I’m Just a Counselor

Jeremiah frowned as the bowl of thickened broth arrived at the table.

 

I almost burst out laughing at the sight of him, but this time I desperately held it back.

 “I’ll eat it!” 

Estella exclaimed excitedly and dug into her potatoes.

 

I watched with pride and then brought her the chicken legs. They say that rubbing chicken legs is love, but not for Jeremiah, but for Estella.

 

While we were still enjoying our meal, the chef brought in a new dish. He nervously and carefully placed the plate on the table.

 “Wow, this is..!” “It’s a recipe I got from Miss Vanessa, and I added cream to make the flavor a little smoother.” “Rosé tteokbokki!” “Rosé…?” 

The chef looked at Estella in bewilderment at the new name, but Estella was too busy clutching her fork and being impressed.

 

I looked at her with amusement, then at the tteokbokki the chef had brought. It looks so much better in the hands of a professional.

 “Thank you, Chef, I’ll really enjoy it!” 

Estella said to the chef with a wide smile. In response to her big smile, the chef walked away with a big smile of 100% happiness.

 

With Estella smiling more often these days, the well-being of the castle seemed to have increased by 150%. The happiness on the faces of every user she encounters makes me happy, too. I love Estella’s laugh!

 “You should try it, too!” 

Estella quickly finished the tteokbokki that the chef made.

 

The meal passed quickly as I watched her lips smilingly.

 

‘Ha, thank goodness. I’ll make sure to feed her lots of delicious food.’

 

Just as I was about to rise from my chair after our happy meal, I heard a voice.

 “Miss Vanessa, wait.” 

Jeremiah called out to me. Estella shook her head, but soon smiled sweetly and left the table first.

 

I could no longer hope for Estella’s help when Jeremiah demanded a private meeting. Feeling saddened by it, I followed Jeremiah to his office.

 “Have a seat.” 

Jeremiah nodded at the familiar couch. I glanced over at him as I sat down on the couch in a somewhat uncomfortable position.

 

In a ducal castle with a happiness index of 200%, Jeremiah seemed to be the only one who wasn’t happy. No, I mean, he seems to be happy about Estella’s change, but…

 

‘Why does he look so sensitive?’

 

Jeremiah smiled like a gentle lamb in Estella’s presence, but once she was gone, he wiped the smile off his face and took on a much sharper air than before.

 

‘Is it because it’s almost winter?’

 

Jeremiah had been out hunting demons outside the castle more often lately. Maybe that’s why.

 “Miss Vanessa.” 

He called out to me, sitting down in front of me. I flinched unnecessarily and opened my mouth to take in the drink he held out.

 

It was the same drink I’d had last time. There was also a teacup.

 

‘Why is he bringing that out again?’

 

I don’t think I did Jeremiah any favors this time.

 

I swallowed hard, feeling uneasy for no reason. Jeremiah poured himself a drink from his teacup.

 

As I savored the sweet aroma, he spoke up, his face serious.

 “As you know, Miss Vanessa, from your time up north, we take preparing for winter very seriously.” “Yeah.” 

That was why Jeremiah was out hunting more often these days. To make sure that no demons or hungry wild animals would come down from the mountains to raid the manor. To make sure the people of the manor could survive the winter.

 

I knew how important that was, of course.

 

‘But what does that have to do with the current situation?’

 

I scratched my head, unable to grasp Jeremiah’s meaning.

 

Jeremiah continued with a solemn expression. As if he were performing a very important ceremony.

 “You realize that my role in this will be very important. As the lord of this land, I have a duty to protect the people of my land.” “Yes.” “So I need to be in good shape…” 

Jeremiah trailed off slightly and fiddled with the handle of his teacup. To my surprise, he seemed to be hesitating to speak.

 

I suppressed my curiosity and waited for him to finish the rest of his sentence.

 “The truth is, I don’t sleep well.” 

