In a Female-Dominant World with a 5:1 Gender Ratio, I Saved a Girl as a Kid, and She Said She Wanted to Be My Bride—Who Would’ve Thought She Was a Princess… - 25

Chapter 25: The Heated Debate and the Encroaching ‘Disease’

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(Alto’s POV)

After we finished the late-night meal prepared by the head maid—roast beef and bread—our “secret lesson” resumed.

Perhaps because our stomachs were full, or perhaps because of the reassurance that the head maid, an “absolute ally,” was present with us, Lilianna’s conversation was even more animated than usual.

“…So, according to Alto-sensei’s hypothesis, magical power is not the ‘power of the soul,’ but something closer to a ‘biological current that converts energy from the atmosphere’?”

“Yes. That’s exactly why output has physical limits. If you force too much magical power through, the circuits—meaning the blood vessels and nerves—get ‘burned out.’”

Lilianna peered intently at the rough diagrams I had scribbled down. Her profile, illuminated by the lamp’s glow, had shed the dignity of a princess and looked like nothing more than that of a young girl starving for knowledge.

“How fascinating…! It’s the complete opposite of the Church’s doctrine. But with this theory, the causes of all past magical accidents suddenly make sense.”

Her eyes sparkled as she turned the page. Every time I saw that lively expression, an indescribable feeling stirred deep in my chest. But I quickly concluded that it was merely “sympathy.” She must be feeling constrained too. Her position as a princess. A life as a mere “ornament.” The “one-year contract” she had asked of me. I still hadn’t heard her true intentions in detail, but the “true face” she showed only here in this basement spoke volumes about the depth of the loneliness she carried.

Without letting her notice, I checked my control over the magical power within my body. Within the academy, I had to play the role of a  mob character with zero magic in me. Not only the output, but even “magical perception” in me was completely shut down.

If even a little leaked out, there was a risk that she—currently the greatest mage in the country aside from myself—or the sharp-eyed head maid would notice. Right now, I was walking around as if blindfolded and wearing earplugs. But that was the safest option.

“Then, if we apply this formula—ngh…!”

Suddenly, Lilianna gasped softly and braced herself against the desk with a clatter. The quill she had been holding rolled across the floor with a dry clink.

“…Lilianna-sama?”

Startled, I looked up. She was clutching her chest tightly, her head slightly lowered. Her complexion was bad. The flush from just moments ago looked like a lie. Her porcelain-like skin had gone pale.

“…It’s nothing. Just a little lightheaded…”

She tried to smile bravely. But her lips were faintly trembling. And I could see her hand on the desk twitching in small spasms.

Overwork!?

I kicked my chair back, stood up, and supported her shoulders.

Hot.

Even through her clothes, I could tell, her body was emitting an abnormally high fever.

“Hey, you’ve got a fever! This is really bad!”

I was stunned. It had only been one day since yesterday. I didn’t know what had happened then, but something major must have occurred. Despite being completely exhausted both physically and mentally, she hadn’t rested. Instead, she had come back to the basement the very next day and immersed herself in difficult discussions. Of course she would collapse.

“D-Don’t touch me…!”

Lilianna weakly tried to brush my hand away, rejecting me. Her expression was twisted with pain and something even stronger than that: fear.

“It’ll spread to you… No, don’t look… I’m showing you something filthy…”

“What are you saying!? I don’t care if I catch a cold!”

Ignoring her, I supported her body again. At this rate, she would collapse onto the floor. Her body was hot enough to feel like it might burn me. An unnatural heat, as if something were burning up from the inside.

If I used magical perception, I might be able to identify the cause.

That thought flashed through my mind for an instant. But I immediately rejected it. If I used magic here, my secret would be exposed. Besides, I wasn’t a doctor. If I carelessly sent magical power into her and made things worse, there would be no fixing it.

“…Your Highness!”

From behind us, the head maid, Margaret, hurried over soundlessly, unable to hide her agitation. She took a small vial from her pocket and, with practiced motions, brought it to Lilianna’s lips.

“…Please drink this. It’s your usual ‘medicine.’”

“…Mm, gh…”

Lilianna swallowed the liquid as if clinging to it. A few seconds later, her ragged breathing calmed slightly. During that time, she kept gripping the sleeve of my clothes. As if she were afraid of something in her hazy state… Or perhaps trying to confirm that I was really there.

“…Alto-sama. I sincerely apologize.”

The head maid gently took Lilianna from me, holding her in her arms.

“It seems Her Highness pushed herself a bit too hard. Her chronic anemia, combined with fatigue, likely caught up with her.”

“…I see.”

I stepped back slightly and watched. For anemia, that fever had seemed abnormal to me. But I wasn’t a doctor. With my magic sealed, there was no way I could know what was happening inside her body.

“…I’m sorry, Alto.”

Lilianna looked at me with unfocused eyes. Tears slowly welled up in them.

“Today, already… Even though I was having so much fun…”

“Please don’t apologize. It’s my fault for continuing the discussion without noticing.”

I closed the scattered books. She looked like she was about to cry. It was just a physical collapse, and yet she wore an expression of despair as if it were the end of the world.

“Let’s call it a day. …Please don’t overdo it. You said you’d stay with me for a whole year, didn’t you?”

When I said that, Lilianna looked up at me in surprise. Then, weakly—but like a flower blooming—she smiled with clear happiness.

“…Yes. It’s a promise.”

The head maid activated the magic circle. Along with particles of light, Lilianna and the head maid disappeared. The last smile I saw on her face was somehow fleeting, almost transparent. Left behind were the musty underground archive and me alone.

As I recalled the warmth of her body still lingering on my palm, I let out a small sigh.

“…What is the princess so desperate about?”

The circumstances she carried might be heavier than I realized. That heat didn’t feel like just a simple cold. Could it be related to magical power!? For a moment, that thought surfaced, but I hurriedly denied it.

There was no way. My worry was nothing more than unfounded anxiety. She was just tired after everything that had happened. I shook my head, driving away the dark imaginings. Then I gathered my things and left the underground archive.

At that time, I may have been oblivious….What was happening to the princess’s body… What feelings drove her to speak of “one year” as a time limit…. Back then, I had no way of knowing any of it.

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