What Happened When I Gave Everything to the Girl Who Sold Herself as a Prostitute After Losing It All - Chapter 3.2

Chapter 3.2

My voice, Gareth’s, and Elwina’s all lined up at once.

Fine looked puzzled.

“Is that wrong?”

“The problem is that it’s not wrong.”

Elwina declared it.

“A beginner should not spot the quirks in a guided formula and correct them.”

Heeeh…

This isn’t just hitting the mark, is it?

“Furthermore… her attribute aptitudes aren’t biased either.”

Elwina switched the measurement panel.

“Fire, water, wind, earth… all above average. But none stand out.”

“So she’s a jack of all trades, master of none?”

“No, the opposite.”

For once, Elwina’s face clearly showed interest.

“This girl’s true strength lies in composite and support. She can maintain multiple formulas at once, combine them, and even raise the efficiency of other people’s magic.”

“Other people’s?”

“Yes. She’s not the type to burn enemies away by herself. But in an army or at court, just having one person like her changes the overall quality.”

I see.

So she’s the kind of talent suited to stand beside a king.

Even Fine herself looked a little surprised.

“Am I… strong?”

“It’s not about being strong or weak.”

Elwina answered immediately.

“You’re troublesome.”

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

“Take it however you like.”

I burst out laughing.

Yeah, this woman really is fun.

But the next instant.

The moment Fine casually adjusted the flow, the crystal glowed especially bright.

There was a sharp *crack* sound.

“…Ah.”

Fine murmured.

“No way.”

Elwina’s eyes widened.

The next moment, a small crack appeared at the top of the crystal.

“Hey!?”

“Stop!”

Elwina hurriedly cut off the magic power.

The light faded, and silence fell over the training room.

“…Did I break it?”

When I asked,

“You almost broke it.”

Elwina corrected.

“On the first measurement, the advanced crystal meant for royalty.”

“Your Highness.”

Fine looked at me.

“Does property damage count as a demerit?”

“That’s the first thing you’re worried about?”

“I thought a guest’s impression matters.”

“Probably not the issue anymore at this point.”

Elwina stared at the cracked crystal, then let out a deep breath.

“I’ll give my conclusion.”

“Yeah.”

“Leaving this girl alone is dangerous.”

“Dangerous.”

“Dangerous in the sense that it would be a waste of talent to let her stay buried.”

I see.

“Give her formal education. And at the highest level.”

Elwina said firmly.

“Stopping at reading, writing, and calculation would be foolish. Formula comprehension, memory, simultaneous processing, magic control—every one of them is top of the top.”

“That much?”

“That much. She has the potential to catch up in three years to talents that take ten years to polish.”

“Three years.”

“Yes.”

Fine had been listening quietly, but then she asked softly.

“To reach Your Highness’s level?”

“…”

Elwina’s gaze slowly turned to me.

Then back to Fine.

“Who exactly are you comparing yourself to?”

“Answer the question.”

When I said that, Elwina shrugged.

“Your Highness is in a different category, so the expression ‘reach the same level’ itself isn’t appropriate.”

“Meaning?”

“Change your direction.”

Elwina told Fine.

“You don’t need to become the same strength as His Highness. Become a kind of strength that His Highness doesn’t have.”

“A kind he doesn’t have.”

“His Highness is a monster of frontal breakthrough.”

“Watch how you say it.”

“It’s a fact. In contrast, you are placement, control, support, observation. The side that sets the board and maximizes others.”

“…”

Fine thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Understood.”

“Your understanding is quick.”

“If it’s to stand beside His Highness, I’ll do anything.”

“That’s heavy.”

The words slipped out on reflex.

For the first time, Elwina smiled just a tiny bit.

“Your Highness. You really picked up something interesting.”

“I didn’t pick her up. She’s a guest.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

＊＊＊

And that interesting thing spread throughout the court on the same day.

In the evening, when we returned to the main palace, the air felt strange.

As I walked down the hallway, stares stabbed into me.

The maids whispered, and young nobles deliberately stopped their conversations.

Even the imperial guards had slightly uneasy expressions.

“That was fast,” I muttered.

Gareth answered.

“When Your Highness welcomes an unfamiliar girl to the detached palace, treats her as a guest, and even calls the head magician…”

“It spreads, huh.”

“It does.”

Fine was walking half a step behind me.

Her formal status was still being arranged.

So for now she was wearing a simple but high-quality dress, at least so she wouldn’t look out of place.

Still, if people learned she had been in the slave market until yesterday, a lot of them wouldn’t find it funny.

Right after we turned one corner, the first hit came.

“Well, well, Prince Leonhardt.”

The one who called out was Wilhelm, the eldest son of a marquis family.

Seventeen years old. A pretentious pretty boy who had plenty of hangers-on at the academy.

He didn’t have the guts to oppose me directly, but he had a strangely sharp nose for moments like this.

“Good day to you.”

“Not really good.”

“Oh?”

Wilhelm’s gaze slowly turned toward Fine.

It was an unpleasant, appraising look.

“I’ve heard that Your Highness has recently welcomed a rare guest.”

“Your ears are quick.”

“In the court, even small things become rumors.”

“But this one isn’t small.”

When I answered, Wilhelm gave a faint smile.

“So it’s true, then? That person?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“No, it’s just… I was surprised that someone of Your Highness’s position would deliberately keep a girl from the common streets—and one whose background isn’t even clear—by your side.”

“Her background is clear, though?”

“Excuse me. But how those around you perceive it is another matter.”

Ah, annoying.

This kind of indirect check disguised as good advice was the most irritating.

He didn’t say anything openly bad.

But he was planting in everyone’s ears that the girl wasn’t worthy.

