In the present year romance manhwa, historical love stories really stand out. They’re special and some of the best historical romance manhwa are a must read for people who like love stories set in the past.
The charm of historical romance manhwa mainly comes from their rich backgrounds, detailed world-building, and whimsical feel, which these stories are famous for.
Their fantastical settings often lead to extravagant costume designs compared to modern romances. There’s also more melodrama because of the politics of high society or the royal courts that characters often get caught up in.
1) The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion (2017)
The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion is one of those romance stories that has been around for a while and is loved by many fans.
It’s about Eunha Park, a regular woman who dies mysteriously and then wakes up inside her favorite murder mystery book, but this time she’s the victim, Raeliana McMillan.
Raeliana tries to change what happens to her by using what she knows about the book’s story. She ends up in a pretend marriage with the main character, Noah Wynknight, who’s a handsome duke.
The drama, funny arguments, and great chemistry between Noah and Raeliana make this story really special.
2) The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway (2022)
When she was just six years old, Inés turned down the Crown Prince’s proposal and picked Cárcel as her future husband instead.
She didn’t choose him randomly she picked him because of his looks and the rumors she heard about him in her past lives.
Cárcel was known for possibly being unfaithful, which made him the perfect person to help her with her plan.
In The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway, after getting married, Cárcel turns out to be a loyal husband.
Now, Inés has a hard time trying to make him cheat on her because he’s focused on making their marriage work and being happy with his wife, who is a nun.
As the story goes on, Inés starts to change. With Cárcel’s constant love and support, she begins to heal from her past and grow as a person.
3) Villains Are Destined to Die (2020)
Villains Are Destined to Die revolves around a famous simulation game called Daughter of the Duke Love Project, where the main character unexpectedly gets transported.
When she starts playing, she notices similarities between herself and the villainess of the game, Penelope Eckhart. Penelope works hard to be liked but always faces danger, with death lurking around every corner.
Penelope goes on a risky adventure to survive and maybe even find love and happiness, if it’s possible in this game world.
Besides its exciting setup with the game aspect, Villains Are Destined to Die stands out with its beautiful artwork, interesting characters, and most importantly, a protagonist who feels real and complete.
4) I Stan The Prince (2020)
I Stan the Prince is set in the Empire of Ludext, ruled by the Schwandell Prince after Rayburn Espelindo lost his title as Crown Prince.
Aisha’s popular fan fiction changes how people see Rayburn, making him popular again and connecting their destinies together.
The artist’s style goes beyond showing emotions to creating a beautiful visual story that captures the tender moments between Aisha and Rayburn as their feelings grow.
Each panel in the Manhwa shows the raw emotions and the growing love between Aisha and Rayburn, whether it’s a touch, a look, or a smile they share with each other.
5) Flirting with the Villain’s Dad (2020)
The story of Flirting with the Villain’s Dad, like many other popular manhwa in this genre, starts with the main character being reborn in a novel’s world.
But instead of becoming the main female character or the villainess, she ends up in the body of Princess Yerenika, a supporting character who is meant to have a sad fate.
Luckily, Yerenika enters the story twenty years before the main events and is set on stopping the bad things from happening. Her plan To prevent the villain from even being born.
To do that, she needs to charm his dad, King Euredian, and marry him instead of Lady Elodia, the villain’s mom.
While it’s not super original, Flirting with the Villain’s Dad is a great choice for newcomers to manhwa. It has amazing art, likable characters, and a sweet romance that’s perfect for a cozy read.
6) I Married The Male Lead’s Dad (2020)
In I Married The Male Lead’s Dad, things get really interesting when Aisha Heathcliff finds out who she really is and how she’s connected to Hadith and Abel.
She’s determined to break free from their linked destinies and will do whatever it takes to save and protect the two people she cares about the most.
But Aisha soon learns that she’s not alone in her mission. Hadith is also committed to saving his family. He bravely stands up to the god and emperor of the world, challenging their power to keep his loved ones safe.
The story of the Manhwa goes beyond the typical reincarnation idea and becomes a gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and fighting against fate.
7) Villainess in Love (2019)
Villainess in Love is a sweet manhwa about romance in the past. It has nice art, a main character you’ll really like, and good chemistry between the guys, even though the story is a bit typical.
It starts when the main character, Yunifer, gets born again as the villainess in a book called Melting the Heart of the Moon.
She wants to change her fate and not get killed, so she has to avoid Raelle, who’s supposed to be the main character, and not fall in love with Ishid Lucrenze, who’s the main guy.
But everything changes when Yunifer wakes up in Ishid’s bed after a night of drinking and a lot of bad choices. Even though it uses a lot of typical story ideas, Villainess in Love is still a really interesting and funny romance.
8) Beware the Villainess! (2020)
Beware the Villainess! starts off when a tired college student has a car accident and wakes up as Melissa Fodderbrat, the villainess from a famous romance book.
With this new life, Melissa doesn’t want to be the bad guy anymore. She promises to live her life fully and try to avoid any bad luck that comes her way.
