The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

Anyway, Marigold had a fated life.

Beyond losing her family, name, and status all at age ten, there was something cursed about her life.
The strangest thing was that just as she seemed to be rising, she was chosen by the Fifth Prince in a shocking turn.
The Fifth Prince.

Erwin Cole Freesia.
Among the handsome princes, he was one of the few with a muscular build, and an extreme war fanatic.
In the game, the Fifth Prince was a man who perfectly fit the phrase “all or nothing.”

Either a war hero,
or a usurper of the throne.
Literally “all or nothing.”

No matter which, the fact that pursuing him would lead to the Empress ending never changed — but having realized that it would not be a happy ending for Marigold, it was not something to welcome.
Yes.
A happy ending.

That was all Ransell wished for.
Surely not every ending was bad or normal?
.

.
.
“Clerk Merry, don’t be too tense just because it’s a battlefield. We didn’t bring you here for dangerous tasks.”

“Ah, yes, sir!”
“If you’re okay, wouldn’t it be better to ride together in the carriage? Sitting on a horse saddle for long would be uncomfortable.”
“...That’s…”
“I’m fine, Your Highness.”

The Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia suddenly stiffened his expression.
“How could a commoner clerk share a meal with royalty? That would be uncomfortable for the clerk.”
It was the voice of the man driving the horses with Marigold seated in front.

There was an inexplicable firmness beneath his gentle tone.
“...Ransell Dante, have you and Clerk Merry always been close?”
“Is it that obvious?”

A smile appeared at the corner of Ransell’s mouth.
“Seems like it shows.”
“......”

He raised his hand and lightly brushed Marigold’s hair, as if to show the Fifth Prince.
Marigold’s face flushed deeply, struggling to suppress the heat in such an unexpected situation.
“Still, be careful. Nobles get suspicious if you’re too close with an administrator.”

“It’s not the first or second day this happens, so no worries, Your Highness. Right, Clerk Merry?”
“Yes, y-yes? I’m not quite sure what you mean...”
Ransell patted the shoulders of the clueless Marigold firmly.

“Keck, keeng!”
“She seems happy.”
“......”

 
============
— Affection event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia’s affection for Marigold increases. Current affection level: ‘Strong Interest.’
============

When Ransell hurriedly caught up with the imperial reinforcements, the Fifth Prince’s affection for Marigold was already skyrocketing uncontrollably.
It was more surprising how this was possible.
============

— Affection event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia’s affection for Marigold increases. Current affection level: ‘Deep Interest.’
============
Ransell’s feeling as he watched the system notification was beyond disbelief — it was almost hollow. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» The connection with the prince that never appeared when he wanted it, this time rose steadily even if left unattended.

‘Wasn’t the Fifth Prince supposed to like the big, muscular warrior-type Marigold?’
In the game, the Fifth Prince was usually attracted to physically strong women, so why did he develop affection for Marigold, who was on the high-ranking administrator path?
Ransell got the reason late.

“But we’ve known each other longer. Clerk Merry and I have been acquainted since academy days.”
That was news to him.
“We studied War History, Tactics, Geography, and Mock Battle Practice together. Didn’t we?”

“Ah, yes……”
Marigold answered in a small voice, glancing at Ransell nervously.
“Indeed. It seems His Highness the Prince attended the academy classes as an observer.”

“I was teaching, not learning. I especially got involved many times with Clerk Merry, who was top of the academy then.”
“Finally, I’m curious where the connection came from.”
“I don’t even remember how many years ago. It means Clerk Merry and I have a long-standing relationship.”

“It’s quite strange, really.”
“...?”
Ransell tilted his head and gave the Fifth Prince an innocent look.

“In all the years I met Clerk Merry every day, I never once heard her mention His Highness the Prince. Not once.”
“Why… is that strange?”
“If you’re close, that name usually comes up in conversation, right?”

“......”
“But during my time knowing Clerk Merry, I didn’t even know she was acquainted with the prince, let alone familiar.”
The Fifth Prince’s eyebrows twitched. A faint smile deepened on Ransell’s lips.

“That really is strange when I think about it again.”
The air between Ransell and the Fifth Prince compressed, like a current suddenly flowing. Marigold was restless in the sudden situation.
“Ransell Dante.”

The Fifth Prince’s eyes sharpened.
“Enemy!”
The formation became chaotic instantly.

“Form ranks!”
“Ambush!”
Armed soldiers swarmed around the imperial reinforcements passing through a valley.

It was a textbook ambush.
‘The rebellion is already quite serious.’
The rebel forces in the Runter region were no ordinary rebels.

Ransell recognized it at a glance.
The rebellion had involvement from a revivalist group, often dismissed as mere ‘bandits,’ but an actual hostile foreign power.
Crushed by the Empire.

At war with the Empire.
Border states resenting the Empire.
They formed a tightly united revival force that allied with the rebellion as a huge military organization.

