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 Sgarde. 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.

Plot
It begins with a future glimpse of a young mother awaking her 7 year old daughter - Pry (Freya) in the middle of the night to meet her father for the first time. The reunion goes on to the real story of how it all began with three children - Biyon Kakan Pyordova -who is the prince of Ramira, his dear friends, Biancasta Rodyt - who is the daughter of a servant and Ryan Vaida (Leo) who is a trusted friend from a noble family loyal to the royalty of Ramira.

This manhwa series has no single main protagonist but numerous characters whose lives and loves are often mixed with politics and sometimes even war. The series follows the connections between them and also go on for three generations of both Ramira, Anatoria and Skador. However, the plot usually does go back to the couple Biyon and Biancasta aka Bii and their daughter who is the future princess of Ramira.

Biancasta Rodyt Pyordova ( Bii ) :
Daughter of Prince Biyon's nursemaid. Bii was raised with him as sibling and the two fell in love. But when Bii was 11th years old, Biyon's father, the king of Ramira, started looking for a princess for his son. Soon after, Eirene, Bii's mother, forbids her daughter to see Biyon again, in order to weaken their love. But after several days, the children meet again and Biyon declares to Bii that he will make her his princess. But later Bii has a disagreement with Eshilde Balder, the only daughter of the Prime Minister of Ramira and the most serious candidate to become the princess. This first encounter will have terribles consequences for Bii. Indeed, worried about her daughter's future, Eshilde's mother makes her husband promise to kill Bii if their daughter is to be the princess. A few days later, Biyon takes Bii on a horseback ride and after giving her a crown of flowers, the prince promises the little girl that not only he will marry her, but he will also give her the crown of the Queen of Ramira, someday. But during the following night, Eirene asks Vasa, a servant girl who is friend with the mother and the daughter, to take Bii away from the palace, in order to protect her from a plot to kill the little girl. Vasa takes Bii in a place named the Pink Mountain and the two live in house surrounded by flowers. But Bii, not knowing that she's in danger, cries believing that her mother abandoned her to separate her from Biyon and begs Vasa to bring her back to her mother, but the young woman refuses knowing that Bii's safe in the mountain. Some time later, while Bii and Vasa take care of the flowers, they discover two young girls unconscious in each other's arms.

Five years later, we find Bii aged 16 and being the target of a prank by a little boy named Sibel. We discover that Sibel is the son of Lilin, the oldest of the two girls found by Bii and Vasa. The youngest is Lilin's little sister, Lala. A flashback reveals that Vasa was against the idea of welcoming two strangers. But Bii insisted, pointing out that the girls seemed to have nowhere to go and that their house was too big for just two people. Lilin was already pregnant at the time and several months later the delivery was difficult. Bii saddened by the thought that the baby and the mother could die, started to cry declaring that she intended to take good care of the baby and that she had even found a name for him, Sibel. Lilin approving the name, regains strength and gives birth to Sibel and the two recover from childbirth. Although Bii and Vasa don't know anything about Lilin and Lala, not even the name of Sibel's father, and the sisters don't know Bii and Vasa's true identities, no one ever asked. All five have simply lived happily together as a family for five years.

This quiet life comes to an end when Bii learns that Biyon, who has become king, will surely choose his wife during his eighteenth birthday. The very night she hears this news, Bii confides in Vasa her fear that the king has forgotten her. Although she understands that her dream of living with Biyon is impossible, Bii still loves the king and lives only in the hope of being able to see him again one day. The young girl also declares to Vasa that she would even be ready to sacrifice her life just to see him again at least once. A few days later, Bii meets by chance a strange man with a scar across his face, in the forest surrounding the house. This last accompanies her to go to the nearest town. There Bii finds a piece of fabric that she likes very much, but has problems with the saleswoman when she tries to buy it with her hair ornament. Because the saleswoman does not believe that a girl who seems to come from a modest background can own a real jewel and accuses her of being a thief. Luckily for Bii, the man she came to town with claims she's a noble pretending to be a commoner and he's her bodyguard. Which convinces the seller that the jewel really belongs to Bii and therefore returns it to the young girl at the insistence of her "bodyguard". Once back in the forest, Bianca thanks him for his help and he reveals his name, "Sei".

