 The term "romance" has multiple meanings; "historical romances" like those of Walter Scott would use the term to mean "a fictitious narrative in prose or verse; the interest of which turns upon marvellous and uncommon incidents".But most often a romance is understood to be "love stories", emotion-driven stories that are primarily focused on the relationship between the main characters of the story.Beyond the focus on the relationship, the biggest defining characteristic of the romance genre is that a "happy ending" is always guaranteed... perhaps marriage and living "happily ever after", or simply that the reader sees hope for the future of the romantic relationship.