Naturally, their training was good, morale high, and their numbers terrifyingly large.
“Form ranks! Don’t panic!”
The Fifth Prince’s shout.

He quickly turned his gaze to Marigold.
“Clerk Merry, take refuge in the carriage for now—”
“Let’s go, Merry!”

“Kyah!”
Ransell spurred his horse forward, raising only a shield before her, gripping his spear tightly.
“What are you thinking, Ransell Dante?”

“I’m going to teach Miss Merry what war is. That’s all.”
“What?”
Ransell galloped away and vanished into the distance. Soon he began to weave through the ambushing rebels.

“Go!”
Wherever Ransell passed, infantry troopers trampled by hooves fell helplessly.
The problem was that Marigold was on his back.

“This is glory, Clerk Merry! We’ll rise together!”
“Hyaaaah!”
Between splatters of blood and breaking bones, Marigold’s high-pitched screams pierced.

“What a guy.”
The Fifth Prince’s face froze in disbelief.
Every time Ransell swung his spear, soldiers fell like dominoes.

“A knight uses a woman as a shield!”
“Which one is the main force?”
Many were distracted by the sight even during battle.

“Hiyah!”
“Eek!”
In the end, the two achieved victory over dozens of rebels.

Marigold did nothing but shout.
 
From the moment the imperial reinforcements departed, one question filled everyone’s minds:
— Why did the Fifth Prince bring Clerk Merry to war?

Even if capable, she was still an administrator—a commoner with just some brains. She didn’t seem fit to be brought into such a special environment as a battlefield.
Yet the Fifth Prince singled her out as if she was indispensable. Why?
“Here is a rough map of the mountain range. Clerk Merry, take a look.”

The reason began to reveal itself shortly after they arrived at the base.
“The valley is deep and the path narrow, so whoever secures the position first holds a definite advantage. There are many places for ambushes, making entry very difficult. That’s why the Duke Mord’s army, who arrived earlier, suffered a crushing defeat without fighting properly.”
“Yes, certainly……”

“Ambushes. That’s the key problem. Where do you think Clerk Merry would hide troops?”
“Hmm.”
Marigold focused on the map spread by the Fifth Prince and soon began marking several locations.

“Considering the route along the river and its connections, this valley is the likely entry point, and here at the fork where the path splits in two… Also, considering recent heavy rains and fast upstream currents in summer…”
She listed various reasons — weather, terrain, season — and picked three candidate spots.
“…That’s all!”

Ransell’s eyes shone as he looked at Marigold’s marked locations.
‘Not bad.’
Marigold, who had long experience with mock battles, chose exactly the areas Ransell intuitively felt were crucial.

‘Without being the regressed Marigold, she still had impressive insight.’
Truly the talent of a game protagonist.
He now understood well why the Fifth Prince had chosen her. Not because she was academy top? No. Not because of past ties?

Because he truly recognized her war talent. Yes. Marigold clearly had the aptitude of a strategist. Truly remarkable.
“I see. Let’s trust Clerk Merry’s judgment. We depart before sunrise.”
For someone like the Fifth Prince to trust the insight of a mere administrator was unusual.

Naturally, most knights were skeptical at first. No matter the academy connection, entrusting battlefield tactics was another matter.
But in the first battle—
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

“Retreat!”
They ambushed the enemy and won decisively.
In the following second and third battles—

“R-Royal forces!”
“How did they get here...!”
Again, decisive victories.

The imperial reinforcements suffered almost no casualties, boosting the morale of their side sky-high.
That was good — it was Marigold’s merit. All of this would count as her achievements for becoming a high-ranking official.
The problem was—

It wasn’t only morale that was soaring.
============
— Affection event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia’s affection rises. Current level: ‘Trust.’

============
‘Huh?’
============

— Affection event! Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Freesia’s affection rises. Current level: ‘Favor.’
============
‘Damn.’

Ransell rubbed his forehead watching the prince’s affection jump two more levels.
‘When I wanted to trigger affection events to make her empress, they stubbornly never appeared! Why only now?’
Marigold’s success was good, but this was a dead end.

If this went wrong, the Fifth Prince’s affection could evolve into ‘Love.’ Signs of it were already visible everywhere.
‘No choice.’
Eventually, Ransell decided to use an extreme method.

A drastic and sure way to fundamentally block the event with the prince.
“Clerk Merry.”
“Yes, Lord Ransell.”

About four months after the war began,
Ransell quietly spoke, gazing at the sunset beyond the ridge.
“When this war ends.”

“Yes.”
“Let’s go down to my hometown together.”
“…Yes?”

Marigold turned around. Her brilliant eyes reflected the red sky.
‘I didn’t want to go this far.’
Ransell spoke quietly so only she could hear.

“I want to introduce you to my parents.”
“That... you mean...”
“Just understand.”

Marigold was silent for a moment, then nodded faintly.
‘This should be enough.’