is a Japanese
light novel
A is a type of Genre fiction, popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting Adolescence, teens to Young adult, twenties or older. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging.
The abbr ...
series written by Touko Amekawa. The series originated on the
Shōsetsuka ni Narō
is a Japanese novel self-publishing website created by . It was launched on April 2, 2004. Users can upload their novels free of charge and the novels are also free to read. As of December 2022, the site hosts close to 1,000,000 novels, has over ...
website in February 2020, before being published in print with illustrations by Wan Hachipisu by Overlap beginning in October 2020. As of December 2023, six volumes have been released. A
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
adaptation with illustrations by Hinoki Kino began serialization on the ''Comic Gardo'' website in December 2020. As of February 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected into six volumes. An
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series adaptation produced by
Studio Kai
is a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo. It was founded by Asatsu-DK, ADK Emotions in June 2019.
History
Studio Kai was founded by Asatsu-DK, ADK Emotions in June 2019. In July 2019, Gonzo (company), Gonzo transferred some of its ...
and Hornets aired from January to March 2024.
Premise
A young noble Rishe Weitzner has had her engagement to the crown prince annulled, but this is the seventh time it's happened; she's stuck within a
time loop
The time loop or temporal loop is a plot device in fiction whereby Character (arts), characters re-experience a span of time which is repeated, sometimes more than once, with some hope of breaking out of the cycle of repetition. Time loops are co ...
, where no matter the job she takes or location, she always ends up dead at 20, five years after the
annulment
Annulment is a legal procedure within secular and religious legal systems for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning alm ...
. This time she catches the eye of Prince Arnold of the neighboring Galkhein Kingdom, who becomes smitten with her at first sight; he was the source of a
world war, pestilence, resource depletion, and even direct murder in all her previous loops.
Although wary and resentful towards Arnold, Rishe accepts his proposal of marriage on the condition she doesn't have to perform royal duties, have Arnold keep a safe distance from her and gets to loaf around; also helps Arnold, as she fulfills his father's request to "technically" take a foreign fiancée/hostage. However, she soon starts using all her past life skills to help out the people of the Galkhein Kingdom and sees Arnold is not the same cold person as in her 6th loop; making Rishe wonder what made Arnold's heart grow cold.
Characters
Main characters
;
:
:Rishe was a political pawn of her parents, who disowned her when the engagement was annulled. However, she found
self-confidence
Confidence is the feeling of belief or trust that a person or thing is reliable.
*
*
* Self-confidence is trust in oneself. Self-confidence involves a positive belief that one can generally accomplish what one wishes to do in the future. Sel ...
thanks to her various jobs in multiple repeats; being a merchant, herbalist, scholar, maid, hunter and knight. Exasperated with her efforts to live a good life being made futile by the Galkhein Kingdom's actions, Rishe decides to take advantage of Arnold's proposal in order to have a lazy life, but soon finds herself growing closer to Arnold.
;
:
:Crown Prince of the Galkhein Kingdom. In the sixth loop, Rishe was killed by him while posing as a male knight. In the seventh loop however, he conveys kind but solemn personality on his early appearances. He falls in love with Rishe and is constantly amazed by her beauty, knight prowess and other skills; finding her interesting.
Supporting characters
;
:
:The president of Aria Trading Company, who picked up Rishe on her first loop. While a trickster willing to stick others with his
invoices
An invoice, bill, tab, or bill of costs is a commercial document that includes an itemized list of goods or services furnished by a seller to a buyer relating to a sale transaction, that usually specifies the price and terms of sale, quantitie ...
, he cares very much for his little sister Aria.
;
:
;
:
Galkhein Kingdom
;
:
:Arnold's younger brother. He sees Arnold as a monster for his ruthlessness and tries to help Rishe escape; not understanding their situations.
;
:
:Arnold's
personal attendant.
