The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

“Peaceful.”
The evening was so quiet it was almost unthinkable that it was a battlefield; only the sounds of insects chirping filled the tranquil atmosphere.
Thinking back, Ransell wondered when was the last time he had lain down and rested so comfortably. He even felt a bit proud of himself for having endured so much hardship recently.

He made up his mind. If there were two or three more loops to come, and the regression kept happening, then this time he would truly enjoy a proper vacation.
Marigold?
That brat could just be hidden away somewhere safe for a while. Then he’d pack up plenty of money and run away to enjoy a full ten years alone.

Yeah.
This time, he would go off and have fun alone. Don’t be upset, Marigold. I’ll bring you souvenirs. We’ll spend the last day before the regression together, sharing them. Ransell did have that much affection.
‘I need to rest properly when it’s time to rest.’

With that thought, Ransell lowered his gaze. Marigold was nestled in his arms.
They were alone in a dark, gloomy cave.
 
———

[Fallen Noble Lady Simulation]
Scheduling the second week of October.
Mon – March.

Tue – March.
Wed – March.
Thu – Enemy stronghold infiltration.

Fri – Secure enemy stronghold.
Sat – Build temporary encampment.
Sun – Rest. (Location: Temporary encampment)
※ The war is tough, but wouldn’t it be great if we could wash ourselves clean? Hopefully the war ends before winter comes!

———
Four months.
It took that long for the Fifth Prince’s army to wipe out the remnants settled in the western empire.

He marched his troops like someone with a purpose, sweeping through the Lunter Marquisate and nearby territories like catching rats. If something was a nuisance, he smashed it completely.
“From today, all those causing trouble in this area have been dealt with! Since today is a good day, we’ll hold a feast. Bring out all the saved supplies. You should know how good the taste of alcohol is on the battlefield.”
As he unleashed the precious supplies he usually hoarded, the camp instantly became lively.

Around the campfires, the surviving soldiers sat chatting, filling their stomachs with greasy food and raising their glasses.
It was a festival.
Of the roughly 300 infantry who participated, about 250 remained to hold this place.

Moreover, not a single one of the 30 knights led by the Fifth Prince was wounded or killed. It was literally a great victory.
‘Something feels off.’
Among the festive atmosphere, Ransell remained expressionless. Chewing on some raw ham, he scanned the camp repeatedly.

‘Things are going too smoothly.’
Aside from the Fifth Prince occasionally trying to flirt with Marigold, everything was going too well.
No matter how good Marigold was at simulations or how strong the imperial reinforcements were, things going this smoothly was unnatural.

The Lunter Marquisate Ransell remembered was a far fiercer battlefield. To end it like this felt like something was seriously missing.
Not to mention, he hadn’t even seen the Lunter Marquis’s face yet.
‘Maybe it’s just a rare slack this time. Or…’

“Ugh!”
Ransell frowned as a strong smell of alcohol hit him from right beside.
“Manager Mary?”

“Lord Ransell, this is my first time drinking this, but it feels better than I expected, hehehe!”
“...Already drunk?”
Marigold’s face was flushed red, her eyes glazed as she hugged the bottle.

Come to think of it, Ransell rarely saw her drink. Even as she got older, she seldom touched alcohol.
“Pffft…”
“Smells like alcohol, huh.”

Ransell tried to push away Marigold’s forehead, which kept pressing against him, letting out sighs.
“Get off me.”
“Ughhh!”

She stubbornly clung to him, making it ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) difficult.
“I’ll pour for you, Lord Ransell, so bring your glass quickly. Come on, hurry.”
“No thanks.”

“No backing out! Here!”
Like a drunk troublemaker at a party.
Marigold snatched Ransell’s glass and filled it to the brim. Not stopping there, she forcibly pressed the glass to his lips.

“Drink up! Gulp down.”
“...”
“Gulp down.”