Sei also helps Bii to return home because the girl does not know the way back. Bii tells Sei that Vasa will be truly grateful to him. We also learn that Vasa scolded Bii and that it was out of spite that she made the decision to go to town. But the truth is that Bii wanted to go to the castle. Once back home, it's already dark and the young girl is reprimanded by the sisters and Vasa who also want to know why she has been away for so long. Sei having warned her that they would not be happy to learn that she was with a stranger, he advises her to pretend that she fell asleep. He also gives her an explanation for the fact that she could have slept so long. Bii recounts, as Sei suggested to her, that she fell asleep after eating a berry and when she woke up it was getting dark. They accept the explanation although Vasa seems to have doubts. This last orders Bii never to fall asleep outside again. Lilin then reveals to Bii that Vasa found a corpse in the forest and that the man had been killed with a sword blow.

On the morning of Bii's 17th birthday, a package is found outside the front door of the house. When they open it, Vasa, Lilin, and Bii discovered a piece of fabric inside. The same one that caught Bii's eye. Bii is certain that it was Sei who brought the fabric. But unable to reveal her thoughts to others, she makes up a story that God brought the cloth for her birthday. Vasa doesn't believe it at all but, for lack of a better explanation, she agrees to keep the gift. Lilin then offers to make it into a dress for Bii and the young girl finds it so beautiful that she walks everywhere in the forest with it. In the hope that Sei can see her, as a token of her gratitude. Sei and Bii eventually meet again, but the two are caught in the rain and must take shelter in a cave. Some time later, Bii wants to go to the forest but Vasa forbids her as a punishment for having disappeared again. The girl wishes to find Sei who gave her instructions if she wanted to meet him again. However, he forbade her to speak about him to the other inhabitants of the house. Bii is very fond of Sei and isn't afraid of him despite his scar because she knows that appearances don't always reflect a person's soul. She also tells him that from the moment she saw him for the first time, she knew he was a good person.

On Biyon's 18th birthday, she disappears from home again. Bii is with Sei who doesn't understand why she is silent and sad. So Bii asks him if, living in a place like the mountain, there isn't someone he would like to see. But Sei replies that he is an orphan and that he does not know what his parents look like. While apologizing, Bianca then asks him if he has any friends or a home he would like to see again. But Sei replies that he has none of that and has lived most of his life alone. Bii then tells him that she doesn't like the mountains and that she would like to go back, thinking of the castle. She also tells him that this place is too lonely for her. She sadly remembers that every time she wakes up in the middle of the night, she feels so alone. But even if she returned to the castle, she probably wouldn't be welcome there. It could even be that the prince she knew would no longer want her. And the fact that she shouldn't go back there is just too much for her to bear. Faced with the young girl's silence, Sei offers to drive her to town. But Bianca refuses on the pretext that it is getting late and that she has to go otherwise Vasa will worry. Sei then tells her that if there was anything he could do for her, she should let him know. Bii comforted, thanks him.

Some time later, while looking for Sei, Bii is bitten by a snake. Luckily for her, Sei quickly finds her and heals her. The next day, Sei brings her home while she is still unconscious, letting the other residents find out about his existence. Vasa frightened by Sei, by all the incidents that have happened and worried that Bii will die before she can see her mother and the man she loves her again, makes the decision to bring the young girl back at the castle. The young woman announces to Bii that after the healing of her leg, they will leave for Lana, the capital of Ramira where the castle is. The young girl, delighted, then asks her if her mother would have asked them to return. But Vasa replies that her mother doesn't know where they are. Confused at first, Bii doesn't understand this sudden decision, but eventually decides she doesn't need an explanation. The girl additionally tries to convince Vasa to leave immediately but quickly realizes that she is not yet in a condition to travel.

