The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

What exactly was Merigold’s body made of? It was definitely no ordinary thing.
Looking up at the crown of her head, which had already reached eye level, Lancel couldn’t help but think that.

It had to be his sister’s fault. The ridiculous single-line setting that said, “If you train your body, your body grows.” In less than a year, she had grown over 10 centimeters.
“You can still grow more, Master.”
The physically strong Merigold.

Lancel watched her brutal mercenary life from afar, unseen.
———
[Simulation of the Fallen Noblewoman]

Writing the schedule for the first week of September.
Monday – Patrol duty (mercenary).
Tuesday – Eradicate bandits on the island (mercenary).

Wednesday – Hunt beasts invading the cattle barn (mercenary).
Thursday – Duel on behalf of a magnate (mercenary).
Friday – Teaching materials at the academy (mercenary).

Saturday – Swordsmanship training.
Sunday – Swordsmanship training.
※ Training is the best! Health is the best! Muscles are the best! (Strength, stamina, sensitivity UP!! Charm, sexiness, dignity Down!!).

———
Was she aiming for the top position in the mercenary industry? Merigold never took her hands off her sword, not even for a day.
She was the perfect example of the ‘warrior route.’

“Oh, Meri! Count on you again today!”
“Leave it to me!”
“Merigold was on patrol today? Finally, someone trustworthy showed up.”
“You flatter me. I’ll work hard!”

Lancel wiped the sweat off his ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) brow as he spied on her from a distance. She was even famous?
Only a few months into her mercenary career, her recognition and trustworthiness had already surpassed those of many veteran mercenaries.
Come to think of it, Merigold had been fairly famous since the day she took the mercenary exam. Her name was heard all over the streets.

‘Surely, the incident that happened that day was hard not to become a hot topic.’
A mere woman working at an inn had crushed the spirits of the mercenaries who were living off their swords, so it was no surprise rumors spread (even if it was thanks to the Third Prince’s enhancement magic).
What was truly scary about Merigold was that she was still growing at this very moment.

=============
— Imperial Year 818, September 9th. Cloudy.
— Merigold has mastered intermediate swordsmanship training.

※ From today, you can take advanced swordsmanship training.
※ The part-time job interview list has been updated. Newly added are academy sword instructor, elite soldier, guard captain, beast hunter, noble escort, attendant, wanderer, sentry, and rebel.
=============

“Already?”
The time it took to reach intermediate swordsmanship training—the first major hurdle on the warrior route—was exactly three months.
At this rate, it was certain she would master advanced training within two years at the latest.

By then, Merigold would no longer be an ordinary person. Through festivals, tournaments, wars, and sudden events, she had a chance to rise to the status of ‘honorary knight.’
“Take this, Merigold. It’s a Silver Medal.”
“Am I really allowed to accept this already?”

“If you don’t accept it, it’ll be harder for everyone else.”
As a result, Merigold really became famous in this area. At a dazzling speed.
Bang!

“Ugh!”
A man was thrown out of the house Merigold entered. Thrown through the window, he tumbled dozens of times.
“Ack!”

“You were stealing, right? Hand over everything you have.”
If one weren’t listening carefully, it sounded like Merigold herself was the thief.
“Wha-who are you calling a thief, you crazy woman!”

“I already heard everything. If you cooperate, this will end nicely; if not...”
“Damn woman, always trying to see me!”
In an instant, the bandit drew a dagger but couldn’t even lift it. Merigold’s sword effortlessly blocked it.

The dagger flew up with sparks and landed neatly on her palm.
“You’re someone words can’t reach.”
“W-wait, wait!”

“If you don’t want your teeth knocked out, keep your mouth shut.”
Eventually, the bandit, his face swollen, was handed over to the island guards.
Up to this point, Merigold was actually a very loyal asset to Lancel and the mercenary guild.

She completed missions daily, had a good reputation, and her skills improved every day—where else could you find a better mercenary?
There was only one problem.
“Master.”

After finishing her mission, Merigold naturally started looking for Lancel.
“Master, where are you?”
“Meri, what’s going on?”

“Have you not seen Master, Hesti?”
“She should be back soon… aren’t you tired? Go inside first.”
“I’ll wait here.”

Whether it was at the guild.
“Meri, what brings you here?”
“I came to find Master, Baron Shen.”

