The 35 Best Historical Romance Manhwa of all time

The best historical Romance Manhwa of all time

Would you like some tea, Mylord? And perhaps a tartlet for the lady? Of course – coming right up: here are my 35 favorite historical romance manhwa featuring royalty. Plus, plenty more recommendations and inspirations for you to discover.

“How To Win My Husband Over” – A royal Romance Manhwa with lots of angst

Historical Romance Manhwa
© SIRU・Spice&Kitty/CARROTOON

Summary: After dying in a plane crash, our FL wakes up as Rudbeckia de Borgia, a doomed villain from a novel, meant to be killed by her future husband, Iske van Omerta. Trapped in the troublesome Borgia family, she must marry her murderer. Her goal: To prove to Iske, his family, and their entire country that she poses no threat so that she can stay alive.

Check it out if you:

  • love it when the characters aren’t black and white
  • like when the female lead has to actually work through her trauma and is faced with constant challenges
  • don’t mind when the male lead is pretty neglectful because he can’t communicate his feelings

I married the Male Lead’s Dad

ⓒ Ko eun chae / Eongsseu, San-ho&Gyammi / Feelyeon management

Summary: Before the female lead Aisha reincarnated into her favorite novel “Persona,” she was already a huge fan of Abel, the main character. After starting her new life inside the story, she takes her fangirling to another level by sending him gifts. One day, Abel’s father summons her after hearing about her actions. But there’s a twist: he misunderstands and thinks Aisha’s affections are directed at him. That’s how their unusual relationship begins. What starts as a lighthearted romance manhwa gradually takes a darker, heavier turn. Still, don’t hesitate to dive into this masterpiece.

You should check it out if you:

  • (like when the male lead has boobs – I’m kidding his chest is just drawn a bit weirdly)
  • love reading a historical Romance Manhwa with a smart female lead that actually thinks logically
  • want a refreshing story that balances romance with a surprisingly dark side
  • love it when the male lead falls in love first (and trust me, he’s a fantastic ML – easily in my top 5)

Turning the Mad Dog Into a Genteel Lord

ⓒ V_An, yepbee, zusiha, REDICE STUDIO / RIVERSE

Summary: Diarin, a priestess without family ties or influence, is always stuck with the hardest tasks. Assigned to help war hero Ceres readjust to civilian life, she sees it as a chance to finally earn a promotion. But instead of the celebrated hero, she finds a broken man. As Diarin does her best to improve his life, he soon becomes completely enamored with her.

You should read if you: 

  • don’t mind when the male lead literally behaves like a wild beast: he doesn’t talk much, jumps out of windows, growls, kills people, and so on. It’s the typical “taming XYZ” trope.
  • love to read a historical Romance Manhwa with natural interactions. They touch pretty frequently, which is rare in a royal setting.
  • like soothing your eyes after a stressful day, because the art is gorgeous. And it’s one of the best Romance Comedy Manhwa out there.

“Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story” is a historical Romance with a twist (Completed)

© A-jin /Webtoon

Summary: Edith gets reincarnated as the villainess of her favorite novel. As the name suggests, the story is pretty typical but it takes an interesting turn. While Edith tries to be kind to everyone around her everyone just keep beeing unnecessarily cruel. And as a reader you will know why very soon. 

You should check it out if you:

  • Don’t mind when the FL gets treated very harshly but doesn’t speak up.
  • Don’t mind when their relationship always has setbacks.
  • like reading a very satisfying relationship – they don’t get together and the story just ends.

Mother’s Contract Marriage

Historical Romance Manhwa
ⓒChoo Hyeyeon,Siya / Paragraph

Summary: This one feels like a breath of fresh air. Our young protagonist Lyrica is hardworking and does her best to stay afloat, even while her mother completely neglects and abuses her. Life in the slums is brutally tough. Then, one day, her mother suddenly snaps out of it and apologizes (not quite enough in my opinion, but what can you do). By now you might have guessed it: yes, it’s a reincarnation story—but this time the FL isn’t the one who reincarnated. Instead, it’s her mother who got a second chance. A unique and refreshing perspective.

You should check it out if you:

  • like reading a romance Manhwa with unique but great art
  • love when the child protagonist is actually behaving like a child
  • don’t mind when a story brushes over some very heavy trauma

The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway

ⓒ DCCENT/CHACHA KIM, CHOKAM, Cheong-gwa

Summary: At six years old, Inés chose the handsome heir of the Escalante family as her future husband – simply because he looked good. For fifteen years, Lord Cárcel avoids the marriage, which suits Inés just fine since she secretly wants it to fail. She even urges him to enjoy his freedom, as long as he leaves her alone. But her indifference soon unsettles him, and Cárcel decides to prove he can be the partner she truly needs.

