What Happened When I Gave Everything to the Girl Who Sold Herself as a Prostitute After Losing It All - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3.1

The next morning, I got woken up by Gareth like always.

“Your Highness, it’s time.”

“Five more minutes.”

“You’re already three minutes past the scheduled wake-up time.”

“Five more minutes.”

“Today’s schedule was arranged by the guest, not by Your Highness.”

“…”

Only then did I finally open my eyes.

Right beside the bed stood the usual expressionless old butler.

And right behind him—she was there.

It was Fine.

Even though it was still morning, she had already finished getting ready. Her ash-silver hair was neatly arranged, and she stood quietly with both hands folded in front of her.

Scary.

Why the hell is the guest coming to check if I’m awake?

“Why are you here?”

“Today’s top priority is the meeting with your younger brother and sister.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Before that, if Your Highness oversleeps and gets in a bad mood, it could affect how things go.”

“Don’t put the schedule ahead of my sleep.”

“Your sleep time was already secured last night.”

“It’s starting to feel like I’m being managed…”

Gareth gave a small, polite cough.

“Your Highness, please rest assured. The guest is simply a few levels stricter than I am.”

“There’s not a single reassuring thing about that, you know?”

Fine spoke with her usual calm face.

“I’ve also checked the breakfast menu. Your Highness tends to get a little short-tempered when hungry, so we’ll start with something sweet.”

“Don’t analyze me that deeply.”

“It’s for efficiency.”

“You’re scaring me.”

But, well.

It didn’t feel bad.

Honestly, I was a little nervous myself about letting her meet her brother and sister.

At the time I had said we’d do it tomorrow on impulse, but for Fine this reunion was basically her whole life.

I didn’t want to mess it up.

That’s exactly why seeing everything moving forward exactly as planned gave me a bit of relief.

“…Alright. I’m getting up.”

“Yes.”

“But from now on, wait outside the bedroom.”

“I’ll handle it appropriately.”

“That answer doesn’t sound trustworthy at all.”

＊＊＊

The house where we’d placed the brother and sister was in a quiet residential area in the northern district of the imperial capital.

About thirty minutes by carriage from the detached palace.

It was originally one of the mansions I used publicly for charity work.

It was neat and clean, but not overly luxurious.

Soldiers had been stationed there in plain clothes so they wouldn’t stand out.

It was a careful arrangement to make it clear this was protection, not surveillance.

Inside the carriage, Fine was quiet again today.

But it felt a little different from yesterday’s silence.

The tips of her fingers resting on her lap were clasped just a tiny bit tighter.

She kept looking out the window more often too.

She must be restless.

“Are you nervous?”

When I asked, Fine glanced at me for just a second.

“Yes.”

“You don’t even try to hide it.”

“Because Your Highness has probably already seen through me.”

“I have.”

“Then there’s no point in hiding it.”

Her logic made sense.

“How did you explain things to your brother and sister?”

“That while searching for their older sister, they were taken in by an adult who could verify their identity.”

That answer came from Gareth.

“We’ve kept the royal family’s name hidden for now. We thought suddenly telling them might confuse them.”

“That’s reasonable.”

Fine let out a small breath.

“Thank you.”

“It’s still too early for thanks.”

“No. Just being able to meet them like this is more than enough.”

After saying that, she paused for a moment.

“…It’s just…”

“Just?”

“They might blame me.”

“Blame you?”

Fine lowered her gaze.

“Because I disappeared without saying anything.”

“…”

Ah, so that’s what she meant.

She had sold herself.

She chose the method that would bring the highest price to protect her brother and sister.

Logically, it had probably been the best choice.

But from their perspective, it was still just their older sister suddenly vanishing one day.

“When that time comes, we’ll deal with it then,” I said.

“If they blame you, take it. If they cry, comfort them. If they hug you, hug them back.”

“That’s pretty rough.”

“There’s no perfect right answer for a reunion.”

“…That’s the part where you’re strangely proper, isn’t it?”

“Don’t add ‘strangely’.”

Fine smiled just a little.

The smile disappeared right away, but it looked like some of the tension had left her shoulders.

＊＊＊

We were shown into the guest room of the mansion.

Soft sunlight poured into the room, and the faint smell of freshly baked bread drifted in the air.

The head maid who had arrived first bowed deeply.

“The two we are protecting have finished breakfast in another room. They are a little frightened, but their health is stable.”

“Good. Bring them here.”

“Understood.”

The door closed.

