I think the contrasting feelings in this manga is because while it is cute and sweet, it has an undertone of darkness.
It's not just that Yatamori slept around, ( putting aside issues) it's that he did it with such disregard towards himself, almost with a hint of normalcy, due to a loneliness that seems to be covered up by his unnatural way of smiling through it and making it seem like a lighthearted thing - almost as if fretting about it any more can be troublesome.
I mean, a classmate comes in, and not only does he see that, it's treated as something "normal".
As if it was as simple as eating food or falling asleep. Even after his classmate sees him, rather than put a halt to whatever they're doing, the guy even proceeds to ask if he was the boyfriend rather than stopping, and Yatamori himself doesn't care. It gives such an odd feeling, especially considering he had a "boyfriend". The situation is such to the point wherein Yatamori doesn't even lock his door. Like I said, complete disregard towards himself and most things.
In the next chapter, too... it was almost nonchalant and practiced, how quickly he approached his teacher in that manner after talking about his newfound feelings. Even the teacher says what a lot of people already know - that (putting aside arguments), it's best to do those things with people you love - and he seems aware of this as well, but Yatamori just treats it like buying a juicebox or eating food.
Therein lies the darkness of it: a boy who was left alone too early, forced to be independent, with budding desires and a strong sense of loneliness - that he sees it as a quick and currently effective way of satisfying both. Like it's just a need to be fufilled, without going through complications or nuances, like valuing oneself or putting weight into those acts. Being aware of it, and yet not truly knowing it or dismissing it. To put it simply, he KNOWS that you can't and shouldn't just do it with anyone, but he has his needs, and he doesn't care enough about anything else. Hence why he could easily be exploited. And unfortunately, Yatamori doesn't care.
Indeed, it's more evident when you realize he's had a boyfriend and had been inviting men to his house, but hasn't had a friend in ten years.
It's like it's only upon meeting Nanami that he's finally experiencing a normal highschool life, a normal love, and experiencing a normal desire to protect friendship, that even desires are put in the background if it means continuing to be together. Like he's finally started to treasure something in his life. It took so long, that things had to happen first, and it just feels so bitter, how his problems were downplayed by himself: from the irregular meals, to the lack of familial presence and love, to his sleeping around with older guys in order to receive love or affection. He regards all these concerning things with near indifference, because it's all he knew so far. It is such that even a simple headpat, a simple hug, is enough to make him feel more happy and satisfied, not only because he's barely had that, but because it came from someone he found important.
On one hand, their first love, and the way they discover simple joys is so sweet, but on the other hand, there's a lingering sense of darkness from how Yatamori had been living his life until then.
I know I'm rambling, but I can't help it when it's such a delicate yet complicated manner of weaving the story together, like a warped woven rug, wherein stitches jut out here and there, but the colors and the imagined finished product is beautiful. Like I said, contrasting feelings.
And, I know I've already said too much, but Nanami's behavior towards his girlfriend is definitely concerning, too. The nonchalant way upon which they proceeded throughout the chapters gives readers the image that their relationship wasn't serious, but c'mon, man. I know it's important to let the other person know when you're interested in someone else rather than cheat on them, putting aside the intricacies of this matter, but really? In the middle of it? And yes, he should be more considerate of things - who says that they're better than their ex at cooking - in the presence of their ex - if not out of spite? And that's the thing: he didn't do it out of spite, he's just that callous. His ex-girlfriend has tolerated a lot, I can tell... Of course, these things take a backseat due to the seriousness of what's going on in Yatamori's side.
As such, while I'm looking forward to reading the rest, I also can't help but be worried and feel nervous. I hope these two get a chance to grow and learn; for Yatamori to value himself more, and live a better life (from basic necessities to healthier relationships), and for Nanami to be less callous and more serious (on the plus side, they're starting to show progress!)
For me, spoilers are great for this kind of story, so I really appreciate all the comments below.
