The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

Soul Flower.
Also known as the Emperor’s Flower.

Ransell recalled the name of the flower inside the bottle.
“I’m back.”
The bodies of Ransell and Marigold, which had switched for a brief moment, returned exactly to normal after one minute.

Until just moments ago, Ransell had been inside Marigold’s body, and Marigold inside his.
If it wasn’t a hallucination, it was an undeniable fact.
And that was the power of this flower.

The effect of this flower was to randomly swap the souls of all beings within its surrounding area.
=============
Item: Soul Flower.
Effect: Randomly swaps souls within a 2-meter radius for 1 minute.
※Effect activates once a year immediately when the petals receive light.

Yes.
Just for exactly one minute.
“Sir Ransell, what was that just now...?”
“Shh. You didn’t see anything. You saw nothing and nothing happened. Understood?”
Ransell’s voice was calm.

Marigold quickly covered her mouth, squeezed her eyes shut, and nodded vigorously. She seemed to have noticed his serious expression.
‘Why did something that should have quietly stayed hidden flow in here?’
Ransell frowned.

He was bothered by how an item that should have been carefully buried in imperial reports had ended up just as part of the loot.
“Sir Ransell? It seems the navy is arriving outside.”
Marigold tugged his sleeve.

Judging by the noise from the upper deck, reinforcements were arriving.
Ransell quietly looked at the flower bottle in his hand, then put it back into the box.
‘The flower’s effect only comes around once a year. For now, it’s just a decorative plant.’

They didn’t know. Had never seen it.
The only witness, Marigold, seemed to have no particular thoughts about what had just happened. Not fully understanding what had occurred — which was fortunate.
“Before the navy arrives... shall we take a little more?”
“If we get caught, it’s straight to jail.”
“Just this much!”

Marigold found a ring and slipped it onto her ring finger.
It was a gold ring similar to the ones Ransell had.
.
.
.

“Ransell Dante! Heard you pulled something off? As expected, you belong as either navy or pirate. My predictions never miss!”
As they brought the captured pirate ship in, Captain Coral the Baron greeted him, patting his back.
“I heard the spoils were plentiful. Did you bring back some?”
“Yes, well, about this much.”
Ransell raised both hands, showing the gold ring shining on his ring finger.

“A pair of rings? Tsk tsk, if that’s all the navy officer’s generosity, what are you going to do?”
He looked disappointed.
“I’ll save you a few for your share later. Soldiers go straight to jail if caught, but officers get to have some fun.”

Lowering his voice, Baron Coral patted his back again.
“Hahaha!”
The energy behind those pats was enough to shake eyeballs.

Ransell, not to be outdone, grabbed Marigold, who was wandering nearby for no reason.
“Sir Ransell? Ugh! Ack! Waaah! Krrk! Ugh!”
Pats, pats, pats.

Baron Coral kept patting her back with the same force.
“Private Ransell.”
“Yes, Baron.”
“You heard?”
“...?”
“The Third Princess is coming to the archipelago. Didn’t you hear?”
“...Yes?”
Ransell released Marigold, eyes wide.

“Is that true?”
“Of course. I heard directly from the Count. She’s already on board the ship heading here, so she should arrive by tomorrow evening at the latest.”
“What is she coming here for?”
Why?
Why her?
Why the Third Princess?
“I don’t know. But surely she wouldn’t come without a reason. The royal family’s busy, and she wouldn’t travel this far just for leisure.”

Busy indeed.
They spent every day embroiled in love affairs, parties, pleasures, luxuries, and gambling.
Whether their children’s prospects failed or not, they were always busy every day.
It was the first time in dozens of cycles that the archipelago saw her arrival. It was truly “the day luck struck.”

“You know the rumors about the Third Princess?”
“If you don’t, you’re no citizen of the empire.”
“Good, that saves time. Take this chance to get some clothes made, fix your hair, and come back looking sharp. The Count generously lent everything you need.”
“...Yes. But I’ll be bringing this one instead of maids.”
“Wha!”
Ransell suddenly lifted the collar at the back of Marigold’s neck.
She looked like a helpless mouse caught stealing.

“I heard you’ve been secretly eavesdropping. I’m taking you to keep you quiet.”
“It’s not really a secret that the princess is visiting, but whatever. Get going. This is your first duty this week, so be back by dawn at the latest.”
 
“Is the Third Princess very scary?”
On the way to the White Castle, Ransell briefly recalled ‘that woman’ in response to Marigold’s question.

The Third Princess, Klaria Arild Frisia.
If he had to sum her up in one sentence:
“She’s a famous beauty-obsessed idiot.”
“Beau... idiot?”
“Simply put, she obsesses over appearances. Being pretty or handsome.”
“Oh!”

In the game, she was openly cast as a villainess.
She didn’t want to share any man she fancied with anyone else.
Imagine how scary it would be if an ordinary noblewoman did this; now imagine that woman as a princess. Truly terrifying.

She frequently targeted the game’s protagonist, Marigold, with intense jealousy.
A classic villain heroine by the book.
At a banquet in a certain count’s territory where Ransell first saw her, she caused all sorts of mischief just because a servant looked unpleasant.

Her relationship with Ransell wasn’t good either.
—“About 9 points, Ransell Dante.”
—“What’s the perfect score?”
—“Obviously 100.”
Damn.