Check it out if you:

  • like when the ML is completely obsessed with the FL (he does sleep around before things get serious – but she asked him to)
  • love it when the FL (who regressed three times already) doesn’t just shake off her trauma. But beware, the flashbacks are heavy. If you are searching for a lighthearted Romance Manhwa, better skip that one.
  • don’t mind when the female lead is VERY stubborn and emotionless (but for a very good reason to be fair)

Another Typical Fantasy Romance

© WOLHET / NHN

Summary: Lithera Merto is your typical transmigrated heroine—except her “happily ever after” ends in divorce and court politics. When everything falls apart, she finds new hope in the Duke she’s been writing letters to for years. While this one often tries a little too hard to be different, it’s truly enjoyable to see a healthy relationship develop throughout the whole story, rather than just being plastered on at the end.

You should read if you:

  • like when the male lead has long hair and scars
  • love when the MCs communicate really well and are an actual team – it’s them against the world
  • the greenest flag ML out there. There is no greener green. Trust me

Thy Tyrant Wants To Be Good (Completed)

(c) Ramguel , KAKON /Webtoon

Summary: Dorothea Millanaire had to spend her entire life in the shadow of her brother, the crown prince, who wasn’t even fit for the role. So she decided to simply take what was rightfully hers by force and became a bloodthirsty tyrant. After she was killed, she woke up as a child. With this second chance, she decides: whatever happens, she will not let history repeat itself.

You should read this historical Romance Manhwa if you:

  • like stories with some of the best character development out there

  • love morally grey characters

  • appreciate when an abusive father isn’t simply forgiven


“Secret Lady” is more enjoyable if you can binge it

Historical Romance Manhwa with ghosts: secret lady
©BANANA・Anngato/CARROTOON

Summary: Lady Rosentine Arzen was born with the ability to see ghosts, an offense punishable by death under imperial law. So when Rosentine learns of a plot to poison the imperials, she goes undercover as a vagabond sorcerer to save Prince Charteris Kartazen, who promises to protect her family should she solve the mystery. Amidst palace intrigues, Rosentine’s secret ability is the most perilous threat to her own survival. If you don’t want to read it for the unique premise, read it for the great dynamic between the main couple but beware: the progress can be slow.

Check it out if you:

  • want to read a story with such impeccable art, that you could print out every panel and plaster your whole room with it.
  • love reading a story with a LOT of political intrigue that goes pretty in-depth. So the pacing can be pretty slow.
  • don’t mind many flashbacks in a story. Although they are relevant it can feel lengthy – but only if you are reading it weekly.

The Crown Princess Scandal (Completed)

Historical Romance Manhwa: The Crown Princess Scandal
ⓒ NAVER WEBTOON Ltd. /Jeonghyeon/ KITROW

Summary: Hwa-yeong unexpectedly finds herself in the crown princess selection at the imperial palace. Determined to be disqualified, she deliberately fails every task—but her plan backfires, turning her into a favorite among the royals. Her frequent encounters with Crown Prince Shin-yeong only complicate matters, as he takes a keen interest in keeping her close. If you love the enemies-to-lovers trope it doesn’t get much better than The Crown Princess Scandal.

Check it out if you:

  • like it when the ML falls first
  • love it when the FL is funny and headstrong
  • don’t mind when the FL is oblivious to the ML’s feelings (though to be fair, he keeps calling her “goblin”)

For Better or For Worse (Completed)

ⓒYeondamXDCC/ EUNREN, No Heeda

Summary: The female lead reincarnates as Lady Dillion, the supposed villain of a novel (though she doesn’t actually do much). In the original plot, her sister dies after marrying Marquess Cedric, which is why Lady Dillion dislikes him. To protect her sister, she marries him herself – even though she knows he is destined to fall in love with the original story’s true heroine. I really love the dynamic between the MCs. This one is also one of the best completed Romance Manhwa you can read.

You should read this Royalty Manhwa if you:

  • love it when the MCs bicker and tease each other a lot
  • like it when the characters have pretty surprising character traits (the stepmother, the sister, and so on)
  • don’t mind a few unnecessary misunderstandings—especially toward the end of the story

“I Will Become the Villain’s Poison Taster” is a historical Romance Manhwa with lots of magic

ⓒ PilYoo, jagalchikon, TANDAN, Nemoraming / C&C Revolution Inc.