Ransell reluctantly swallowed the drink. A sweet fragrance filled his nose.
Expecting cheap liquor, he was surprised by its pleasant taste and swallowed the last drop.
“Well done, Lord Ransell. Shall I pour you another?”

“Manager Mary. That’s drunken nonsense. If you don’t stop early, it’ll become a habit.”
“Drunken nonsense… what’s that?”
“What you’re doing right now.”

“Oh. That’s good then?”
Marigold smiled foolishly and poured another drink. Ransell accepted it but quickly pushed the glass away.
“Ah! I only wanted to pour one more! The rule is to drink three glasses.”

“There’s no such rule. I’ve had enough, so you drink.”
“Aww, you’re no fun.”
Marigold downed three or four more glasses in succession, then finally threw off her outer jacket.

“Ugh, it’s hot, hot! It’s almost winter, so why is it this hot, Lord Ransell?”
“...Manager Mary, put your clothes back on.”
“Huh?”

Ransell felt the soldiers’ gazes on them.
Marigold was the only woman on this battlefield. After months of being surrounded by only men, the soldiers’ attention had reached a breaking point.
When war drags on, even a princess’s gaze can’t be ignored, so what chance did a mere manager like Marigold have?

Ransell put her jacket back on, threatening, “If you take it off again, I’ll put a lock on your armor.”
“...It’s hot…”
Pouting, Marigold dressed again. When he even put a cloak on her, the gazes finally lessened.

This was also for the soldiers’ sake.
He didn’t want them to lose sleep over it unnecessarily.
“Looks like Manager Mary is quite weak with alcohol.”

The Fifth Prince chuckled as he approached.
“This is expensive liquor. Don’t spill it on the ground. Put it all in your mouth, Manager Mary.”
Ransell took the bottle from Marigold at the Fifth Prince’s words. Indeed, it was rare liquor to carry on the battlefield.

‘This is...’
It had a faint pineapple scent.
Ransell had seen this not long ago.

‘The same liquor I saw in the Lunter Marquis’s territory?’
No wonder they made so much of it. It had made its way even here.
Unlike grains, good liquor was expensive, highly liquid, and could be preserved for a long time. Perfect for the Lunter Marquis, who dreamed of rebellion. Though ironically, it was used at the imperial troops’ banquet.

“Lord Ransell. Uu.”
“What are you doing, Manager Mary?”
Suddenly, Ransell stopped Marigold, who was about to shove her pouting lips at him.

“Uu... uuup!”
Marigold’s expression turned serious in an instant. Her face quickly grew pale.
“Ah.”

Ransell swiftly turned her body the other way.
“Uweeeek!”
“...”

The soldiers’ gazes fixed on her vanished all at once.
“You just wasted all the precious supplies, Manager Mary.”
Even the Fifth Prince couldn’t help but say.

 
“Ugh, Lord Ransell. My stomach hurts.”
“You knew better than to drink so recklessly.”
“Ugh...”

Ransell shook his head watching Marigold sprawled out in the wagon. She complained of a hangover so bad her fingertips were cold.
Luckily, the war was over. If it had been during battle, he might have had to carry her on his shoulders.
Other soldiers were no different. After heavy drinking, their expressions while marching were all exhausted.

Only the Fifth Prince and his knights, who hadn’t touched a drop, looked fine.
“Ugh.”
At the sound of Marigold’s dry heaving, Ransell halted his horse.

‘People.’
From beyond the dense forest, Ransell sensed approaching footsteps.
“Stop.”

At his command, the formation froze instantly.
“What’s going on, Ransell?”
“Ambush.”

The noises grew louder from the woods. Ransell realized it wasn’t just a few.
At least a dozen or more.
“An ambush?”

The Fifth Prince pursed his lips silently.
“No, they’re allies.”
Ransell recognized the newcomers at a glance — the elderly knight leading them was far too familiar.

“We have been waiting, Your Highness.”
“Lunter Marquis. There was no need to come out to greet us. Looks like your business is done?”
“I just cleaned up a little after what Your Highness did. Nothing difficult.”

