The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

“If you stay here, we’ll assign you three servants soon.”
Suddenly promoted to senior officer, Ransell was given accommodation on the highest floor of the naval base.
A residence with a sea and archipelago view in a single glance.

Three rooms, one living room, one bathing facility, and one private restroom.
Compared to a mansion on the mainland, it felt somewhat modest for a noble.
But considering the navy’s culture of cramming soldiers into cramped, chicken-coop-like quarters to train patience to endure narrow ships,

this level of lodging was practically a palace.
“So spacious……”
Marigold, who had followed Ransell, kept exclaiming in awe as she glanced around the rooms.

‘That girl, who was a count’s daughter just four years ago, is already soaked in navy life. Looking at a room like this with such envy.’
Moreover, the Marigold count family was a noble house famous across the empire for its wealth.
Marigold had lived her whole life with every comfort, cared for by countless retainers.
“Haah…… It’s so big that it’s hard to explore the whole place in a day.”

“Don’t exaggerate. It won’t even take a minute.”
Yet now, just this level of facility sparked a gleam of envy in her eyes.
Five years.

It seemed enough time for Marigold’s soul to become that of a commoner.
‘Should I call this adaptability…?’
Even Ransell, being human, couldn’t help but feel some pity.

“Hey. Mary! Put that down while I’m being nice.”
“Ah, I didn’t notice!”
“Be careful!”

Startled by the superior’s warning, Marigold’s hand slipped sharply, dropping the vase she was holding.
“Ah!”
“No!”

Crash!
The vase shattered into pieces.
“Kyaaa!”

“Mary! You caused an accident again! [N O V E L I G H T] Again!”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll clean it up! Right away!”
“Of course you must! The vase’s cost will be deducted from your next salary, understand?”
“Sniff, yes!”

With tears welling up, Marigold was picking up the ceramic shards.
“……”
“You’re still a young sailor, so please understand, Sir Ransell.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry, just clean it properly.”
“Did you hear that, Mary?”
“Yes! I’ll clean it up! I won’t leave a single piece behind!”

What else could be expected?
Marigold is Marigold.
“Ahem.”

At that moment,
Ransell turned around at a sound from the entrance.
“Clears throat.”

A naval officer dressed in pristine white uniform leaned on the entrance, drawing Ransell’s attention.
“Since you’ve come next door to where I stay, it’s reasonable to think you’re a knight too. It’s been a while since a knight entered among the officers here.”
He was a man who constantly brushed back his neatly combed hair with his hand, his voice sounding as if he’d gulped down a bowl of oil.

Three rapiers hanging from his waist caught the eye.
“What’s this? Private First Class Mary, you didn’t introduce me.”
“Ah, ah! Yes! This is, um, well……”

“……?”
“Uh, uhuh… very high-ranking……”
Marigold’s eyes were filled with confusion.
It was clear she either didn’t know or had forgotten his name.

“Um, uh, huh? Well……”
A vein slowly bulged on the officer’s forehead, and unable to bear it, the Private First Class stepped forward.
“This is Rox Ruin, heir to the Ruin count family.”

“I see.”
Ransell gave a deadpan reaction. He already knew the name.

Who in the archipelago wouldn’t?

After all, the Ruin family—
“The Ruin Count is an elder leading one of the six alliances in the archipelago. Lord Rox here is his eldest son.”
In short, a very high rank.

It was true.
The Ruin Count was ranked first overall in the archipelago.
He was the head of one of the empire’s few prestigious naval families who immediately enrolled all his children into the navy as soon as they could walk.

“Ahem.”
Rox snorted loudly, smoothing his clothes, expressing confidence as if to say, ‘With this explanation, you’ll understand how great I am.’
“Yes.”

“……”
Ransell’s emotionless reaction caused Rox’s face to twitch.
He understood he was impressive, but not impressive enough to excite Ransell.

By now, Ransell had reached the point where even royals failed to impress him, so the count’s son didn’t catch his attention.
“If you’re done, you two should leave. I want to wash up and lie down quickly.”
“Ah, understood. Let’s go, Mary.”

“See you again, Sir Ransell!”
Private First Class Mary and Marigold left.
Facing the dazed Rox, Ransell slowly closed the door.

Creak.
Slowly.
Bang!

“Oof!”
Rox hit his nose retreating, his heavy breathing soon heard.
There was no real ill will. He simply didn’t want to get close to that guy. The slicked-back hair and the greasy oil were just too much.

That was all.
Bang!
The next-door lodging door slammed roughly shut.

