What Happened When I Gave Everything to the Girl Who Sold Herself as a Prostitute After Losing It All - Chapter 9.1

Chapter 9.1

The morning at the Imperial Academy comes early.

Well, to be exact, it only feels early for me.

“Your Highness, please wake up.”

“…”

“Your Highness.”

“I can’t hear you.”

“You can hear me just fine.”

“I’m showing that I don’t want to hear it.”

“That’s a very convenient excuse.”

“Not as convenient as you.”

I crack my eyes open a little, and there she is at the edge of my vision. Silver-gray hair.

She was there.

Again.

“Why are you here?”

“We promised to have breakfast together.”

“I don’t remember making any such promise.”

“Yesterday on the way back, you said ‘don’t be late tomorrow.'”

“That was just a general warning, not a firm agreement to go together.”

“I took it as a firm agreement.”

“Your interpretation is pretty aggressive…”

I sit up in bed.

I’m sleepy.

Really sleepy.

But Fine is already in her uniform, and there’s even a cup of steaming tea ready on the desk.

“How long have you been invading my daily life so naturally?”

“It’s not invading.”

“Then what is it?”

“Assisting.”

“Isn’t that just a nicer way to say the same thing?”

“The impression is different.”

“Yeah, you’re right. ‘Assisting’ makes it harder to escape.”

Fine tilts her head slightly.

“Today’s first period is political history, right?”

“…You remember that well.”

“It’s Your Highness’s schedule, after all.”

“Scary.”

“It’s necessary for management purposes.”

“So I’m still not off the management list?”

Looks like I’m not.

That’s terrifying.

After getting ready and leaving the dorm building, the air felt a bit different.

No, maybe more than a bit.

The glances from students passing in the hallway are different from yesterday.

They’re not openly whispering.

But they’re looking.

And this time, not at me. At Fine.

“…You’re famous now.”

When I say that,

“I’d rather not be,”

Fine answers calmly.

“This isn’t the form I wanted.”

“But it was necessary, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess you can’t avoid some of it.”

“True.”

As we walk, two younger-looking students suddenly stop dead in front of us.

Then they bow deeply.

“Y-you were amazing yesterday!”

“We were cheering for you!”

Fine blinks once, then gives a graceful bow in return.

“Thank you.”

“Uh, y-yes!”

“And, um, good work!”

“Thank you. I hope you both have a good day.”

The two of them blush and hurry away.

…She’s strong.

Her responses in moments like this are so smooth and natural.

She’s not even trying to flatter anyone, but it still feels nice.

This is probably just her natural talent.

“Are you used to this?”

“Used to what?”

“Stuff like what just happened.”

“No.”

“It didn’t look that way.”

“I thought showing a confused face would only make the other person uncomfortable.”

“That kind of consideration coming out so naturally… yeah, that’s strong.”

“It feels a little strange when Your Highness says that.”

“Why?”

“Because Your Highness does that kind of consideration unconsciously.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t remember doing anything like that.”

“I think it’s natural precisely because you don’t remember.”

“I can’t tell if I’m being praised or not.”

“Half of it is praise.”

“The other half is scary, though.”

The cafeteria is, of course, crowded.

And of course, there are lots of eyes on us.

But after yesterday’s assembly, I feel like I’ve built up a little resistance.

The moment we sit down, an upperclassman calls out this time. A girl from the law department, one of the top candidates for second-year valedictorian.

“Fine.”

“Yes?”

“The way you closed yesterday with ‘origins are an advantage, but not absolute’ was really wonderful.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d like to look back at the debate records later. If a transcript gets made, could I read it?”

“What I write is still unorganized.”

“Even so, I’d love to see it.”

With that, she leaves.

…Hey.

She’s already getting spoken to normally.

“In just one night, things have changed a lot.”

“Yes.”

“Do you feel it?”

“A little.”

“Are you happy?”

“A little.”

“You’re consistent there.”

“I want to avoid getting carried away and making mistakes.”

“You’re impressive.”

“Will Your Highness learn from me?”

“I still want to enjoy being a bit carried away.”

After finishing breakfast, we head to the lecture building.

The path clears out strangely on the way.

Some of it is because of me, but today it’s probably more than half because of Fine.

Even in the political history lecture, the professor starts right away.

“Yesterday’s debate was truly fascinating.”

The old professor says this and looks around the classroom from behind his glasses.

“Especially the view that origins are an advantage but not absolute connects well with examples from modern imperial history.”

“…”

“Miss transfer student, I’ll introduce some reference materials to you later.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Whoa.

It’s officially recognized.

This academy moves fast on things like this.

After the lecture, when we leave the classroom, a familiar face is waiting.

“Leon.”

“…Alisa?”

Second Princess Alisa Azvorde.

My older sister.

She’s not the type to step forward as openly as our brother, but information travels fast both in the palace and at the academy.

She always has that gentle expression, but she actually sees everything.

