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

Chapter 6.2

We left the classroom.

The hallway was still buzzing.

Students passing by stared openly.

But this time it wasn’t just curiosity.

There was caution.

Rivalry.

Measuring eyes.

Somewhere inside me, something was laughing.

This is getting interesting.

Finally, someone showed up who’s trying to stand in the same place as me.

And it won’t stop with just one person.

If Fine moves, the people around her will move too.

The whole academy will start shaking little by little.

“…Hey, Fine.”

“Yes?”

“How many enemies are you planning to make today?”

“Enemies?”

“At least two more just now.”

“Misunderstanding.”

“Really?”

“I only said what was necessary.”

“Your way of deciding what’s necessary is pretty sharp.”

“But.”

Fine looked up at me.

“It would be a problem if the seat next to Your Highness stayed empty, wouldn’t it?”

I couldn’t help laughing at how she put it.

“It wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then—”

“But.”

“Yes?”

“It’s better to have someone interesting than an empty seat.”

When I said that, Fine’s eyes softened just a tiny bit.

“Then I’m glad.”

“Glad about what?”

“It seems I wasn’t wrong.”

“About what?”

“My way of moving forward.”

Spring light poured in through the hallway windows.

Our shadows lined up on the white wall.

We had only just started walking side by side.

Titles, power, achievements—none of them were the same.

Still, this girl seriously intends to catch up.

And she’s probably closing the distance at a ridiculous speed.

…Not bad.

Yeah, not bad at all.

For a first morning at the academy, it’s way too noisy.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Also.”

“What is it?”

“Next time, try to be a little gentler.”

“I’ll handle it properly.”

“I don’t trust that.”

“I’m aiming for equality.”

“That word sure is convenient.”

Fine gave a small laugh.

That smile looked a little more natural than the one I saw back at the slave market.

But the heat deep inside it was probably stronger than back then.

This girl definitely won’t stop.

Upperclassmen,

noble factions,

academy customs—

She’ll take all of it into account,

see all of it,

and without picking fights with everything,

she’ll still push everything aside.

To stand next to me.

And probably, in the process, I’ll get dragged along too.

But that’s fine.

Way better than boredom.

The bell for second period rang.

We didn’t stop walking.

We kept moving side by side down the white hallway.

The third prince

and the girl who had just put the first crack into the academy’s atmosphere.

A lot of students at the Imperial Academy were still misunderstanding that day.

They thought it was just a special transfer

and nothing more than a slightly noticeable event.

They were wrong.

It was the beginning of something far more troublesome,

far more complicated,

and probably something that would stick around for a very long time.

＊＊＊

Second period was practical training.

As we walked along the stone path from the theory building toward the training grounds, I looked up at the sky.

It was nice and clear.

The spring air felt light.

Yet the stares around us were anything but light.

“…It increased.”

“What did?”

“The number of people looking this way.”

It had increased.

Clearly increased.

It was already buzzing when we left the first-period classroom, but after crossing just two hallways, it felt like the news had spread through the whole academy.

The third prince actually showed up for morning class.

The transfer student instantly pointed out the teacher’s mistake on the board.

And that same transfer student was sitting next to me like it was completely normal.

Yeah.

Of course it spread.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“Left rear, two groups whispering.”

“You don’t have to report every single one.”

“The content was ‘prettier than I thought’ and ‘scarier than I thought.’”

“The second half is weirdly accurate.”

“I won’t deny the first half either.”

“You’re saying that about yourself?”

Fine kept a cool face.

She no longer reacted obviously to being stared at or gossiped about.

Hard to believe she was in a cage at the slave market not long ago. That adaptability is insane.

“Nervous?”

“I am.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Your Highness also looks bored sometimes when you’re actually enjoying yourself.”

“…”

“We’re probably similar.”

I couldn’t argue back.

Annoying. Only in moments like this does she hit the mark perfectly.

When we entered the training ground, the air changed.

It was a wide outdoor magic practice field.

Several sections marked off with white lines.

At the edges stood pillars for barrier magic, and in the center were practice barriers and target boards.

The practical teacher was Dominic Hazen.

A former court mage with a loud voice, big hands, and teaching style that was generally big too.

“Hey, there’s a rare face here!”

That was his opening line.

Most teachers either tiptoe around me or get stomachaches, but this guy barely did the first.

“His Highness attending second period in a row? Is it going to rain spears tomorrow?”

“Rude. Make it spring rain at least.”

“And that’s the rumored transfer student next to you?”

“It’s already ‘the rumored’?”

“It’s been going around the whole academy since first period.”

Dominic laughed heartily, then looked at Fine.

“Name?”

“Fine.”

“All right, Fine. Today is basic control and paired coordination training. I won’t go easy just because it’s your first day.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.”

“Instant answer. I like it.”

The area buzzed again.

Seriously, this girl can shift the mood with one sentence.

“Then let’s make the pairs!”

The teacher looked at the roster and started assigning them randomly.

Naturally, Fine and I were put in the same pair.

Well, not exactly naturally.

The teacher just didn’t want the hassle.

“His Highness and the transfer student, same pair! Anyone object, step forward!”

A few people exchanged glances.

And—of course—someone did.

“I object.”

The one who stepped forward was a guy with neatly combed reddish-brown hair.

Raul Fernberg.

Eldest son of a viscount family.

Excellent grades, even more excellent pride, and the type who feels rivalry toward me before respect.

“What is it, Raul?”

“That pairing won’t make for proper training.”