During that time, Fine didn’t say a single word.

She just stood there, staring fixedly at the door.

Normally she would sit if offered a chair and observe the situation and say something.

But none of that happened.

She had completely lost her composure.

“Want to sit?”

“…No.”

“I see.”

After a while, the door opened.

The ones who came in were a boy and a girl.

The boy looked around ten years old.

He had slightly wavy chestnut hair. He was thin, but his eyes were steady.

The girl was about six or seven. She was gripping her brother’s sleeve tightly, frozen with tension.

And the next instant—

“Big sis!”

The boy shouted.

Fine’s shoulders shook hard.

“Luke… Mia…”

Ah, so those were their names.

Before I could even think what nice names they were, the two of them started running.

Fine moved at the same time.

In the next moment the three of them were wrapped together in a hug.

The girl, Mia, cried out loud, and the boy—Luke—tried not to cry but failed, grabbing his sister’s clothes with a messy face.

Fine kept hugging the two of them tightly, stroking their hair over and over.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry.”

“Big sis, where did you go…?”

“I’m sorry. It’s okay now, everything’s okay.”

“Really? It’s really you, big sis?”

“Yes, yes… I’m sorry I was late.”

I quietly took a step back.

At a time like this, it was better not to say anything extra.

Even though I had arranged this whole reunion, stepping into this moment would be tactless.

Mia clung to Fine’s neck while still crying.

Luke had been acting tough at first, but eventually he couldn’t hold it in anymore and lowered his face.

Fine held the two of them like they were fragile, yet with all her strength.

…Huh.

So she can make a face like that.

In the market and at the detached palace, she had basically always been quiet.

I had thought she was the type who didn’t show her emotions on the outside, even if she had them.

But now it was different.

Her eyes and her voice had completely fallen apart.

There were people she could show her feelings to like this, raw and open.

Seeing that, I felt a little relieved.

This woman really is human after all.

“Big sis.”

After a while, Luke raised his face.

“Who are these people…?”

Ah, so now it was my turn.

Fine turned around.

Her eyes were still red, but her posture had returned as she looked at me.

“This person is the one who helped us.”

“…”

Luke looked at me.

The wariness was clear.

Good eyes.

The eyes of someone protecting his sister.

“You’re not gonna sell us, right?”

He came straight out with it.

Behind us the head maid gasped.

But I didn’t feel offended.

“I won’t.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Why are you helping us?”

“Because I liked your sister.”

“Your Highness.”

Fine called my name in a low voice.

“Watch how you say it.”

“It’s not a lie, is it?”

Luke’s wariness seemed to go up another level.

Wait, hold on, is he taking this the wrong way?

“That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, so, I didn’t mean it in a weird way.”

“Your Highness, getting flustered in front of young people only makes you look more suspicious.”

“Shut up.”

Then Mia peeked out from behind Fine, just her face, and stared at me hard.

“…Are you big sis’s husband?”

“No.”

“No, he’s not.”

My voice and Fine’s overlapped perfectly.

After a beat, Luke’s mouth twisted just a little for the first time.

It was a face holding back a laugh.

Good.

The air relaxed a bit.

“I’m Leonhardt,” I said, introducing myself for now.

“Right now I’m protecting you two. That’s all.”

“…Lord Leonhardt.”

Luke said it carefully.

“Big sis doesn’t have to suffer anymore, right?”

“Right.”

“Us too?”

“Right.”

“Really?”

“How many times are you gonna ask?”

“Because it’s important.”

This time Fine spoke.

“Luke.”

The boy pressed his lips together, then bowed his head toward me.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s still too early for thanks.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“We’ll decide the rest from now on. Where you’ll live, what you’ll study, who will take care of you. We’ll also ask what you two want.”

“Our wishes?”

“Yeah.”

Then Mia raised her small hand a little.

“I want to be together with big sis.”

“…”

Fine’s expression wavered again just a bit.

I looked at her profile before answering.

“It’s difficult right away.”

“Why?”

“Because your sister is going to be busy from now on.”

Mia’s face clouded over.

Luke looked like he wanted to say something too.

Then Fine crouched down so her eyes were level with theirs.

“Luke, Mia. Listen.”

The two nodded.

“From now on, I’m going to study here.”

“Study?”

“Yes. I’m going to get stronger and smarter, so that no one can ever take our lives away again.”

“…”

Luke’s eyes gradually grew serious.

“So we’ll be apart for a little while.”

