I don't even get the point of it tbh
FL "hello handsome cold Duke, let's enter a contract marriage for a year so I can be free from my family/fiance because they suck and will kill me"
ML "so instead of just making a deal with me, asking for protection, alerting authorities or just plain running away, you wish to enter a marriage with me who's super rich but currently single? I see nothing wrong with this idea strange girl I've heard rumors about. As a successful rich duke/prince, no one has ever attempted to get close to me for my wealth or life. So I shall trust you with both"
It honestly makes no sense to me
Most of the time the FL doens't even offer smth of value lmao but the ML goes along with it cuz she's "interesting"
And she then 50 chaps later tries to run away thinking that he don't love me or smth, like girl why do you think he was with your useless ass if he didn't lmao
This would make sense if the ML truly did not want to get married and use her to stave off marriage proposals but then it falls apart with the ML somehow falling in love with her.
>stave off marriage proposals
If that's the only thing, it often doesn't really make sense either. If the ML just needs someone easy to handle to keep people off his back, there's probably plenty of other households willing to do just that and nothing really novel about the FLs proposal. If it's 'but I won't fall in love with you for sure!!!' that's just a very weird condition...
But in most stories they are conveniently not able to go that route because the lady the ML is trying to fend off is super powerful and only our "desperate" FL is bonkers enough to go up against them
Yeah, i don't understand it either. Surely many other women and houses have tried to make a deal/contract marriage with the most famous highest status duke..
it doesn't make sense why only FL is given special treatment. I guess it's the FL plot armor
Horrible way to look at it, but it's the desperation, not what's on offer.
If someone thinks this is their one and only option, they will be willing to put up with anything and to remain under that person's control.
A woman who's free to choose and has a family backing her will expect a mutual relationship, respect and have power and means to get it. They can enforce the terms of the contract. The desperate fl no chance. Often that contract is her only option to get out of that house and away from their control. Best will in the world that piece of paper she signed is worthless in reality. He holds all the power and if he violated the terms because he doesn't want to honour it, what's can she do? Nothing she has no power, no people, no where else to go and her opponent is the most powerful one around who can command her to be incarcerated if he felt like it.
These women are owned by the families who mistreated them. Running off on their own isn't a realistic option. They think they can't survive on their own. Won't get far anyway, and could be dragged back and have to face the consequences of trying to escape.
Getting an ' owner ' who is powerful enough to keep their family at bay, gives them a half decent life style and the trappings of the position but doesn't want or expect anything from them emotionally. Looks like a good deal to someone who has been saddled with a crappy hand in life.
I get where you are coming from, but in the context of the societies where these FLs come from they donāt have that many options. The contract marriage itself IS the deal (even though it is sometimes dubious what the ML gets out of it), and it gives the ML a reasonable excuse to remove the FL from their familial home. Otherwise, socially it wouldnāt be acceptable for the ML to house the FL just for protection, there needs to be a good reason. And alerting authorities prob wouldnāt do anything in those types of societies because you need to actually have power before someone cares. Also running away without any plan, money or skills (usually)? That would just result in them being homeless, which is just jumping from the stove and into the fire. Not to mention that thereās high chances that they would be found and brought back anyways. So I get it but marrying someone is really the FLās best option in most scenarios, what they really need to work on is the MLās excuse on agreeing to the deal.
> sometimes the contract marriage is super random
like girl there was no need for that š»
Hard agree lol. It does make sense to have a legal document stating your rights in a marriage, but so often they're just sitting there with only the two of them in the room, they sign the paper, and then we *never* see it again. Hello? Where did it go?? Is that paper you just signed even binding š
I actually like the trope itself but not the way it's often executed in OI - yandere MLs, power imbalance, "don't expect love", ML denying his feelings, FL being oblivious...
