The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

The empire’s long-standing rival.
The Marigold Count family.
“How could that be?”

Ransell couldn’t shake his confusion.
Traitors?
Them?
As far as he remembered, the Marigold Count family wasn’t the kind to dare such a bold act.
Even in the occasional flashbacks of Marigold’s childhood in the game, he recalled only a benevolent count and his wife. Would such a kindhearted family have the nerve to defy the royal family?
If you asked someone to picture a typical warm and prosperous noble household, the Marigold Count family would probably fit the image with high probability.

“Marigold Count family. Traitors. Old adversaries.”
By then, the carriage had arrived at the palace gates.
“Well then, see you tomorrow at the imperial ball, Ransell. You shouldn’t skip it either. You’re at a fine age to be getting married.”

“The Marigold Count family...”
“...?”
“...I heard they vanished during the war. Is there something I don’t know?”

The Second Prince turned his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“It’s because of my father’s humanity. He even loved the old empire he crushed.”
The old empire.
His sister called it the “Elf Empire,” but somehow only the term “old empire” lingered across the continent.

“People tend to grow more thoughtful with age. My father didn’t want to go to hell. He caused so much bloodshed, you know?”
The Second Prince chuckled silently.
“But… no matter how much, do you think it’s right to leave the empire’s legacy to them? Don’t you think it’s a bit off, Ransell?”

“...”
“Whatever you do, don’t pry too much. I say this for your own good. Having lived a while, I can say there’s nothing more peaceful than ignorance.”
Patting Ransell’s shoulder, the Second Prince departed the carriage.

.
.
.
“I don’t know.”
Ransell’s head ached, but he decided not to overthink it. Simplicity was best in moments like this.
“I’ll just take her away.”

Right. Only the Second Prince knew that “Mary” was really “Marigold.”
Better to snatch her and hide her somewhere safe. If she could just survive hidden until the tenth year, that would be enough.
The continent was vast, there were many places to hide Marigold, and ten years was a short time for the royal family to pursue her.
Ransell turned the carriage toward where Mary was. The streets were already buzzing with festival excitement.

“What? Mary is at the pre-ball party right now?”
“What?”
Ransell heard of Mary’s whereabouts from the house she had prepared in the capital.

‘Where is she wandering at this hour?’
The maid kept answering him while absorbed in cleaning.
“She hurried off to see Lord Ransell in the first place... so why is she here? Didn’t Lord Ransell call for her?”

“Called? Me?”
“They said a noble called her...”
Bang-!

“Oh my!”
The maid flinched at the sound of Ransell rushing out, shrinking her shoulders. In his sight was already his distant departing back.
 
“Huff, huff.”

“Why do you keep sighing like that?”
Pina’s chattering voice flew into Marigold’s ear as she took a deep breath.
“Ugh, I just can’t calm down.”

Marigold held her head in the carriage, dressed perfectly for the pre-ball party.
“What do I say when I meet him? What do I do? Should I ask for a dance first?”
“We’re always together; what’s still awkward? Just relax.”

“A party is different, Pina! A party is a real battle!”
“Isn’t it just dancing and eating snacks?”
“No, it’s not! Huff, huff!”

Her heart was already pounding.
—There’s someone waiting at the pre-ball party. I will serve you and accompany you.
When the carriage came to greet her, her heart felt like it was floating.

Under the dark sky, the brightly shining palace ballroom appeared. Marigold seemed to face the tensest moment of her life.
“We’ve arrived, Lady Mary.”
“Gasp!”

Before she ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ could gather her thoughts, they reached the ballroom.
“I’ll escort you this way.”
“Y-yes!”

Marigold awkwardly moved toward the ballroom interior.
“We’ve arrived, Lord Ransell.”
“Good work.”

“Lord Ransell?”
Ransell jumped out of the carriage hastily.
The palace ballroom entrance was crowded with well-dressed nobles, grouped in clusters blocking his path.

“Excuse me, coming through.”
Ransell boldly pushed through them.
“Eek! Why are you so rude?”

