa.” 

I jumped at the sudden call from beside me.

 

Jeremiah, who I had expected to be asleep by now, spoke in a voice that lacked any hint of sleepiness.

 “Are you and Lord Kianton originally acquainted?” “What?” 

‘…Why is Kianton mentioned here?’

 

I stared at Jeremiah in bewilderment.

 

Jeremiah’s eyes were downcast in thought, but whether it was the tone of his voice or the darkness around him, his mood seemed much more subdued than it had been just moments ago.

 “Because Lord Kianton’s original destination is Hazel, where Miss Vanessa used to live.” “That’s true, but that doesn’t make me and Lord Kianton acquainted.” “Miss Vanessa used to run a counseling center there.” “…But that doesn’t make it a meeting place, does it?” 

I frowned.

 

Come to think of it, he’d made sarcastic remarks about me running a counseling center before, like I was some kind of counselor. What kind of weird place do you think an agency is?

 

I snorted in annoyance at Jeremiah for selling someone else’s business. He’d had a similar consultation with me.

 “I was wondering if Lord Kianton would like you to…” “To what?” “No. I just wanted to make sure he didn’t say anything weird.” 

Jeremiah continued to ask about Kianton, and my pointed response left me speechless.