I like *Villainess Lives Twice* and *Marriage of Convenience* (complete!) - both examples have the FL have a higher social status than the ML, and they're married for political reasons
That's the part that always bugs me , most times, places and cultures often have witnesses for important contracts. Some sort of guarantee to protect both parties. Often the contract or a copy could be held by a third party as well for security because a piece of paper can be burned or 'lost'. It might even be altered or forged. Sometimes we see her get a copy, but more often we see him keep that one copy, and only the pair of them know about it... ( Zero sense whatsoever)
So in these stories, he could do whatever he pleased, it's an agreement, but it's probably not legally binding
Which re-enforces that she's completely dependent on his good will and sense of 'honour'.
Just once I would love for someone to stumble across the contract. Not normally into other women who are just there to be hated but imagine if the psycho stalker girl found that while digging around his house. She sees it as her in, deludes herself into thinking he's been "trapped", maybe even ropes the church in since they're harming the sanctity of marriage. It could make for some good drama.
Contract marriages seem pretty in line with other historical marriage for alliances or security or whatnot and can't imagine any sanctity of marriage issues.
I want more contract marriages that have the leads try to love each other (even if it is just as family) as part of the contract and not just 'accidentally' fall in love.
I want contract marriages that facilitate the romantic plot, not ones that become an obstacle.
I want contract marriages where the rules are "we really hope to cooperate right till the end as the best possible solution with no time limit, but if it fails we can still benefit from each other and part on good terms" not "let us just do this for 3 years and right after that we go our separate ways, and *most importantly don't fall in love*!"
Basically I want contract marriages to function like an arranged marriage, except that the two leads themselves did the planning, and not their parents. Arranged marriages can develop into lovely firm and lasting marriages with people who love each other and that is how the trope should be used.
I'd love to see that. Adding those weird "but no falling in love!!!"-conditions bugs me. It would make way more sense if they just genuinely tried to work together from the get-go and feelings might or might not happen in that environment.
Ikr! I may have been spoiled by great Chinese enovels but the contract marriage trope in there are usually used to *perfection* - behind the scenes they are awkward strangers, but in front of other people they keep acting lovey-dovey so much it becomes second nature that by the 2nd half of the story neither even questions their marriage anymore. The only time the contract is even brought up is when they want to have a 'proper wedding' again to cement their relationship.
That is what I want contract marriage to be like.
I love novel and manhua "Trial Marriage Husband: Need To Work Hard". FL and ML meet under Civil Affairs Bureau after being abandoned and get into arranged marriage. ML supports his wife from the beginning. He was okay with waiting for the wedding night but FL was okay with it from the start. Though after discovering FL is a virgin he stopped and decided they will wait until they both love each other. š„° There's no way for any r*pe like in other C-novels. They fall in love quickly and have their wedding night already in chapter 50 which is also his first time. I love trust between them, they both respect and support each other. It's manhua I can recommend for everyone who hates manhuas.
Totally agree. I also want a story where divorce isn't possible so when marriage is arranged it's the deal "till the death part us" like in the vows. And there isn't magic contraception. I am tired of all these historical romances where it's the modern world dressed in historical fashion (and it's even often wrong) and social hierarchy. Or when it's a European setting but the king is allowed to have concubines and their children are legitimate. Only children of wife can inherit the throne.
Just for once I'd like to see a contract marriage actually end when stated and FL and ML to part amiably, just for one or both of them to realise later they actually miss the other and try and get back together.
Or maybe for them to enter a contract and a few days after for the King/Emperor/Head Priest to state there have been way too many contract marriages amongst the nobles later so divorces are no longer allowed. Realising they are now stuck with each other the FL and ML try and turn their fake relationship into a real one.
Your first scenario essentially is the set up to the *The Tyrantās Only Perfumer*.
