The Princess Knight is Too Strong

Chapter 9 -Oscar von Valentine (1) 

“I’ve missed you, my fiancée!”

“Who’s your fiancée?”

The name of this unpleasant handsome man, whose eyes were sparkling as if about to pounce on me, was Oscar von Valentine.

The person who was Evangeline’s fiancé in the ‘original game,’ and the one who took Evangeline’s virginity in the ‘happy ending’ I once aimed for.

According to what was expressed only in the game… in a word, he’s like a male lead from a romance fantasy novel.

Handsome, tall, strong, smart, sweet, and well-endowed.

But the problem was that the creative work he appeared in was an adult game. No matter how well-endowed he might be as a human, it couldn’t compare to that of a monster, and ultimately his determination to protect her purity until Evangeline became an adult returned as a dagger named NTR scene that pierced his heart.

By now, the original game, happy ending, or whatever had become meaningless, but nonetheless, the fact that this man before me was my fiancé remained unchanged.

“Y-you’re too cruel.”

This alpha male, at least two heads taller than me, was staring at me with teary eyes.

Borrowing a metaphor from women’s fiction, he had the impression of a golden retriever.

It was an appearance that would make ordinary women fall head over heels, but to my eyes, which still retained a male-oriented sensibility, he only looked disagreeable.

I still prefer pretty women to handsome men.

“Why have you come?”

So I can’t help that my tone comes out as cold as midwinter.

“Of course, after hearing the news that my future wife has finally set foot in Polaris…!”

“Again, why am I your wife?”

“Well…”

Oscar tilted his head as if he’d heard a strange question and replied:

“Because we’re engaged.”

“Princess, are you sure you’re alright?”

Delphina, who couldn’t stand watching anymore, even interrupted.

“…Right. We were engaged, yes.”

I scratched my head and awkwardly replied. Well, anyone can forget things when talking.

“But you know, Prince.”

“You can call me Oscar comfortably, fiancée.”

“Your. High. Ness.”

As if I’d call you by your name.

“When did we get engaged?”

“When I was 11 years old… so 6 years ago.”

“That’s right, 6 years.”

I nodded and asked him again.

“How many times have we met in those 6 years?”

“…Well.”

The prince averted his gaze from me and trailed off. I decided not to miss this opportunity to press him.

“I can’t remember. Because we met so few times. Do you perhaps remember, Your Highness?”

Actually, the reason I can’t remember is because I was possessed after the engagement ceremony had already taken place. The memories from the first two years after possession are, how should I put it, hazy. Like scenes seen in a dream, they don’t remain clearly in my memory.

And in reality, our meetings could be counted on one hand.

Even those ceased after the war broke out.

So by simple calculation, we’re meeting for the first time in at least 4 years.

“Th-that!”

The prince hastily explained.

“It couldn’t be helped, could it? We’re both royalty of different countries, each busy with our own affairs, and the distance between us…”

“That’s right. Unfortunate, but unavoidable.”

I nodded, sensing my chance.

“But you know, Prince, when physical distance grows, hearts also grow distant.”

“…That’s true.”

“The same goes for me. If I may be so bold, right now, my feelings toward Your Highness…”

I paused mid-sentence and unconsciously glanced toward Delphina.

“Whoa.”

Delphina was looking at me with an astonished expression.

Though we’d only known each other for two days, it was surprising to see such an expression on that pretty face.

An expression that seemed to ask why I was trying to kick away a fortune that had rolled in by itself.

‘What on earth is wrong with this perfect man that you dislike him so much?!’

I could almost hear Delphina’s voice filled with astonishment.

No, looking closely, I realized she had been mouthing words all this time… she was actually whispering.

“…Why are you acting like this, Princess Evangeline?”

“Ahem, it’s nothing.”

I tried to appear calm as I replied.

“A-anyway. I think we need to seriously reconsider our engagement.”

“Seriously, you say.”

“Yes. It’s just an engagement made at the age of 11 when we knew nothing, and don’t you have someone else you love, Prince?”

“…Yes. I do have someone I love.”

“You’re going to say it’s me.”

“You caught me. But listen, Princess Evangeline.”

The prince clicked his tongue but said:

“The fact that we’ve met infrequently is not a problem.”

He spoke with a more serious expression than expected.

“Our reunion here at Polaris Academy, viewed differently, isn’t it almost like fate? The disadvantage of our relationship being awkward due to not having deep interactions can be filled in gradually from now on…”

The prince’s attitude was persistent.

To the point where it was hard to understand why he was so attached to a worn-out woman like me.

Delphina, sitting awkwardly beside me, had been giving me piercing looks that seemed to contain the implicit message ‘Just play hard to get a bit and then accept him’ all this time.

Now I had no choice.

…I didn’t want to reveal this, at least not to the prince.

“Your Highness.”

I looked straight at the prince and said:

“I understand your feelings well.”

