The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

“There's no place for me in a collapsing empire. I'm just a pitiful loner.”
The empire’s downfall wasn’t news from yesterday or today.
Ransell had witnessed that process many times in his past lives, even dedicating his greatest efforts to stopping it.

But for a princess—especially a royal princess—to flee in the dead of night out of fear of the empire’s collapse, even going so far as to use the sacred Flower of the Soul artifact to attempt a perfect crime, was a fresh sight indeed.
“My oldest sister and brother… both changed after Father died. War is coming.”
Was she talking about the first princess and first prince?

Claria burrowed even deeper into Marigold’s embrace with a frightened expression.
‘A bird’s nature in a princess…’
During the days living as a red coral parrot, something instinctive seemed to have been etched into this woman through Marigold’s careful taming and handling.

Marigold silently stroked her hair.
Ransell wiped sweat from his brow and looked at the third princess.
“Um, Princess… Your Highness?”
The tone had changed toward Ransell. Considering the past third princess, this was an enormous transformation.

“No need to call me that, Ransell.”
“Still, why run off when there’s no place safer, fuller, and warmer than the royal family?”
“...Ransell, you don’t know anything.”

She shot a sharp glance.
“When the royal family’s atmosphere turned strange, everyone around me left. I was basically imprisoned.”
“But surely being imprisoned is better than turning into a bird? You spent a whole year in a cage, didn’t you?”

“Hmph.”
To be honest, in the past, Ransell hadn’t cared much about the third princess.
After all, she wasn’t a royal involved in the war. She was just a woman who would either hang around and be forgotten, die, or live and attend social gatherings—one of those three.

Looking back, it was the same in the game. She met a miserable and lonely end fitting for a villainous princess.
“Ransell doesn’t even know the emperor died, does he?”
‘Suddenly?’

Of course, he knew. But he feigned ignorance.
“What about the words the emperor left behind when he died? You don’t know?”
‘...The emperor’s will...!’

That, he truly didn’t know.
“How would I know that?”
“See? You know nothing!”
“Well, normally, no one knows.”

“Anyway, you know nothing!”
The will.
One of the imperial family’s top secrets that even Ransell hadn’t uncovered in his past life.

The emperor’s will was only secretly passed on to the rightful heirs who would inherit the empire.
‘Literally, the true heirs officially chosen by the emperor.’
Ransell didn’t know exactly who they were, only that the first princess was included.

But one thing was certain.
‘The third princess definitely wasn’t among them.’
Even if he were the emperor, he wouldn’t want to leave the empire’s shares to her. Naturally, it was normal for her to be unaware of the will.

“The emperor…”
The third princess Claria spoke.
“He told everyone in the royal family to distribute the empire fairly. I learned that just one month before I ran away.”

“Fairly…?”
For reference, the royal family consisted of seven princes and four princesses—eleven in total.
‘Distribute the empire jointly to at least eleven people?’

This wasn’t some lottery prize divided into ten parts.
The empire’s power was unique and the most valuable on this continent.
To divide it into at least eleven parts?

There was no way that would work properly.
“Before word got out that he died, he asked my oldest sister and brother to distribute it fairly… He left behind such an absurd request before dying. Do you understand now?”
‘...The emperor supposedly left the message, “Let the first princess and first prince distribute it however they want”? Is that true?’

As far as Ransell recalled, the first princess didn’t seem to have such an intention.
‘She believed that inheriting the throne was the only way to preserve the empire’s peace. That’s only natural.’
Honestly,

Ransell thought that was the most reasonable.
She was a bit crazy, but among the royals, the first princess was the smartest and most rational.
Because of that, she was probably the one with the greatest power now.

The reason Ransell had devoted three entire lives and used all his “total effort” to serve her was that.
Born into a knightly family, he felt his mission was to protect the empire’s peace. The first princess was essential for that.
“Then why didn’t you ask the first princess for help?”

“Ransell...!”
The third princess Claria opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“How can you say the same things as the royal family? I’m shocked…!”

Well, Ransell had once been one of the first princess’s closest aides.
But he kept silent because it was hard to say that aloud.
“Everyone knows nothing… and you want me to entrust my body to someone who wants to kill all royals? Isn’t that like walking straight into hell?”

“...?”
“Do you know how terrifying that sister is? Even before the emperor died, she built her own knights and army. Secretly!”
-Please, Ransell.

“She’s been planning to erase all of us from the world since then—a truly crazy woman! And you want me to entrust my life to her? Isn’t that just a nicer way of saying, ‘Go die quietly’?”
-This empire needs you.
“Understand? Starting the war, killing my siblings—it's all her doing.”