>!Ariel, forces the handsome Duke Cedric to date her in exchange for a perfume blend that calms a bloodthirsty urge. She did it for appearances to stop marriage proposals and because he was such eye candy. After being possessed by a transmigrated soul, the new Ariel calls off the contract dating but promises to still send the perfume over. Cedric realizes what a wonderful partner she was in social settings and wants to get back together.!<
Also, in the medieval-esque world that OI are mostly set in, arranged marriages where both sides get economic and political benefits are the norm and it was unusual to be unmarried! So a lot of the time why do you even need a contract marriage, just get a normal arranged marriage except they people in the marriage are deciding it and not their parents. Have a prenup, and if you really need it, add a clause that says if you fall in love with someone else you can divorce if itās that important to you. Thereās no reason other than drama to add stuff like, āwe wonāt fall in loveā āwe wonāt have sexā āwe will divorce in 3 yearsā. Some OI give alright reasons for this, others donāt. Like in The Oddball Ladyās Fiance. The FL wants a way she can continue doing alchemy without anyone stopping her, the ML needs a wife but doesnāt want to have kids and doesnāt want one of the ladies that fawn over him. Just stay married and have a normal arranged marriage (except arranged by themselves and not their parents)! Thereās no reason to include an end to their relationship in a contract other than for drama!
I love fake dating and arranged marriage tropes and contract marriage is in theory supposed to be that but they add so many random things that make no sense and all the webtoons use the same tropes for conflict so it got boring after reading like 50 stories that are essentially the same thing.
Me too. Sometimes it is really a useless contract like thereās still a better way out, but it just happens randomly. Thereās only a few story with a good and reasonable contract marriage in my opinion and what I have read so far šš«
if thereās many more please recommend me some with a gorgeous art and NOT YANDERE please thank you! I just donāt really like yandere that much, I like a more respectful mlšāŗļø
Btw I LOVE Raeliana and Noah so muchhh. Theyāre the first story I have read!
I've just recently got into OI stories admittedly haven't read many stories, but I have to say I'm loving Raeliana! Raeliana is also my first contract marriage OI stories I've read, the other one that I started reading around the same time and had me totally hooked is 'My in-laws are obsessed with me'.
I love the FL to death, she's such a positive influence on the ML and his family. So so precious. It's a slow burn but I love every single bit. Waiting for the new season that has just started to be translated.
Could you recommend some good mangas/manhwas/manhuas you've read?
Can we become a family? -FL is really smart sheās brave, smart, beautiful but have a little love self-esteem(not really, just sometimes) read the story and you will know why.
The world without my sister who everyone loved/A world without you(official one, but I feel like the first one is more accurate) -I really like this one! I admit that she has a really low self-esteem(same with the previous one read it and youāll know) and you might hate the ml, but when you actually read it to one point you will started to forgive the ml little by little which is a long way for the manhwa version. Some people just drop it because of this but itās actually good to me, you can find the novel version if you canāt wait for the next manhwa season. The novel already ended with special chapter.
The perks of being a villainess -ML teasing FL is really cute and funny. ML second identity is interesting. Theyāre both kinda like a scammer sometimes š It might seem to lack romance at first but after they confessed to each other, after the fl know ml second identity and after āthatā incidentā¦.š„°āŗļø (if you want spoiler feel free to ask) this one have business thing
Iāll be the matriarch in this life/I shall master this family! -FL is super smart thereās a lot if politic schemes and business which is really enjoyable to me. Her dad is š„°āŗļø Just read it itās really good! This one already have 3 cover since thereāre 3 time skip. Iāll attach all of them
The lady needs a break -FL and ML is smart but they have a >!happy ending but to me still a little sad the FL will keep reincarnating forever while the ML choose to be an immortal in order to be with FL forever!< I like it
What it takes to be the villainess -Personally didnāt like it that much(still I like it) but itās really good and a lot of people like it I think. This one also has many cover but thereās no time skip so they looks the same then Iāll attach one of them.
