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Romance Fantasy.

Commonly referred to as ‘RomFan,’ this genre is one of the web novel genres along the lines of fantasy and martial arts. If you ask what distinguishes it from fantasy, other than the fact that it targets a female audience, there’s no significant difference.

Generally, while protagonists in fantasy often cater to male readers with male leads, Romance Fantasy does the same with female leads. Simply put, if the protagonist is female, it’s RomFan; if male, it’s just fantasy.

Of course, since ‘romance’ is in the genre’s name, there must be romantic elements involved to genuinely call it Romance Fantasy.

However, it’s not wrong to say that flipping the gender of a fantasy story where the protagonist builds a harem or excels at everything turns it into RomFan. Because of this, some Romance Fantasies focus less on characters and more on crafting a solid world based on ‘true fantasy’ from a female perspective.

It’s for this reason that, as a fantasy genre enthusiast, I ended up reading Romance Fantasy.

“If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have read it.”

What’s the cliché in these recent novels?

It’s regression, possession, reincarnation. In shorthand, it’s called ‘RegPossReinc.’

Regressing to succeed again after having risen to the pinnacle of power or completely failed. Possession where a reader or player who originally existed in the work enters the story. Lastly, reincarnation is getting hit by a truck and dying in the real world, then being reborn in another world.

And now I’ve fallen victim to this cliché.

It’s a thought every reader has had at least once.

“I want to be the protagonist in a novel.”

I’ve certainly had such thoughts. Though I never really wished for it desperately. Regrettably, it seems the author, God, thought that fleeting thought was my lifelong wish.

Perhaps it was a case of drawing straws and I just happened to win, or otherwise, how could someone be sent to another world without notice?

Honestly, while I’ve read plenty in written form, when it actually turned into reality and I woke up in another world, I was extremely confused. It was hard to distinguish if this was a dream or reality, which resulted in chaos.

I’ve been possessed for five years now, so I’ve already adapted well, but at first, I couldn’t believe it and even pinched my cheeks upon waking up.

After enduring years of training disguised as child abuse from my father, the pain and the sensory experience of the world confirmed that this was reality and not a dream. Maybe I should have realized it sooner.

Anyway, since realizing that fact, I’ve been trying my best to live.

I’ve been learning my family’s secret swordsmanship and following the elders’ instructions regarding education, all while maintaining respect towards the household elders and treating those beneath me with respect. Honestly, coming from a life as a common citizen in 21st century South Korea, it was quite torturous, but as they say, humans are creatures of adaptation. After a few years, although some discomfort remains, I have adjusted.

“You seem quite nervous, young master. It’s simply a meeting where we meet each other’s faces, so I don’t think it’s something to be so anxious about.”

“Even though it’s just the two of us, she’s my fiancée. Ken, it’s different from those I see all the time like Sarah or Chloe.”

The old maid standing beside me smiled gently and said, “I suppose that’s true,” before pressing down firmly on my trembling knees, which were shaking like a jackhammer.

I can easily guess what Ken must be thinking. He must see me as a restless teenager unable to contain his excitement about meeting his fiancée. Especially since the counterpart is the beautiful daughter of the House of Edelweiss, famed for her beauty.

But that’s wrong.

The fundamental reason I’m trembling right now is not the thrill of meeting a beautiful fiancée, but rather due to the primal human emotion of fear.

I’ve heard all the rumors about her endlessly.

The white lily of the House of Edelweiss. The one praised for her beauty even by the Emperor. A pitiful flower blooming on a cliff, and so on—all merely compliments about her beauty, but there wasn’t a single scary rumor that I had to fear. In fact, not only is she beautiful, but she is also known as a person with a lovely character, so there’s no problem with her personality. That fact I can personally vouch for.

The only reason I fear her, this perfect being, is one thing.

She is the protagonist of this world: <The Princess is Loved.>

*

Although I am me now, I am also the character I have possessed. Damian Kraus was not the protagonist in the novel. If anything, he could be described as a third-rate villain.

He is the heir of the Count Kraus House, one of the three great martial families of the Empire, and the fiancé of Elena Edelweiss, rumored to be the most beautiful in the Empire.

Just looking at his stats, he could easily pass for a protagonist in a fantasy story.

With a robust background and a beautiful fiancée, on top of being a prodigy, he certainly lacked for nothing.

But, as always, his personality ruins everything.

He comes from a flawless family, with talents for others to admire, and a beautiful fiancée. This privileged lad was incredibly arrogant, self-centered, and unruly.

He was definitionally a spoiled brat.

If Damian were the male lead in a RomFan, all these flaws would turn into strengths through the female lead’s hands, but regrettably, Damian serves merely as the scout to assess the strength of the first male candidate and as the catalyst for the female lead to rise on her own strength, no more, no less.

Knowing this well, I restrained myself.

If the original Damian was problematic due to his bad behavior, then all I needed to do was act with propriety. My engagement to the female lead was merely an informal promise made by the elders of the family and holds no legal validity, making it relatively easy to annul.

I have no intention whatsoever of becoming the protagonist like some spoiled brat’s character transformation story.

Later on, I might become the swordmaster who is called the best in the Empire or the Twilight Tower owner who draws strength from another world.

As the Empire’s crown prince, holding a position on both sides of authority.

Just being near her will force me to fight fiercely with these powerful figures, and as for me, a mere villain appearing early in the story who exits stage left, I will find myself inevitably thrust back into the shadows without being able to do anything like Damian in the novel.

Why fight a battle that cannot be won? I am well aware that my position as a third-rate villain should recognize its place, hence living a normal life is my modest dream.

As a supporting character, it is nonsensical for a mere villain who exits early to befriend the female lead. It’s evident that I would get embroiled in all sorts of events and incidents, which is entirely opposite to my dream life.

Thus, I must ensure to keep off the stage from the very start. If I do, I won’t face death, nor will I get involved in any incidents.

To avoid being caught up in her story, I must absolutely annul this engagement.

 

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