Princess (manhwa)
Princess is a Korean manhwa series by Han Seung-Won. It is a historical, tragic yet fictional saga of the royal families of primarily three fictional kingdoms - Ramira, Anatoria and Skador. The first release/chapter was published in 1995 by Daiwon and is still ongoing with 31 volumes released. The English version is published by Central Park Media.
Synopsis
This manhwa series follows numerous characters over several generations as war, politics and romance influence their lives. Pressured by name, status, politics and pride, they struggle with the reality of the lives they were born with.
The story begins as a young girl called Pry is awoken in the middle of the night to meet her father for the first and only time in her life. The setting then flashbacks to the childhood of Biyon Pryodobra, prince of Ramira; Biancasta (Bii) Ryodt, daughter of Biyon's nursemaid; Ryan (Leo) Vaida, son of a noble family loyal to the crown; and Eshild (Eshe) Barder, daughter of the Prime Minister. As the story progresses, the setting spreads to include the other two countries, explaining the conflicts in the region as well as personal histories the characters.
Setting
The story is set in a fictional Middle Ages-Renaissance timeline. The main setting is A.S.R., three strong countries that were once one.
Though the name is derived from 'Anatolia' or Turkey, the climate, fashion and people are patterned after Russian ambience. The weather is harsh and cold, with just a few weeks for spring and winter through most of the year. Anatorians are tall, strong, wild, and harsh. Women are just as strong and willful as men. It appears to be a bankrupt country, but its military force and population surpasses that of Ramira's more than twice. As of Volume 31, the current king is Skadei Tor, who is married to Queen Yopina Argo and has declared Sibel Tor his heir.
A small island country, it bears resemblance to most European countries, particularly Italy. With nature on their side (seas and mountains as natural barriers), they have remained a strong independent nation. Ramira has little military and war experience, and its small population is not comparable to the other two countries. Ramirans are opposites of Anatorians; their women are often described as 'small, frail and gentle' by Anatorians. Ramira is the home country of most of the protagonists. As of Volume 31, the current king is the former Prime Minister Barder, who revolted after Biyon attempted to crown Biancasta queen. He has put aside his former wife, Eshild's mother, in favor of marrying the ambassador's daughter, who is the current queen.
Skador bears great resemblance to Persian or Arab countries, and is nicknamed "Windy Skador". As a country, it has not made bold political or military moves against either Anatoria or Ramira. It is suggested there is much internal conflict, but Skador also has a tendency toward subterfuge; the king appears to prefer using marriages and spies to get what he wants. As of Volume 31, the sitting king is Argo, who is noticeable for his advanced age, especially compared to the kings of Skador and Ramira, who are both relatively young.
Characters
Ramira
- Preia (Pry) Pyordoba: The main character of the latter part of the story, she is the future queen of Ramira, daughter of Bii and Biyon.
- Biyon Kakan Pryodoba the Third: He is the prince, son of Kakan and Para; and later became the king of Ramira. A young man of strong determination and affection, he is often described as 'young and impulsive'. Despite the difference in social standings, he fell in love with Bii and later married her. As a king, he was quite magnificent but his reign was cut short with his defeat against the revolt of Barder. His love for Bii is deep, since childhood, that even when he was engaged to Eschilde, he did not let her live in shadow and insisted and risked that she became queen. Even though his relationship with Eschlide is a little strained, he considers her as a good friend and treasures her. His best friend is Leo (Ryan Vaida), who is even more than a brother to him. In the end of the series, he dies a death that caused the malfunctioning of his bones and his cells.
- Biancasta (Bii/Bianca) Rodyt: The daughter of Eirene, the prince's nursemaid, Bii and Biyon has liked each other ever since childhood. Before puberty, Eirene separated the both of them in attempt to avoid her daughter meeting the same fate as she and Biyon's father had. But she meets Biyon again after his 18th birthday and she is made the queen of Ramira despite the difference in social standings. During the prime minister Barder's revolt, the couple are separated forcefully and Bii lived with Eshlid in Korshika, were she gave birth to Preia Pyordoba. Soon after several years, Barder's men trace Bii and Eshlid. When they find the remote house, the men bleed her to death, holding the five-year-old Preia in her arms before Sei arrives.
- Eshlid/Echsliede/Eshild/Eshcild Barder: Initially, the prime minister's only daughter was very vain and arrogant, but Eshlid is ultimately tomboyish. She repeatedly defies her parents' orders and goes as far as rejecting Biyon's marriage proposal indirectly; Eshlid has always regretted the fact that she was born a girl and hence she resorts to war playing with the meanest citizens, unconcerned with the fact that she has to be a proper lady. From Ryan (Leo) Vaida, she has mastered swordsmanship. During her father's revolt, she is pushed on both sides: she doesn't know which side to take and soon she falls in love with Leo. When she is left with Bii (whom she hated and wanted to kill when she was younger) during the war, they are shipwrecked to Korshika, where they live for years as Bii gives birth to Preia.