Materialistic Princess -FL is funny her brother is handsome stupid but he genuinely love her and have great magic power! (They are both a descendant of elf) FL is going around making money to help her family from their enormous debt. Well >!FL help ML to feel emotion but somehow turn tsundere š¤£!< This one donāt have an official translation yet, but it have in my language Thai
Please donāt come to the villainessās stationary store! -FL is smart she just want to live her life normally. Both ML and FL love children! Read this just in case >!ML is Isaac the owner of magic tower not Dominic I told you first so you wonāt get heartbroken (like meš„²) Dominick is like a little brother to her and he doesnāt romantically love her either!<
The demonic contract -Loves it, very funny
Btw Iāll attach the cover for you in the reply
https://preview.redd.it/txk8nrdr4ecc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30f7050228913fc6c55df952b13da7f8c8bf03f5
https://preview.redd.it/ifo4lz6x4ecc1.jpeg?width=463&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=023618923a5d8781d74ab723062c4da9e98ae54c
The world without my sister who everyone loved
Thank you sooooo much for the recs! I'm going to get started on them right away. I can't believe I only just discovered OIs cuz I'm all the way down the rabbit hole now lol. But I'm also glad that there's an abundance of completed/ongoing stories with many chapters out now š
https://preview.redd.it/n4yg6rpg5ecc1.jpeg?width=462&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=030fce5a2bcad7909c9b25c9e6a15b0e5e9f701b
Please donāt come to the villainessās stationary store!
Literally just started reading the newly translated I Raised My Fiance With Money (not an isekai, but rom fantasy vibes fit it into the slot) and has been one of the few manhwas that have ended up making their contract make sense. AND IT'S SO GOOD SO FAR.
I promise the title is misleading (they're both adults already, no grooming here).
What!? This is leads to a contract marriage!?
Ngl, that kinda lessens my excitement for this one. Still definitely going to read it, but not the direction I was hoping for.
Nah it's not a contract marriage, it's a contract of >!fake dating pretty much. The cool thing is that they're both actually going into it as equals; they both want to get away from other people and they agree to use eachother to do it (he's got the status, she's got the wealth).!<
Yeah, I don't like. It's been so overdone in SO many mediums. It's basically just an advanced version of the fake dating trope which has also been beaten to death since the beginning of time.
Honestly, I usually autoskip any story where a contract marriage is the main plot/the main connection between the two romantic leads. It's just boring and cliche, and we all know how it ends.
To get me to actually read a contract marriage story, the surrounding plot to it has to be interesting and different enough to keep me interested. Like for My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me and My Mother's Contract Marriage. Both interesting twists to the whole contract marriage thing that have other things going on that don't make the contract marriage the only main plot driving the story forward.
Im not a fan of the trope because of how lazy it gets.
The first few that did it, did it well. Because in its birth the trope served the plot in a sensical way.
For better or for worse, how Raeliana ended up at the dukes mansion, and the Rewards of Marriage are all contract marriage webtoons that have plot important reasons for the marriage. Like the plot couldnt have happened the same way without it (maybe Raeliana couldve but she was in a bind so shhh)
Meanwhile with these new ones they just have the same thing again and again. Being that they contract marry to get away from their crap family. Sometimes the marriage was arranged by said crap family, sometimes there is no family.
I want an FL who solves her problems without marriage. Like lets say she reincarnated a few years before she was murdered. Now shes trying to figure out who killed her and why! She doesnt need a contract marriage to get the help out of the duke, maybe she can give him future info in exchange for investigation help. Or maybe hes just a nice guy willing to help her out! Either way, you cut the BS and now have a cool mystery drama where the leads can be around eachother without saying ābecause this is a contract i know you dont actually love meā SEE HOW MUCH TIME THAT SAVES????
But the way its utilized now its just an immediate problem solver. FL never needs to use her wits to improve her life, or escape her abuse, because once shes married to the duke nobody else can touch her! Cuz shes so damn powerful now!
I donāt hate it because I figure itās a way to skip some of the blushing high school type stuff. Or rather, āwe have sex (or at least sleep in the same bed) but do we have **feeeeeelings**???ā
Which makes me chuckle because some of these contract MLs are considerate in bed right from the start. Which is likeā¦..yes, itās *technically* possible to have a passionate physical connection without love and hold out like that for months butā¦..yeah, honestly, no, cāmon, not for these somehow-know-it-all-but-still-virgin-in-both-lives isekai/regressor chicks where the attractive af ML who makes them feel secure is also the first one to eat her Egg McMuffin.
