The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

During the three days left until the wedding, Merigold’s mood swung between heaven and hell.
“Lord Dante is marrying the steward’s daughter?”
“Huh, that’s unbelievable.”
“He acted like he wasn’t interested in women, but I guess even the empire’s three greatest beauties can’t be resisted.”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to resist either. How can anyone resist one of the three greatest beauties? I’d want to know his secret.”
Everyone gathered inside the mercenary guild burst out in surprise, and for some reason, each glanced cautiously at Merigold.

“Merigold must be deeply heartbroken.”
“She’s been off since this morning…”
Merigold heard their whispers as clearly as if they were spoken directly into her ear, no matter how quietly they spoke.
She strode up to them with determined steps.

“Aren’t you working? Do you think the mercenary guild is an inn or a tavern?”
“D-did you hear that?”
“Hear what? Anyway, if you keep loafing around, I’ll report you to the master.”
“I-I don’t have any work right now, what can I do?”
Merigold’s hand moved toward the scabbard.
“Well then, how about some sparring to warm up?”
“I-I, I think I should get going.”
“C-come, come with me!”

This happened several times just today.
She didn’t know why people were suddenly so conscious of her because of the master’s marriage news, but one thing was clear: it was irritating her terribly.
“You’ll meet a good person, Miss Meri. How about me?”
“No, thank you.”

Even the number of people hitting on her and sticking close increased more than usual.
The day before the wedding arrived.
“Mary, don’t take any requests today and come with me.”
“Huh?”
“We’re going to buy some new clothes.”
“But I already have a lot of clothes.”
“To enter the imperial palace, you have to wear something decent. I told you we’d go together.”

For some unknown reason, Lancel ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) said he would bring Merigold along to the palace where the wedding would take place.
Thanks to that, Merigold spent the entire day going to high-end clothing stores and getting a dress made from head to toe.
“You look beautiful, it suits you well.”

Or,
“The prince will fall for you.”
Endless compliments from Lancel made Merigold feel like she was floating.
But then,

“Well, who is this! Isn’t this the steward’s son-in-law? Sir Lancel! How on earth did you manage to charm one of the empire’s three greatest beauties?”
“Who knows? When he said he was starting a mercenary guild, I thought he was some cranky young man, but hehehe.”
Whenever nobles from the empire who recognized Lancel on the street spoke, her body stiffened.
—Lancel Dante is marrying the Lady of Iceford!

In the imperial capital of Rodness, notorious for spreading rumors especially about affairs, the news had already spread widely within days. No matter where you went, you could hear similar news.
“So, what about children? Planning to have them right after marriage?”
“Well, I haven’t thought that far yet. No rush, right?”
“Come on, why act like that among people who know each other?”
“What are you talking about?”
“This — have you already done it?”
Frivolous hand gestures. Laughter spread from the nobles watching.

“Ha ha ha!”
“Khuh huh huh huh!”
Crack.
A crack appeared on the wooden cup in Merigold’s hand. Marriage, children, a harmonious family...

“Grrrgh!”
She bit into the hard bread roughly.
It was strange. Merigold felt as if a burning ember had settled right in the center of her chest.

Every time she heard talks about marriage, Lady of Iceford, the empire’s three greatest beauties, it was like a blast of wind fanning that ember, growing the fire inside her.
The heat rising from her body made it certain.
“Mary, you eat half and spill half.”
“The bread! It’s hard! I can’t help it! Grrrgh!”
“Eat with your hands. That’s expensive clothing.”

But whenever Lancel Dante approached, the fire quieted again.
Merigold repeated this process all day long.
“Do you maybe like him?”
“Huh?”

Before falling asleep that day, Pinna asked.
“Lancel, sir.”
“Do you like him? Me? The master?”
“Yes. Do you like him?”
“Well, I guess I do.”
“Not like that. Do you like him as a woman? Like wanting to kiss him?”
“W-what...?”
Merigold’s lips stammered.

Lancel Dante was the man who had appeared in her dreams long ago — as her husband in her previous life.
Every time she saw him, Merigold felt a nostalgic emotion, as if recalling her mother who had left when she was young.
Holding him close, memories from that time flooded back, making her not want to let go. That was certain. But was that really liking? Was it really love? Merigold didn’t know well what that feeling was.

“I am...”
What kind of person was he?
Why did he appear in her dreams?

Why was she continually drawn to that man?
If there was a god, she wanted to ask him.
Yes.

God.
...
“God!!!”

Seeing the woman screaming her lungs out to the sky, anger welled up inside Merigold.
Lancel Dante covered his ears completely.
“What should we do about this?”
“You need to understand. She’s my daughter, but once her eyes wander, she acts like this.”

Even the court count who had rushed over after hearing the news held his head.
“Anyway, the ceremony must be held within two hours. There are too many people gathered now to postpone.”
“Tch, what a headache.”
Various plans flowed quickly.

Let’s calm her down, shut her mouth, knock her out and drag her, cast a spell and control her, and so on.
But all were rejected.
“My partner must be the prince... sob sob...”