“Oh?”

“Leaving His Highness aside, the transfer student’s ability is unconfirmed. I don’t think she should receive special treatment in practical class.”

I see.

He phrased it politely, but basically he wanted to test the newcomer.

I started to speak, but Fine stepped forward first.

“I have a suggestion.”

“…What is it?”

“If her ability is unconfirmed, shouldn’t we confirm it?”

“That’s why the confirmation—”

“Yes.”

Fine nodded quietly.

“You’re worried I might drag His Highness down, correct?”

“…”

“Then please watch and judge for yourself.”

Raul’s eyes narrowed.

She’s good at provoking.

“Then, against me?”

“No.”

Fine shook her head.

“If our pair goes against your pair and any one other person, that should be enough.”

“Hey.”

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“Don’t make the conversation bigger on your own.”

“It’s for efficiency.”

That word sure is convenient.

The whole area burst into noise.

Raul’s expression changed.

If he backed down, he’d lose face.

If he accepted, he couldn’t afford to lose to a newcomer.

It was a very annoying board position.

Teacher Dominic folded his arms with an amused look.

“All right, approved.”

“Are you the one enjoying this the most, Teacher?”

“Training is better when it’s more practical!”

So that’s how it is.

Raul thought for a few seconds, then called over a girl.

Natalia, an honors student strong with water attribute.

Solid and good at coordination.

A reasonable choice.

“The conditions are simple!”

Dominic announced loudly.

“Break through three practice barriers and place a mark on the center target! Attacks have power limits, but defense, interference, and support are free! Begin!”

The moment it started, Raul’s side moved.

Fast.

First Natalia spread a water film in front, then Raul compressed a fireball and chipped away at the first barrier.

Their coordination was clean.

A textbook fast attack, just like top academy students.

“Your Highness.”

“I know.”

I started gathering magic too.

Normally I could just blow them all away with high firepower.

I can do that.

But—

“Should we?”

“No.”

Fine’s voice was calm.

“Please let them have the first barrier.”

“Let them?”

“There’s something I want to show.”

The next instant.

Three thin threads of magic shot from her fingertips.

Nothing flashy.

Actually pretty plain.

But the moment they touched the water film in front of Raul’s team, they twisted the flow.

“Wha—!”

The water film’s thickness shifted for just a second.

Raul’s fireball went slightly off target, and the angle to break the barrier changed.

In that opening, I sliced through the rest with the smallest wind blade possible.

First barrier, broken.

“What was that?”

“I borrowed the flow.”

“Don’t borrow it that easily.”

But Fine was already looking at the next one.

The second barrier.

The other side had recovered and was now layering spells at the same time.

“Your Highness, upper right.”

“Got it.”

I shook their aim with wind.

A split second later, Fine precisely flicked a node on the barrier’s surface.

A tiny interference.

Yet it changed how the whole barrier shook.

My magic struck right there.

Second barrier, broken.

The buzzing grew louder.

“What did you do!?”

Raul shouted.

Fine didn’t answer.

Instead I spoke.

“Just like you saw.”

“Kh…! Your Highness! It’s not ‘just like you saw’!”

“Yeah, I only understood about half of it myself.”

That was the truth.

Fine’s technique wasn’t the type that smashes head-on.

She reads the flow, shifts the opponent’s setup, and breaks the overall efficiency with minimal force.

Not flashy.

But troublesome.

Third barrier.

This time the other side was more careful.

Natalia thickened her defense, and Raul looked ready to go straight for the target.

“Your Highness.”

“Yeah.”

“Step forward just a little.”

“Just a little?”

“That’s enough.”

I took one step.

That movement alone pulled their attention to me.

Fine didn’t miss it.

This time her magic touched the auxiliary array drawn on the ground instead of the barrier directly.

Not output—order.

Just half a beat.

That was all.

Natalia’s support spell lagged for a moment,

Raul’s magic became half a step isolated,

and I shot straight through the opening line.

Third barrier, broken.

My wind blade left a white mark on the final target.

Silence.

Then, a little late, a sound that was half cheer and half murmur rose up.

“That’s enough!”

Dominic stopped it with a loud voice.

Raul was staring at the target in a daze.

Natalia looked frustrated but stayed calm.

“…Did you set that up just now?”

Natalia asked Fine.

Fine nodded.

“I arranged it so His Highness could move more easily.”

“Arranged…”

“I can’t push through alone.”

“But all of His Highness’s spells went through in the shortest path.”

“Because His Highness is excellent.”

“You are too.”

When I accidentally spoke up, Fine looked at me.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

“…Then I’m honored.”

Her voice softened just a little.

Ah, she was a bit happy just now.

It wasn’t obvious, but I was starting to understand her pretty well.

Teacher Dominic laughed heartily.

“Good! Really good! His Highness is clearly strong! The transfer student is hard to read and troublesome!”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Highest praise!”

The teacher turned to everyone.

“Remember this! Battles aren’t decided by firepower alone! If there’s someone who reads the flow, breaks the opponent, and opens a path for their ally, the whole board can flip!”

When he said that, I could feel the stares around us change.

It wasn’t just curiosity or evaluation anymore.

They were starting to understand.

This girl isn’t just a special case who sits next to me.

“Your Highness.”

After the training wrapped up for a bit, Fine spoke softly.

“What?”

“One confirmation.”

“I’ll at least listen.”

“Did I drag you down just now?”

“Actually, I think I was the one being pulled along.”

“I’m glad.”