Summary: An office worker dies in a car crash and is reborn as Giselle Rozevin, a notorious villainess doomed to be poisoned in prison on death row. But to everyone’s surprise, every attempt fails – and even stranger, Giselle finds the poisons unexpectedly tasty. With this unusual ability, she sets out to support the ML. It’s available on Tapas and, if you ask me, pretty underrated.

Check it out if you:

  • don’t mind when the Female Lead is extremely clumsy and helpless sometimes – but still kind and hilarious
  • love it when the main couple tease each other constantly – their dynamic feels natural and is fun to read
  • like reading a Romance Manhwa with no love triangle

“Marriage of Convenience” is a historical Romance Manhwa that reads like a fairytale (Completed)

©Antstudio, KEN

Summary: The female lead, Bianca de Arno, regresses in time after her husband dies in war and she is expelled from his estate. Branded as a wicked and selfish wife, she comes to despise her new life. While the plot itself isn’t particularly new, the delivery and pacing are excellent. It almost reads like a fairytale, and the character development is truly top-notch.

You should read this royal Romance Manhwa if you:

  • don’t expect the FL to be a tactical mastermind who turns everything to her advantage
  • don’t mind a 13-year age gap (in the novel, her father married her off at nine, but the marriage wasn’t consummated until she was 21- at least in her first life; the flashbacks can be uncomfortable, though there are only a few panels, and he mostly left her alone)
  • enjoy stories with many lovable characters – except for the obligatory crown prince who obsesses over the FL for no real reason

Villain’s are Destined to Die

(c) TAPAS MEDIA 2020/ SUOL / Gwon Gyeoeul

Summary: After playing an otome game, the female lead is suddenly warped into the story itself and finds herself living as the villainess, Penelope Eckhart. The problem? The game is set to hard mode, which means every small mistake could cost her life. Her only guide is the affection bar hovering above each of the male love interests.

  • don’t mind when everyone treats the FL poorly at the start
  • love historical romance manhwa with truly gorgeous art (yes, I know—I’m repeating myself)
  • enjoy stories where it’s not immediately clear who the ML really is

I stan the prince

historical Romance Manhwa recommendations: I'm stanning the prince
ⓒ zoo sun

Summary: Angela is a devoted fan of Prince Rayburn – she even wrote fanfiction about him. To her shock, her cringy story is published behind her back and unexpectedly becomes a huge success. When the imperial family discovers it, they hunt for the author and want her executed for treason. Rayburn’s sister, Hoya, steps in to protect Angela, but in return demands she secretly write a sequel to improve Rayburn’s reputation. To find inspiration, Angela spends more time with Rayburn himself. The result is a truly intriguing story – not the typical isekai or gorgeous-duke setup. There’s no time travel, no reincarnation. And after a long hiatus, this was back briefly but is on Hiatus again, unfortunately.

You should read if you:

  • like it when you aren’t quite sure who the villain is supposed to be in the story
  • want to read a story with a very quirky and hilarious female lead
  • love reading a historical Romance Manhwa with beautiful art – just look at the picture

Revolutionary Princess Eve

© Copin / Irinbi

Summary: Evenrose and Michael are the protagonists of this story, though they come from very different worlds. Michael is a homunculus—a race used only for slavery and manual labor in the kingdom, while Evenrose is a princess in the royal palace. Determined to abolish slavery and change the system, she seeks her father’s favor to become his successor. This manhwa is a rare time-reversal story that actually explains why time was turned back. I love it, but it was on hiatus for a long time. Luckily, Season 3 has finally returned.

You should check it out if you:

  • like when the male lead has to protect the female lead (master-bodyguard relationship)
  • love reading about a female lead that is really kind and has a huge goal: abandoning slavery
  • like it when the male lead is pretty distrusting at first but quickly becomes fond of the female lead

“Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom” is a royal Manhwa with serious trauma

ⓒ Mo9Rang, Iru 2021 / A.TEMPO MEDIA

Summary:

This manhwa borrows elements from Snow White but tells the story in a unique way. There’s the evil stepmother, Abigail; the mirror on the wall; and the mistreated daughter, Blanche. After reincarnating, Abigail no longer wants to play the role of the villain. She is still completely fixated on Blanche, but only because of her cuteness. Determined to protect her, she calls out everyone in the castle who mistreats her—including her father. Over time, both Blanche and even the king begin to open up to her.

