In the castle, Princess Ria slowly matures as the only daughter of the ruthless emperor, Caitel. Thanks to her memories from a past life, she navigates her dangerous surroundings but just barely.
Caitel seems to be opening his heart to Ria, yet he remains vigilant. His enemies wait for any opportunity to strike at him—or, in this case, at Ria—to inflict pain. Thankfully, Ria has the strongest knight in the empire, Asisi, by her side. After Asisi receives permission to retire from the war front, he requests assignment as Ria’s personal knight. Caitel grants this request, marking the first time Asisi has ever asked for anything. Their relationship, forged in childhood, grows complex as they navigate their past, with Asisi standing alongside Caitel when he seized the throne. Though their bond remains somewhat ambiguous, I would argue they could even be considered friends.
Ria’s Growth and Challenges
In this Volume, we witness Ria transition from a toddler to a seven-year-old. She begins to understand her father’s true character and the nature of those around her. Initially, she tries to charm them with her cuteness, but this strategy evolves into a key part of her personality. Perdel, the chancellor of the empire, becomes increasingly obsessed with her, despite having twins with his wife, Silvia.
Daughter of the Emperor continues its slow-paced narrative. Over two volumes, Ria ages a few years but remains a child. The series adopts a slice-of-life theme, showcasing character development through interactions with Ria and depicting the little princess’s daily life. Initially, I felt the story aimed for Ria to survive and live freely away from the emperor. However, as the narrative progresses, that goal seems to shift, leaving me uncertain about its ultimate direction. Ria finds herself surrounded by protectors who genuinely care for her, including her father. Although Caitel acts like a tsundere, those closest to him recognize his deep love for his daughter, even if he stubbornly calls her his “offspring” instead of “daughter.” Small steps, right? I still hope for a plot twist to propel the story forward.
Expanding Perspectives
In these two volumes, we gain multiple perspectives beyond Ria’s and Caitel’s. Perdel is an intriguing character; his love for Ria is so intense that he would adopt her as his daughter if Caitel wouldn’t kill him for daring to look at her. Through Perdel’s eyes, we see how much Caitel has changed since Ria entered his life. We also delve deeper into Asisi’s personality. The rumors surrounding him are as grim as those about the emperor, but there’s more to Asisi than meets the eye. Despite his desire to end his life, Ria’s innocence ignites a protective instinct within him. For the first time, he yearns to serve and protect the little princess for as long as he can. Having endured an abusive childhood and years of warfare, Ria brings a glimmer of hope into his life.
Focus on Relationships
Unlike other manhwa series in the same genre, such as Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion, Daughter of the Emperor emphasizes the relationships between Ria, her father, and those around her, rather than on romantic interests. However, I still hold out hope for Ria’s future love interest. It would be fascinating to see the poor man who captures her heart deal with Caitel’s jealousy. The series leans heavily on dialogue and inner thoughts, with the omniscient viewpoint revealing the characters’ feelings at all times.
Illustrations and Extras
Volume 4 delights readers with a folded illustration of the characters, although Volume 5 lacks this feature. Both volumes, however, include bonus scenes at the end, offering additional insights into random events in the story along with a letter from the author.
Daughter of the Emperor is written by Yunsul and illustrated by Rino. Yen Press releases the English edition, translated by Micah Kim. Fans can look forward to Volume 6, slated for release in January 2024.