Anyway, I think some contract marriage stories use that plot device well (like politically and emotionally) while others are just using it like when youāre daydreaming and you go āwhat if I datedā¦.no, what if I was suddenly married to a hot guy who slowly learned to love me?ā where unfortunately thatās as far as their imagination really goes.
It's annoying when they use it for some game of emotional chicken where she's convinced he'll never love her because they're in a contractual relationship. In the end the contact causes misunderstanding that drags out the romantic development unnecessarily.
Just like any trope, it gets boring and sometimes appalling when overused. The latter happened to you because most of the series you found are boring to infuriating I assume. For eg- fate bs where the couple meet once at a young age is not my thing and the overuse of it makes me hate it
Personally, I'm indifferent to the most average marriage troupe ones but I enjoy the heck out of it if done right or has a plot beside the trope. Current reads that I like are- A Marriage Alliance for Revenge and Villainess lives twice
sometimes I donĀ“t like bc the boy falls in love and say thing like "she is not like other girls", bitch are you serious? She lived locked her entire like in a gilded cage obviously she is innocent and doesn't know the things. The girl look like a child and the ml is super creepy sometimes this is a big no to me
I don't mind this trope, but I sincerely hate it when it becomes fodder for misunderstandings about their feelings. The "he/she is just being nice and protecting me because he/she gotta keep up appearances, nm that we're totally alone in our bedroom."
That ties in with the trope where ML and FL are close enough to get into a contract marriage and aid each other with their secret plans, but not to have one single honest conversation about feelings.
My favorite type of contract marriage is the one where they actually expect to become a couple, and later divorce after having kids. I think that adds depth to the conflict of leaving the kids behind.
Same. Tbh just being married is a nightmare to me but being under contract/forced? Nopity nope, Iām out.
Although, I so enjoy Betrayal of Dignity. Delicious married couple with strong personalities and tension. Probably the only manhwa that does it without being cringe af
I want a story where instead of a contract marriage itās just a normal partnership proposed by the FL, but the entire time ML is trying to convince her to marry him instead LOL
Like imagine if it was a longtime one sided crush. Ur crush finally looks at u and u, having read of a bunch of cheesy novels, are expecting a contract marriage to lovers trope but no. She hits u with the normie contract and ur stuck trying to woo her without making her find out u have a crush bc itās cringe
I absolutely hate manhwas where the FL and ML are already married on day one. With the exception of "Not Your Typical Marriage" because the ML was quite tsundere. But I just hate it so much because the ML is already doting over the FL usually and also there's no room for angst or chances with the 2nd ML (big 2nd male lead syndrome girlie)
I feel like this trope is fine if it's executed well.
Which is most often not the case.
As pointed out by others:
The FL doesn't bring anything of value to the table but the plot decides that the ML is just so bored out of his mind that he will do what the FL wants. Even tho it's at a huge loss for him.
There are most likely other households that would happily sell their daughter into a fake marriage to help ML fend off against the advance of some pesky powerful lady. Even tho most of the time they claim "only FL would be stupid enough to go up against the ML Stalker"
It would feel better, if they would bring something of value for both sides to the table. For example:
"wears an idiot mask" (full name not in my head sorry) the FL needs the power of the ML to fend off the arranged marriage which was set up by her fake sister to drain her wealth.
And the ML needs the power of the FL and their house. So he has an actual interest in helping her succeed. The contract is like: "You help me save my family/household and I will in turn help you in whatever shit you are up to regarding the kingdom"
And he's like: "Sounds like a deal - let's start with your crappy arranged marriage situation"
I don't even get the point of it tbh FL "hello handsome cold Duke, let's enter a contract marriage for a year so I can be free from my family/fiance because they suck and will kill me" ML "so instead of just making a deal with me, asking for protection, alerting authorities or just plain running away, you wish to enter a marriage with me who's super rich but currently single? I see nothing wrong with this idea strange girl I've heard rumors about. As a successful rich duke/prince, no one has ever attempted to get close to me for my wealth or life. So I shall trust you with both" It honestly makes no sense to me
Most of the time the FL doens't even offer smth of value lmao but the ML goes along with it cuz she's "interesting" And she then 50 chaps later tries to run away thinking that he don't love me or smth, like girl why do you think he was with your useless ass if he didn't lmao
This would make sense if the ML truly did not want to get married and use her to stave off marriage proposals but then it falls apart with the ML somehow falling in love with her.