You should check this Royalty Manhwa out if you:

  • like it when the female lead intimidates everyone with her scary face
  • love it when the former villainess gets everyone to like and respect her
  • don’t mind when the male lead is cold (but he has his reasons which are pretty heavy)

Under the Oak tree

(c) Manta Comics /KIM Soo-ji/Namu/P

Summary: Maximilian got abused by her father all her life and developed a stutter. She is forced to marry the unknown knight Riftan. After their first night, he disappears on a mission for three years and becomes the most famous knight on the continent. Even after three years he still is obsessed over Maximilian – but she can’t quite deal with being treated well.

You should read if you:

  • don’t mind mild sexual content
  • like reading a Manhwa with a realistic approach to trauma (finally a female lead who doesn’t just shake it off after being abused – I really like that)
  • love it when the couple is together from the beginning (if you want to understand Riftans feelings, there is a novel from his POV)

The Falcon Princess

historical Romance Manhwa
(c) KakaoPage/ Hanryui / Coin

Summary: The female lead of this manhwa is Zelle, the eighth royal princess of Roymonde, who is kidnapped by the enemy. After losing consciousness in a life-threatening situation, she wakes up as a bird – yes, a bird. Wanting to be useful to her country, she becomes the messenger bird of Commander Valhayle, and together they form a unique bond.

You should read this Royalty Manhwa if you:

  • like reading a refreshing and unique story
  • don’t mind when the male lead is strangely drawn to a bird (how this story still manages to set up tension and a bond between the MCs is hilarious)
  • love reading a Manhwa with an ongoing war and a mysterious plot

My In-Laws are Obsessed with me

Historical Romance Manhwa: My In-laws are obsessed with me
ⓒ NAVER WEBTOON Ltd./seungu / Han Yoon seol

Summary: Pereshati Jahardt, a count’s heiress, faces betrayal from her stepfamily and lover, leading to her death. Miraculously, she’s revived and travels back in time before the murder. To buy time before getting her revenge, she proposes marriage to the infamous grand duke, Therdeo Lapileon, uncovering a dreadful family secret. The story unfolds around how Pereshati navigates this discovery. This historical Romance Manhwa stands out because of the great pacing and storytelling. The flow feels natural, and the feelings are depicted beautifully.

Check it out if you:

  • like reading a story where almost every character that gets introduced has depth.
  • love it when a Manhwa takes time to show the feelings and trauma that certain incidents cause, and doesn’t just brush it off
  • don’t mind when the male lead seems pretty cold and is not the best at communicating – also the romance is very very slow

The Redemption of Earl Nottingham

© 2025 MANTA

Summary: This story is historical but not a royalty manhwa. It is World War I and both protagonists really struggle to keep afloat. This is a fresh story you haven’t read a hundred times and deals with heavy trauma. But it is a story about second chances.

You should read if you:

  • like when the female lead stands on her own two feet
  • don’t mind the “although we love each other, we can’t be together” trope
  • like reading a different kind of historical romance manhwa for a change

Royal Romance: I shall master this family

© Kakao Entertainment / Ant Studio/ Mon/ Kim Roah

Summary: After the death of Firentia’s grandfather, the great Lombardi family fell into ruin at the hands of her cousins. Forced to watch helplessly, Firentia drowned her frustration in alcohol—until a carriage accident suddenly sent her back to her seven-year-old self. Determined to seize this second chance, she sets out to become the next head of the family and protect the Lombardi legacy. I do have to admit, though: it gets a bit tiring that nearly every plan of hers works out flawlessly.

You should check this historical Romance Manhwa out if you:

  • like seeing adults being startled by a little girl (she is behind many business ventures and plays the whole political intrigue game)
  • love reading a royalty Manhwa about the most lovable Manhwa-Dad in history
  • don’t mind when the romance is extremely slow. And I mean extremely.

Flirting with the Villains’ Dad (Completed)

(c) TAPAS MEDIA 2020 / via / dalseul

Summary: Truck-kun strikes and the female lead finds herself in the body of Princess Yerenica, a character in the novel “Brisney Wants to Be Happy.” But here’s the twist: she reincarnated 20 years before the story of the novel starts. Because she knows exactly how the story is going to unfold, she tries to seduce the villain’s father before the villain is even born.

You should check this historical Romance Manhwa out if you:

  • like reading a story about a bubbly and quirky female lead
  • love having a female lead who actively tries to change the story
  • don’t mind when the male lead is pretty cold in the beginning – although they touch very often

The villainess lives again (Completed)

ⓒ 2020. golemfactory / Mint, PEACHBERRY

Summary: Artezia Rosan is a master manipulator, and she uses her skills to help her brother ascend the throne. After he no longer needs her, he betrays her and has her imprisoned for all of her crimes. Even after her arms and legs are cut off, she manages to draw a magic circle to go back in time. This time, she uses her abilities to help Cedric Ebron claim the throne – a man she truly admires. Just a small warning: if you are only looking for romance, this one isn’t for you. It has a very lengthy story with lots of planning and plotting.