I mean, it was a terrible life she lived, like life was out to really get her and make her suffer.
Her parents die, her friend and loyal housekeeper dies, her husband scorns and neglects her, her mother-in-law vehemently abhors her, and even her child was raised to fear/dislike her.
At that point I would've just absolutely refused anything to do with them once I realize time has turned back. It was painful how they just wanted her to live a life worse than death.
What hit most of all was that even her child was taken away from her, and raised that way...
But after reading the comments and skimming through the raws, I believe the greatest sacrifice that time was not done by her husband, but by her child.
He bet his life for her return, and for all the terrors of losing one's life, especially at such a young age, he readily accepted death if it meant bringing her back, even if he barely met with her and knew her, even if it might not work.
So, if fate was to be changed with memories intact, doesn't that mean that what happens afterwards may also very well be a gamble? I mean, will she marry him again? Will she bear his child again? Will that son of hers be reborn again, or will it be a different child? (Therein poses the dilemma of whether or not the child is the same or different, and I suppose the short answer is that in the event that the son is reborn, that child is the same, but is different at the same time. The same in a biological sense, but different in everything else, because there's a chance he would not experience what the previous him did.) In other words, what are the chances that the child would come to existence and meet his mom again? (Just in the current timeline a couple of guys seemed to be interested in her... in the event she falls in love with and marries someone else, he would not exist. Would they simply accept it with resignation, as a price to pay for their regrets? I know that the husband will still be the person she ends up with, but I can't help but think about this.)
It's just that after reading the raws, I feel sorry for both the main character and her child. While a part of me doesn't want her to end up entangled with the duke in any way, part of me wants her to happily live with that child of hers, and for him to experience life with her, that he seemed to desire in his past life, in spite of his grandmother's teachings. I want his sacrifice to at least be rewarded, not only for his mom or dad, but for him as well. I know that sometimes sacrifice doesn't have anything in return. But he deserves happiness too. Seeing his death in that one chapter makes me think that he truly loves his mom, even if he might not meet her, even if he might not experience her warmth in the future, and it makes me teary.
I didn't have much expectations at first thanks to the typical setting, typical beginning, and even typical progression, but she shines as an amazing and fun character by not only being funny, but also truly relatable. Finding utter enjoyment in splurging on merchandise and supporting your favorite characters? Yes. Feeling very intensely about wanting to save your favorite character? Yes. Wanting to be a supporting fangirl even if you transmigrate to your favorite game/novel? Yes! She reacts and feels as intensely as a fan does, even her reaction to her transmigration feels exactly like how one would normally react, to the point that it won't be far-fetched to believe that the author of this story definitely was a fan of a character and massively supported them. And since she seems to have transmigrated to a supposedly unrelated character (since she isn't reacting about that yet, we can't tell for sure), she can just fully immerse herself into being a fan, and doing her best for her idol. Whatever role she's given, it'll probably take a backseat for her for now anyway, whether she be a mob or a villainess, because her priorities have been firmly supplanted into her mind.
I hope to read more of this.
These days when there's a new update I just skip to the last 5 or so pages and just skim through that. I hope this gets resolved eventually, but it looks like it won't be any time soon...
The heroine is a rare type of villainess stories. She's genuinely kind, and genuinely aware of the situation, even wanting to sincerely protect the "villainess". The prince should definitely get his head on straight. Not listening to the girl he loves, only believing his own version in his mind, and even decidedly abhorring his old childhood friend. Someone should tell him that not only has his ex-fiance covered for him and gave him another chance by lightening his sentence, she also had done no such cruelty. He can't even believe her.
