There are Romane Manhwa when they get closer, not because of their great chemistry, but because one the main characters needs an ability from the other. In these 5 recommendations, you’ll find exactly that premise. If you like relationships that start for practical reasons but develop into something deeper, this list is for you. For an in-depth list check out my Completed Romance Manhwa Recommendations.
Co-Dependent MCs with unique abilities: TLDR
- #1 Flirting with the Villain’s Dad: funny, proactive FL, sweet romance starts early
- #2 I Was Tricked into This Fake Marriage: slower romance development, strong, emotional backstory
- #3 I’ll Marry him: very funny and interesting premise, ML is obsessed with the FL
- #4 My Red String of Fate: unique worldbuilding, shy, slightly possessive male lead (Abel)
- #5 Just leave me be: both MC’s have very abusive families, story starts very strong and gets worse along the way, unfortunately
Flirting with the Villain’s Dad – The main characters really need each other
Ack! I’m trapped in this web novel, “Brigitte Wants to be Happy!” No prob, I KNOW what’s gonna happen so I’ll just—wait. I’m not Brigitte? I’m her aunt, Princess Yerenika?! Uh-oh. I’m stuck 20 years before the main plot… and everyone in my generation ends up tragically dead! Her parents, dead. Me, dead. Villain’s dad, King Euredian, dead. A-ha! That’s the key. I just need to prevent the villain from being born… time to break out some seduction schemes and flirt like my life depends on it!
How do they need each other?
Yerenika is very sensitive to magic, so she needs to stay close to Emperor Euredian in order to survive. He purifies her energy and her surroundings, which leads to many cute interactions early on. For example, he often ends up carrying her around.
You should read if you:
- like to read about a quirky female lead and a rather cold male lead
- love to see the main characters touch each other often
- enjoy stories with a beautiful and cunning antagonist. If you are into villainesses check out my other recommendations
I Was Tricked into This Fake Marriage
After the Delpice Empire unifies all kingdoms with brutal subjugation, all the noblemen who stood up to the empire had to relinquish their titles. As her father’s only child, Leyrin Efran becomes a countess overnight, but to secure her family’s title and estate, legally she must be wed! She enlists info from the infamous Nine Night Guild to find a man of lower rank to keep the empire at bay. They deliver as requested (eep! he’s SO hot!), but things don’t completely seem as advertised…
How do they need each other?
Delpice is a godlike being and has to take drugs to numb the constant noise and smells around him. If he doesn’t, he can become quite violent. Because of these drugs, he can’t touch or kiss anyone.
But when he is around the female lead, everything goes quiet, and he no longer needs the drugs.
You should read if you:
- like reading about a very strong bond between the male leads (I won’t go into detail because it would be a spoiler)
- enjoy the contract-marriage-trope
- like a doting male lead who does everything for the female lead
My Red String of Fate
After getting pulled into a novel, Leann lives her life as a priestess in a temple, while healing people who are tangled up in red strings. The red string is a death flag that slowly ruins the body and brings you closer to death. And other than the main protagonist, Leann is the only one who can see and remove them.
But when she heals an injured man on the street, the red string of fate connects the two of them together, and there is no way of removing it! To make matters worse, the man she is connected to happens to be the worst villain in the novel, Abell! Can she escape from him and live a peaceful life without hindering the original story of the novel?
Why is this on the Romance Manhwa-list?
By seeing the red string of fate, Leann can heal Abel, who often finds himself on the brink of death. She is also somehow connected to his heart, which means she will die if Abel dies.
You should read if you:
- like a strong male lead, who constantly walks around without a top
- like to read about an interesting world with different magical creatures
- love to see the main characters interacting almost constantly
Just Leave Me Be
Adele was a hopeless orphan until a duke gave her a choice: live as a substitute for his dead daughter, or die on the streets. Despite playing this role to the best of her ability, an order for her assassination was given shortly after he married her off. Miraculously, she is sent back in time and decides to make up for the years wasted living a lie. As ancient ruins call to her, can she use her past knowledge and unexpected help from the Black Knight to defeat the dangers ahead and change fate?
How do they need each other?
The male lead suffers from Callot disease, which causes his right hand to turn to stone and gives him painful episodes. When he is near the female lead, the pain disappears, and she can even temporarily heal his hand.
You should read if you:
- like a strong male lead, who really wants to protect the female lead
- like to really hate on the antagonists (because they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever)
- love seeing the main characters overcoming their past with their abusive families
I’ll marry Him
Official summary on tappytoon
As the illegitimate daughter of Duke McKellion, Lilian was never fully embraced by her father or society. So, when she has the opportunity to take her sister’s place in an arranged marriage to Emperor Kael Lu Kaldorf, Lilian jumps at the chance. The only problem is, her prospective partner gets cranky without his sleep, and since being cursed by a vindictive witch, the tyrannical emperor hasn’t experienced a single moment of slumber. But that’s no challenge for Lilian, who possesses the ability to induce sleep with a kiss. Now, tasked with the duty of keeping His Majesty well-rested, Lilian must kiss the emperor each night to keep his temper at bay. It’s a simple contractual agreement, and Lilian has no plans to develop romantic feelings, but what happens when Kael unexpectedly falls for her?
How do they need each other?
Emperor Kael Lu Kaldorf can’t sleep. Fortunately, Lilian has the ability to put people to sleep with a kiss. The development feels quite fast at the beginning, but it gets better, trust me.
You should read if you:
- love a shy but possessive male lead
- like a straightforward female lead, that voices her opinions – but is a little dense
- don’t want to wait too long for the relationship to develop. This is not a Slow Burn Romance Manhwa