Just as I was about to speak,

“Thank you for the advice.”

Fine stepped forward.

Oops.

Even Wilhelm raised his eyebrows a little in surprise.

“I am still nothing more than Your Highness’s guest, so there is much I need to learn about court etiquette.”

Fine continued calmly.

“So I am grateful that you would worry like this.”

“…”

“However.”

There, she smiled just a tiny bit.

“Is your worry about the fact that His Highness chose me? Or about whether I am worthy to stand beside His Highness?”

Wilhelm’s smile stopped.

“Either way, I believe it will become clear in time.”

Fine said flatly.

“I am still no one, but His Highness is different. I thought there was no one who would lightly dismiss His Highness’s judgment just because of someone like me’s background.”

“…”

Oh.

Nice.

She lowered herself while throwing back that he was doubting His Highness’s judgment.

She didn’t pick a fight head-on.

But there was enough pressure to make him back down.

Wilhelm’s hangers-on clearly changed color.

“I meant no disrespect.”

Wilhelm said.

“I understand.”

“It’s just, considering His Highness’s position…”

“Then all the more, who His Highness keeps by his side is something His Highness decides.”

Complete shutdown.

I didn’t even have room to cut in.

Wilhelm stayed silent for a few seconds, then forced a smile.

“…I see. You are quite perceptive.”

“Thank you.”

“We may meet again at the academy.”

“I look forward to it.”

With that, Wilhelm bowed and left.

His back looked a little stiff. It had hit him.

In the quiet that remained in the hallway, I looked at Fine.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“You’re strong.”

“I’m still weak.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Fine tilted her head a little.

“Was I too forward?”

“No, actually you helped.”

“Then I’m glad.”

I stopped her just as she started to walk again.

“Just asking, but you’re not angry?”

“I am angry.”

“You are?”

“Of course.”

Fine answered calmly.

“But getting emotional over something like that is inefficient.”

“You’re calm.”

“I remembered his name.”

“Don’t say scary things.”

“Later, could you teach me about that person’s family’s faction and political position?”

“Why?”

“For countermeasures.”

“Countermeasures for what?”

“For the future.”

Heavy.

And fast.

“Also, what about the academy?”

“Hm?”

“The academy that person mentioned.”

“Oh, the imperial academy.”

Come to think of it, yeah.

The spring enrollment period was coming up soon.

“Your Highness attends it, right?”

“Sort of.”

“Sort of.”

“The classes are boring, so my attendance rate is…”

“…”

“Stop looking at me like that.”

Fine’s face took on a look of determination.

“Understood.”

“What is?”

“I’ll straighten out Your Highness’s academy life too.”

“That’s none of your business!?”

“You want someone who can stand as an equal, right?”

“Yeah, but…”

“Then I will also attend the academy.”

“Eh?”

Gareth cut in from the side.

“Under the system, it should be possible. With Your Highness’s recommendation, temporary status arrangement, and today’s measurement results, a special admission is more than feasible.”

“What are you even saying?”

“To train the guest at maximum speed, the academy would be the optimal place.”

“No, but if we put her in the academy…”

“It sounds like it would get interesting.”

“Don’t say things like Elwina.”

Fine said with a straight face.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“I will reach the equality that Your Highness desires in the shortest time possible.”

“That’s exactly why that way of saying it is already…”

“I’ll learn everything—academy, politics, magic, human relationships.”

“Everything.”

“Yes. So that beside Your Highness, you won’t even have time to feel bored.”

“That’s the problem…”

Still, it made me happy.

It made me happy, but it was heavy.

Clearly heavy.

But her profile was completely serious.

After reuniting with her brother and sister.

After learning about her own talent.

After touching the hostility of the court.

Far from shrinking back, she looked like she had caught fire instead.

Ah, I see.

Yeah, leaving her buried really would be dangerous.

The things I said I’d give her—she would really turn every single one into her own strength.

And without hesitation, without mercy.

“…Alright.”

I scratched my head.

“I’ll consider the academy matter.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not decided yet.”

“I’ll prepare on the assumption that it will be.”

“Fast.”

There, Fine smiled just a tiny bit.

“Please rest assured, Your Highness.”

“About what?”

“I’ll quickly prove that Your Highness’s choice wasn’t a mistake.”

As she said those words, the evening sun poured in through the hallway window.

Her ash-silver hair was dyed a soft red.

It’s beautiful, I thought.

The next instant—

“For that, first I want to grasp the human relationships in the main palace, so tonight I’ll start making a list.”

“Scary.”

“I’ll prioritize those around Your Highness who could become either enemies or allies.”

“Scary, I said.”

“Also, the earlier Wilhelm. That person needs watching.”

“You’re already analyzing him.”

“Of course.”

“It’s not ‘of course.'”

“And then.”

Fine said it completely naturally.

“I think I also need to grasp Your Highness’s marriage candidates.”

“Why are you going that far!?”

“Because it concerns Your Highness’s future.”

“You’ve only been here two days!?”

“Is that not enough?”

“The density is way too high!”

Gareth gave a small laugh behind us.

I couldn’t help looking up at the ceiling.

Yeah, I definitely won’t be bored.

Not as long as this woman is around.

The problem was—

The person I wanted to talk to as an equal… was she really supposed to charge into life this full-force?

It somehow felt different.

But it did.

Fine was already completely set on it.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“Can I check the top student grade lists from the academy for the past five years by the end of today?”

“What for?”

“Goal setting.”

“Scary.”

“Please rest assured.”

“About what?”

“Please keep the spot beside Your Highness open for me.”

She smiled as she said it, and I was at a loss for words.

…Ah, this.

I could understand why the court was buzzing.

This woman was probably really going to come.

And a lot faster than I thought.