On the other hand, I suppose she persists on being his knight because of an old promise, and that he genuinely liked her true self, but honestly with that much unfiltered spite directed at anyone it's really a huge question why she would persist to want to be by his side. At least let her serve the kingdom for him by helping the people instead. Also, that guy is totally going to need more than just a crown prince's education if he just rushes into things without fully and calmly understanding the situation. He's the type to fight and join battles without considering the heavy consequences (accusing Christiana), or the type to randomly just decide something for the country without considering it too deeply (if he won't properly listen to Sherina, then he may very well not even listen to anyone else, be it the prime minister or council of advisors, despite the potentiality of bad ideas. Or maybd he would be quick to agree without thinking too deeply...). In other words, he's brash and immature. If he were to continue to be like that to his adulthood, the kingdom will be in rapid decline. Poor Sherina, indeed. She may be clumsy but she's more thoughtful and aware than Lombard.
I do hope this gets updated more! I love the art, and so far, I'm loving the characters. I hope the poor girl finally finds her place in the world.
It looks like there's something more in her past, but it's yet to be revealed.
I know I should appreciate the story as is, and I do, but having read a ton of villainess stories, I couldn't help but overlap the two images: This is the type of story the MC of a villainess story reincarnates into, where the heroine is pure and kind and sweet, but is low of status and shows up out of nowhere. Without that reincarnation plot, the villainess would be horrid and despicable, and the heroine gentle and pure. What would have been. The original story, so to speak. So now a dilemma enters the mind: with contrasting values, and differing points of view, who is truthfully correct? I agree that true love is important, but I also agree that without proper qualifications, and considering the propriety due to prior engagement, it's also important to weigh the importance of this as well. On one hand, yeah, it'd be great if they married for love. On the other, yeah, the fiancee is being ditched in favor of it.
That's why to make it easier they make it a clear cut of who is indeed good or evil:
In stereotypical stories, to side with the heroine, you make the villainess utterly despicable, and the heroine's only fault is loving someone beyond her reach, but it's ok, true love, plus the villainess wouldn't make a good partner anyways.
In villainess stories, where everything's inverted,
The heroine is usually a sly temptress while the villainess is usually only a victim of circumstances. The villainess makes a comeback and said heroine should be utterly unqualified in becoming queen.
In conclusion: while nothing can be truly said to be correct, in the end we judge based on the story and circumstances. We are now able to see with better view the two differing sides of the story, so they had to make it a simple matter of very good vs. very bad. Who is the main character and whose story are we following? Without a clear cut role for either girls, is it simply going to be based on a winner or loser?
I don't know man, I feel like he should have ended up with the black-haired girl if it was going to be this way. Also, constantly sleeping with a particular individual means some feelings between you may blossom, even if it's "for support". Physical intimacy and emotional intimacy are usually closely linked for a reason. What if he goes into a spot where he's insecure again, even if he dates or marries her - will he do the same thing to cope with his feelings again? And if he doesn't - well, where will he fall back if he feels that way again? Another woman? The black haired girl? Finally, and I don't think it's completely impossible - what if he impregnated her? "Goodbye my first love"?
I've seen a lot of stories wherein the main character or their love interest sleeps with others in order to hide their feelings/in order to forget their feelings etc., but the thin line for me here is whether or not it goes beyond physical intimacy, I guess. Once that's crossed, it feels like there are feelings waiting to bloom or wither. It feels like, even if no feelings bloom, a seed was planted.
It's hard to get rid of. He likes the girl, sure, but the other lady will always be special to him as well.
Is it insecurity? Probably. I feel like even when the curtain closes, unless that seed is disposed of, it may just be waiting to bloom. I guess I just feel like I can't trust it. Maybe I don't understand him. Maybe I don't understand the main point.
But, well, this is of course just my opinion. The artstyle is pretty and the eyes and faces are cute. I think I'll use ch. 22 as referrence for drawing, but no more.
Her bumbling through to make herself appear as a cutesy princess who needs protection is foiled again and again by none other than herself (it only worked on certain dense people...)
But even though I had a terrible first impression due to that title, seeing someone so cute yet is a nerd for games is so fun for me, especially since her princess act is a hit or miss and her inner thoughts and speculations are pretty funny.
