I’m Just a Counselor

I counted to five as Shane said, and slowly lifted my closed eyelids.

 

My vision was still dark. Shane was still covering my eyes.

 

But I could feel that something had changed in the feel of his palm. It wasn’t like the palm of a soft child’s hand, but something hard and callus-studded… Uh, come to think of it, I think he’s gotten a little bigger, too?

 

As I lifted his arm to confirm my guess, my vision suddenly widened. And there in front of me was Shane, grinning broadly.

 “Surprise!” “…….” 

He was suddenly no longer in a child’s body, but an adult’s, locking eyes with me. I swallowed hard as I looked at his face.

 “Sherry…” 

Still the bewitching, sexy face of a beautiful woman. But the face had changed in a strange way.

 

The eyes were more defined, the overall lines were more defined and harsh…

 

Most of all, I stared at the prominent adam’s apple that stuck out at the base of his neck.

 “…….” 

After staring at it for a moment, I lowered my gaze further down.

 

There, perky, full breasts… were visible. Sherry was obviously a glamorous beauty with a very good body…

 “…….” 

Sensing my stare, Shane quickly crossed his arms in an X to cover his chest.

 

Shane, no, Sherry? Shane? I was confused as to what to call him.

 “Look, Vanessa, it’s kind of embarrassing for me to be seen so blatantly…” “…and you’re not even a woman?” “Ahhhh.” 

Only after a very long pause did my brain come up with the right answer.

 

Sherry, no, Shane. After all, he was a wizard, and he’d been lying to me about his gender all this time, just like he’d been lying about his age!

 

I shuddered at the sense of betrayal that washed over me. Images of Sherry flashed through my mind. The feeling of betrayal multiplied when I remembered that she had just been calling me big sister and little sister.

 “Sherry, have you been lying to me all this time?!” “Vanessa, that’s…” “You’re a man! You’re pretending to be a woman in front of me! Sherry… no, Shane is your real name?” 

I punched him in the chest.

 

He made an ah, ah, ah sound like he knew he’d done something wrong, but he didn’t block my punch. Even though it felt like a cotton ball punch.

 “Vanessa, Vanessa, stop, I have to be socially graceful too…” “Did you have fun watching me get played for a fool!” “It’s not like that, Vanessa!” 

I shouted at him with a snarl, and he, unable to see my escalating attitude, grabbed my fist to stop me.

 

Sherry was my benefactor and the first friend I’d made after being possessed, so I was especially close to her, comfortable with her, and fond of her…

 

The fact that she had deceived me all this time was proof that I was the only one who thought so. I was ashamed and angry at the same time.

 

When he saw my eyes, he sighed and gently pulled me into a hug and spoke to me like a child.

 “It’s not like that. I was going to tell you, but… I’m sorry, Vanessa. Okay? Don’t be so mad.” “C’mon…” “Good girl, huh?” 

Shane patted my shoulder, soothing me.

 

I wanted to be more angry with him, but I remembered all the things he’d done for me when he was Sherry, and I couldn’t help but cross my arms weakly.

 

‘He must have put that look on my face because he knew I was weak.’

 

Anger flared up again at his cleverness, but it was quickly quelled by the gentle stroke of his hand on the back of my head.

 “Vanessa, just listen to me for a second. Okay?” “…….” “Just hear my excuse and then… Oh, no. I can’t do this right now.”  

I frowned at Shane’s abrupt change of subject.

 

He pulled away from me and shrugged lightly.

 

Just as I was about to glare at him and say something, someone ran into the room.

 “Miss Vanessa!” 

His silver hair glistened in the moonlight.

 

I stared at the figure, which seemed to light up the dimly lit room, and muttered in a low voice.

 

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if what I was seeing was real. As unreal as his moon-soaked form seemed.

 “Duke…?” 

Jeremiah’s hair was slightly damp, and I could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

 

He ran in, calling my name. Uh, had he been running around looking for me?

 

I blinked slowly and looked up at him.

 

Jeremiah cleared his throat, then lifted his head and stared at me.

 

His gaze, crisp and clear and characteristically clear, brought me back to reality.