“Yesterday was interesting.”

“Don’t just say ‘interesting.'”

“But it really was interesting.”

My sister chuckles softly, then shifts her gaze to Fine.

“This isn’t our first meeting, is it?”

“…”

“I’ve seen you from a distance a few times. But this is the first time we’ve spoken properly.”

Fine gives a smooth bow.

“My name is Fine.”

“Yes, I know. After yesterday, the whole academy remembers you.”

My sister smiles gently.

The tricky thing about her is how she stays soft-spoken even when she gets to the heart of the matter.

“You have real courage.”

“It was necessary.”

“I don’t dislike that answer.”

“Sister.”

“What?”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“A little.”

A little? That’s probably a lie. It’s a lot.

“I’m here to give you a warning, just in case.”

My sister lowers her voice.

“Starting today, people will probably start talking to you more.”

“They’re already doing that.”

“Yes. But even more.”

“…”

“After yesterday’s debate, the academy has shifted from observing you to approaching you.”

“That’s fast.”

“It’s an academy, after all.”

Has that phrase been trending lately?

“Especially around our brother, they won’t leave you alone.”

“So they’re coming.”

“They will. Because you stepped forward and the student council president acknowledged it.”

“Worst case scenario.”

“It’s a compliment.”

“Where?”

“At least you didn’t stay buried.”

My sister looks at Fine.

“Be careful. The kinder the words, the harder it is to tell what they’re really looking at.”

“I understand.”

“Good response. Much better than Leon’s.”

“Isn’t the comparison a bit off?”

“It’s accurate.”

Apparently it’s accurate.

What a terrible thing to say.

Finally, my sister lightly taps my shoulder.

“You keep a proper eye out too.”

“For what?”

“For this girl.”

“I’m watching.”

“Not enough.”

“Why can you say that so confidently?”

“Because I’m your sister.”

“That’s pretty sloppy…”

“That’s the last thing I want to hear from you.”

With that, my sister leaves.

Even her exit is elegant, which is annoying.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“Your older sister is a sharp person.”

“Sharp and troublesome.”

“She also seemed very caring.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“That’s a good thing.”

“Your evaluation of my family is strangely calm.”

“They’re observation targets.”

“You even put family in the observation category…”

Then comes lunch break.

Here it comes.

I knew it would, but it still feels more annoying when it actually does.

“Third Prince.”

In the covered walkway of the lecture building courtyard.

The one who stops us is a guy I recognize.

Lucian Glatz.

The eldest son of a count family at the center of the First Prince’s faction.

His name often comes up as a candidate for our brother’s close aide.

Excellent grades, polite, good public reputation.

And unusually for this kind of person, his outward demeanor really is pleasant.

That’s what makes him troublesome.

“Rare to see you.”

When I say that, Lucian smiles elegantly.

“I thought I should offer a greeting.”

“On purpose?”

“Yes. I watched yesterday’s debate.”

“I see.”

“It was splendid, Lady Fine.”

Fine bows.

“Thank you.”

“It’s already a big topic at the academy.”

“I’m honored.”

“You’re very humble.”

…He really does have a nice way about him.

It’s annoying how nice it is.

“So?”

When I urge him on, Lucian deepens his smile just a little.

“It would feel unnatural to end with simple praise.”

“So you’re aware.”

“A little.”

He glances around.

There are people in the walkway.

But they’re keeping their distance.

They’re not stupid enough to eavesdrop openly.

Instead, they’re all within earshot.

Very academy-like.

Truly academy-like.

“Even around His Highness the First Prince, it was quite the topic last night.”

“Oh?”

“In the sense that it was unusual.”

“What was?”

“That the Third Prince showed such clear support.”

Ah, so that’s what they’re looking at.

Not just Fine herself.

They’re watching my moves too.

“So this greeting?”

“Half of it.”

“And the other half?”

“Confirmation.”

How many times today has that word come up?

“His Highness the First Prince welcomes talented individuals.”

“I see.”

“He treats those with ability properly, regardless of background or history.”

“Oh?”

“Therefore.”

Lucian speaks with almost excessive politeness.

“If Lady Fine wishes, we could arrange a formal meeting at some point.”

…Here it comes.

It’s roundabout, but clear enough.

Contact from my brother’s camp.

And not a crude poaching attempt.

It comes in the perfectly proper form of “we welcome talent.”

Skilled.

Annoyingly skilled.

“That is…”

Fine speaks quietly.

“A very honorable offer.”

“Yes.”

“However, I already have someone I serve.”

Immediate answer.

Firm.

Nice.

But Lucian doesn’t falter.

“Of course, I am aware.”

“Then…”

“Still, while studying at the academy, a broader perspective is better.”

Soft.

Extremely soft.

And because of that, there’s no easy way out.

“See much, know much, and then choose.”

Lucian continues with a smile.

“A wise person would do so.”

Hmm.