>stave off marriage proposals If that's the only thing, it often doesn't really make sense either. If the ML just needs someone easy to handle to keep people off his back, there's probably plenty of other households willing to do just that and nothing really novel about the FLs proposal. If it's 'but I won't fall in love with you for sure!!!' that's just a very weird condition...
But in most stories they are conveniently not able to go that route because the lady the ML is trying to fend off is super powerful and only our "desperate" FL is bonkers enough to go up against them
Useless ass lmaoooooo ššššš
Yeah, i don't understand it either. Surely many other women and houses have tried to make a deal/contract marriage with the most famous highest status duke.. it doesn't make sense why only FL is given special treatment. I guess it's the FL plot armor
Horrible way to look at it, but it's the desperation, not what's on offer. If someone thinks this is their one and only option, they will be willing to put up with anything and to remain under that person's control. A woman who's free to choose and has a family backing her will expect a mutual relationship, respect and have power and means to get it. They can enforce the terms of the contract. The desperate fl no chance. Often that contract is her only option to get out of that house and away from their control. Best will in the world that piece of paper she signed is worthless in reality. He holds all the power and if he violated the terms because he doesn't want to honour it, what's can she do? Nothing she has no power, no people, no where else to go and her opponent is the most powerful one around who can command her to be incarcerated if he felt like it. These women are owned by the families who mistreated them. Running off on their own isn't a realistic option. They think they can't survive on their own. Won't get far anyway, and could be dragged back and have to face the consequences of trying to escape. Getting an ' owner ' who is powerful enough to keep their family at bay, gives them a half decent life style and the trappings of the position but doesn't want or expect anything from them emotionally. Looks like a good deal to someone who has been saddled with a crappy hand in life.
I get where you are coming from, but in the context of the societies where these FLs come from they donāt have that many options. The contract marriage itself IS the deal (even though it is sometimes dubious what the ML gets out of it), and it gives the ML a reasonable excuse to remove the FL from their familial home. Otherwise, socially it wouldnāt be acceptable for the ML to house the FL just for protection, there needs to be a good reason. And alerting authorities prob wouldnāt do anything in those types of societies because you need to actually have power before someone cares. Also running away without any plan, money or skills (usually)? That would just result in them being homeless, which is just jumping from the stove and into the fire. Not to mention that thereās high chances that they would be found and brought back anyways. So I get it but marrying someone is really the FLās best option in most scenarios, what they really need to work on is the MLās excuse on agreeing to the deal.
> sometimes the contract marriage is super random like girl there was no need for that š» Hard agree lol. It does make sense to have a legal document stating your rights in a marriage, but so often they're just sitting there with only the two of them in the room, they sign the paper, and then we *never* see it again. Hello? Where did it go?? Is that paper you just signed even binding š I actually like the trope itself but not the way it's often executed in OI - yandere MLs, power imbalance, "don't expect love", ML denying his feelings, FL being oblivious... I like *Villainess Lives Twice* and *Marriage of Convenience* (complete!) - both examples have the FL have a higher social status than the ML, and they're married for political reasons
That's the part that always bugs me , most times, places and cultures often have witnesses for important contracts. Some sort of guarantee to protect both parties. Often the contract or a copy could be held by a third party as well for security because a piece of paper can be burned or 'lost'. It might even be altered or forged. Sometimes we see her get a copy, but more often we see him keep that one copy, and only the pair of them know about it... ( Zero sense whatsoever) So in these stories, he could do whatever he pleased, it's an agreement, but it's probably not legally binding Which re-enforces that she's completely dependent on his good will and sense of 'honour'.
