What Happened When I Gave Everything to the Girl Who Sold Herself as a Prostitute After Losing It All - Chapter 9.2

Chapter 9.2

He’s added a little pressure.

If you refuse, it makes you look narrow-minded.

The air around us tightens slightly.

The people watching are probably waiting for the next reply.

Fine stays silent for just a moment.

Not because she’s hesitating.

She’s probably choosing her words.

“I understand what you are saying.”

“Yes.”

“Seeing much and knowing much is necessary.”

“Exactly.”

“However…”

Fine raises her gaze just a little.

“I have already chosen under whom I will learn.”

“…”

“Seeing broadly and keeping one’s position ambiguous are two different things.”

The air in the walkway grows taut.

Oh.

Strong.

This is strong.

And she hasn’t been rude.

She didn’t treat my brother’s name lightly, but she also didn’t compromise her own position.

Lucian narrows his eyes for just a second.

Yeah, that landed.

“I see.”

But he quickly puts his smile back.

“My apologies. That sounded a bit like a test.”

“Not at all.”

“Still, I’m relieved.”

“About what?”

When I ask, Lucian looks at me.

“I now know you are not someone who takes things lightly.”

“…”

“And I understand why the Third Prince keeps her by his side.”

With that, he gives a smooth bow.

“That is all for today. I hope we can talk again sometime.”

“If I feel like it.”

“Yes. Since it’s an academy, there will be opportunities.”

You’re saying that too?

After Lucian leaves, the tense air relaxes a little.

The people watching from the other side of the walkway start to drift away casually.

Too obvious.

Really too obvious.

“…Tiring.”

When I say that,

“Yes,”

Fine answers immediately.

“Very.”

“Rare to get full agreement from you.”

“Especially today.”

We walk a bit and reach the quieter edge of the courtyard.

Finally, I can breathe.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I was a little nervous.”

“Thought so.”

“But it was within expectations.”

“You expected it?”

“From yesterday, I thought contact might come as early as today.”

“Your prediction is too accurate, it’s scary.”

“It’s an academy, after all.”

“That phrase has become all-purpose…”

Fine lets out a small sigh there.

“Though…”

“Hm?”

“I thought the First Prince’s camp would be more high-handed.”

“Ah.”

“In reality, they were very polite.”

“My brother’s circle is usually like that on the surface.”

“On the surface.”

“That’s the most troublesome part.”

My brother himself is the same.

Correct.

Talented.

Calm.

Anyone would say he’s fit to be the next emperor.

At least from the outside.

“Lucian isn’t a bad guy.”

I say.

“At least, he’s not the type who enjoys trampling people for fun.”

“Yes.”

“But that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down.”

“I understand.”

“Do you know what’s scary?”

“…”

“It’s when they come at you with good intentions and proper reasons.”

“…I see.”

Fine’s eyes deepen a little.

“They pile up favors and logic in a way that’s hard to refuse.”

“Right.”

“And before you know it, your options have narrowed.”

“That’s it.”

Fine falls silent for a moment, thinking.

Looking at her profile, I continue.

“My brother’s camp doesn’t come only with hostility.”

“Yes.”

“Most of them genuinely believe they’re making the right arrangements.”

“…”

“That’s why it’s even more troublesome.”

Fine nods quietly at my words.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“I…”

“Yeah?”

“Won’t switch sides.”

Just like that.

But said so straight.

“…I see.”

“Yes.”

“Immediate answer.”

“Because I’ve already chosen.”

“You said something similar yesterday.”

“Because it’s important.”

“That’s a convenient reply.”

“Not as convenient as Yours.”

It feels like she’s giving a little comeback.

On the way to the afternoon practical lecture, there was an even clearer aftereffect.

In the grouping for the mock exercise, the people who usually avoided Fine now seemed a little hesitant.

“…”

“…”

“What do we do?”

“But after seeing yesterday…”

I can hear them.

Perfectly.

And in the end, one of the second-year boys steps forward.

“Um, Fine.”

“Yes?”

“If you’d like, would you team up for this coordination exercise?”

Oh.

This is big.

I guess the shift in the academy’s atmosphere starts from moments like this.

“Thank you.”

Fine answers calmly.

“I’d be happy to.”

“G-good to work with you.”

“Same here.”

The other person was clearly nervous, but since Fine was her usual self, he seemed to relax his shoulders a bit.

The practical exercise itself went well.

Fine acted just like her impression from yesterday’s debate. She only steps forward when needed.

She doesn’t stand out unnecessarily.

