The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

“Step back.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Princess.”
As Ransell silently bowed his head and stepped back, the expressions of the men in the party hall somehow looked better.

It was probably relief that at least here, no one would be the target of the 3rd Princess’s harsh words.
‘So, I’m not the only one being cursed at.’
‘If even Ransell Dante is getting flak...’

Ransell was born into a good lineage of knights.
Compared to the islanders, his height and body proportions were noticeably large.
He was objectively handsome enough to be called so.

Yet he had received sharp criticism from the 3rd Princess — perhaps only because she treated all men the same way?
That thought brought relief.
‘So it’s not that my looks are bad!’
‘And she probably didn’t really mean it when she called me a rotten squid… Yeah, yeah.’

Of course, that was only half true.
There were a very few nobles and knights who met the 3rd Princess’s incredibly high standards.
“Rox Ruin. Still, you’re a bit more presentable than these dried fish here.”

“...That’s too kind, Your Highness the Princess...!”
For the first time during Rox Ruin’s turn to present his gift, praise was heard.
The silver-haired count’s heir, Rox Ruin, unable to hide his good feelings, flicked side glances at Ransell.

‘I win, Ransell Dante.’
It seemed like those words echoed in the air.
“In my eyes, Sir Ransell is much better.”

“Yeah, don’t be so downhearted, Sir Ransell.”
The island noblewomen subtly approached Ransell, offering consolation.
‘I know that already.’

Of course, compared to that pomade-slicked hair, he must be better.
Then why hadn’t the 3rd Princess spoken harshly to Rox Ruin?
Could it be...

Because she, uncharacteristically, treated the count’s heir with respect?
“After all, he is the count’s heir. How could she insult him to his face?”
“Right. Sir Ransell, don’t mind it.”

The noblewomen around Ransell echoed the same words.
‘3rd Princess Claria. Is she really a villain?’
Ransell took a sip of strong liquor and stared at the 3rd Princess, piercingly as if to see through the veil hiding her face.
The scent of tropical fruit thickly surrounded the noblewomen gathered nearby.

As open island noblewomen, they were always watching for an opportunity. To their eyes, the navy officer from the mainland, Ransell Dante, might have looked like the evening’s prey.
Swish.
The noblewomen’s hands brushed over Ransell’s body once each. Provocative gazes flew from all directions.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Huh?”
Ransell stood up before things got more complicated.

“Leaving so soon?”
“I have business at the naval headquarters, so I’ll stop here.”
“The feast is just starting...”

Ignoring the noblewomen’s regretful attempts to hold him back, Ransell headed out of the banquet hall.
“Already done with your business, Ransell Dante? Why not stay longer? This feast was opened by the princess herself. You’re so ungrateful. Don’t tell me you’re sulking just because you got scolded?”
Rox Ruin’s voice followed him, chuckling.

He was really excited.
.
.
.
“Smell of women...!”

When they returned to headquarters, Marigold started sniffing.
“Two... three... no, four?”
Until just now, he had been close to several women who had applied lots of perfume. Marigold had keenly detected the scent.
“Five?!”

Counting the number exactly—what a nose.
“You said you just went to greet people. How many women were you clinging to, Sir Ransell! No, no. Connections made at feasts are all fake, fake! Just a one-night illusion!”
“...How many feasts have you been to to lecture me like that?”

“It’s a feeling. A hunch.”
“...”
“And I’ve heard a lot about feasts. Like dancing alternately with this person and that person, and if eyes meet, going somewhere creepy to get drunk... ahem!”

Marigold blushed for a moment and coughed awkwardly, frantically fanning herself to cool down.
“A-anyway, I don’t think that’s real love.”
“I see.”

‘...You know better than you let on.’
Marigold understands the true nature of feasts.
Beep-!

Just then.
Ransell lifted his head at a sound from the duty room corner. There was something he hadn’t seen before.

“Sorry, sorry! I’ll give it right away!”

Marigold hurriedly took out jerky and filled a plate.
“What’s that?”
“A bird! Isn’t it pretty?”

Marigold cheerfully brought in a birdcage.
“No, I know it’s a bird. But where did it come from?”
“I found it on the ship that arrived this time. I checked and it apparently doesn’t have an owner, so I’m temporarily taking care of it until the owner appears.”

“No owner bird?”
Ransell stared into the cage.
The proud-looking bird turned its head away sharply, avoiding his gaze.

Inside, a clean plate and a cup of water were placed.
“For a bird feeder, that plate looks expensive.”
“For some reason, it won’t eat unless the plate is pretty.”

“How picky for a bird.”
“Maybe it’s a noble among birds? It’s pretty, too.”
“Birds are all the same bird. There’s no nobility. So you decided to raise it yourself?”

“Yes!”
Marigold looked happy.
It was an age when she wanted to raise a pet.

“I named it Pia. What do you think? Cute, right?”
“Just so-so.”
“Pia’s listening, so say it’s cute, please.”

Marigold’s face melted as she stroked the bird’s feathers.
“Hehe, pretty, pretty. I think you’re the prettiest bird, Pia.”
Each time the bird heard it was pretty, it proudly held its head high as if understanding Marigold’s words.

“Stop playing and finish the log sheet quickly, Lieutenant Mary.”
“Ah, yes, sir!”
Marigold saluted and sat next to Ransell.

This week was his duty period at the naval base. His first duty.
Naturally, all work was left to Lieutenant Marigold.
“Since the guard unit went to sector 1 an hour ago, it should be sector 2 by now...”