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”
“No! My drink!”
“Oh dear, are you hurt? Listen, nobleman, keep some dignity.”

Despite the noisy protests, he paid no mind and soon entered the dazzling ballroom interior.
The lavish decorations, sparkling chandeliers, soft music, people dancing and chatting.
Ransell scanned the complicated scene. Soon a maid appeared before him.

“Can I help you with something?”
“Have you seen a person named Mary?”
“Pardon? Mary... who might that be?”

“Never mind.”
Ransell passed the maid and entered further.
‘Where on earth did she go?’

Soon after, a familiar face appeared.
“Oh! Lord Ransell!”
The already quite drunk Baron Evil Shen. Ransell grabbed his shoulder tightly.

“Mary!”
“Ugh! You’re going to bruise me, why suddenly?”
“Have you seen Mary?”

“Mary? The one I know?”
“Mary, the junior baron.”
“Huh? Never heard of her. Where are you going, Lord Ransell? Hey! Why don’t you stay a bit longer...”

Ransell brushed him off quickly. The baron’s disappointed eyes followed him, but there was no time to entertain complaints.
=============
—Encounter event triggered! ‘First Prince Delphi Aron Freesia’ met Marigold.
※The blossoming garden in the palace courtyard makes Marigold appear even more beautiful. (Grace, Charm, Morality UP!!)

‘…!’
At just the right moment, a system alert appeared and Ransell stomped the floor.
Pushing past the blocking nobles toward the palace garden, chaos followed his path.

Outside the palace, he ran toward the garden.
Through countless scattered flower petals, he gained speed.
“Come this way.”

Marigold felt the tense air upon arriving in the garden.
Armored knights were sparsely stationed around, as if encircling her. At the destination was the back of a man dressed neatly in uniform.
Her unease turned to certainty — she immediately knew it wasn’t Ransell.

“In November, it falls.”
A much taller stature.
Long hair for a man.

A posture with no excess.
The man brought a golden hydrangea to his lips, savoring the scent.
“In June, it blooms again.”

The man slowly turned.
Marigold took a step back. She felt an unprecedented terror emanate from him.
“You’re alive, Marigold.”

Her name pierced chillingly into her ears. Not “Mary” but “Marigold.”
“...!”
Marigold kept backing away. She urgently summoned her magic. She had to get away from here. Her acute awareness awakened.

“Miss!”
Pina’s cry erupted.
“Mary!”

At the familiar voice, Marigold looked back. Ransell holding a sword filled her vision. Relief washed over her.
“Ransell...!”
Thunk!

A chilling sensation pierced through Marigold’s lungs.
“Ransell...!”
A silver-white blade pierced Marigold’s chest.

“...Sir...?”
‘Ah.’
Marigold the Returner’s first iteration ended in a brutal finale. The scene slowly imprinted itself on Ransell’s eyes.

Blood trickled from her lips. Her legs gave out and she collapsed. Behind her, an armored knight sheathed his blade.
The cold air, the scent of hydrangea, the faint smell of blood, gazes gathering on Ransell, the First Prince’s silent expression. Every element etched itself onto Ransell’s retina.
“Marigold.”

Honestly, even now, he didn’t understand what Marigold wanted to do.
He had no idea what the Darkhood’s purpose was, or how the entity Lemon Verbena came to be.
He only instinctively felt that, since it was Marigold, it wasn’t anything too serious.

But—
“Ransell Dante. You’ve been unlucky. Had you been just a little later, you might have survived.”
The First Prince’s voice caused Ransell to quietly watch the fallen Marigold. She coughed painfully, soaked in blood.

“Pathetic, Marigold.”
Knights slowly approached him.
Ransell bitterly tasted the moment.

 
Marigold opened her eyes in the garden flowerbed.
A familiar sensation. She realized she was lying with her head on someone’s leg. Slowly she raised her gaze to meet a familiar face and eyes.
Only then did Marigold realize she was cradled in Ransell’s arms.