Once cured, Bii looks for Sei again to tell her that she will be leaving the next day. She finds him calling an eagle and as soon as he sees her, he rushes towards her. Bii thanks him for taking care of her and when Sei points out that she seems in a good mood. Bii replies that she is leaving the mountain forever the next day. When Sei asks her where she is going, the young girl replies that she is going back where she came from. Although Vasa asked Bianca not to let Sei know they were leaving she still wanted to say goodbye. When Sei asked her if everyone was leaving, Bii replied that only Vasa and she were leaving. She also tells him that if he needs anything, he can ask Lilin. Bii also reveals to him that when she arrived, it was just her and Vasa. But that they, the sisters and Sibel have lived as a real family, although it is not the same blood that runs in their veins. Then when Sei points out to her that the reason for her leaving must really be important for her to agree to part with them. Bii nods and reveals to him that there is someone she is dying to see and that she has only lived with the sole purpose of seeing him again.

On the day of departure, Lilin helps the young girl to dress in a man's outfit that she made herself for her. With sadness, the eldest sister asks Bii to take care and be happy.

Bii return to the royal castle and find Biyon who still loves her and the two married each other. From their union, Freya Pyordova will be born.

Biyon Kakan Pyordova :
Crown Prince of Ramira at the beginning of the story and later King Kakan Pyordova III of Ramira. He marries Bii two times. The first in secret and the second before the nobility of Ramira. He's also Freya's father.

Ryan Vaida (Leo) :
First son of General Leonardo Vaida and heir of the famous noble family of the best warrior of Ramira. Ryan Vaida is nicknamed Leo by the people he cares about most. He becomes King Pyordova III's bobyguard and considers Biyon and Bii as sibling. He ends up falling in love with Eshild Balder.

Eshild Balder/Eshe :
Only daughter of Prime Minister of Ramira and the most powerful woman of Ramira at the beginnig of the story. She's destined to become King Pyordova III's wife but she fell in love with Ryan Vaida. Later in the story, she abandone her name and identity to become only Eshe.

Freya Pyordova (Pry) :
Only child of King Biyon Kakan Pyordova and Queen Biancasta of Ramira, so she's the legitime Crown Princess of Ramira. She's the 7 years old girl, we see in the prologue.

Heroic Vaida (Hiro)/ Hith :
Fifth son of General Leonardo Vaida and younguest brother of Ryan Vaida. He's nicknamed Hiro by his family. He becomes Freya Pyordova's bobyguard from the age of 7. But only meet her at the age of 19 and she's 12. After the war between Ramira and Anatoria, Heroic takes the identity of a commoner orphan named Hith. Create for him by Theodora Thor when she takes him with her to Anatoria.

Sibel Thor :
Eldest child and only son of King Skadei Thor of Anatoria, althrought the latter doesn't recognize him as his biological son. His mother is Lilin, a commoner girl of Ramira. After his mother's death, he was takes away from Ramira, with his maternal aunt Lala, by his father's men to Anatoria. There, Sibel was adopted by his paternal aunt Hezel Haiga and officially given the surname Thor. Years later, King Thor made Sibel, his adopted son and so the Crown Prince of Anatoria.

Beatrice Haiga (Beth):
Oldest daughter of Duke Haiga and Duchess Hezel Haiga, and first niece of King Thor of Anatoria. She's Sibel's adoptive sister and biological cousin. She loves her cousins Areah and Lila and have romantic feelings for the Ramirian boy Hith.

Areah Thor :
Eldest daughter of Skadei Thor and first princess of Anatoria. Her mother was Rebecca, a dancer who died in giving birth to her. So, she was raised by her aunt Theodora until she was 5. She loves her friend Hith, her cousin Beatrice, her half-brother Sibel and her half-sister Lila that Areah pratically raised until Lila was 7. When she was 14, her father wants to marry Areah to Prince Silrai of Sgarde in order to replace King Yapa of Sgarde and Queen Theodora by them. Areah, awares of this and in order to save the aunt she considers as her mother, tries to commit suicide by throwing herself into the sea. Fortunately, she was saved by Ramiran pirates but lost all of her memories.

