The Princess Knight is Too Strong

“It’s a synthetic chimera, developed in utmost secrecy by a research institute under the royal palace.”

The head butler said to Delphina, who was staring at the monster in the iron cage before her with an anxious expression.

“A biological weapon created using captured monsters from the Human-Demon War as materials, its very existence is one of the kingdom’s most closely guarded secrets.”

A massive beast as big as a mountain, enclosed within three layers of thick iron bars.

Two pairs of wings, six legs, and a head that looked like two had been partially merged, with three eyes glittering.

Its tail split into three parts, each covered with fur, scales, and mucus respectively, and the furry tail split again into three at the middle.

“Since it’s a chimera combining three monsters without brain extraction, its conscious resistance is also three times stronger and more violent than a normal monster.”

Delphina swallowed nervously with a tense expression. The head butler, glancing at her, added quietly:

“If you succeed in subduing this perpetually enraged synthetic monster, you should be able to easily subdue Princess Evangeline even when she’s in the grip of madness.”

At the head butler’s words, Delphina cautiously raised her hand and said:

“…Um, excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“Is there a reason why I’m dealing with this chimera instead of Princess Evangeline herself…?”

“The opponent you need to subdue is not the Princess in her normal state, but Evangeline in the grip of madness. We’ve already cross-verified this, and if you can’t definitely subdue this chimera, it would be impossible to calm the Princess.”

“Is, is her condition that severe?!”

“…It’s just a possibility, but we can’t rule out that the Princess’s illness might worsen. His Majesty hopes that by healing body and mind at Polaris Academy, the Princess’s condition will gradually improve.”

The head butler, pausing briefly as if to gather his breath, said in a low voice:

“We must, however, prepare for the worst possibility.”

“…Gulp.”

Delphina’s shoulders involuntarily shuddered.

“Now, shall we begin?”

“Ah, ah! Yes!”

But that moment passed quickly. Delphina nodded hastily and turned toward the chimera beyond the iron bars.

-Clank, clank, crash!!

“Grrraaaaaaaa!!!”

The synthetic monster roared at Delphina, repeatedly slamming against the iron bars as if it felt no pain at all.

Despite all eight limbs and wings being restrained by chains, its ferocity seemed completely undiminished.

“…”

However, Delphina showed no sign of panic or retreat.

Standing calmly in place, she simply gazed steadily at the monster’s eyes—one on each side of its head and one on its forehead, three in total.

‘…Amazing.’

The head butler muttered inwardly.

Beneath the floor where she stood, a faint sacred power was seeping out like a dimly glowing Milky Way.

‘Such a massive amount of sacred power is something you’d only feel from holy knights or high priests.’

Was she born with this talent?

A hopeful glint gradually filled the head butler’s eyes.

‘Though it was a last resort, and I had secretly given up hope… perhaps really…!’

“…Gruk, grrr…”

The three eyes of the roaring monster slowly began to close.

-Thud.

“…Lady Delphina?”

A dull sound suddenly hitting the floor.

Red droplets were slowly wetting the stone floor.

“Lady Delphina! Are you alr—”

-Swish.

Delphina silently raised one hand to stop the head butler.

Her eyes remained fixed on the monster.

“…”

The head butler silently watched her.

-Drip, drip.

The amount of blood dripping increased, and the monster slowly began to bow its head.

Thud, thud. Two of the six legs collapsed, losing strength, and one pair of wings stopped fluttering and drooped.

Two of the three eyes were half-closed, and one of the two mouths lolled out its tongue as if unconscious.

“…Grrk.”

-Kuuung…!

Eventually, the synthetic monster completely lost consciousness and collapsed.

“…Lady Delphina.”

“Did it work?”

Delphina’s body, as she turned to the head butler with a confident expression and a grin, slowly tilted backward.

“Oh no.”

The head butler, who immediately rushed forward, carefully took the falling Delphina in his arms.

“I, I did it.”

Looking down at Delphina who was smiling as she spoke, the head butler muttered in an uncharacteristically trembling voice:

“…You truly succeeded.”

“What’s that.”

Hearing those words, Delphina replied in a deliberately sulky voice.

“You sound like you didn’t believe I could do it.”

The head butler shook his head slowly with a complicated expression and then spoke in a firm tone.

“Most admirably, you’ve passed.”

“Hooray.”

Delphina, giggling with a weak voice, spoke with a gradually fading voice:

“Now I too, like Mother…”

“…!”

“By the Princess’s side… to, ge, ther…”

Delphina’s stuttering head drooped.

Picking up Delphina, who had fallen completely asleep with a happy smile, the head butler whispered:

“…I entrust the Princess to you, Lady Cornwall.”

“There’s one more special admission student?”

“Yes.”

