Synopsis:
Princess Alicia isn’t happy about her mother’s plan to marry her off to Prince Fernan, who is rumored to be quite unpleasant. After some negotiation, her mother agrees to let Alicia choose from four other suitors, but with conditions: Alicia must attend a boys-only magic academy, disguise herself as a boy, and keep the situation a secret. Alicia soon realizes that her new life resembles a BL novel she read in her past life, adding to her confusion. Navigating this world becomes even trickier with the enigmatic Lucius showing up and complicating matters.
Review:
While many light novels and their adaptations often reveal their entire premise and major plot points in their titles, this one crams in several buzzwords: reincarnated princess, cross-dressing, and not looking for a fiancé. This blend might attract some readers, but it could also deter others.
The reality is a bit more nuanced. Alicia, the titular princess, cross-dresses to attend a boys-only magic academy because it’s a condition set by her mother. Alicia is opposed to the arranged marriage with Prince Fernan, who, despite his magical talents, is rumored to be unappealing. Her mother’s solution is to offer Alicia a choice of four new potential suitors, with the added requirement of attending the all-boys academy in disguise. At the academy, Alicia experiences a migraine that triggers memories of her previous life in Japan, where she was a fan of a BL novel series. It turns out she’s now living in that very world, with her potential suitors resembling the characters from those novels, including a new character named Lucius.
Alicia is frustrated by her unintended involvement in the story of the novel she once read. Complicating matters, Lucius, a handsome new student, discovers Alicia’s secret and uses it to negotiate increasingly intimate interactions. Alicia agrees to these conditions, though she remains adamant about not engaging in penetrative sex. As their relationship develops, Alicia begins to fall for Lucius, whose true identity may be more obvious than it seems. She also fails to notice that her suitors are all interested in her, which is a common trope in these kinds of stories.
Overall, this single-volume title doesn’t stand out much but delivers a steamy isekai romance as promised. While the romance between Alicia and Lucius is a central focus, the depiction of intimate scenes is somewhat hampered by artist Akino Shiina’s inconsistent portrayal of anatomy. Shiina’s experience with BL rather than female upper-body art might contribute to this issue. However, Shiina’s approach to Alicia’s cross-dressing, including her hair and the historical-inspired school uniforms, adds a touch of authenticity.
The story would have benefited from being spread over two volumes. With more space, it could have fleshed out its characters and plot more effectively. Whether this is an issue with the adaptation or the original light novel is unclear, but a longer format might have allowed the story to reach its full potential. Nonetheless, it’s refreshing to see steamy romance content aimed at adult women, and Tokyopop’s LoveLove line’s expansion beyond BL is a positive development.
This Reincarnated Princess Who Cross-Dresses Has No Plans to Search for a Fiancé falls into the category of “decent enough.” It delivers on its premise and provides an enjoyable escape with its romantic and fantastical elements, even if it doesn’t break new ground in the isekai romance genre.
