Best Shojo Royalty Manhwa

Highlights

• Popular princess-themed manhwa often feature protagonists with second chances at life, offering unique twists on traditional fairy tales.
• The quality of pacing, illustrations, and character development can make or break these stories, with some endings leaving a sour taste.
• Engaging protagonists and the incorporation of themes like depression and redemption contribute to the immersive and enjoyable nature of the genre.

Nothing is quite as shojo as being a princess. Romance occupies a large space in the shojo genre, which is why fantasy settings are so popular. Living in castles, wearing ornate gowns, and falling in love with a prince all lend themselves to a traditional fairy tale or a dream people may have.

It’s no surprise that many shojo manhwa feature protagonists living as princesses or daughters of other nobility. These plots are often very similar, but a charismatic protagonist or a unique aspect of the world usually helps great stories stand out among the rest.

10 The Abandoned Empress

MyAnimeList Score: 6.69

• Author: Yuna Jeong
• Illustrator: iNA
• Published: 2017 to 2021
• Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel

This is a common royalty manhwa where the protagonist is given a second chance to live. Aristia La Monique is a duke’s daughter who regresses through time after being executed, and with her knowledge of the future, she serves as a knight to avoid being empress.

Though other manhwa tell similar stories, this one is known for its good pacing, its great illustrations, and its strong characters. However, its ending leaves many with a sour taste in their mouths, even ruining the story for some.

9 Into The Light, Once Again

MyAnimeList Score: 7.53

• Author: Tikatika
• Illustrator: Yuya
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Reincarnation

It’s not very often that a protagonist is reincarnated into the same world. After being framed and betrayed by her family, Princess Alyssa is executed, but then she opens her eyes as Aisha, the first princess of a rival kingdom who was just born.

The narrative is incredibly character-driven. It is up to Aisha to decide what happens and when. She’s so distant from her past life that she could ignore it, but she doesn’t. The ways she confronts her problems and betters herself show how a good protagonist can carry a story.

8 The Monster Duchess And Contract Princess

MyAnimeList Score: 7.56

• Author: Liaran
• Illustrator: MinJakk
• Published: 2019 to 2022
• Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Despite having no isekai or reincarnation elements, this manhwa tells a compelling story of a girl born to be a sacrifice. The protagonist, Leslie, runs away after being abused her entire life, allying with the Salvatore family in order to save herself.

Leslie’s character development is what drives the story, even among the intricate subplots happening in the background. The only negative would be the repetitiveness of those subplots, which only slowed down the narrative. Reinforcing a lesson only makes sense if it benefits the story.

7 For My Abandoned Love

MyAnimeList Score: 7.65

• Author: Seonyu Kim
• Illustrator: Kimyong
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Reincarnation, Time Travel

Also known as For My Derelict Favorite, this manhwa puts a twist on a typical plot by having the protagonist become a background character named Hestia. She’s a fangirl who is content with watching her favorite character, Caelus, from afar. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end well.

While the story itself is interesting, the depiction of depression is also a highlight. The difference the support of a single person can make is evident through Hestia’s character. Her strength and initiative are great to see from a protagonist in this genre.

6 A Way To Protect The Lovable You

MyAnimeList Score: 7.66

• Author: Mayak Jelly
• Illustrator: Jiui Kim
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel

The saintess can be a huge figure in shojo fantasy, usually because she’s the main character. However, in this manhwa, the saintess is an evil queen, and it’s her daughter who will end her tyranny and corruption.

A Way To Protect The Lovable You does a great job of balancing the romance plot with the overall narrative, making space for great world-building and character development. The lore and history of the world have a huge impact on the plot, which helps the story feel more immersive.

5 Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lamp

MyAnimeList Score: 7.67

• Author: Yuin
• Illustrator: mini
• Published: 2017 to 2021
• Genres/Theme: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Reincarnation

Elise is one of the more fascinating main characters in this genre because she’s actually been reincarnated twice. Having her third life be in her first identity is a great twist on how reincarnation works, and it helps this manhwa stand out from others in this genre.

Doctor Elise is a wholesome story that’s meant to be a redemption for the protagonist, but it doesn’t do much with the plot other than introducing contemporary medicine into a historical setting. The lack of variety doesn’t take away from how good this manhwa is though.

4 Marriage Of Convenience

MyAnimeList Score: 7.86

• Author: Ken
• Illustrator: Ant Studio
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel

There are few manhwa as dramatic and tense as Marriage of Convenience. What would seem like a normal romance with some time travel turns into a political narrative with scheming and assassination. There are many twists and turns in the story, especially toward the end.

The manhwa is really carried by the relationship between Bianca and Zachary. As they grow closer, the story also becomes more complex as more characters are introduced and new conflicts appear. That being said, it’s a story where the beginning is the hardest to get through.

3 The Remarried Empress

MyAnimeList Score: 8.04

• Author: Alphatart
• Illustrator: Sumpul
• Published: 2019 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance

This manhwa is full of political intrigue and conflict. The story follows Empress Navier as she handles the emperor’s new concubine. The struggle between the two factions ends with her deposition.

Navier is a strong protagonist; something not very common in the shojo genre. She is proud, confident, and intelligent, never backing down when challenged and always looking three steps ahead. It can be difficult to understand all the scheming that’s done, but it’s easy to see how impressive it is.

2 The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion

MyAnimeList Score: 8.15

• Author: Milcha
• Illustrator: Gorae
• Published: 2017 to 2021
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Reincarnation

This story is like the typical isekai romance with contract marriages and surviving death flags, except there’s so much more. The protagonist, Park Eunha, was murdered, which resulted in her transmigration into Raeliana McMillan.

The mystery elements add some much-needed excitement to the otherwise bland story. Raeliana herself is also a great protagonist who keeps the story going when it drags on. There are a few loose ends here and there, but overall, it’s a great manhwa to read.

1 Suddenly I Became A Princess

MyAnimeList Score: 8.45

• Author: Plutus
• Illustrator: Spoon
• Published: 2017 to 2022
• Genres/Theme: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Reincarnation

This manhwa is a staple on any reading list regarding royalty and fantasy romance. Also known as Who Made Me a Princess, this manhwa tells the story of Athanasia, who was reincarnated in a book where she dies at the end. While it begins as a story of survival, it quickly becomes much more.

In the story, Athy has no connection to her father, the emperor, but over time, their strained relationship becomes the driving force behind the entire narrative. Its depiction was so well done that it popularized the father-daughter theme seen in many other manhwa.

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