Watching her write patrol records relying on the faint candlelight, Ransell silently closed his eyes.
The image of the veiled 3rd Princess continued to bother him. What was that about?
Just his imagination?

Or...
“Ransell!”
He suddenly opened his eyes.

The door of the duty room opened, revealing Baron Coral, dripping wet.
“I’m not asleep! Private Mary is continuing her mission, sssip!”
Next to him, Marigold was wiping saliva that had dribbled down in surprise.

Judging by the log, she must have dozed off a few minutes earlier.
“Leave the duty to someone else and come with me for a moment.”
“What is it at this hour?”

“The Count is looking for you. Hurry.”
Just as Baron Coral was about to turn away, he suddenly said,
“Mary! Yes, Mary, come with us too. You’re involved in this.”

“Huh?”
Even her?
 
“I’ve brought Ransell Dante.”

The place they arrived at was the salon of the Count’s mansion.
“You’re here. Sit down.”
Count Ruin was the first to catch Ransell’s eye.

Around were naval senior officers including Count’s son Rox Ruin, knights dispatched from the palace, and nobles accompanying the princess, all seated.
Ransell cautiously sat down at the table, while Marigold was left behind.
“Is that Mary over there?”

“Yes, sir! Count!”
“Lower your voice. It’s painful to the ears.”
“Yes.”

“By the way, what are you holding?”
“Ah, this is Pia... a bird...!”
Due to Baron Coral’s hurried fussing, it was already too late even for Ransell to stop her.

“Pia gets anxious ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) when I’m not around...”
Count shook his head, apparently understanding Mary’s weakness from that one phrase alone, and muttered, “Enough. Sit down quickly.”
Mary, deflated, politely sat next to Ransell.

“Listen carefully. Everything said here stays between us. Especially you, Mary. Understand?”
“Yes, y-yes, Count!”
She nodded with a tense look.

“Mary makes a lot of mistakes, but she’s not the type to go around spilling secrets. Don’t worry too much, Your Countship.”
“I hope what Baron Coral says is true. Then...”
Count Ruin looked back.

“Tell everyone we’re all here.”

“Yes, Count.”
A moment later, the salon doors opened again.

‘The 3rd Princess.’
The veiled 3rd Princess entered with elegant steps.
She raised her hand to stop those who were about to stand.

“It’s alright. Everyone, please remain seated.”
Her voice was gentle.
Almost unbelievable for the 3rd Princess.

‘Could it be?’
Only then did Ransell realize who she was.
The tone of her voice was exactly like that of a woman he had heard in the past, the same as someone he hated.

“Let me reintroduce myself.”
She carefully removed the veil.
“I am Aire di Iceford.”

The woman he had formally married.
One of the empire’s three great beauties, Iceford.
She was here.

Under the name of the 3rd Princess.
“Wh-what? The Princess?”
“What happened...”

“Quiet!”
Count Ruin’s shout quickly silenced the murmurs.
“She is the daughter of His Majesty the Emperor’s chamberlain, Court Count Iceford, and a lady-in-waiting of the royal family. As a distinguished lady of the capital, show her proper respect.”

‘To meet her here...’
She should have been indulging in parties in the capital right now, but here she was in the islands again.
A fated connection, or a curse.

“Please bring out that item, Count Ruin.”
“Yes. It’s faster to see it and talk.”
Count Ruin took something out from under the table.

“Ah!”
Mary’s mouth opened as she recognized it. So did Ransell.
“Ransell has already seen it. It’s the item you personally seized from the pirate ship.”

Of course.
“The Flower of Souls.”
Lady Iceford spoke.

“This item you are looking at is the magical flower called the Flower of Souls.”
Pointing at the flower vase, she continued.
“When the flower activates its magic, it recklessly switches the souls of those nearby — a very frightening flower.”

“I don’t understand what that means...”
“To put it simply, if a slave and a master look at this flower at the same time while in the same place... the slave will take over the master’s body. Exactly for one minute.”
“...One minute?”

A confused reaction spread. ‘Only one minute?’ They thought, the duration seemed short for such a powerful effect.
“Yes. After one minute, they return perfectly fine, as if nothing happened.”
Then.

Lady Iceford’s eyes turned icy.
“...Provided, of course, that the two remain in the same place continuously.”
It was what Ransell and Mary had experienced. If they stayed together for one minute, nothing happened.

But what if not?
“In other words, if one runs away or is killed within that minute... imagine what happens.”
No further explanation was necessary.

“Horror!”
“W-what a dreadful thing!”
“R-remove it! At once!”

The island nobles and officers stepped back in fear.
‘No wonder it’s nicknamed the Emperor’s Flower.’
A flower that could make even a beggar into an emperor.

Due to its terrifying effect and danger, it was an object managed only by the royal family.
That was the true identity of the “Flower of Souls.”
“The magic activates only once a year. Right now, it’s just a flower in a vase, nothing more, so don’t make a fuss.”

Lady Iceford replied coldly with a sigh.
“To get to the point, the culprit who went missing now is the 3rd Princess herself.”
A momentary silence filled the space, like a pause in time.

Clink.
Only the sound of Lady Iceford quietly lifting her teacup could be heard.
“Missing!”

“The Princess herself!”
Shock.
Alarm.

– Beep! Beep!
At that moment, Mary’s bird flapped its wings noisily.
“Put that thing away!”

“S-sorry!”
Count Ruin scolded, and Mary hurriedly put the cage under the table.
“Be quiet, Pia. You’ll get me in trouble. Please, please, go back. I’ll give you snacks again.”

She shouldn’t have brought it in the first place.
Ransell let out a bitter laugh.