What Happened When I Gave Everything to the Girl Who Sold Herself as a Prostitute After Losing It All - Chapter 2.2

Chapter 2.2

I nodded.

“Continue protecting them as top priority. For housing, use a house in the city district instead of the servants’ quarters in the north wing. Post watchers, but don’t let them realize they’re being monitored.”

“Yes.”

The subordinate left.

Quiet returned to the reception room.

And then.

“——Thank you very much.”

Fine spoke in a slightly lower voice than before.

When I looked up, she had already stood up from her chair.

“Hey, wait—”

Before I could stop her, she came right in front of me and bowed deeply.

“Wait a second. That kind of thing—”

“No.”

She spoke without raising her head.

“Please let me do this properly here.”

Her voice was calm.

But deep down, something seemed to be hardening.

“Your Highness took from me the heaviest thing.”

“Huh?”

“Doubt.”

When she lifted her face, it was terribly calm.

“As long as my brother and sister are safe, I no longer have to be bound by the reason I sold myself.”

“…That’s true.”

“In other words, from here on, my entire life can be chosen by my own will.”

With that, she looked straight at me.

“Then I choose.”

“What?”

“You.”

Ah, here it comes.

The true form of that bad feeling was rushing toward me with shape.

“No, look—”

I waved my hand lightly.

“Not in that heavy kind of way—”

“It is heavy.”

“Don’t admit it.”

“Your Highness said you would give me status, assets, and education.”

“I did say that.”

“Then I will return value that matches it.”

“You don’t have to return anything.”

“I will return it.”

“You’re strong-willed.”

Fine didn’t back down even one step.

“Saying I don’t have to return it is Your Highness’s freedom.”

“Mm.”

“But wanting to return it is my freedom.”

“…”

Ah, this is bad.

The logic made sense.

Since I said I’d let her choose, it was hard to deny her choice to give everything back to me with all her strength.

Gareth beside me was giving off a vibe that clearly said “I told you so.”

That guy is annoying.

“Then let me say it again.”

Fine placed her hand on her chest.

“I will use everything Your Highness gives me and become a person with value worthy of Your Highness.”

“That part is fine.”

“And I will satisfy Your Highness’s hunger.”

“That part is heavy.”

“I will never let you say something is boring again.”

“That part is heavy too.”

“Closer than anyone, deeper than anyone.”

“Stop, the wording is dangerous.”

“I will understand you, support you, scold you when necessary, and even cut you off if necessary, and become the best existence for Your Highness.”

“Don’t cut me off.”

When I held my head, Fine blinked with a slightly puzzled look.

“Is there some problem?”

“There are only problems?”

“But Your Highness wished for equality, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

“Then a partner who only spoils you would be insufficient.”

“That’s true, but—”

“Isn’t a partner who isn’t afraid to be disliked and says what is needed necessary?”

“That’s true, but—”

“Then.”

Fine smiled a little.

“It’s perfect, isn’t it?”

Whoa.

She was smiling, but there was pressure behind it.

I looked at Gareth for help.

But the old butler took one step back and said respectfully.

“It went very well, Your Highness.”

“You think this is someone else’s problem.”

“It actually is someone else’s problem.”

Traitor.

“…I get it.”

I let out a breath.

“I’ll accept that resolve. But there are conditions.”

“What are they?”

“First, don’t risk your life.”

“I will handle it appropriately.”

“Say it clearly.”

“If Your Highness doesn’t do anything reckless first.”

“Don’t suddenly turn the condition back on me.”

“Because we are equals.”

Guh…!

That comeback is so convenient!

While I was at a loss for words, Fine continued.

“I also have one condition from my side.”

“What?”

“Please give me time.”

“Time?”

“The shortest time to catch up to Your Highness.”

She picked up the paper and pen that were on the table.

Then, without hesitation, she started writing something smoothly.

“Hey, what are you—”

“It’s a schedule.”

“A schedule.”

“Starting from tomorrow.”

She writes fast.

“Wake up at six o’clock. Confirm imperial script and arithmetic while eating breakfast. Morning: etiquette and history. Afternoon: swordsmanship basics and physical training. Evening: magic power measurement and magic theory. Night: conversation time with Your Highness.”

“Conversation time?”

“Because it is the most important thing for becoming equals.”

“Only the last part sounds strangely nice.”

“Before bed, reflection on the day and analysis of Your Highness’s words and actions.”