- Ryan (Leo) Vaida: The oldest of the Vaida sons, and Eshlid's lover. The both of them met on the way to Peru bridge when Eshlid was still young. He is the one responsible for Eshlid's swordsmanship lessons and they soon became sidekicks. Through scars and tears they become lovers during Barder's revolt and it was only five to seven years until they saw each other again. He is nicknamed "Leo", is the king's personal bodyguard, and he considers Bii a friend. Leo also shares a very deep bond with Biyon, whom he considers more as a brother than a king.
- Barder Prime Minister of Ramira, plans an uprising after Biyon marries Bii instead of Eschild (his daughter). He is king of Ramira for a period after he overthrows Biyon until his death by the hands of Biyon during a battle, he is also responsible for the death of Bii.
- Mrs. Barder Barder's wife and Eschild's mother. She is put aside when Barder takes a mistress.
- Eirene Rodyt mother of Bii and secret love of Biyon's father. though she and Biyon's father never actually do anything together they are in love and long for one another till the day he dies.
- Lili/Lillin Mother of Sibel Tor. She was sold by her drunken father to Skadei Tor. During this time period she conceives his first son and heir: Sibel. She cares deeply for her younger sister, Lala. She is killed by Anatoria's army and as she's dying she reveals the father of her child to them.
- Lala Sister of Lillin. After the death of Lillin, Lala journeys with her nephew Sibel to Anatoria and becomes Skadei Tor's favorite mistress. She has multiple miscarriages before dying while giving birth to her only daughter Lila.
Anatoria
- Skadei Tor: The son of Olivia Monica and Reuten Tor; he became the king of Anatoria after revolting against his uncle. He is aspiring, though he became a king at a very young age; but like the Tors, he is also very cruel and when something unacceptably tragic happens to him, he is prone to making mass executions. Skadei, ever since young, was a playboy, and has several concubines and mistresses.
- Sibel Tor: The son of Lylin and Skadei Tor. Though an illegitimate, Sibel is the only other male who carries royal blood, and apparently, he is the next king of Anatoria. As a child, he was a crybaby and liked candies. Sibel is particularly close to his other sisters, and his two aunts Hezel and Lala.
- Hezel Haiga: The daughter of Sei's father (Chai Ren) and Olivia Monica. Believed to be Reuten's daughter instead by the people. Hezel is the half-sister of Sei Ren, and currently the most powerful female of Anatoria next to the queen.
- Olivia Monica: The last Monica known to exist. Olivia, when she was 17, was forced to marry Reuten and in the process, she gave birth to Skadei. She fell in love with General Chai Ren, and Hezel became the product of their passion. After Chai Ren died, Olivia slowly died of starvation and poisoning.
- Reuten Tor: The Baron of Anatoria and the half-brother of the king. He was forced to marry Olivia Monica and he is the father of Skadei. He is responsible for the exile of Sei, the murder of Doctor Wenger and Chai Ren. Madam Greten is his mistress. Though he repeatedly showed that he had no true feelings for Olivia, when the lady Monica died, Reuten was locked in grief and he took extreme measures to overcome the sadness caused (he locked away all of Olivia's belongings in a basement). He is the only person (aside from Sei and Olivia) who knows that Hezel is not his daughter.
- Madam Greten: A mistress of Reuten, and Olivia Monica's rival in their youth.
- Sei Ren/Sei: Warrior, Son of General Chai Ren and original protector of Skadei Tor, until he meets Bii and decides to serve her instead. Sei has feelings for Bii, and has grown quite attached to her. When Olivia Monica died, everything was revealed to him and so it was the time when he left the palace after Reuten Tor's orders. He grew up in Ramira, but protecting his half-sister Hezel in shadow.
- Chai Ren:
- Beatrice/Veatris Haiga: Daughter of Hezel Haiga. Unlike her mother, Veatris is a rather boisterous, clumsy, and bold lady, and is very close to Sibel, whom she loves very dearly (when Skadei made a temporary decision to engage brother and sister, Veatris found the idea bad but she stated that she loved Sibel). Next to Skadei and Hezel, she is the only living Anatorian who carries the Monican blood.
- Isabella (also known as Lady Sharu): A mistress of Reuten who gave birth to Theodora after she secretly wore Olivia's hidden dresses in the basement. She is a lady of firm character, and Isabella is the one who takes care of the exiled Tor daughters in the latest volumes.
- Rebekkah:
- Areah Tor: Daughter of Skadei Tor and a dancer named Rebekkah. Though Rebekkah and Lala weren't on good terms (Rebekkah even once tried to kill Lala), in the future, the closest of the Tor daughters are Areah and Lilin (Lala's only child). She has barely any resemblance with her mother's personality, but she loves to go out and sing when she started to grow up. Areah is engaged to Shilrai Argo.
- Lila Tor: Daughter of Skadei Tor and Lala
- Lala Orphan of Ramira, Aunt of Sibel Tor and mistress of Skadei Tor.
Skador
References