“Master? You mean Sir Lancel. I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t even seen him. Honestly, I want to find him myself.”
“Please find him.”
“Huh?”

Or at the mansion.
“Master!”
Or on the street.

No matter the place, Merigold eventually found Lancel. It was almost like she could smell him, like a big dog.
“I pulled off another mission today, Master.”
“...Good job.”

“......”
“......”
Merigold’s gaze shone brightly.

Only after stroking her head did he leave with a light step.
Nothing more, nothing less. Just a little praise and a little acknowledgment.
“Why does Meri always want to be praised by the young master?”

“Hmm.”
According to Hesti, when asked about his intentions, Merigold thought for a long time and then answered like this.
“Because Master likes it... that’s what she told me.”

“What does that mean?”
“Well... maybe Master told her to come find him sometime?”
“What do I get out of that?”

“......”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I didn’t say anything.”

Hesti narrowed her eyes but Lancel was innocent.
‘Not because she likes me, but because Master likes it?’
Lancel still didn’t understand the meaning of that. Rather, he was a bit puzzled by Merigold’s behavior.

“You’re going to end up marrying me again.”
You’re the woman who should become the empress.
He couldn’t say that outright.

‘What should I do?’
While having thoughts that would make others tell him to stop acting so pathetic on the third floor of the guild,
The door suddenly opened.

They say when you talk about someone, they appear. It was Merigold.
“Master.”
“Meri, you should knock first.”

Hesti firmly scolded her, and Merigold’s face paled.
“Knock! Sorry!”
Merigold went back out and knocked.

“Come in.”
“Yes, Hesti...”
Seeing her come back with a timid face, Lancel noticed once again that Merigold had grown taller.

‘She’s about a handspan taller than Hesti, so roughly in the low 170 cm range.’
For someone who stays around 140 cm on the non-physical path, this was almost a maximum.
If she grew any more, the ties with the princes would be completely severed...

“If you don’t knock next time, I’ll pour water on your face. Understand?”
“Y-yes...”
No, not quite that far.

Just as Lancel was about to convey that,
He suddenly noticed the paper in Merigold’s hand.
“What’s that?”

“The client told me to deliver this to Master, and here...”
A single scroll handed over with a very timid expression.
The sealed wax bore a familiar crest.

‘The royal family!’
It had arrived.
The escort event.

Unlike the previous notice, this time it was real.
‘Faster than expected.’
Lancel carefully unfolded the document.

Almost at the same moment, the door slammed open again.
“Knock!”
At that moment, water flew out of the bottle in Hesti’s hand. The stream arced and landed on the face of the man just opening the door.

Splash!
A man who had just entered was soaked.
Lancel gaped dumbfounded at his face.

“Ahem, did I not knock?”
“Your Grace, Count of the Court.”
 
Count Iceford of the Court.

He was known inside the royal family as the “Chief of the Household.”
Among counts in the empire, he was the man with the strongest influence.
He sat before Lancel, wiping his wet face with a towel.

“So, did you receive what I sent?”
“I was just about to read it, Your Grace.”
“If you haven’t read it yet, return it to me.”

“Pardon?”
It was taken back.
“Consider it as washing your face and return it to me.”

“Thanks for waking me up.”
“Then why take back the commission...?”
“You’re trying to make me look like a petty man.”

Count Iceford carefully wiped the water dripping down to his nostrils and spoke.
“Nothing special. This was a commission sent because a vacancy appeared in the escort procession of His Highness, the Fifth Prince, who is recuperating.”
Lancel knew this.

The escort procession accompanying the train the Fifth Prince would ride.
It included a hundred mercenaries, and Merigold was going to join them. This was the start of the ‘escort event.’
And the masquerade ball held at the train’s party hall. The accidental meeting between the protagonist Merigold and the Fifth Prince. Various incidents. Romance unfolding on the swaying train.

Since the Fifth Prince was attracted to physically strong women, as long as Merigold trained well in swordsmanship, this was one of the relatively easy routes.
That was the decisive reason Lancel raised Merigold as a warrior this round.
But.

“You have a good opportunity. I can’t say who it’s thanks to, so keep it a secret.”
A question appeared on Lancel’s face.
“His Majesty will explain the details.”

“His...”
The dying emperor.
He was calling for Lancel.

“Prepare immediately. Time is of the essence.”
Why?