“Hehe.”
“Hah.”
Her instinctive smile seemed a little absurd, and Ransell couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“You’re the only one I’ve ever seen smile after getting stabbed.”
“A stab… I was stabbed?”
“Not only that, it pierced a vital spot. You’re probably dying.”

“Hmm, but why doesn’t it hurt?”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Th-That’s... fortunate?”

“Better than hurting.”
“...Ah...”
Though pale and shadowed under her eyes, Marigold’s smile lingered at her lips.

In a way, she was remarkable. Compared to her newbie Returner self, Marigold’s spirit might be many times stronger. That’s what Ransell thought.
“Are you laughing?”
“…Anyway… I’ll meet you again.”

Her voice was faint, barely audible. Ransell listened silently.
“Next time, I’ll do better…”
“Do better at what?”

“...Anything…”
Her eyelids slowly closed.
 
Marigold’s consciousness faded completely. The strength left her hand clasped in Ransell’s.

‘RIP. Marigold, first iteration.’
She never became imperial consort.
Maybe she never would.
What if she proceeded while thoroughly hiding her status?
What if she were forcibly made consort?
Would that have worked? Maybe she could have even married.

Ransell shook his head.
He didn’t think that was the answer.
No.

He no longer cared.
He didn’t want to keep feeding Marigold to those damn bastards. It never led anywhere.
He silently looked down at Marigold peacefully asleep.

“You asleep?”
Strangely, a weird feeling came over him.
Ransell realized how quiet the world was without Marigold. It had been a long time since a world without her. Her dead body felt strangely unfamiliar.

Maybe because he held her corpse in his arms, feeling her fading through skin contact. As if she could suddenly wake and start spouting nonsense again.
“Hey. Can I pinch your cheek?”
He held her hand quietly until all warmth left and she grew cold.

Behind the scenes.
The curtain fell on the story.
Ransell remained alone on stage.
It was already October. The season when flowers wither, winter.
“…Honestly, I’m not expecting much from the second iteration either…”

He let out a short chuckle.
And so ten years passed.
.
.
.

[Playtime: 3 years 131 days]
—Marigold has died.
—No marriage partner.
—Achievements earned.
▶ Popular socialite +50 points.
▷ Wanted by the royal court +50 points.

—Total score: 100 points. (Remaining inheritance points until second iteration: 300/1500)
[Save.01 — Promise]
—Save slot ‘Save.01’ has been recorded.
—Viewing memories.

.
.
.
“Lord Ransell.”
“Why.”

“Is it okay if I just cling to you and do nothing?”
“...Sometimes life is like that. Every day feels like a vacation and that’s nice.”
“Next time, I want to do better.”

“Life sounds like there are several prepared for you.”
“What would you do if there really were several?”
“That’d be amazing.”

“Well… if the next life comes, please marry me.”
“What a sudden thing to say.”
“If there’s a next life, you can at least do that much!”

“...I’ll think about it.”
“Positively?”
“Yes. Positively.”

“I’m counting on it.”
[Promise — Save.01]
—Would you like to restart the game?

.
.
.
“...?”
Ransell blinked at a screen he had never seen before. The ending — or rather, was it an ending? — was nothing but a conversation between a maid and a rogue noble.

‘Save?’
He didn’t know.
Ransell quietly reflected on what had happened in this iteration.

-Returner Marigold.
If she earned achievement points again and returned, how would it be?
“Returner Marigold” would appear again before Ransell, bearing the memories of dying in his arms.
Whether that would help or hinder was unknown.

Only one thing was certain.
‘Forget the princes and everything else. Just give me a happy ending!’
Yes. A happy ending. Something bright and hopeful. That was all Ransell wished for now.

He believed only Marigold’s ‘true happiness’ could save him from this tedious loop.
.
.
.
And then.

“Please take good care of me! I heard you’re the one who’s going to help me.”
Ransell reunited with Marigold — this time, no longer the Returner.
“Mary, I’m the record keeper at the Imperial Central Administration.”

[Inheritance First Iteration. Behind-the-Scenes Ransell — END]
[NEXT — Civil Servant Marigold]