-Will you stand by my side?
“She’s the beginning of the war coming to this empire! A demon, tyrant, warmonger, murderer, just a madwoman...!”
-Even if hell awaits ahead.

“I’m scared!”
-My knight, Ransell Dante.
“Waaah! Mary!”

“Ah, Pia, calm down.”
“I’m scared, scared! Mary, kiss me!”
“Uh, uhmm?”

Watching Marigold nervously place her lips on the third princess’s forehead, Ransell’s head spun.
 
“I heard a new boss came in. What kind of person is he?”
“He supposedly took down a hundred people alone. Like that Blackbeard from sea legends.”

“Sure enough, his beard was black!”
A group of pirates roaming the coast were busy gossiping about the newly arrived captain.
Pirate captains often changed due to death or injury, but an outsider coming in was unusual even for them.

“Did he really take down a hundred people alone?”
“Some died messing around, some got hurt.”
“Terrifying!”

“Didn’t you hear from those who faced him? That Dove guy got completely wrecked.”
“This captain will live long, right?”
“Hehe, as long as he doesn’t drown falling into the sea chasing some woman.”

“Already getting some action, huh.”
“Wow, lucky. I should have been captain too.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you being captain...!”

The pirate sneered, then suddenly jerked his head sharply backward.
Crack!
An arrow buried itself in his forehead. The pirate’s skull pierced with a sound like a crushed coconut as he collapsed.

Whoosh!
Several more arrows sliced through the air.
“Ugh!”

“Ambush! Ambush!”
“Who is it! What guy is that!”
The pirates drew their swords simultaneously. Soon they saw what approached.

Through the shimmering sea haze came three huge ships. The familiar emblem flags came into view.
“Navy! Navy! The navy’s here!”
“Damn! How did they find this place!”

The head of a fleeing pirate was severed by a flashing blade, spinning through the air.
“Ugh!”
“Navy!”

Navy forces appeared simultaneously. They were the ones who first landed ashore on speedboats.
“Pirates really are skulking in places like this. I have a good feeling about this.”
Rocks Ruin wiped blood off his blade. A thick smile spread across his lips.

“Kill them all. Leave only one alive for a guide, and kill the rest!”
Looking at about a hundred sailors disembarking from the ship, Rocks Ruin took a deep breath.
The salty sea scent, the fishy smell of blood splashing here and there, and the fresh scent drifting from the distant jungle.

Everything brought him joy.
“Wonderful! The scent of my glory!”
Rocks Ruin drew his rapier and swiftly cut the Achilles tendon of a fleeing pirate.

“Ughhh!”
“Princess, Your Highness. I’m going!”
 
Ransell did not believe everything the third princess said.

After all, royals were the type who insisted their words were always right, so it was hard to trust any one of them.
He had once sincerely trusted only the first princess. But that trust was thrown far away once he realized the world didn’t follow her plan.
Now, for Ransell, the only person he trusted was Marigold.

In the countless loops of reincarnation, she was his only true companion.
“Your Highness. I have brought you here to return you to the royal family. I assume you are aware.”
“You intend to drive me to death, Ransell Dante!”

“They say they will bestow the title of Empire Hero upon you. That should be enough to disregard your personal circumstances.”
“You heartless man! After all the time we’ve spent together... it’s too cruel! Too /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ cruel! Mary, say something! Ransell is trying to kill me!”
The third princess’s face was full of terror. Whatever happened at the royal palace, she clearly didn’t want to go back.

Marigold hesitated as she looked at Ransell.
“I support your choice, Ransell...”
“Mary.”

Ransell cut her off. This time, he did not intend to decide.
“You choose.”
“Huh?”

===============
[Game Guide]
-Endings list updated!
Empire Hero Marigold — S Rank

Unconfirmed Ending — S Rank
※ You have reached the S Rank ending branch.
“I don’t care which one. I’ll go with whichever you want. That’s what I want.”

Marigold’s eyes flickered. She would know Ransell meant it.
In the past, he wanted nothing.
Neither the empire’s peace, nor the first princess’s ambition, nor his own ambition, nor obsession with strength, nor the desire to honor the Dante family—all had long turned to ashes.

Just an empty soul.
An endless reincarnation wanderer.
Maybe already a dead shell.

That was how Ransell recognized himself.
But meeting Marigold changed everything.
Now he had something to desire.

‘Marigold.’
Ransell wanted to grant her true wishes. He wanted to see her saved from misery.
He felt he couldn’t rest until he saw that.

“Mary. Tell me what you want.”
Yes. Since both were S Rank endings anyway, he wanted to follow whichever path Marigold chose.
“To take Your Highness to the royal family and claim glory… or to run far away with her.”

Marigold opened her mouth.
“...I...”