You should check it out if you:

  • like seeing the female lead deal with her toxic family
  • don’t mind when the female lead is pretty self-destructive
  • love reading a story with a very righteous and caring male lead

Father, I don’t want this marriage (Completed)

ⓒ Roal, Yuri, Hong Heesu

Summary: If you like misunderstandings, this story is for you. Juvelian is supposed to be a villainess – although it’s never really shown what she did wrong. She is scared of her father and feels neglected. In the first chapter, she dies a tragic death – no one helps her, not even her lover or her father. After going back in time, she breaks up with her lover and tries to win her father’s love. The thing is, her father is actually quite protective; they’re all just terrible at communicating. To keep herself from being married off, she makes a dating contract with her father’s student.

You should check this Royalty Manhwa out if you:

  • like it when the male lead falls in love first and is pretty shy and possessive
  • don’t mind a misunderstanding-inception and the lack of proper communication
  • love reading a story with a VERY misunderstood father

The Villainess Flips the Script (Completed)

© Garine, KEN / yeondam

Summary: The female lead reincarnates into her favorite revenge novel “The Owner of the Winter Forest” as the villainous aunt Eudith, who is tasked with caring for the novel’s male lead, Luka. After waking up, she begins treating Luka kindly, and he quickly grows attached to her. When his uncle Rudiger arrives to take him away, Luka refuses to leave Eudith—changing the original story. From then on, she moves to Winterwald.

You should check it out if you:

  • like reading a story with great dialogue
  • love it when the female lead is clever and resourceful
  • don’t mind when the MCs avoid talking about their feelings

The Accidental Heiress (Completed)

ⓒ Manta Comics/ supia/ doggo

Summary: Riella, a florist, unintentionally draws Duchess Horssen’s attention with her radiant blooms and unexpectedly becomes the heir to her vast wealth. Faced with the wrathful Grand Duke Hann, who seeks to take over the inheritance, Riella is left in a dilemma. She must decide whether she can stand her ground and maintain her newly acquired status. This one is on the list because the Male lead is the most powerful wizard in the country, and she has special abilities too.

Check it out if you:

  • love it when the ML falls first
  • like it when everyone loves the female lead – this is a feel-good-read through and through
  • love an enemies-to-lovers relationship, where they become close naturally

I was tricked into this fake marriage (Completed)

ⓒ Tapas Media/ Pearjuice/ Jade

Summary: This story appears to follow a pretty standard Isekai narrative: The female protagonist gets hit by Truck-kun and wakes up in the body of a beautiful noble lady who enters a contract marriage to reach her goals. But!! Although the male protagonist is labeled as a ruthless killer, he is surprisingly nice to the female lead. And their relationship is more than meets the eye.

You should check it out if you:

  • like reading a story, where they get together relatively early and show lots of skinship (but this is the manhwa with the most interruptions of intimate moments ever created)
  • love it when the story has a supernatural touch and a tragic mystery plot
  • don’t mind a pretty creepy and hopeless second male lead, if you can even call him that

The villainess Maker is a historical Manhwa with a butler-master dynamic (Completed)

ⓒ Bulb, Sol Leesu

Summary: Do you like tension? Then this completed Manhwa is for you. This story is also not your typical Romance Isekai. Although our female protagonist tries to change the story, the world she lives in doesn’t let her until she acts like a villainess. In order to accomplish that she makes a deal with the mysterious warlord Killian.

You should read this historical Romance Manhwa out if you:

  • prefer seeing a female lead who struggles but becomes strong in the end
  • love when the main couple has a Butler-Master-dynamic
  • don’t mind when the male lead is pretty pushy (but also very protective)

What’s wrong with you Duke? (Completed)

Royalty Manhwa recommendation: What's wrong with you Duke?
(c) Eddie/Bandalbanji/TAPAS MEDIA 2020

Summary: This story is about Erin and Rowan – oh wait, let’s French it up: Dreux and Nöel (I’ll explain that in a bit). Their love story starts off rough: Dreux tries to kill her, but a magic spell activates and forces him to completely change, declaring his love for Nöel. He’s so persistent that she eventually marries him. The catch? His sweet personality, “Ru,” isn’t always there – sometimes he reverts to his usual self, and Nöel has to deal with actual death threats.