A chill ran through Merigold’s gaze.
“Your eyes are terrifying, Mary.”
“This is the average for noble daughters spoiled rotten, master.”
“Don’t forget that the person who spoiled her is listening nearby.”
“I’m fine with that. It’s true.”
Even the court count admitted it cleanly. Apparently, even he thought his daughter was a handful.

“But, Lord, something came to mind when I saw the bridal attire.”
Breaking the silence was Hesti.
She held up the veil the bride was supposed to wear on her face.

“So the nobles of the empire put this on and hold the ceremony?”
“Yes, that’s right. But why?”
“Then can’t I just put it on and hold the ceremony myself?”
“...Hesti, you’re out of your mind.”
“Is it strange?”
“To have a stand-in at the wedding?”
Lancel smiled wryly.
He glanced at the court count, who immediately made a disgusted face.

“Don’t think nonsense. This is the emperor’s event.”
“I’ll take responsibility.”
Lancel didn’t worry much. As long as they weren’t caught, it was fine. Even if exposed, it didn’t matter. Lancel already knew who the current emperor (fake) was. That person wouldn’t care about something like this. He might even enjoy the spectacle.
The court count sighed at Lancel’s repeated words.

“I’m not involved. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be fully responsible.”
“Of course.”
He’d even cut off the prince’s neck, would this scare him?
 
“Enter.”

The wedding hall buzzed with the crowd of nobles gathered.
A wedding at the imperial palace was one of the rarest parties. Moreover, the steward’s daughter was getting married? Most people dropped urgent matters to come.
“In the name of God, I, Freesia, bless this marriage of two people.”

The emperor who presided over the wedding was still behind the curtain.
“The two who will become husband and wife, step forward and face each other.”
Lancel was not particularly moved by the dazzling indoor decorations or the countless gazes upon him.

He was busy feeling déjà vu from the presence of the bride walking beside him.
‘Are those shoes too high?’
The nobles’ reactions were similar.

“Was she always that tall?”
“She’s a bit tall for a woman, isn’t she? No wonder she’s one of the empire’s three greatest beauties.”
“Still, she looks taller than usual.”
“My woman... the one who should have been mine... sniff.”
Some were seen sobbing. There were quite a few nobles who had been courting the Lady of Iceford.
Hesti didn’t utter a single word since appearing with the veil.

‘My first marriage partner in life is Hesti.’
Strictly speaking, Merigold had come first, but Lancel had no memory of that. At least for him, this was his first marriage.
Amid the shower of bright yellow petals falling like rain, Lancel and Hesti faced each other.

“Silence. Everyone, listen.”
The emperor raised his hand from behind the curtain.
“Before these two who became one today lie many trials, days of breaking and shattering will always block their way. But if they rely on and help each other, I, Freesia, believe without a doubt that they will overcome it in the end.”

At that moment, Lancel realized.
The identity of the person in front of him.
How could he not know? The contour of the face beneath the veil was that of the person Lancel knew best in this world.

‘Merigold?’
He barely managed to say the words: Why are you here?
The wedding continued.

‘Is this Hesti’s doing?’
It could be nothing else.
Lancel looked at Merigold’s trembling shoulder. Among countless eyes, she was nervous.

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder and gazed into the eyes beneath the veil. He felt her trembling gradually calm.
“God. Under this sky blessed by divine grace, these two have finally become husband and wife.”
The archbishop of the royal family finally began the proclamation.

“Now, neither good nor evil, neither death nor time nor eternity shall separate these two!”
===========
—Merigold once again stood in the same place as the man from her memories. She instinctively sensed that their bond was so strong it could not be severed even by a blade.
※ The bond with the young noble Lancel Dante has increased.
※ Album points ‘300 points’ have been accumulated. Upon reaching 1500 points, ‘Succession of Memories’ will open.

Through the falling petals, Merigold’s face was visible. Lancel gave a bitter smile.
‘Is it over again this time?’
But for some reason, he didn’t hate it.
Rather, he felt relieved.
Because there was infinite time left.

“Kiss the couple.”
Lancel approached Merigold and kissed her.
===========
TIP: When Succession of Memories opens, all recollections can be viewed. Also, the game can be started with all abilities acquired.

“Huh?”
The thought of what that meant quickly disappeared, buried in the warm heat felt from her lips.
 
“Your Majesty.”

That evening.
A servant arrived at the emperor’s bedchamber.
“The Fifth Prince, who had gone to war, has sent an urgent message requesting reinforcements.”
“…So he caused trouble after all, running around on the battlefield.”

The emperor’s voice behind the curtain was no longer the heavy voice of a middle-aged man as before.
It was completely the opposite.
A young woman’s voice.

“Prepare troops by tomorrow and send them along with the Sixth Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Wait.”
The voice stopped the servant.
“Send Lancel Dante as well.”
“If you send someone who just got married straight to the battlefield, people will talk. Are you sure about that?”

A low laugh came from behind the curtain.
“They say he’s such a skilled knight that even the Third Prince personally recommended him. It might be worth trusting him once.”