 

Then, Shane spoke.

“You’re a little late, Jeremiah.” 

I stared at him in surprise at the name that came out of his mouth.

 “Jeremiah?” 

I remembered him calling Jeremiah the Duke of Oppenheim a moment ago. Did they already know each other?

 

But before I could get the question out of my mouth, Jeremiah spoke again.

 “We’ll talk about that later, Shane. You better have an excuse ready.” “Oh, no. I’ve got my hands full trying to think of an excuse for Vanessa.” “It’s in your best interest to keep your mouth shut for now.” 

Jeremiah, who had spoken sharply and angrily to Shane, who had spoken smartly, extended his arm to me.

 

Then his hand touched my shoulder. It was an overly cautious gesture.

 “Miss Vanessa, you are unharmed, are you not?” “Duke, what the…” “If you have any questions, I’ll answer them when we get back to the castle, but for now, I think it’s best to get back and let a doctor see you properly.” 

Jeremiah, who spoke in an ear-meltingly affectionate tone unlike the one he’d used with Shane, tugged on my arm. As if to pull me away from Shane.

 

Shane smirked at Jeremiah’s behavior, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he watched me walk toward Jeremiah in mesmerized fascination, one eye narrowed.

 

As I followed Jeremiah outside, the building was bustling with people. Masked people who appeared to be part of Shane’s crew, and bloodied human traffickers.

 

Later, there were knights and men in armor bearing the coat of arms of the Duke of Oppenheim, whom Jeremiah had apparently brought with him, some of whom had been out hunting demons the previous day.

 “His Highness, the Duke. Ah, Miss Vanessa. Are you all right?” 

A private soldier who recognized my face spotted me and asked with concern.

 

I nodded. It was actually embarrassing to be so close to Jeremiah, but I seemed to be the only one here who cared.

 “I’m glad to hear that. Anyway, Your Excellency, I found this while searching the building.” 

He showed Jeremiah what he was holding in his hand. It was hard to make out in my field of vision, but it looked like some sort of thick notebook.

 

I could guess what it was.

 “It’s a ledger.” 

It looked like the kind of ledger that human traffickers keep when they sell someone they’ve kidnapped.

 

Let’s see. Shane said earlier that these guys were based in the islands… So these guys aren’t just human traffickers, they’re slavers? They’re selling people from here to the islands…

 

Come to think of it, they said earlier that a noblewoman would be pleased to see Shane. Could it be that the nobility of the Islands are behind this?

 “Give Melvin what we find. Anything we find on the Winter Crown side, Shane can handle.” “Yes, sir.” 

Jeremiah gave his instructions bluntly, and the private bowed.

 

Shane’s name follows, so I assume that’s what the masked men are called.

 

I muttered the unfamiliar name again.

 “Winter Crown…?” “It’s the name of the intelligence group Shane runs, and they’ve been loyal to the Dukes of Oppenheim for a long time.” 

Jeremiah said, draping his jacket over my shoulders.

 “As I said before, if you have any more questions, I’ll answer them when we get back to the castle, and I’ll also… have something to say to Miss Vanessa.” “That sounds scary.” 

I playfully shrugged my shoulders. Jeremiah smiled faintly at me, then opened his mouth to speak.

 

There was a slight hesitation in his voice.

 

I looked into his eyes, ready to listen. There was a faint moonlight glint in his light-green eyes.

 “Were you scared?” “Not really, but…” 

I mumbled, my voice sounding faint.

 

Of course, it wasn’t because I was a big man with a big liver that I wasn’t afraid of being kidnapped, just that.

 “I trusted the Duke to save me.” 

Yes, I trusted Jeremiah.

 

At first I doubted he’d come before I was sold, but that doubt soon faded. This is the North, his territory.

 

And if I was sure I was in his pack, Jeremiah would surely come and save me. I wasn’t afraid because I trusted him without a doubt.

 

Feeling a little embarrassed to say it, I added hastily.

 “More than that, if I were gone and Estella was here, she would surely ask the Duke for help! So, in a way, I trusted her…” “…….” 

Jeremiah stared at me without replying, and I could see that his face contorted a little.