Lila Thor :
Second daughter of Skadei Thor and only surviving child of Lala Monica. Her mother died in giving birth to her, which made her father hate her at first. He exiled his daughter with her half-sister Areah and the orphan Ramirian Hith to Thor castle. Born prematurely, she was always sick the first months of her life. Once Hith had to go to the royal castle of Anatoria to find a doctor for her. Which resulted in the 13-year-old boy being sent as a mercenary. But fortunatly, King Thor sends a doctor and Lila's life was saved. She loves her sister Areah very much and always defends her against their so-called protector, the mean Isabella. At the age of 7, Lila was takes secretly with Areah to the royal castle by her aunt Hezel Haiga, because Isabella was dying. There, she meets her paternal cousin Beatrice and find her half-brother and maternal cousin Sibel that she already meets when she was 5 and him 18. She also sees her father for the first time, althrought him doesn't sees her. In fact, only Areah was given the permission to come back to the castle because King Thor needs her. When Lila learns that her sister must leaves for Sgarde in order to marry Prince Silrai, the young girl is full of sorrow. But she stay strong for Areah and gives her sister money to help her. Lila also gives her a bag containing a lock of her hair and a favorite ribbon for Areah to remember her by. But after Areah left, the little girl burst into tears and be saw by Derica Thor her other half-sister and daughter of the Queen of Anatoria. In order to protect Lila, her aunt Hezel Haiga wants to send her back to Thor castle. But the little girl, not wanting to return to Isabella, decides to hide in the room where her mother lived. She hides there for days without feedind until Skadei Thor discovers her, at which point she collapses from exhaustion. When Lila unconsciously hears that Areah is dead, she dies. But miraculously comes back to life when her father, who regrets not having taken care of her before, hugs her with the only arm he has left. When Lila wakes up, she find Skadei sitting next to her which surprises her a lot because she was always been told that her father would kill her if he sees her. But on the contrary, Lila becomes the only one of his children for whom Shadei Thor feels love.

1st Generation :
Eirene Rodyt :

Kakan Pyordova II :

Leonardo Vaida :

Parah Pyordova :

Reuten Thor :

Madame Gretten :

Prime Minister Balder :

Isabella :

Olavia Monica Thor :

Chai Ren :

Mamer Argo III :

General Galron :

Fredian Rodyt (Dian) :

2nd Generation :
Skadei Thor :

Lilin :

Lala Monica :

Hezel Thor Haiga :

Sei Ren :

Yuri Law :

Kyle Varan :

Rebecca :

Giovanni Vaida :

Theodora Thor Argo :

Yapa Argo :

Yopina Argo Thor :

Silrai Argo :

Muzo Argo :

Shieta Ran :

Haisha Ran Argo :

Chellas Inca :

Bicerni (Bice) :

Larisa Kataros :

Marianne :

3rd Generation :
Lejyud Inca (Jyud) :

Derica Thor :

Rasarado Khun :

Vega Varan :

Claire Haiga :

Balder II :

Catherine Inca :

Ramira :
Main country where the story of Princess takes place. Ramira is a little island but with an almost perpetuel spring climate and numerous precious metal mines. The country have also an excellent navy and a good economy so Ramira had almost always knew the peace. But althrought the country is rich, Ramira is considered as a weak state because it doesn't have an army. At the beginning of the story, Ramira is governed by the Pyordova dynasty. But the throne was usurped, at the ends of part 2, by the traitor Bane Balder with the complicity of Anatoria. The people of Ramira has always love the Pyordova and so hates Balder for his treason. They hate him more when the citizens learn that Balder has sold Ramirian ships plans, considered as Ramira's pride, to Anatoria before Biyon cancelled his mariage with his daughter. From the part 4, Ramira is governed by the Kataros, a Sgardian family, throught Balder II, the child of Bane Balder and Larissa Kataros. The Kataros are hated not only because of their link with Balder but also Sgarde invaded Ramira to defend child of Balder and Kataros and stop Biyon to restore Ramira as before the war with Anatoria. Indeed, under the domination of the Balder and the Kataros, Ramira has become a poor country. Which made the Ramirian people hates the two families evermore. But at the ends of part 5, Pyordova forces led by Freya Pyordova reconquer the royal castle and the capital Lana and captured Balder II and the Queen Mother Larissa Kataros.

Anatoria :
Second main country where the story takes place. Anatoria is described as an immense state, ten times larger than Ramira. But the climate is mostly cold and harsh and the winters are longs with lots of snow. The only mild periods are during spring which are very short. Agriculture is therefore difficult and the country has no natural resources. The only resource that Anatoria seems have is the export of mercenaries which makes it a very powerful military state.