Addressing some issues: When the series dropped on Tapas, the comment section exploded – no one understood why they suddenly became Dreux and Nöel. I don’t love it either (Erin and Rowan from the fan translations feel way more natural), but you do get used to it. The ending also got a lot of criticism. Without spoiling too much: it’s tragic. Personally, I thought it was handled well, with a strong twist that went against the usual lighthearted romance formula. And technically, it isn’t the end – there’s an epilogue that flips the dynamic, with Dreux finally chasing after Nöel as his real self.

Despite the complaints, I adore this manhwa. The art is gorgeous, the female lead is hilarious, and I’ve never seen a romance dynamic quite like this one. Definitely worth reading if you want something funny, sad, and refreshing all at once.

You should read if you:

  • don’t mind a very rough start between the mcs
  • like it when the male lead has two kinds of personalities – and the lovey-dovey one is completely over the top
  • love reading a Manhwa with gorgeous art and a unique plot

Baroness goes on Strike

ⓒ Yeseul, Go Eunchae / Toyou’s Dream

Summary: Baroness Cassia is at the end of her life and takes comfort in the thought of finally escaping her miserable marriage to Zester, her mercenary husband. She regrets pouring all her energy into supporting his domain instead of living for herself. But then, miraculously, Cassia wakes up ten years in the past. This time, she’s determined to live a life without stress. The only question is: can she find the courage to stand up to Zester, or is she doomed to repeat the same mistakes all over again?

Check it out if you:

  • don’t mind a super annoying, possessive guy (I won’t even call him the second ML) who tries to break the main couple apart
  • love it when the ML blushes a lot
  • like it when both protagonists put real effort into the relationship and grow close pretty quickly

Beware The Villainess (Completed)

historical Romance Manhwa
ⓒ GLLIMTOON

Summary: The female lead reincarnates as the villainess Melissa Foddebrat, the clingy daughter of a duke who made plenty of enemies in the past. But Melissa has no intention of becoming a reformed saint—instead, her plan is to teach all the idiotic male characters a lesson. And she does it ruthlessly. But after finishing it, I can confidently say: if you read it for the romance – don’t. If you read it for the laughs, you’ll be very happy.

You should check it out if you:

  • like to read a Manhwa with a badass female lead – who openly communicates
  • are in need of new Memes
  • love reading a historical Romance Manhwa where the female lead is kind to her friends but crushes her opponents

“My Gently Raised Beast” is a royal Manhwa with cute animals

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. /Yeoseulki/Early Flower/Teava

Summary:

This is neither an isekai nor a time-reversal manhwa, which already makes it stand out. After growing up in poverty, Blondina is taken into the palace as the forgotten princess of the Ates Empire. As expected, she is far from welcomed with open arms, and her so-called family treats her poorly. One day, she meets Amon, a member of the divine leopard clan who can transform into a human. The two quickly grow close.

Historical Romance Manhwa – You should read if you:

  • love reading a Manhwa with a possessive male lead
  • like reading about a female lead that stands up for herself
  • love seeing beautifully drawn cats getting petted and cuddled all the time

Beatrice

ⓒ Cierra, Macherie 2019 / D&C MEDIA

Summary and Review: This one has its flaws, which is why I’m giving it a closer look. Alexandro is cold, ruthless, and doesn’t hesitate to kill for his goals – especially at the start. He spares the female lead, Beatrice, who disguises herself as a slave named “Chloe” to survive. As his personal maid, she slowly catches his attention. While Alexandro is an asshole, his portrayal feels more historically believable than the usual “war hero with a perfect personality” we often see in manhwa.

Alexandro hates people, but he hates himself and his past the most. His abusive childhood doesn’t excuse his actions, but it makes them more realistic. Chloe, on the other hand, is kind, bubbly, and content with little things. The isekai element (used only to explain her plant knowledge) feels unnecessary, and her character development is minimal, which is a pity. Still, despite its issues, I found the story engaging – the misunderstandings are hilarious, and the Archduke does grow as a character.

Royalty Manhwa – You should read if you:

  • like reading a story with A LOT of character development
  • don’t mind when the female lead doesn’t have a goal of her own – other than surviving
  • like having lots of panels with fanservice (abs – abs everywhere)

Betrayal of Dignity

Historical Romance Manhwa: Betrayal of dignity
© MANTA / Kimpa

Summary: To prevent her family’s downfall, Chloe Verdier needs to secure a husband for her sister, Alice. She encounters the attractive yet arrogant Duke Thisse, who offers a solution. However, when Alice elopes with a suitor, Chloe is forced to take a significant risk by approaching the Duke for help. If you are searching for a wholesome story please don’t pick this up and run as far as you can. If you are willing to give this story a chance you are in for a treat. The pacing and storytelling are great and the art is absolutely gorgeous. It’s available on Manta. But before you start: The ending is unfortunately pretty rushed, which makes the whole reading experience less enjoyable.

