I’m Just a Counselor

The hunter’s fierce expression crumbles in an instant.

 “Esti.” 

Jeremiah called to Estella in a voice that could not have been more affectionate.

 

As if emboldened by the sound of his voice, Estella stumbled out from behind me.

 

Still red-faced, but with a clear voice, Estella spoke my thoughts.

 “I’ve been stuck inside the castle while you and the others have been out there defending the north, and I feel so bad about it… so… I wanted to be the first one to greet you when you got back today, because it’s the only thing I can do now.” 

He listened to Estella’s words, nodded seriously, and extended his hand. A large hand gently stroked Estella’s hair.

 “Thank you,”

he said,

“I’m sure the others knew how you felt. See how happy they are?” “Yeah…” 

Estella’s shoulders stiffened, but she didn’t shy away from Jeremiah’s touch. The day’s tiredness seemed to melt away as I watched her warmth.

 

I snorted and smiled rewardingly, then gasped in surprise as Jeremiah withdrew his hand from Estella and turned his attention to me.

 

Without wiping the smirk from his face, he spoke.

 “Did you mean to tell me that Miss Vanessa had a good trip?” 

Actually, I had only come out with Estella, but let’s just say that for now.

 “You sound so… sweet.” 

I glanced at Estella’s face and asked him,

“Is it because she’s with you?” “Are you hurt, Duke?” 

I asked, remembering seeing him this morning and thinking,

“Is that it?”

Jeremiah laughed as if he’d heard a good joke.

 

I shrugged, realizing later that his uniform was in pristine condition. Apparently, as I had thought yesterday, the idea that I was worried about him was ridiculous to him.

 “When I asked you yesterday, I thought you didn’t care.” “Um… just.” “Yeah. I came out unscathed.” 

Jeremiah muttered softly. It didn’t seem like it was just Estella being nice to me.

 “Is she doing this to reward me for sleeping so well last night, or…?” 

I stared at the corpse of the beast being carried away by the men.

 

It was an afterthought. For Jeremiah, the hunt was not just about the beast.

 

The beast was responsible for the deaths of the last duke and duchess, Jeremiah’s parents. 

 

Maybe Jeremiah was relieving his own stress by hunting demons.

 

‘He’s trying to cope with the helplessness he felt at the time.’

 

If that’s how he’s dealing with his own trauma, it makes sense that his mood would be so low right now.

 

I added more information about Jeremiah in my head.

 

I realized that Jeremiah must have a strong heart, because he always finds a way.

 

It wasn’t just his beautiful exterior that mesmerized people.

 “Shall we go?” 

Jeremiah said as he handed the reins to someone else and removed his gloves.

 

He looked like something out of an illustration, smiling against a sky that was slowly turning purple. The genre must be fantasy.

 

‘No, although the genre of this world is romance fantasy…’

 

Then there’s no reason to be surprised. I smirked and turned away.

 

His hand on my shoulder was unusually warm for a man who ruled the cold north.

 

* * *

 

A single, brightly colored maple leaf fell from a large maple tree. There weren’t many leaves left on the tree, signaling the end of the season.

 

The crown prince gazed at the shrinking branches with a lush gaze. His face was bored to the bone, but his face had a digestive power that made even that look like excellence.

 “Julian Carte. Are you listening to your mother?” 

Julian Lainadion Carte. The one and only crown prince of the Carte empire wiped the look of freedom from his face.

 

Mountains are mountains, and water is water. His mother’s nagging words dripping from the back of his throat, he looked up from his watch and smiled.

 “Of course, Mother.” “Good. Can you tell me what I was just talking about?” “…….” 

After a moment of embarrassment at the surprise question, Julian quickly racked his brain.

 

Fortunately, his brain was performing well enough to remember the content of the nag he’d been listening to.

 “You were talking about how I crashed my mother’s party.” “Yes. I assume you’re feeling remorseful?” “Yes. I’ll be sending a proper apology letter to the Marquise when my probation is lifted.” “I see.” 

Julian’s eyes lowered grimly, making it clear that he was deeply remorseful for what had happened.

 

The Empress smiled wryly at her son’s expression.

 

Her mind flashed back to the counselor’s advice she had heard not long ago.

 

“Be sure to praise him for what he does well, but be sure to point out and punish him for what he does wrong.”

 

I did as I was told, and it paid off. The Empress sipped her tea with satisfaction.

 

It was her favorite rooibos tea. Julian had probably ordered it.

 

Her heart softened again at her son’s sweetness.

 “Since you’re so remorseful, I’ll let you off probation. Don’t forget your letter of apology. You must certainly clear up the Marquis’s misconception of you.” “Yes. My mother thinks of me in this way, and I have offended her without knowing it, and I can only apologize.” “I’m glad you’re back to the you I knew, Julian.” 

The Empress smiled at the golden eyes of her son, who looked so much like his father. Julian smiled back with the face of a good and trustworthy son.

 

As the hats were tipping in harmony, a blue-haired knight burst out of the garden.

 “Your Majesty!” 

Julian turned to the panting knight and gave him a hard stare.

 

The knight, sensing the murderous intent in her gaze, halted in his tracks, looking sick. But the Empress had already spotted him.

 

Setting down her teacup, she motioned for the knight to come closer.

 

The knight looked up at Julian and shuffled over to the empress.

 “My… country’s moon, Your Imperial Majesty.” “Yes, Lord Kianton. I haven’t seen you in the palace lately, have you been away?” “That, that…” 

Kianton stammered, unable to reveal that he had come to inquire about the Empress’s whereabouts at the Crown Prince’s behest.

 

Unable to see the confession in his face, Julian answered for him.

 “Lord Kianton seemed to be overworking himself lately, so they gave him a vacation, and he took advantage of it and came home for a while.” “Oh, is that so? You’ve been doing a lot of work escorting my son, Lord Kianton.” “Your Majesty, it is only an honor…” 

Kianton grunted, swallowing the truth down his throat that he was being robbed by his own son.

 

Julian raised an eyebrow and looked at Kianton, but soon spoke softly to the Empress.

 “Mother, I have something to discuss with Lord Kianton, and I think we should return to the Iman Palace, for the day is growing cold.” “My, how time has come already. Julian, take it easy on your affairs. The empire is better off with the crown prince being so diligent, but your mother is worried about you.” “Yes, Mother, thank you for your concern.” 

“No, Your Majesty, that psycho is running amok right now, he doesn’t even bother to look at the affairs of state, he just stamps them!”

 

Kianton wanted to shout right then and there, but under Julian’s fierce gaze, he was forced to swallow his anger.

 

The Empress, her eyes glazed over, looked at her son with a smirk and rose to her feet.

 

Soon she was out of sight.

 “…….” 

The smile faded from Julian’s face as he realized his mother was gone.

 

With a short sigh, he raked a hand through his hair and sat back in his chair. The upright posture I had maintained in front of the Empress was quickly disrupted by a fidget.

 

Downing the last of the tea in his teacup in one gulp, he called out to Kianton in a low voice.

 “Kianton Bell.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” 

Time for another psychotic boss. Kianton swallowed back his tears and put on his professional face.

 

He’d been back less than half a day, and he already longed to return to the North. The duke is scary, but at least there’s Princess Estella!