As if he was about to make a major announcement, the words came out of his mouth unexpectedly. I blinked and looked at him.

 “So?”  

Jeremiah frowned at my questioning look and continued.

 “I have insomnia, and the day I slept with Miss Vanessa…” “Well, that’s a strange choice of words, you mean the day I got drunk with the Duke and forgot about you?” “Yes. The day Miss Vanessa slept in my shoulder as a cushion.” “…….” 

I let out a hollow cough at Jeremiah’s mild sarcasm. He smirked at that and crossed his arms.

 “I slept strangely well that day, too, with Miss Vanessa’s head on my shoulder.” “Why do you keep reminding me of that…” 

I looked at Jeremiah again, drying my face with my hands. I’m surprised he had insomnia anyway.

 “Even then?” 

When I had asked Jeremiah before if he hadn’t been sleeping well, he had reacted sharply. 

 

He’d warned me to stay out of his business, as if he wouldn’t tolerate my interference.

 

But now, here he is, confiding in me first…

 “Is that how much you want to sleep?” 

Either that, or I’ve entered some kind of boundary where I’m allowed to touch this much.

 

I looked at him from a distance. Jeremiah seemed awkward to make this confession in front of me.

 

Well, it’s a secret, too. A weakness.

 

I can understand his awkwardness, because it’s not often that he confides in someone like this. After all, he was the one who had initially given the counseling a negative connotation.

 “I see.” 

I nodded.

 “So what you’re saying, Duke, is that you want to see if you can sleep in my presence like you did that day?” “Yes.” “So all that stuff you said before about winter being important was just fodder for this proposal?” 

I barely suppressed a laugh, suddenly finding him adorable.

 “I tried drinking again, just to see if anything else helped, but I couldn’t sleep, so I decided it was Miss Vanessa.” “…….” 

Cute, really…

 “But just in case, let’s do something similar to that day again.” 

Jeremiah said, still maintaining his seriousness.

 

I nodded, barely suppressing the laughter that kept trying to break out. Then Jeremiah walked over and sat down next to me.

 

At any other time, I would have been nervous, but the situation made me laugh.

 

I bit my lip hard and reached for my teacup. The liquor still tasted sweet and delicious.

 “Now lean your head against me.” “…I’m not drunk yet.” “Do you need to get drunk?” “I think you should be.” 

Maybe not sober. Jeremiah would be more sleepy if I got drunk.

 

Jeremiah narrowed his eyes at my suggestion that we have a few more drinks, but he agreed.

 

Unlike the day before, when I was just drunk, I controlled my drink and leaned my head on his shoulder.

 “I’m not comfortable…” “I thought you were hugging my arm then.” “…I’m sorry for being rude.” “Never mind, let’s just do it again.” 

It was funny to see Jeremiah’s desperation as he tried to get me to do things even though he sounded mean.

 “Oh, cute.” 

Even more so than when he blushed after eating spicy food.

 

But it’s amazing that he doesn’t feel selfless while doing this. Especially against a man as perfect as Jeremiah.

 

I sneak a glance up at him. Jeremiah’s throat was bobbing up and down, a sweet scent drifting from his breath.

 “…….” 

Ugh. I let out a small sigh and wrapped my arms around Jeremiah. He leaned back against the back of the couch in a lax position.

 

I hesitated, then whispered quietly.

 “Sweet dreams, Duke.” “…….” 

Jeremiah closed his eyes without a response. Soon, colorful breathing escaped.

 

Still clinging to his arm as still as a doll, I lifted my head again and looked at him in his sleep.

 

I remembered the sight I had seen the previous morning. Disheveled silver hair and long silver eyelashes.

 “Maybe I should turn off the light.” 

I gingerly pushed myself up and reached over to turn off the light.

 

But at that moment, a man’s groan of pain grabbed my hand.

 “Ha, ugh…” “……?” 

A low groan escaped Jeremiah’s slightly parted lips.