Check it out if you:

  • don’t mind when the ML is obsessive, manipulative, and expresses his love in toxic ways to put it mildly. He is basically a yandere.
  • love a story with a lot of angst where the FL is suffering a lot.
  • want to read a historical Romance Manwha with a really strong and unique FL. She has a limp and is sophisticated and headstrong.

If you want to know which popular historical Romance Manhwa are overrated, you can check out my other article.

Some additional historical Romance Manhwa recommendations

For those of you who want even more: here are a few historical romance manhwa that didn’t quite make the list, but are still worth checking out.

First Night With the Duke

  • Super Short Review: The female lead gets drunk and sleeps with the male lead – who is not supposed to end up with her. She tries with all her might to get rid of him but comes around eventually.
  • You will get: pretty questionable actions from the fl, a hilarious fl, a persistent ml

The Reason Why Realiana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion

  • Super Short Review: I know this should be on the list – it’s great. I just didn’t keep up with the story at some point, because it was moving too slowly for a weekly update. Nevertheless, go read it.
  • You will get: slow romance, evil antagonist, a nice mysterious subplot

When the Villainess is in Love

  • Super Short Review: This one is a Reverse Harem. The former villainess tries to save everyone from their death and fangirls heavily while being at it.
  • You will get: Gorgeous art, a hilarious female lead, many male love interests

The villainess is a marionette

  • Super Short Review: In her first life she died pitifully because she was being used by her brother. After going back in time she changes their dynamic and uses him instead.
  • You will get: Godlike art, a scheming female lead, much royal power play

The taming of the tyrant

  • Super Short Review: After taming the tyrant the female lead runs away. The male lead won’t have that though and chases her down.
  • You will get: a needy male lead, a badass female lead who can fight, magic and fairies

The lady I served became a Master – Royal Gender Bender Romance

  • Super Short Review: The female lead got reincarnated but only read half of the book – so she doesn’t know that the male lead has to disguise himself as a woman.
  • You will get: a possessive male lead, a clueless but strong female lead, an interesting dynamic between the MCs

The Villainess Turns the Hourglass

  • Super Short Review: The female lead has the ability to turn back time. She is one of the few “villainesses” that doesn’t reform herself after reincarnating but truly lives for revenge.
  • You will get: a ruthless female lead, a very annoying antagonist, satisfaction out of seeing the fl get revenge

I Fell into a Reverse Harem Game!

  • Super Short Review: The female lead was a ruthless princess who used everyone around her. Now she has to outsmart her enemy.
  • You will get: many love interests, an interesting plot point: the fl sees what the antagonist is doing, abs, abs everywhere

50 tea recipes from the Duchess

  • Super Short Review: After reincarnating the female lead slowly takes charge of her life – with tea. Headache? Tea. Deadly disease? Tea. Political chaos? Tea. – that’s the summary.
  • You will get: tea recipes, a sweet couple with many cute moments, a cold ml who is only kind to the fl

A Common Story of a Lady’s New Life

  • Super Short Review: Everything in this Manhwa is a misunderstanding. The female lead is terrified of the male lead at first and interprets his action very strangely.
  • You will get: very unique art, a clumsy ML, LOTs of misunderstandings (it’s the whole premise)

A Villainess for the Tyrant

  • Super Short Review: The female lead has to marry the emperor who is supposed to be a tyrant. It just so happens that he immediately likes her.
  • You will get: a VERY fast-paced romance, a sweet fl who has to play rough, a pretty ruthless but sweet ML

The Antagonist’s Pet

  • Super Short Review: The female lead pities the villainess of the story and starts supporting her.
  • You will get: women power, a very submissive FL, a very pragmatic and smart ML

The Great Wish

  • Super Short Review: The female lead has visions of her own future and she tries to put that to good use.
  • You will get: a mature dynamic between the MCs, court intrigue, a very dedicated ML

A Stepmother’s Märchen

I recognize this story is well-loved and the art is fantastic. Still, the premise isn’t among my personal favorites right now.

  • Super Short Review: A very young girl needs to take care of three children who are almost her age after her much older husband dies.
  • You will get: godlike art, sweet family dynamics, a very devoted ML, very slow progression, better enjoyed binge-reading

Royalty Manhwa with very little to no Romance but much politics and intrigue

I have read all of these Royalty Manhwa and they are freaking amazing. I really recommend you check them out. Especially Lout of Counts Family is interesting because it is one of the few royalty Manhwa from a male’s perspective.