He never expected that woman to be the game’s Klaria, the Third Princess.
“Hmm...”
“Why the sudden seriousness?”
“Nothing.”
Marigold suddenly looked troubled.

Before he could wonder why, they arrived at White Castle.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Ransell Dante. I’m Ansello, the Count Ruin’s hairdresser.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“And your navy companion...?”
He felt it.

The hairdresser kept glancing at the rings on Ransell’s and Marigold’s ring fingers.
Clearly imagining a complicated affair.
“Ahem.”

Marigold pretended not to care, emphasizing her ring finger more conspicuously.
“I’m just a subordinate, don’t get any strange ideas.”
“Ah, yes…”
A suspicious reaction.

“Oh my... You haven’t had a haircut in a while, have you? You’ve been too focused on your knightly duties. Let me tidy you up.”
“Please do.”
Ransell closed his eyes.
Only the sounds of waves in the distance, scissors trimming hair, and the hairdresser occasionally holding his breath in concentration were heard.

Just as a breeze blew through the window making him drowsy, he opened his eyes feeling strange. Marigold was right in front of him, poking her face close.
“What are you doing?”
“Sir Ransell.”
Snip, snip.

As hair fell, Marigold looked at him worriedly.
“Am I also a beauty-obsessed idiot?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Sigh.”
So that was the reason for her sudden silence.

She seemed to be seriously worried.
“How do you like it, Sir Ransell?”
“Well, he’s a hairdresser appointed by the Count.”
“Flattering words. If you go next door, the tailor will fit your clothes.”
Dressed neatly, Marigold’s worries deepened.

“I’m really a worthless person, Sir Ransell.”
“No matter the reason, isn’t that just an illusion?”
Being a beauty-obsessed idiot isn’t necessarily bad. Besides, Ransell often heard people say he was handsome—but by the princess’s standards, he was only 9 points out of 100. By her standards.
‘No, maybe I’m quite good-looking by this world’s standards?’

Yeah.
Maybe the Third Princess had unusual tastes, and Ransell might actually rank high in charm by this world’s measure.
‘Yeah. I’m okay. I work out, so I’m physically fit.’

===============
[Game Guide]
-Unlocked achievements found.

Doesn’t care about appearance at all.
Experience only with one person (30 cycles). —A Rank!—
Only one lover (30 cycles). —A Rank!—

Navy couple romance.
???
※Needs more varied gameplay.

===============
“What...?”
“Huh?”
“No. That wasn’t meant for you.”
Not caring about appearance ‘at all’...

‘Merry has eyes too, so it’s not that bad, honestly.’
.
.
.
“You’ve got the face of a crustacean hanging around the shore, Ransell Dante.”

The next day, a harsh voice fell toward Ransell.
 
“A huge number are coming in.”
That afternoon, the archipelago’s harbor bustled with nearly overflowing ships.

From the royal family, sailing ships filled the pier in double and triple layers.
A spectacle unfolded as navy, workers, and residents were all mobilized to unload goods from the ships.
“Unload the light stuff first!”
“Careful, careful! Move it without spilling!”
“Don’t go on Ship No. 1! I’ve told you many times that’s the royal family’s ship!”

Marigold was among them as well.
“Huff, huff!”
She hurried down under the deck.

“Huh?”
Suddenly, her eyes sparkled with life.
-Beep!

A small birdcage caught her attention.
It seemed to be a bird kept by the crew; bread crumbs for food were scattered on the floor.
“Bird!”

Marigold put her finger inside the cage.
Just as she cautiously tried to stroke the feathers, the beak snapped open and bit her finger mercilessly.
“Ouch!”

Blood welled up.
Tears welled in her eyes.
-Beep!

“Okay, okay, don’t be mad. I won’t touch you. Just looking. Just looking... hehe.”
It was a pretty bird.
Blue wings, orange body, an obsidian-like shining beak. It glared at Marigold with a proudly ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) raised head.

Compared to the terrifying seagulls flying around the archipelago, it was incomparably more beautiful.
“Ah.”
Spellbound, Marigold lifted the cage.

Flapping its wings in surprise, the bird calmed down with a gentle “It’s okay, it’s okay.”
“Sergeant! Should we take this down too?”
“What’s that?”
“A bird! A pretty bird!”
“Bring down anything you can!”
“Yes!”
.
.
.

“You’ve got the face of a crustacean hanging around the shore, Ransell Dante.”
Nearby, muffled chuckles came from party attendees trying to hold back laughter. Everyone was being roasted one by one, and now even the previously noticed Ransell was being mocked, so everyone remained indifferent.
That was alright — the princess was just using a common method to intimidate newcomers.

“Enough with the gifts, disappear from my sight quickly.”
A woman cloaked in a veil.
The Third Princess, Klaira Arild Frisia.

Hearing her voice, Ransell was certain of something.
‘A bit weak, huh?’
The Third Princess’s insults sounded weaker than usual. They lacked their usual spice.

Most nobles thought this was sharp enough, but that was a thought only a green noble from the archipelago would have.
—Better to see a crushed shore crab than this.
The tone, content, voice strength, and contempt were all not like the Third Princess.

Ransell felt it was strange that she covered her face with a veil.
The Third Princess’s appearance-obsession was based on confidence in her own beauty.
But hiding her face was definitely not like her.

‘A body double?’
The palace must not function without body doubles.