What Happened When I Gave Everything to the Girl Who Sold Herself as a Prostitute After Losing It All - Chapter 7.2

Chapter 7.2

Fine stopped her.

“May I ask one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Is this for the order of the academy?”

“Half of it is.”

“And the other half?”

“Personal interest.”

Instant answer.

Serena kept her cool face and continued.

“I have never seen His Highness come out this openly to protect someone before.”

“…”

“So I became curious. I wanted to see if you are the real thing.”

“And if I’m not the real thing?”

“You will be buried in the academy.”

“And if I am the real thing?”

“In that case…”

Serena deepened her smile just a little.

“I will welcome you. With all my strength.”

…Ah.

I see.

This woman hadn’t come with pure hostility from the start.

She had come to evaluate.

Whether Fine was useful.

Whether she was worthy of being placed in the academy.

And probably whether she was worthy of eating into the circle around the imperial family in the future.

It was a pain, but it made sense.

“Got it.”

I stepped forward.

“I’ll attend the debate too.”

“His Highness?”

Serena blinked, which was rare for her.

The crowd instantly grew noisy.

“What’s with those faces?”

“No, it’s just… His Highness, who always skips, volunteering to attend?”

“Shut up.”

“This might go down in academy history.”

“Don’t let it.”

But even I had a line I couldn’t give on.

“I’m not going to let Fine stand alone in front of the crowd right from the start.”

“His Highness.”

Fine started to say something, but I spoke first.

“Don’t get it wrong. It’s not just protecting you.”

“…”

“If you say you’re going to stand beside me, then I’ll stand there too.”

For a moment, Fine went silent.

Those gray-silver eyes of hers wavered just a little.

At times like this, she became really easy to read.

“Any complaints?”

“…No.”

“Then good.”

“Just a little.”

“You do have one?”

“I’m happy.”

Quiet, but clear.

She says stuff like that and it puts me in a tough spot.

Serena narrowed her eyes with interest.

“Very well. Three days from now, in the central auditorium.”

“Yeah.”

“Please don’t run away, Your Highness.”

“What do you people think I am?”

“I thought you might quietly disappear if left alone.”

“…Hard to deny that.”

Serena gave a bow, then turned on her heel.

No entourage.

She had come alone and left alone.

That part was so like her.

While watching her back, I let out a deep breath.

“…What a pain.”

“Yes.”

“The academy really is a pain.”

“But…”

Fine kept looking straight ahead.

“It was just right.”

“What was?”

“Because they offered me a chance to prove myself.”

“You’re so positive.”

“To stand beside His Highness, this kind of thing will be necessary eventually.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

I glanced sideways at her.

“You’re not nervous?”

“I am.”

“You don’t look it.”

“There’s no point in showing it.”

“You said the same thing when we first met.”

“Yes.”

Fine smiled just a tiny bit there.

“But this time it’s a little different.”

“How is it different?”

“Back then I was alone.”

“…”

“Now His Highness is beside me.”

Stop it.

That honest heaviness comes out of nowhere and it’s dangerous.

“…Fine.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t say that during the debate.”

“Why not?”

“It’s bad for my heart.”

“So Your Highness has weaknesses too.”

“I feel like they’ve been increasing because of you.”

Fine let out a small breath.

“Then I’ll prepare within three days.”

“You already switched gears?”

“Of course.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Check records of past debates, tendencies of main attendees, speech tendencies of academy factions, and confirm main literature on governance theory and close-aide theory.”

“That’s a lot.”

“Also, His Highness’s collection of past slip-ups.”

“Why!?”

“To avoid them.”

“Are there that many?”

“I’m collecting them.”

“Scary scary scary.”

The students around us were clearly holding back laughter this time.

The tense air from before had strangely softened.

…Yeah.

This might be the kind of place it was.

Fine wasn’t the type to dominate the scene.

But she could pull the temperature of the place toward her side.

Quietly.

Without forcing it.

And still, she never fully handed over control to the other person.

Troublesome.

And strong.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“Could you guide me to the governance theory section in the academy library today?”

“Me?”

“When I’m with Your Highness, some of the viewing restrictions loosen.”

“So that’s how you’re using me?”

“I should use what I can use.”

“You’re reliable.”

“I’m honored by the praise.”

“I am praising you.”

Then Fine stepped just a little closer and whispered.

“And…”

“Hm?”

“Please stay beside me in the auditorium three days from now.”

“…You’re saying the same thing as before.”

“Because it’s important.”

“Heavy.”

“Yes.”

She just owned it.

But no one around us pulled away from that “yes” anymore.

In fact, some of them looked strangely convinced.

They were probably starting to realize it dimly.

Fine wasn’t just a girl clinging to His Highness.

She had decided to stand beside him and was seriously trying to get there.

And me too, probably.

Somewhere inside, I had started thinking it was only natural for her to reach that seat.

“…Alright.”

I rolled my shoulders.

“Library it is. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Eat first.”

“Understood.”

“And don’t pull an all-nighter for the debate prep.”

“If necessary.”

“You’re planning to, huh?”

“It depends on efficiency.”

“Don’t cut sleep.”

“If Your Highness goes to bed early with me…”

“Why does it turn out like that?”

“It’s part of life management.”

“Don’t put me in the management targets too.”

Another laugh slipped out.

The gazes of the students still left in the training ground weren’t just curiosity anymore.

Not appraisal, not scorn.

At least they looked like they wanted to see it once.

Three days later.

Central auditorium.

Public debate.

What a pain.

An incredibly huge pain.

But—

The gray-silver girl walking beside me wasn’t hesitating anymore.

With a quiet face, she was looking straight ahead.