 
———
[Fallen Noble Lady Simulation]
Writing the schedule for the 4th week of July.
Mon – Navy dock deep cleaning. (Location: Dock, deck)
Tue – Navy postal duty. (Location: Navy post office)
Wed – Archipelago sea patrol. (Location: Sea)
Thu – Archipelago city patrol. (Location: Archipelago)
Fri – Monthly training evaluation. (Location: Archipelago beach)
Sat – Monthly training evaluation. (Location: Archipelago beach)
Sun – Combat rest day.

※ A new officer has joined! Worried if they’ll be a good person, but somehow they don’t feel unfamiliar. This week too, live daily bravely as a navy member! Strength, stamina, condition UP!
———
Baron Coral told Ransell, who still lacked a proper role, to remain on standby for the time being.
Standby.

Standby, huh.
From Ransell’s point of view, that just sounded like “go play and do nothing,” so he decided to obey Baron Coral’s instructions faithfully.
‘The recruit standby period is pretty sweet.’

-Monday.
“Scrub the wood until it shines! Anyone caught resting will be sent to a task so unboring they won’t feel sleepy! Got it, Mary?”
“Yes!”
“Do you think scrubbing like that will clean the deck? Use all your strength! Like this! Like this!”

“Yes, sir!”
Among the sailors dying under the officers’ shouts, Marigold’s name was called frequently.
“Mary!”
“Yes!”
“Maryyy!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Mary, you idiot!”
“Sorry!”

Peaceful times.
Ransell watched the rolling Marigold with a relaxed gaze.

“One more mistake and it’s punishment! Understand?”

“Yes, yes!”
A series of big and small accidents.
‘She’s just a torturer.’

Occasionally, Ransell spotted Marigold mingling with juniors in unseen corners.
“You saw it, right? Without me, the naval base doesn’t run. So many people look for me every day that it’s a real burden.”
“As expected of Private First Class Mary.”

‘What is she talking about?’
The juniors didn’t fully believe it either, but Marigold’s pride was highest when she was with them.
-Tuesday.

“Let’s go.”
The next day, Marigold put on tight-fitting clothes and jumped into the sea, carrying a large waterproof wooden barrel on her back.
“Ruby, please.”

-Puoooo!
Marigold was seen riding the whale’s back, moving off into the distance.
In the archipelago, even delivering letters was a navy duty.

Ransell suddenly asked.
“Is it okay to entrust postal duty to a mere Private First Class? Surely there must be many letters for nobles. What if they get lost?”
“Are you talking about Mary?”

Baron Coral exhaled cigarette smoke and looked at her back.
“She’s not exactly reliable, but the whales listen to her well. Despite appearances.”
Listen well? Whales?

“Watching, it’s almost like they communicate. If you assign others, they spend ages calming the whales. Sometimes they can’t even depart.”
Thinking back, Ransell had never seen those ill-tempered whales resist Mary.
Whenever he visited the island, he had often tried to ride the whales himself. Never succeeded. They were shy creatures.

‘Mary’s got some talent.’
So she wasn’t completely empty-handed.
‘Well, she’s the protagonist after all.’

He once had grass growing on his head too, so talking to animals wasn’t that surprising.
Later, Ransell met Marigold again when she was carrying the mailbags, while he was strolling briefly in the port.
“Mail’s here!”

“Oh, Mary! Good job! Come have a bite?”
“Hehe, shall I?”
“Then come in quickly!”

Marigold barged into the sailors’ meal by the grill and hurriedly started eating.
“Thanks for the meal!”
“Come again when bored!”

She always slipped away like that whenever she got a chance.
Picking fruit, gathering clams, chasing fish schools, hanging around fishermen’s boats.
She gave out letters while doing as much mischief as possible.

By the time the mailbags were empty, the whole sea was already carpeted with a red sunset.
“Played enough, let’s head back, Ruby.”
In a way, she was truly faithful to her life.

‘Living a more peaceful life than I am.’
Ransell felt he might have a relatively easy round this time.
Though busy, being in the navy meant at least his basic needs were covered.

“I will attend to your bath, Sir Ransell.”
That night,
Ransell closed his eyes, letting the maids care for him.

Feeling the hot water poured, he briefly imagined life in the archipelago with Marigold.
‘Surprisingly not bad.’
Yes.

This might be a good round after all.
No matter how casually he took his vacation, he probably still cared where Marigold was and what she was doing.
He must have worried if she had met the worst possible ending.

Thinking so, confirming Marigold was well might have made this a better vacation.
Even if she had become a navy officer.
The archipelago was a peaceful place.

.
.
.
“Pirates!”
“All hands, prepare to sail!”

The next morning, the alarm awakening the navy headquarters echoed loudly.
Officers and soldiers alike rushed out in a swarm, boarding ships.