“Well done anyway.”
The Fifth Prince and the Lunter Marquis exchanged friendly words.
“We will change the direction of the march. We’ll go to the Lunter Marquis’s territory to recover from fatigue. Let everyone know.”

What should he do?
‘We ran into the rebel forces.’
Honestly, he didn’t want to get involved. He wasn’t sure what would happen.

He just wanted to run away right now. The feeling was bad.
The problem was—
“Ugh, let’s stop somewhere and rest. My stomach... ugh... feels like it’s dying.”

“...”
Ransell sighed deeply at Marigold’s dying voice.
‘I need to find a chance to get away.’

Just then, a man in armor rode up to him.
When the helmet’s visor was lifted, a familiar face was revealed.
“Long time no see, Sir Ransell.”

It was Adelhardt, the son of the Lunter Marquis.
Compared to years ago, his spirit was completely different as he appeared before Ransell.
His armor bore many scratches from long battles.

“You’re unrecognizable.”
“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Sir Ransell.”
Compliments?

No way.
“I won’t lose twice, Sir Ransell.”
“...”

Ransell felt somewhat burdened by Adelhardt’s sharp gaze.
“We’ll take the lead, Your Highness.”
As the procession passed through the rugged valley terrain, the conversation between the Fifth Prince and the Lunter Marquis continued.

“War is fun only for a while. After months without rest, it’s getting tiring. The real beginning is now, and if it’s already like this, I worry about the future.”
“You’ll get used to it soon, Your Highness.”
“I hope so. By the way, Lunter Marquis. See the carriage behind? Manager Mary is riding in it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I know she’s got a bad history with you, but she’s a good asset. Please protect her without harm.”
“If she’s someone Your Highness favors, I will make sure of that.”

Ransell wiped his face as he listened to their talk.
‘They’re on the same side.’
He thought the Fifth Prince had chosen to become the empire’s hero this time.

He had been diligently eradicating bandits, rebels, and outside forces for the empire.
But it was the opposite.
‘Now I see that the entire western empire being cleared was only good news for the Lunter Marquis.’

Looking back, after half a year of war, nothing was left in the area. Bandits, armies, mercenaries, militias — most forces vanished.
All that remained was the Lunter Marquis.
The likely rebel force in the near future?

Yeah.
For example,
Those hundreds of cavalry blocking the front of the procession.

“Who goes there!”
Their number was roughly twice that of the imperial reinforcements. They gripped spears and swords and steadily approached.
The Fifth Prince showed no sign of disturbance. It was tacit approval.

“Thanks for your hard work, everyone. Remember that last night’s feast was my farewell party. When this empire eventually falls into my hands, I’ll erect a statue in your memory.”
Ransell scoffed.
The Fifth Prince had once again chosen the role of usurper, not war hero, joining hands with the Lunter Marquis.

“Mary.”
“...Lord Ransell?”
Without hesitation, Ransell rushed to Marigold, who had collapsed on the carriage.

“Let’s get out of here.”
“What? Hyaah!”
He lifted her onto his shoulders in an instant.

“Enemy! Enemy attack!”
Urgent voices rang out just as the two sides clashed.
The valley instantly turned into a battlefield.

“Arrgh!”
“Block them!”
“Aaah!”

The aftermath of the feast, the surprise attack unprepared for battle, and the Fifth Prince’s tacit approval—
Soldiers fell helplessly like discarded hunting dogs. It was inevitable. To those planning rebellion, the imperial army was nothing but an obstacle.
“Hold on tight, Mary.”

“My, my, stomach... it’s too... uweeek!”
Ransell urged his horse forward carrying the heaving Marigold.
“Catch them!”

“Don’t let a single one escape!”
“Hey! Someone’s breaking through!”
Battlefield.

Dying soldiers.
Cavalry chasing behind Ransell.
“Uweeek!”

And Marigold’s dry heaving.
Everything was a complete mess.