Hermity Kingdom
;
:
:The prince to whom Rishe was engaged in every time loop. After lies are spread about Rishe, he annuls their engagement. He's
narcissistic
Narcissism is a self-centered personality style characterized as having an excessive preoccupation with oneself and one's own needs, often at the expense of others. Narcissism, named after the Greek mythological figure ''Narcissus'', has evolv ...
and full of himself, so it was a shock that Rishe tells him off in the current loop; plus his kinder father forcing
humility
Humility is the quality of being humble. The Oxford Dictionary, in its 1998 edition, describes humility as a low self-regard and sense of unworthiness. However, humility involves having an accurate opinion of oneself and expressing oneself mode ...
to ask Rishe to marry Arnold to ensure peace with the Galkhein Kingdom.
;
:
:The new fianceé of Prince Dietrich who made up the lies about Rishe. However, she did it so she could marry the prince for the sake of her family. Rishe informs her that she is aware of the situation and holds no anger towards her, telling Marie to find happiness for herself.
Media
Light novel
Written by Touko Amekawa, the series began publication on the novel posting website
Shōsetsuka ni Narō
is a Japanese novel self-publishing website created by . It was launched on April 2, 2004. Users can upload their novels free of charge and the novels are also free to read. As of December 2022, the site hosts close to 1,000,000 novels, has over ...
on February 7, 2020. The series was later acquired by Overlap, who began publishing the series in print with illustrations by Wan Hachipisu on October 25, 2020.
[ As of December 2023, six volumes have been released.][
In October 2021, ]Seven Seas Entertainment
Seven Seas Entertainment is an American publishing company located in Los Angeles, California. It was originally dedicated to the publication of original English-language manga, but now publishes licensed manga and light novels from Japan, as w ...
announced that they licensed the series for English publication.
Volumes
Manga
A manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
adaptation, illustrated by Hinoki Kino, began serialization on the ''Comic Gardo'' website on December 5, 2020. As of October 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected into seven ''tankōbon
A is a standard publishing format for books in Japan, alongside other formats such as ''shinsho'' (17x11 cm paperback books) and ''bunkobon''. Used as a loanword in English, the term specifically refers to a printed collection of a manga that w ...
'' volumes.[
In December 2021, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they licensed the manga for English publication.
]
Volumes
Anime
An anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series adaptation was announced on August 18, 2023. It will be produced by Studio Kai
is a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo. It was founded by Asatsu-DK, ADK Emotions in June 2019.
History
Studio Kai was founded by Asatsu-DK, ADK Emotions in June 2019. In July 2019, Gonzo (company), Gonzo transferred some of its ...
and Hornets and directed by Kazuya Iwata, with scripts written by Touko Machida
is a Japanese anime screenwriter. She debuted as a screenwriter in 2001, and in 2006 got to become the lead screenwriter for the first time with '' Ramen Fighter Miki''. Since ''Ramen Fighter Miki'', she has done screenwriting for many works, suc ...
, character designs handled by Kenichi Ōnuki, and music composed by Satoshi Hōno and Ryūnosuke Kasai. The series aired from January 7 to March 24, 2024, on AT-X and other networks. The opening theme song is "Another Birthday", performed by Shun'ichi Toki
is a Japanese voice actor and singer from Tokyo, Japan affiliated with With Line.
Biography Personal life
Toki grew up in a family that was interested in music, especially his father, who was one of his earliest influences. He would take him to ...
, while the ending theme song is , performed by The Binary. Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming service owned by Sony, Sony Group Corporation. The service primarily distributes fi ...
licensed the series. Muse Communication
Muse Communication Co., Ltd. (also known simply as Muse) is a Taiwanese distributor and licensor that specializes in the distribution of Japanese animation. Based in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, the company also distributes Asian and E ...
licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.
Episodes
Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...
praised the heroine, artwork, and the story, calling it unique.
Naoki Harada, an editor for ''Comic Gardo'', picked the manga as his favorite manga from 2021.
By February 2024, the series had over 1 million copies in circulation.
See also
* '' An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess'', another light novel series with the same writer
Notes
References
External links
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*
*
*
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{{Studio Kai
2020 Japanese novels
2024 anime television series debuts
Anime and manga based on light novels
Crunchyroll anime
Fantasy anime and manga
Japanese webcomics
Josei manga
Light novels first published online
Light novels
Muse Communication
Romance anime and manga
Seven Seas Entertainment titles
Shōsetsuka ni Narō
Studio Kai
Time loop anime and manga
Villainess anime and manga
Webcomics in print