“Scary scary scary.”

Some outrageous items had slipped in so casually.

“Also, a review of the guard placements is necessary.”

“Why are you commenting on that?”

“There were three people around Your Highness whose gazes were lax.”

“Huh?”

“I confirmed it on the way back from the slave market.”

“…”

I looked at Gareth.

Gareth kept a straight face, but his eyes had widened slightly.

“I will check later.”

“You didn’t notice either?”

“To think she was watching that closely even in that situation at the market.”

Fine said it as if it were obvious.

“At that point, Your Highness was my highest priority observation target.”

Heavy.

It’s still only the first day.

“Also.”

Fine lifted her face from the paper.

“Please tell me everything: Your Highness’s food preferences, things you dislike, sleep hours, work habits, common phrases you use, personal relationships, political stance, past failures, secrets—all of it.”

“Aren’t you stepping in too deep all at once?”

“It is necessary to understand you in the shortest time.”

“The last parts aren’t needed, right?”

“They are needed.”

“Why?”

“To satisfy Your Highness.”

She said it straight.

I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling.

I’m happy.

I’m happy, but somehow it’s different.

What I wanted was more like casually talking about stupid stuff, sometimes arguing—that kind of feeling.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“One more thing.”

“There’s still more?”

“About the room.”

“Ah, I should have a guest room prepared.”

“Please make it the room next to Your Highness’s.”

“Too close, too close, too close.”

“If something happens, I can respond immediately.”

“Nothing needs to happen.”

“That is not for Your Highness to decide.”

“Why?”

“Because enemies will attack even when Your Highness is bored and has time on his hands.”

“Don’t suddenly say something reasonable.”

Fine nodded without changing her expression at all.

“Please rest assured. I will learn proper distance.”

“Really?”

“…If necessary.”

“I felt something ominous in that pause just now?”

Fine tilted her head slightly.

“Does Your Highness dislike it when I am too close?”

“Not dislike, more like it’s too fast.”

“Then I will approach at an appropriate speed.”

“The wording!”

Gareth finally coughed to hide his laugh.

This guy is clearly enjoying it.

Fine held out the finished schedule to me.

“For now, this is the plan for the first day.”

“This is just the first day?”

“Is it not enough?”

“It’s too much.”

“If I have to cut something, would it be sleep?”

“You’re the one who should sleep.”

I took the paper and looked at it.

It was neat, with no waste.

She was terrifyingly serious.

And I thought, just a little.

Ah, this girl really has decided to use her life for me.

It wasn’t something I could lightly brush off.

But ordering her to stop would be wrong too.

Because what I said I would give her included her own freedom.

“…I get it.”

I folded the schedule.

“Do as you like. But don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Yes.”

“Also, can you make the way you talk about satisfying me or understanding me a little lighter?”

“It’s difficult.”

“Why?”

“Because for me, it is a heavy thing.”

She answered me straight.

There wasn’t even a hint of a joke in her eyes.

I stayed silent for a few seconds, then let out a deep breath.

“…For now.”

“Yes.”

“Tomorrow we’ll start with conversation practice.”

“Understood.”

“Just do normal small talk.”

“I will give it my full effort.”

“Don’t give full effort to small talk.”

But Fine was already completely in that mindset.

Those ash-silver eyes were staring straight at me like a bird of prey that had locked onto its target.

She was probably really going to do it.

Learn everything she could learn,

use everything she could use,

and seriously try to reach the equality I had mentioned lightly.

And in the process, things would definitely become more troublesome than I imagined.

…Well, I was the one who wished for it.

Running away wouldn’t be right.

“All right.”

I stood up.

“First, let’s get ready to go see your brother and sister. Are you coming too?”

“Of course.”

“What about the meal?”

“I can eat while walking.”

“Eat properly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Fine stood up smoothly.

She no longer had any hesitation, to the point where it was hard to believe she had been a girl in a cage at the slave market just a short while ago.

Looking at her profile, I somehow understood.

I had probably picked up something outrageous.

Just on a whim.

Just to kill time.

Just because I wanted someone I could talk to as an equal.

And yet—

“Your Highness.”

“Hm?”

“From today onward, please treat me well.”

“Yeah, nice to have you.”

“Yes.”

Fine smiled just a tiny bit.

“I won’t let your life get boring.”

Man, her wording really is just too heavy.