At the head butler’s words, I tilted my head.

“Though not an invited student like yourself, Princess, this student passed a simple video interview and was granted special admission qualification.”

“Special admission, huh. Is it some war hero’s child or something?”

“Yes.”

I muttered this without much thought, but the head butler nodded and said:

“The eldest daughter of Nasisa Cornwall, former holder of the 4th of the Kingdom’s Seven Swords. Delphina Cornwall.”

-Crash.

The sound of the teacup in my hand shattering into pieces was heard.

I looked at the full-length mirror hanging behind the head butler.

Behind me in the mirror’s reflection, Nasisa Cornwall was facing me outside the mirror.

Three days until the entrance ceremony at Polaris Academy.

There are various ways to get to the academy, but the Princess and I will be traveling by airship.

The flight time is a total of 32 hours.

One squadron of dragon knights will escort the airship, and they will scout the flight route in advance to ensure there are no dangers, so we can rest assured.

The airship’s flight path will not be a straight line but a gentle curve, planned so that we can enjoy the well-preserved natural scenery within the inviolable zone through the windows.

Various other things were discussed as well. Points to be careful about during academy life, how classes are conducted at the academy, places within the academy where entry is prohibited, and so on.

I heard many stories, but couldn’t properly focus on any of them.

And for good reason.

This would be my first time meeting Princess Evangeline.

“Aren’t we boarding the airship yet?”

“After the Princess arrives, she will board first, and then you will follow, Lady Delphina.”

“The inside of the airship…”

“Cleaning and personnel verification have all been completed in advance.”

The head butler kindly explained.

‘…I’m nervous.’

I knew I had to maintain dignity in front of the Princess, but I simply couldn’t suppress my trembling.

I had seen her many times in newspaper photographs and illustrations, but I had only seen the Princess’s face in person once in my life.

That brief moment when she looked in my direction from beside my mother as she headed to the battlefield.

A princess and at the same time a knight. The moment I directly saw this unique princess knight of the continent, I felt as if my heart had dropped.

Golden hair that shone as radiantly as the sun in the sky, and an appearance where beauty and valor coexisted.

That was the first time I thought I envied my mother for going to the battlefield with such a person.

At the same time, I decided then.

To become a knight like my mother and stand by her side.

Although that wish would come true in a form quite different from what I had imagined, the fact that it had come true remained unchanged.

“…The Princess is coming.”

The head butler, who had been conversing over the radio, announced.

At the same time, I could see someone walking from that direction.

She had so much luggage that more than five servants were following behind her, from what I could see.

However, the Princess I saw for the second time in my life had changed considerably from the image in my memory.

Not the golden hair that had shone as brightly as the sun, but platinum white hair that had turned completely white.

Her beauty remained, but perhaps due to the dark circles under her eyes, the former valor was no longer felt.

‘Mental illness….’

Suddenly, the head butler’s words came to mind.

What on earth could be causing the Princess such torment?

“We’ve been waiting.”

As the Princess arrived, the head butler bowed his head.

“Pl-pleased to meet you! I am Delphina Cornwall!”

I also shouted and bowed my head deeply.

‘Oh no. I stuttered….’

Perhaps because I was too nervous. Not only did my voice crack, but I even bit my tongue quite badly. Wondering if it sounded strange, if she thought I was weird, I couldn’t raise my reddened face easily.

“…Princess?”

Just then, the head butler’s confused voice was heard.

Forgetting my embarrassment, I raised my head and saw the Princess’s expression.

Widely raised eyebrows, small, contracted golden pupils trembling.

The Princess was terrified.

Why? Though confused, I carefully asked.

“Um, are you alright?”

At my words, the Princess flinched and trembled her shoulders instead of answering.

“…………I’m sorry.”

Blatantly avoiding my gaze, the Princess spoke softly.

So quietly that I wouldn’t have heard it properly if I hadn’t been listening intently.

And then, she passed by me and went straight into the airship.

As if quickly fleeing from something she didn’t want to face.

“Hah, hah, hah, hah…”
As soon as I entered the airship, I sat down on the spot, breathing heavily.
My chest felt heavy, as if my lungs had turned to lead.
The moment I saw that face, the moment I heard that child’s voice, I simply couldn’t breathe.
It felt like Nasisa had come back to life and was looking at me, and I couldn’t bear to look at that face for long.
In the end, I ran away. Abandoning that innocent child as if ignoring her, alone.
By now, how strangely must she be thinking of me?
She might be cursing me inside. Perhaps she resents me as the woman who caused her mother’s death.
Even if she’s not thinking that way, just seeing her face made my body tremble uncontrollably.
“Sorry, I’m sorry…”
For a long time, I repeated empty apologies that would reach no one, sitting alone in place.