But in the key parts of coordination, she shows her presence properly.

After it ended, the instructor unusually gave honest praise.

“Transfer student.”

“Yes?”

“I thought so yesterday too, but you read the people around you quickly.”

“Thank you.”

“Stepping forward isn’t the only skill. Keep that in mind.”

“Understood.”

Listening to that exchange, I think:

She’s starting to fit in, little by little.

However.

That same day after school, there was one thing I hadn’t expected.

When Fine tried to return to her desk, she suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

“Fine?”

Her gaze is fixed on a small envelope.

White high-quality paper.

The wax seal has a familiar crest.

A double-headed eagle with wings spread.

And a laurel wreath.

“…Whoa.”

I can’t help making a sound.

“That’s fast.”

“Yes.”

“Way too fast.”

Fine picks up the envelope.

On the front, only the name is written simply.

— Lady Fine

“I’ll open it.”

When I say that,

“It’s addressed to me,”

Fine answers quietly.

“I’ll check it first.”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

Her hands as she breaks the seal are calm.

Inside is a single short letter.

Fine’s eyes follow the words, and they pause for just a moment.

“What does it say?”

“…”

“Fine.”

“An invitation to a tea party from His Highness the First Prince.”

“I knew it!”

I can’t help looking up at the sky.

It’s here.

Finally from the man himself.

“The date?”

“Three days from now, after school.”

“Perfectly hard to refuse.”

“Yes.”

“And it’s a tea party.”

“Yes.”

“Few ways to escape.”

“Yes.”

Fine hands me the letter.

The wording is extremely polite.

He was impressed by the debate.

He would like to exchange words once.

He wants it to be an opportunity to broaden each other’s perspectives as fellow academy students.

Yeah.

Perfect.

Perfectly hard to refuse.

“Your Highness.”

“What?”

“What should we do?”

“…”

What to do? This is no longer just normal academy interaction.

My brother himself is coming to see Fine.

No, just seeing her would be fine.

He’s probably coming to measure her.

Her ability.

Her loyalty.

And how important she is to me.

“Refusing is one option.”

I say.

“But then it’ll look like we’ve closed off.”

“Yes.”

“Going is also an option.”

“But…”

“I know. Even if there’s no intention to pull you in, people around will add their own meaning.”

“Yes.”

Silence falls.

The afternoon light coming through the hallway window shines white on the edge of the envelope.

It’s strangely quiet.

But beneath that quiet, the smell of trouble is growing bigger and bigger.

“…Troublesome.”

When I say that,

“Yes,”

Fine answers.

“Very.”

“How many times today has this conversation happened?”

“I think it’s an important confirmation.”

“Maybe so.”

I scratch my head.

“For now…”

“Yes.”

“Don’t reply today.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll ask my sister. I’ll also sound out Serena.”

“The student council president too?”

“I want to know how it looks inside the academy.”

“…I see.”

“Also, my brother’s habits at tea parties.”

“Habits.”

“He has them. There’s usually meaning behind that calm of his.”

“That’s frightening.”

“Really frightening.”

Fine folds the letter and puts it back in the envelope.

“Your Highness.”

“Hm?”

“Will you ask what I want to do?”

“…Is it okay to ask?”

“Yes.”

I think for a moment, then say,

“Then I’ll ask. What do you want?”

“I’ll go.”

“Immediate answer.”

“Yes.”

“Reason?”

“Avoiding it would only postpone things.”

“…”

“Besides…”

Fine looks straight at me.

“If I’m going to stand beside Your Highness, he’s someone I’ll have to face eventually.”

There it is again.

That straightforward way of saying things with no decoration.

“…Heavy.”

“Yes.”

“But I don’t dislike it.”

“I know.”

“You’ve been saying that a lot lately!?”

“I’ve learned.”

It’s troubling.

Pretty troubling.

But the fact that I don’t dislike it is the most troubling part.

Outside the window, the dusk is already starting to deepen.

Three days from now.

The First Prince’s tea party.

Until yesterday, it was about whether she’d be accepted by the academy.

But from here on, it’s different.

It won’t end inside the academy.

Around the imperial family.

Factions.

Selection.

Judgment.

Probably, those things will start in earnest.

It’s a pain.

A really huge pain.

But the girl beside me, still holding the letter, doesn’t look away even once.

Her silver-gray eyes are quiet,

and in that quiet,

they’re already looking at what’s next.

—Ah.

She’s probably really going to move forward.

Not just inside the academy.

All the way to even more troublesome places beyond.

Exactly as much as she said she’d stand beside me.