A long time ago, Prince Alexei was left to die in the woods by his cruel stepmother. He was saved by his magical abilities inherited from his mother’s lineage and a peculiar green-skinned creature he named Pie. Their peaceful life together in the woods was disrupted when the Prince’s family attempted to rescue him by killing Pie and other creatures in the forest. Alexei grew up harboring hatred as he ascended to the throne, but his heart began to feel again when he encountered Eleonora. Little did he know, Eleonora was the reincarnation of Pie, retaining memories of her past life without realizing Alexei’s connection to the boy she once saved. Can they uncover each other’s secrets and find happiness together?
After reviewing the first volume of this romantic fairy tale, based on the light novel of the same name, I was eager to see how the story would conclude in the second volume. While the light novel is not available in English, I can only evaluate how well the manga adaptation works.
Despite enjoying the first volume despite its pacing issues, the second volume left me feeling disappointed. The story lacked a satisfying emotional payoff, much like envisioning a version of Cinderella where she meets the prince, falls in love, and simply stays with him without the usual conflicts and resolutions. Similarly, in “The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor,” all the build-up occurs in the first half of the story, leaving the second half devoid of meaningful conflict or resolution.
The second volume sees Eleonora and Alexei finally make a connection, but the story falls flat thereafter. The conflicts introduced, such as Eleonora’s evil step-family and Alexei’s dark past, are resolved too quickly or off-page, robbing the narrative of tension and depth. Alexei’s dark side is barely explored, and the potential for conflict between him and Eleonora is left unfulfilled. The magic system, briefly mentioned in the first volume, remains underdeveloped in the second, missing an opportunity to enrich the world-building.
While the artwork by Li Oshikawa remains strong and expressive, the lack of depth in the narrative leaves much to be desired. The translation by Jan Mitsuko Cash maintains the fairy-tale style but does not compensate for the story’s shortcomings.
In conclusion, “The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor” offers a disappointing finale that may appeal to readers seeking a simple happy ending. However, for those looking for a more nuanced and satisfying fantasy romance, there are better options available.