  • The Remarried Empress
  • Your Throne
  • Lout of Counts Family
  • The Monstrous Duke’s Adopted Daughter
  • Who Made Me a Princess

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I have read more than 1000 Romance Manhwa, Webtoons and Manga - TV-Series and books not included. So I hope to bring a deep and nuanced understanding of the genre to every review and recommendation. As a journalist with seven years of experience, I've dedicated my free time to exploring and writing about the intricacies of romance in various forms.

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19 Responses

  1. Woooooow no f***ing way!!! Shit now I feel like you are my soulmate, I read almost all of these (didn’t maybe 3 or 4 of them) :)) <3

  2. Good grief you got every single manhwa I’ve read in here. Loved your reviews – they’re exactly like the ones I have on my Notes app – with my whole ass list of historical, isekai, or romance manga/manhwa. I have dropped or given up on a few of the ones you have mentioned, but I might try rereading. Can’t wait to see more good recs. I am a sucker for godlike art (can’t help being very picky, if it sucks I’ll quite heartlessly drop it to protect my poor eyes), romance, and a good amount of tragedy to make my heart feel that nice ache (call me a sadist but I kinda enjoy seeing the fl get physically injured, or be emotionally abused and later make other people feel bad for it) 👉🏽 👈🏽

    1. Thank you guys so much! You have completely made my day 🙂 I didn’t have the energy to write new articles in the last months, but your comments really motivated me. So thank you!

    2. hii. ik your comment is pretty old but i just wanted to ask what are your top manhwa recommendations? 😅😁

  3. If you don’t mind can you tell me in which apps can I find this manga in?
    I would like to watch them. I’m really a fan of them.plz

    1. Hey Lara! Thanks for your comment. You can read most of them on tapas or tappytoon. My gently raised beast is available for free on Webtoons.

  4. This is the most comprehensive list I’ve ever come across, thank you!
    I agree with all of these but I’d like to add “What it means to be you” as one of my all time favorites
    The misunderstandings can be incredibly frustrating but I love both the fl and the ml and the art is gorgeous.
    Oh another one in the misunderstandings department is “White deer Ingrid!” There’s a lot of sexual content so a warning for that but the relationship development between them is really satisfying.

  5. do u know this manga or webtoon (i don’t exactly remember) where the female lead goes back in time and the male lead has a mask that covers a part of his face? 😅

    I know that’s very broad but that’s all I remember ;[
    if you know what I am talking about please tell meeeeeeeeeeeeee

    1. Hey! Thanks for your comment, but unfortunately I dont know which Manga or Webtoon you mean. I also got your Mail, if I come across one that matches this description I’ll write you 🙂

  6. I love the slow romance between Lucas and Athanasia in Who Made Me A Princess…
    Also Father, I Don’t Want To Get Married has a very handsome father 😁
    Bt I’m Stanning The Prince stopped updating… I really liked it 😞😞😞

  7. Hello, it’s me again…
    Can you suggest some manhwa with just friends? Like I mean, a group of friends, how their friendship grew, like that sort?
    I haven’t ever come across manhwas with friendship.

    1. Hey Silver! Thanks for your comments! That’s a nice topic, I will put it on my list. I had many things going on but in May I will start writing regularly again 🙂 Would you like me to include Manga too, or are you interested in just Manhwa?

  8. Newcomer here and I rarely ever comment since I’m usually too embarrassed but this site helped me get to know so many amazing new Manhwas and I was wondering if you could extend your modern Manhwhas list. I zoomed through all of em and the historical list was thoroughly reviewed but unfortunately I read every single one em already :(. Except abandoned Empress, well that’s cuz I heard about the forced ending so I didn’t really want to try it out. If you see this comment and actually extend the list, just know you made someone’s day:D

    1. Hey Sherzy! I’m happy that you like my lists (your comments made my day). I would love to extend the Romance Manhwa list, but I can’t say when I will get to it. In the meantime, you could check out: Reunion (new on Webtoons, godlike artstyle), Sixth Sense Kiss (wacky storytelling, but interesting plot), Edith (interesting artstyle but kind of frustrating main characters, they have a lot of mental issues) and Freaking Romance (it’s completed on Webtoons, you’ll have to read it with daily pass. It’s in a modern setting with a fantasy-twist. The ending is not the best but all in all it is a great read)

  9. What’s up?!.. I really enjoyed reading the comments and because of the recommendations I guess I’ve many comics to read. I’m very happy of this recommendations. Thank you!

    I want you guys to recommend me some manhwas like late romance/drama/fantasy.

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