My favorite part of this, however, is the art. Even a some of the mob characters are drawn well, but Ceslia herself, and the 3 guys around her, wooooo... I like this art style.
I thought it would be the usual cliche reincarnated story, but so far I'm really liking it! I'm looking forward to more, but there's a trend wherein japanese reincarnation stories are updated a lot, then it either takes ages for the next chapters/volumes or doesn't get updated again, just like...
>The Former Homewrecker and Flag-Crushing Crown Prince: Even After I Reincarnated, I Still Can't Avoid the Execution Ending?!
>I Will Go and Disappear Obediently
>On Her 94th Reincarnation, This Villainess Became the Heroine! (Same author as this...)
>The Silent Daughter of a Duke and the Cold Emperor ~ The Child I Found in My Past Life Became the Emperor ~
And there may be many more...
So now even with shiny new uploads like this I feel sceptical about how often it might update in the future...
At least let me see the part where he turns around and actually becomes a "doting husband" to her first, as cliche as that sounds!!
It felt like it had everything I wanted to know about it, and yet it didn't at the same time, as with a lot of oneshots. There's only so much ine can get from this; but I would prefer to read more, mostly to see where it goes. But from here, it is hinted that he was succesfully caught.
I must say though, the shifting of narrations confused me, until I figured out based on whose name was being said in the narration.
I don't know if the concubinage system is ok in here, it likely is; thinking back on all the stuff that went on in royalty back then, plus the reaction of everyone in here (and also considering that the mom is supposedly depicted as "kind" and "nice" when she could be seen as a person who wedged her way in a relationship, loveless or not - indeed, her being nice would then sound fake, like she is giving alms to the queen by asking him to give her his favor as well...) but when it comes down to it, it's the king's fault. From the illness of the mom, to the poison in the main character's body, to the jealousy of his wife. Considering what went on in the short while he's shown himself, he's a king without much of a backbone. Wishywashy, only thinking of what befits him, even when he deprives his daughter of her needs/orders his daughter's execution/sends her away. Maybe he does love her, but it feels so superficial.
It first reads like a Cinderella type story, but quickly diverges into its own plot.
The man is truly misanthropic, not someone who only claims to be or is someone who's mean for 2-3 chapters then changes his tune quickly. Indeed, it doesn't matter how much she suffered or what she dealt with, the only reason why he gives Excia special treatment is because of the dog, Hattie. Thankfully, the girl we're rooting for does manage to succeed so even if Glacie, the wizard, doesn't sympathize with her or aid her, (Just... I thought his eyes would soften a little bit and he'd try to sympathize a little... just a little, like, " I understand, but I can't help you." He just had to be really extra mean then, when she was scared and at her lowest point - although it did help push her to be stronger. And he IS a misanthrope. They explicitly put it in the title, and they did stay true to it. So, really, I can't say anything to complain, but... I CAN still feel sulky and a little bitter. I feel so bad for Excia. ) she managed to stand up and use her powers by herself.
The girl seemingly catches feelings for him rather quickly, so, currently, we are at a position wherein the girl has unrequited feelings for him, but the thing about having a similar soul as his departed beloved is definitely going to give complications. I don't know where this is going and I can't make predictions, but I do hope that this guy doesn't soften up NOW after finding this out. Just stay mean and cold, because it's going to be worse if he softens up to her because of this. I know that there's a high chance of them ending up liking each other, mainly it's the cover, but I hope that this new fact doesn't contribute to that - although it might.
I’m Sick And Tired Of his Childhood Friend’s, Now Ex-Girlfriend’s, Constant Abuse So I hope this will eventually get resolved. I hope the truth is learned not only so that Hanabi might lose some of her influence, but also because this will impact their futures, whether we like it or not. Otherwise, even after graduation, he'll be known as that guy, and it might even follow him in college and even his job hunting will be affected. His passive attitude may help, but something needs to be done eventually.