“Just a little?”

“Yes. But we can meet. We can write letters too. I promise.”

Mia looked like she was about to cry again, but Fine gently cupped her small cheeks.

“Mia. I won’t disappear.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Mia pouted her lips for a while, but eventually gave a small nod.

Luke looked at me.

“Will big sis really be protected here?”

“I will protect her.”

“Will anyone force her to do things she doesn’t want?”

“No.”

When I answered immediately, Luke thought for a moment, then bowed deeply again.

“…Then, please take care of her.”

The way he said it was just a little grown-up.

It stung somewhere deep in my chest.

I really don’t like a world where kids like this have to grow up so fast.

“Alright.”

I clapped my hands.

“I’ll handle the details from here. For today, you two eat until you’re full, take a bath, and sleep.”

“Yes.”

“What about big sis?”

Luke asked.

“You can stay together until noon.”

“Your Highness.”

Gareth checked with his eyes.

“It’s fine. We’ll shift today’s schedule.”

“But the magic power measurement—”

“Push it back.”

“Understood.”

Fine looked at me.

“…Is that alright?”

“Is there any schedule that should come before a family reunion?”

“There are, for members of the royal family.”

“Not on my schedule.”

Fine started to say something but stopped in the end.

Instead, she gave a slightly deeper bow than yesterday.

…Stop that.

A bow with that much weight behind it really hits hard.

＊＊＊

Past noon.

After returning to the detached palace, we went ahead with Fine’s magic power measurement as originally planned.

The location was the underground training room.

It was equipped with crystals and catalysts for measuring magic power, the kind used by royal family members and children of high-ranking nobles.

The ones attending were me, Gareth, and the head court magician, Elwina.

She was a woman with cold golden eyes behind silver-rimmed glasses, and her age was hard to tell.

Probably mid-thirties, but with magicians you couldn’t trust appearances.

In fact, she hadn’t looked much different since I was five.

“So, Your Highness.”

Elwina said flatly while adjusting the measurement crystal.

“Why am I, of all people, doing the magic power measurement for a girl you picked up from the slave market?”

“‘Picked up’ sounds bad.”

“Then, the girl you bought.”

“Even worse.”

“But it’s the truth.”

This woman has always had a sharp tongue.

I can’t fire her because her skills are solid.

“She’s a guest.”

“I see.”

Elwina glanced at Fine.

“And the reason for giving this guest the royal measurement equipment and the head magician’s time is?”

“Because I liked her.”

“That’s the worst explanation.”

Now even Elwina was saying it.

Fine stayed quiet beside me for a moment, then took a step forward.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Fine.”

“Head court magician, Elwina.”

“Pleased to work with you.”

“Whatever.”

Elwina answered curtly.

“What the measurement needs isn’t manners, it’s accuracy.”

Even so, Fine’s expression didn’t change.

“Then please do it accurately.”

“…”

Elwina’s eyebrow twitched just slightly.

Ah, she noticed.

This girl is responding better than expected.

“Very well.”

Elwina put on white gloves.

“Put your hand here. Touch the crystal and let your magic power flow along with mine.”

“I don’t know the sensation.”

“That’s normal. So first, I’ll guide you.”

Fine placed her hand on the crystal.

The transparent crystal glowed faintly blue-white.

“…Hmm.”

Elwina’s voice dropped.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“This isn’t normal.”

“Huh?”

I leaned forward a little too.

Inside the crystal, the light traced lines.

In a normal measurement, the color would just scatter according to attribute and amount.

But Fine’s was different.

The light branched out in multiple layers and lined up beautifully.

It was as precise as if someone had drawn the lines.

Without waste.

Without hesitation.

“The control precision is abnormal,” Elwina said.

“Very few people can keep the shape this well on their first guided attempt, even among the top students at the academy.”

Hey now.

Is it really that much?

“The amount of magic power itself… isn’t on Your Highness’s level. But for her age, it’s more than enough.”

Elwina narrowed her eyes.

“The problem is the quality.”

“Quality?”

“Computational ability.”

The light inside the crystal now started forming geometric patterns.

Circles, lines, layers, and then more branches.

“This girl understands magic formulas at an abnormally fast speed. She’s not just tracing the guided flow—she started optimizing it herself midway.”

“Huh?”

I looked at Fine.

“What are you doing right now?”

“I’m not sure, but…”

Fine answered while still touching the crystal.

“There was a little waste in the way this person was guiding it, so…”

“Wait.”