I came here for the average MC trope but I didnt expect to love every cast here so much. Asagiri is a menace i love him, hope he's gonna be the ML since hes so straightforward. I love Ootani for being so smitten and kind. And ofc our MC pii-chan is very lovable too, so dedicated. But Takahashi?
im pretty sure the emperor is the ML but even with the blond hair and red eyes, he's actually such a unique character. He's not the typical cliched misunderstood ML we usually have in otome isekai. instead, hes so cute and funny lmao and very much kind. You cant ever misunderstand him.
some parts get pretty cringy but it's still such a wholesome read!!!
im on chapter 75 atm and listen, i love revenge manhwas as much as the other does. but the fact that all of these revenge/clapback moments are happening in front of the children kinda irks me a bit.
especially with the priest and sheria. girl, doesnt this conference have children watching too?? that kind of stuff is traumatizing to witness, and every time i think about these scenes realistically like that, i end up feeling detached and uncomfortable.
i kinda miss the whole coming-up-with-modern-ideas-that-are-new-in-this-world vibes this story had at first. and i would have LOVED this plotline too if only it wasnt established to be a children's happiness and feel good story at the first few chapters...
but that's just me not liking the fact that i end up getting forced out of my escapism mood when i read otome isekai lmao. i read these stuffs with NO brain, but even i have some limits in being dumb
trust me, i love men (IN REVERSE HAREMS!!! I REPEAT: IN REVERSE HAREMS!!) but didier's bobcut queen appearance? I MISS HER. WHAT HAPPENED. WHICH ONE IS THE TRUE FORM?? PLEASE
everything about isaac is just perfect for me PLEAZEEE I WANT MORE PRIESTS LOVE INTEREST PLEASE GIVE ME MORE OF THEM (i do not have a kink for priests. i am just tired of the dukes and crown princes being the male lead, please let me taste something new)
also because isaac looks and acts so much like romano from hetalia lmfao. i am pure cringe but i will never forget my love for romano so this is the best manhwa for me at the moment (unless anyone suggests another manhwa with brown hair, green eyed male leads who has a bad temper and etiquette but is a softie deep inside)
Alright, you challenged me to it, so let me see what I can dig up that meets some of your criteria. This is an assortment of non-standard MLs, to varying degrees of your required attitudes, with most focus on being nobility or adjacent without being a prince or a Duke.
Ascendance of a Bookworm (HIGHLY recommend the LNs)
The Lady Likes a Nerd over Princes
No More Princes (?)
I Woke Up as the Ugly Duckling
The Boomerang Duke (for his personality I swear)
Straight to the Red Carpet
On Her 94th Reincarnation, the Villainess became the Heroine
Madougushi Dahlia wa Utsumukanai (sort of maybe)
I’m the Villainess, so I’m Taming the Final Boss
The Villainess wants to Marry a Commoner
The Goddess of Healing
Primitive Boyfriend
Mahou Tsukai to Koi no Biyaku
My Ray of Hope
Tensei Shite Yandere Kouryaku Taishou Chara to Shujuu Kankei ni Natta Kekka
I can look for more if you want, but I’m literally sitting here with my lunch getting cold. XD
So imma jus add this to my reading list thanks ╮(￣▽￣)╭ these better be good (=・ω・=)
I try not to recommend things I don’t have a good opinion of. XD there’s only one that’s super weird, I think, and that’s Primitive Boyfriend. But it’s weirdly Otomege-adjacent and super non-standard ML so I went ahead and added it.
Ascendance of a Bookworm is one of your closest matches I think. Priest with bad attitude and manners as a main character for a good bulk of a 33 novel series. I love Ferdinand. He’s such a grumpy cat.
after experiencing those second hand embarrassment of being rejected, i actually understand why FMC would just think that ML's approaches were platonic lmao
i mean, if i had the entire world conspiring against me when it comes to romance, i'll also just kill my desires for love and not assume stuff, even if it's something so obvious as the ML saying he wanna stay with me (still vague tbh, he could be saying it platonically /j)
after experiencing those second hand embarrassment of being rejected, i actually understand why FMC would just think that ML's approaches were platonic lmao
i mean, if i had the entire world conspiring against me when it comes to romance, i'll also just kill my desires for love and not assume stuff, even if it's something so obvious as the ML saying he wanna stay with me (still vague tbh, he could be saying it platonically /j)
dont get me wrong. i love arwin so much hes very cute. but i cant stop thinking about the crown prince who heard latte say "I dont fall for otherworldly beings"?? LIKE? PLEASE GIVE ME CLOSURE. just one extra route for him like with kenneth, please
aside from that, i love ibelin too? the idea of a protagonist being so loved, she never grew up from it because she always had things go her way. she never struggled and never had to lift a finger or two because the world bends her way. gosh, i need more moments where she just learns to live in the reality and have more latte x ibelin moments, if you get the gist of what im saying
YESSSS CERULEAN ZEUS IS BACKKKK OH MY GOD I MISSED MY HUSBAND
wait did the artstyle change or am i tweaking