With cute artwork and funny jokes that always land, Beware the Villainess! is a delightful romantic comedy featuring a refreshingly independent female lead.
While the romance part might be a bit slow, and the connection between Melissa and her destined partner isn’t perfect, the series is still enjoyable to read. It’s not afraid to break away from typical romance story patterns.
9) When The Villainess Is In Love (2020)
When The Villainess Is In Love is about Emma, whose soul switches with her favorite book character, Princess Libertia.
Libertia is cursed and destined to die, so Emma wants to change that fate. She also wants to help the other characters in the book, and she can’t help but fangirl over how good-looking they are.
The Villainess’ new personality makes her get closer to characters like Eugene De Volton, Kain De Eirik, Herrace, and Daniel.
At first, it might seem like there’s going to be a love triangle with lots of interests, but as the story goes on, it’s clear that only one guy will win Libertia’s heart.
The manhwa explores themes like sisterhood, love, trust, and how Libertia tries to change her favorite characters’ fate.
10) Empress of Another World (2016)
Empress of Another World tells the story of Sabina, a typical college student who suddenly finds herself in a whole new world after a truck accident.
Sadly, she gets caught up in the tricky politics of the cruel royal court when she’s sent to be one of the Emperor’s concubines.
The story kicks into high gear when the Emperor is killed on the same night, and Sabina makes a deal with the murderer, the handsome Crown Prince Lucretius, to survive and hopefully find a way back home.
Even though they seem like an odd pair, Sabina and Lucretius slowly fall in love, keeping readers engaged until the end.
In general, Empress of Another World is a great series with a wonderfully crafted romance, lots of excitement, and a fantastic ending.
11) Ellin’s Solhwa (2019)
Unlike many romance manhwa set in the West, Ellin’s Solhwa takes place in the East. This makes for a really special story with amazing artwork, interesting characters, and writing that keeps you interested the whole time.
The story is about Ellin, a woman in her mid-twenties, whose life gets really tough after her mom dies. Ellin has the same sickness as her mom, and her life isn’t going well until one day she collapses while dealing with a difficult customer.
When she wakes up, she’s in the body of Solhwa, the fourth wife of a tough king in a place called the Xyaran Empire.
Even though the idea seems common, Ellin’s Solhwa is actually a really exciting mix of romance and drama. It’s definitely a hidden gem and one of the best historical romance manhwa out there.
12) A Stepmother’s Märchen (2019)
The timeline of A Stepmother’s Märchen begins after the sad death of Marchioness Shuli Von Neuschwanstein.
She travels seven years back in time with the knowledge of what will happen in the future. Shuli aims to earn the trust of the Neuschwanstein children so she can change the sad events that happened in their past.
The story of A Stepmother’s Märchen is really special because it shows beautiful family moments and introduces characters you’ll really care about.
The plot is interesting and keeps you hooked. As the story goes on, the relationship between the main characters, Shuli and Nora, brings a lot of warmth and excitement.
It’s a beloved historical manhwa because of its great storytelling, characters you’ll love, and amazing artwork.
13) Bring the Love (2019)
Leah Hildebrandt is the oldest daughter in her family, known for being smart, beautiful, and super talented. But when her younger brother is away, Leah has to marry someone for political reasons to keep her family’s reputation intact.
What starts as just a political marriage ends up turning into something deeper and more meaningful.
In a type of story where many love interests are not so nice, Bring the Love is different because Roxant, the main guy, is actually perfect despite his tough reputation.
The story also does a good job with the other characters and their relationships. Even though the art might look different at first, the story is so good that it doesn’t matter. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants a nice, happy romance story.
14) Revenge Wedding (2020)
Mercedia Sasha is known as the prettiest woman in the Empire, but she really doesn’t want to get married.
However, she ends up stuck on an island with Admiral Demetriu Cyprosa, a famous war hero. They have to get married to leave the island.
Luckily, they both have a reputation for being not so nice, which strangely makes them a good match.
The strong connection between Demetriu and Mercedia makes this series really addictive.
Revenge Wedding is great from beginning to end, with stunning artwork, lots of funny moments, and romantic scenes that will keep you hooked. Plus, the main character isn’t afraid to be a bit vain or petty, which adds to the fun.
15) The Villainess is a Marionette (2021)
After being killed, the main character of The Villainess is a Marionette finds out she’s been transported into the fantasy world of a web novel called The Lady of the Black Rose.
In this world, she becomes Kayena Hill, the elder sister of the Emperor of Eldyme and the villainess of the story.
She realizes Kayena’s life isn’t much different from hers. Feeling sorry for Kayena and her situation, she decides she’s had enough of being controlled and promises to live her life freely, without being manipulated.
So, Kayena starts her journey to break free from her puppet strings, and she finds love on the way. Although it may have some small issues with how fast things happen and how they’re done.
The Villainess is a Marionette is visually amazing. The art and character designs are stunning, making it worth reading despite its flaws.
Honorable Mentions
That’s Not How You Do It
Gal Camp V
If you are looking for the code, it is 455843.