Also, I read from the spoilers somewhere a long time ago that Hanabi somehow gets off easy eventually in spite of all she's done? I get that justice doesn't always get served, even in fiction, but if this really is the case then please, at the very least, please don't let them be close to one another ever again. Not that happy friendship end between the two of them. She's gone out of her way to try to ruin people's lives and is highly unapologetic about it because she knows she can just get what she wants with a few cute poses and fake tears. If she had to deal with someone like herself, she would never find peace any more. (Now I'm kind of hoping she does, in the far, far future, as an adult: someone like her, but worse and more capable. Just to let her see how it's like to be on the receiving end of that.)
People may not like it, but I still hope there will still be updates. I mean, should it really end there? I want to know what happens next! I want to see the ending!
I read this a long, long time ago, back when it was first made available into this website. I remembered feeling excited over a new manga and then constantly feeling disappointed due to lack of updates. Still, hope didn't seem completely lost as it was updated once in a while - by that I mean once a year. Then... updates completely stopped. Along with a couple of manga at the time, it was a painful realization for me to learn that just because a manga is posted here, doesn't mean it'll constantly be updated until a series is finished. So many manga, even unpopular ones, left in the dust and fade into obscurity in favor of newer manga.
Going back here again, I guess it's the correct decision to not keep waiting and checking for an update, or expect much. Still, I'm going to take note of the name because I did like this once upon a time.
I see... but... what about her? She's not an immortal being. I get that maybe, since Haru is not reincarnated and doesn't die, maybe the Princess at one point turned into a man. But... as happy as it is that he's finally found the knight after decades and centuries, and they're once again in love and together, she's not like him. She's not invulnerable to aging or sickness. Considering how long it's been before she finally reincarnated again, it might be the same way next time.
Then again, maybe they'll be optimistic in the potential thought of meeting again and falling in love again.
Since it's fiction, and it's not addressed anymore, and I think the story has ended, I'll type down my own conjecture.
I think the reason why the ex girlfriend made it a point to say she was an ex, and also why she had to mention about the cutting hair bit, is because she felt bitter.
If she knew that, and deems that girl to be "not the true love" due to long hair, and knew he grew it due to that, then it's likely that she found that out as well, when he dated her.
I mean, I think anyone would be pretty bitter when a casual question about hair makes you realize that you're not the "true love" the other person is seeking.
She likely didn't want them to be happy and decided to strike the two vital points to hurriedly create a crack between them.
It's likely that the girl confessed, they dated under the pretext of possibility and whatnot (because who knows if this seemingly radiant true love of his childhood would even ever appear) but he never did cut his hair, or remove that bracelet that reminds him of her.
Still...
I think it'd be a little more concrete if we get to see the conversation between them when the girl had left, rather than just me making speculations.
I can only imagine him questioning her, and her getting mad about things.
Even if she did appear again, seeing how much he's changed for the "new girlfriend" is bound to rile her up - but I don't think she'll appear again. I imagine it went a little like this:
"What? I just wanted to introduce myself properly to her. She should know that you're the kind of person to cling to your first love like that while dating someone else. If anything, I'm doing the both of you a favor."
He probably didn't explain too much nor did they linger because he was not only able to catch up to the girl leaving, he also didn't cut his hair until it sprung into his mind when she appeared to linger on it.
This looked like it could be part of a longer story, but maybe it's for the best that it's just a oneshot.
It could've been wrapped up nicely, like why she was suddenly transported there and why she seemed to be the first one he drunk from. The guy is very obviously just following the plot - he rescues special girl, gets what he wants, and that's it. The girl just accepts everything the guy says and does. They're just... existing and making the story happen. Few emotions, few thoughts, few feelings. I guess there's barely anything to expand in a oneshot, and I guess it might be silly to expect anything more.
It's hard to have confidence when you're always teased over your height.