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… - 26

Chapter 26: The Morning of Absence, and the ‘Expiration Date’ Declared by the Duke’s Son

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(Alto’s POV)

The next day. The academy greeted the day of its once-a-year off-campus field exercise. The location was the Spirit Forest, which spread out near the royal capital. In the plaza before the main gate, which was the designated meeting point, female students dressed in colorful hunting outfits gathered alongside male students burdened with massive amounts of luggage.

However, an odd silence and an air of disappointment hung over the place. The students’ gazes were fixed on an empty space where a carriage bearing the royal crest should have been parked.

“Alright, an announcement. Princess Lilianna will be absent from today’s exercise due to poor health.”

At the escorting teacher’s businesslike voice, light expressions of disappointment rose from the crowd.

“Ehh, that’s a shame.”

“I wanted to see Her Highness’s magic.”

But what spread through my chest was a heavy, clinging unease.

So she still hasn’t recovered.

The events of last night in the underground archive were burned into my mind. The heat that had felt like it would scorch me, still lingering in my palm. The head maid’s frantic demeanor. And above all, Lilianna’s frightened expression. That heat hadn’t been just a cold.

What if something far deeper is eating away at her?

Holding onto a heart clouded with anxiety that contrasted sharply with the clear blue sky, I joined the column heading toward the training grounds. After arriving at the site, the march toward the ancient ruins halfway up the mountain began. From here on, carriages couldn’t be used. And for the male students, this also marked the beginning of hell.

“…Hah, hah… Damn, it’s heavy…What kind of harassment is this…?”

All around me, the male students’ faces were flushed red as they trudged forward step by step, gasping for breath. Even though it was a day trip, their packs were stuffed with heavy measuring equipment and emergency rations. The weight was no joke. In this world, a man’s magical power was practically nonexistent. Using magic to enhance the body was nothing more than a pipe dream. And so they endured the unreasonable burden with nothing but their own muscles and sheer grit.

Except for me.

Sorry, everyone…

While pretending to wipe sweat from my brow, I continued walking with a cool head on the inside. There was a large pack on my back, yet I felt almost no weight. Just beneath my skin, I had deployed an ultra-thin magical membrane, keeping Body Enhancement magic constantly active to supplement my strength.

Normally, this would be impossible for a male student, but in order not to stand out as a background character, I simply made my steps look deliberately heavy and continued my “tired act” in sync with those around me.

Meanwhile…

“Oh my, what lovely weather.”

“Indeed. Shall we have lunch once we reach the ruins?”

The female students lightly passed us by. Using their abundant magical power, they unconsciously reinforced their bodies, giving them the grace of a casual hike. Among them, a particularly conspicuous man walked past my side.

“…Hmph. Such a feeble lot.”

Leonardo. Despite being a male student, he had all his luggage carried by attendants behind him and walked elegantly with empty hands. Unlike me, he wasn’t using magic to cheat. He was simply having others carry it for him.

Tch. Must be nice to have that kind of status.

I clicked my tongue inwardly. Here I was, exercising meticulous magical control just to avoid being found out, while he enjoyed that leisure purely through his parents’ authority. Not a bead of sweat on his brow. He was strolling along with a cane as if on a carefree afternoon walk.

“…My apologies, Falkenberg-kyo. You certainly look… Light on your feet. I envy you.”

I bowed my head, lacing my words with mild sarcasm. Leonardo stopped and snorted down at me.

“Well, of course. Those who stand above shouldn’t exhaust themselves with menial labor like hauling baggage.”

Without sparing even a glance at the luggage his attendants were desperately carrying, he leaned in to peer at my face. In his eyes, alongside the usual arrogance, there was a probing glint.

“More importantly, you… You’re not worrying about Lilianna, are you?”

My heart thudded.

“…I’ve heard that Her Highness is unwell. It would be only natural to worry.”

“Unwell, huh… Well, that’s the only way they can announce it.”

Leonardo twisted his mouth in mockery. After confirming that the other students were far enough away, he muttered in a low voice meant only for me, as if talking to himself.

“It’s a historical fact that women of the royal family are ‘short-lived.’ …With that much magical power, there’s no way she can live very long!! I’d say she’ll be doing well if she makes it to twenty.”

“…What?”

I forgot to keep up appearances and looked up at him plainly. Leonardo continued as if stating the obvious.

“Of course you wouldn’t know. Fine, I’ll tell you for amusement. The excessively strong magic that’s a woman’s privilege can sometimes destroy the body itself. The fact that many past queens died young of mysterious illnesses is common knowledge among the nobility.”

Cold sweat ran down my back. For an instant, my body-enhancement magic nearly faltered.

“Honestly, I’m in a hurry too.”

Leonardo kicked at the ground with his toe, making no effort to hide his irritation.

“It would be a problem if I don’t formally marry her before she dies. To solidify my position as the next king, her bloodline is indispensable. If she drops dead before the wedding, all my plans will fall apart.”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of concern for Lilianna in his words. Only anxiety over his own career plan.

“And besides… She’s got such a first-rate ‘body,’ doesn’t she? I’d want to touch what belongs to me for as long as possible. It would be boring if the finest collection piece I’m about to obtain breaks so quickly.”

He looked at me with a lecherous expression and grinned.

“That’s exactly why I’m in a rush. To take possession before it breaks. …She doesn’t have time left for foolish talk of love or romance.”

Having said only that, he walked away gracefully, unburdened and carefree. I could only stand there, frozen, as his words sank in. The pack on my back should have felt light thanks to magic, yet now it weighed on me like lead.

A tool for royal succession!?

If Leonardo’s words were true, then the meaning of Lilianna’s words changed entirely.

“Another year.”

Wasn’t that referring to her remaining lifespan itself!?

Don’t screw with me!!!

I clenched my back teeth hard. Rage surged at Leonardo, who spoke of her as a “tool,” something he wanted to own and use for as long as possible. And more than that, anger at myself—for teaching her, day after day, without knowing anything.

No. It’s too early to take this at face value.

I was a former researcher. I didn’t believe hypotheses without data. Fortunately, today’s exercise was a day trip. We would return to the academy by evening.

Once we’re back, I’ll investigate immediately. The royal family’s history…

The academy library should have old documents on the kingdom. The ages at which past princesses died. Their causes of death. And the correlation with their magical power. If a rule truly existed that “magic shortens one’s lifespan,” then traces of it would absolutely remain in the data called history. I had no idea what the solution might be. But without first knowing the facts, I couldn’t even begin to save her.

“…Damn it.”

I corrected my wavering magic control and started walking again. Physically speaking, I still had plenty of leeway. But the possibility of the truth weighing on my heart was something no magic could ever lighten.

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