“That’s a relief. Then…”

“However, despite that, I cannot accept your feelings.”

I exhaled a small deep breath.

It pained my heart somewhat that I had to go this far to shake him off, but it couldn’t be helped.

For my sake, and for his sake as a prince of a nation.

“Because I cannot bear your child.”

“…Pardon?”

The prince asked back with an expression like he’d been hit on the head.

“P-Princess.”

Delphina spoke urgently. Even for her, she couldn’t hide her emotions this time, clearly showing signs of bewilderment.

“Y-you shouldn’t say such negative things. The qualification to have children is something everyone…”

Having seen what I showed on the airship, Delphina seemed to misunderstand my words in that direction.

“That’s not what I mean.”

If I had to specify which meaning… it’s a bit more direct and physical.

I shook my head and slightly lifted my upper garment.

“W-wha!”

The startled prince immediately blushed and shouted, covering his eyes.

“Princess Evangeline! To expose your skin so carelessly outside… oh…”

The prince couldn’t finish his sentence. The hand that had half-covered his eyes slowly lowered, and his tightly closed eyes filled with confusion and shock.

Both the prince and Delphina couldn’t take their eyes off my navel.

More precisely, from the curved straight scar drawn next to my navel.

“…Princess, that wound is…”

“It’s a wound received during the battle to eliminate Balisterd.”

The battle to eliminate Balisterd.

A fierce battle fought against a Demon King’s Army 1.3 times the size of our forces to increase the success rate of the operation led by Sir Scabbard’s separate unit.

The number of corps commanders deployed by the Demon King’s Army to capture me in that battle was two.

The battle in which I successfully eliminated one of those two, the 8th Corps Commander, Balisterd of the Black Blade.

And there, I lost my left arm… and my future.

“It was quite severely gouged out. The doctor said… it would be difficult for me to have children in the future.”

For me, it was already quite some time ago, so I spoke in a calm tone, but for the prince and Delphina, that seemed to make it even more painful to hear.

Delphina began to tremble with one hand covering her mouth, and the prince stared blankly at me, unable to recover from the shock.

The two seemed to have received such a shock that they couldn’t continue speaking.

I understand. In this era where the class system, nobility, and monarchy still remain, the inability to bear children is treated as a serious disability regardless of gender.

Especially for me, a princess of a nation, having a body that cannot bear children could in itself become an enormous disgrace.

“This is just hypothetical, but wouldn’t it be a big problem if it were revealed that the wife of a prince of a nation couldn’t have heirs?”

Upon hearing my words, the prince made an expression as if he had a mouthful of sand.

I don’t know how he might think of me, but this would probably break off the engagement.

Unlike the Prince Oscar I knew, the current Emperor of the Empire is ruthless.

He would probably act with the dissolution of the engagement in mind, as a crown prince’s wife who cannot have children would be useless.

How our kingdom would resolve this issue is a matter unrelated to me.

“…Princess Evangeline.”

Finally, the prince opened his mouth.

However, in a quite different tone from just before, he spoke to me.

“I don’t care.”

…What?

While I was taken aback by these unexpected words, he opened his mouth again.

“Whether you cannot have children, whether you have one arm, whether you have unsightly scars, I will never break off our engagement.”

What is he saying now?

So he still wants to marry me, is that it?

“Because, from the moment I first met you…”

Don’t.

I sort of know what you’re trying to say, so please don’t…!

“…I have been in love with you.”

Aaaaaaagh!!

I thought it wouldn’t happen, but he really said it?!

Don’t make that expression! Don’t make that utterly righteous face! Don’t look at me with those pure eyes!!

Delphina! Don’t cry with that moved expression!!

“If you’re trying to push me away out of consideration for my position as a prince of a nation, I’m afraid you’ve misjudged.”

Regardless of whether I was screaming and twisting my hands and feet inwardly, the prince continued speaking.

“But, if that’s not the case. If you’re still hesitating about our engagement…”

The prince said, rising from his seat.

“Then I should make more effort. So that you might turn to look at me.”

“W-wait a moment.”

“It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now. Princess Evangeline, and Lady Delphina. I wish you both a peaceful evening.”

With that final greeting, the prince left.

“No, wait a moment. That’s, I mean.”

With a confused mind, I stared blankly at the place where he had left.

At that moment, I heard the sound of sniffling from beside me.

“…Princess.”

When I turned my head toward the sobbing voice, Delphina was looking at me with tears welling up in her eyes.

“What should we do, this is so wonderful… so wonderful…”

No, don’t cry. What’s so wonderful? Don’t decide things on your own.

Before I could say anything, Delphina, who had misunderstood the situation on her own, embraced me and wet my neck with her tears.

‘…Oh, whatever.’

Unable to do anything, I sat down on the sofa, almost lying down, patting the sobbing Delphina.

The stormy first night in Polaris was gradually coming to an end.