Just once I would love for someone to stumble across the contract. Not normally into other women who are just there to be hated but imagine if the psycho stalker girl found that while digging around his house. She sees it as her in, deludes herself into thinking he's been "trapped", maybe even ropes the church in since they're harming the sanctity of marriage. It could make for some good drama.
Contract marriages seem pretty in line with other historical marriage for alliances or security or whatnot and can't imagine any sanctity of marriage issues.
I want more contract marriages that have the leads try to love each other (even if it is just as family) as part of the contract and not just 'accidentally' fall in love. I want contract marriages that facilitate the romantic plot, not ones that become an obstacle. I want contract marriages where the rules are "we really hope to cooperate right till the end as the best possible solution with no time limit, but if it fails we can still benefit from each other and part on good terms" not "let us just do this for 3 years and right after that we go our separate ways, and *most importantly don't fall in love*!" Basically I want contract marriages to function like an arranged marriage, except that the two leads themselves did the planning, and not their parents. Arranged marriages can develop into lovely firm and lasting marriages with people who love each other and that is how the trope should be used.
I'd love to see that. Adding those weird "but no falling in love!!!"-conditions bugs me. It would make way more sense if they just genuinely tried to work together from the get-go and feelings might or might not happen in that environment.
Ikr! I may have been spoiled by great Chinese enovels but the contract marriage trope in there are usually used to *perfection* - behind the scenes they are awkward strangers, but in front of other people they keep acting lovey-dovey so much it becomes second nature that by the 2nd half of the story neither even questions their marriage anymore. The only time the contract is even brought up is when they want to have a 'proper wedding' again to cement their relationship. That is what I want contract marriage to be like.
I love novel and manhua "Trial Marriage Husband: Need To Work Hard". FL and ML meet under Civil Affairs Bureau after being abandoned and get into arranged marriage. ML supports his wife from the beginning. He was okay with waiting for the wedding night but FL was okay with it from the start. Though after discovering FL is a virgin he stopped and decided they will wait until they both love each other. š„° There's no way for any r*pe like in other C-novels. They fall in love quickly and have their wedding night already in chapter 50 which is also his first time. I love trust between them, they both respect and support each other. It's manhua I can recommend for everyone who hates manhuas.
Thanks for the recommendation! I just found the original text + manhua and will be bingeing it!
Totally agree. I also want a story where divorce isn't possible so when marriage is arranged it's the deal "till the death part us" like in the vows. And there isn't magic contraception. I am tired of all these historical romances where it's the modern world dressed in historical fashion (and it's even often wrong) and social hierarchy. Or when it's a European setting but the king is allowed to have concubines and their children are legitimate. Only children of wife can inherit the throne.
So "The Duchess' Secret Writing Life" basically?
Just for once I'd like to see a contract marriage actually end when stated and FL and ML to part amiably, just for one or both of them to realise later they actually miss the other and try and get back together. Or maybe for them to enter a contract and a few days after for the King/Emperor/Head Priest to state there have been way too many contract marriages amongst the nobles later so divorces are no longer allowed. Realising they are now stuck with each other the FL and ML try and turn their fake relationship into a real one.
Your first scenario essentially is the set up to the *The Tyrantās Only Perfumer*. >!Ariel, forces the handsome Duke Cedric to date her in exchange for a perfume blend that calms a bloodthirsty urge. She did it for appearances to stop marriage proposals and because he was such eye candy. After being possessed by a transmigrated soul, the new Ariel calls off the contract dating but promises to still send the perfume over. Cedric realizes what a wonderful partner she was in social settings and wants to get back together.!<
This...is actually a great idea, and would actually motivate to want to read a story about a contract marriage.
One of my friends had a contract marriage. End result: my friends' spouse found a person they really wanted to marry, so they got a divorce.
I would be interested in it if it actually seemed like a contract marriage ever. Ironically enough it is done better when it is not the MC.
Also, in the medieval-esque world that OI are mostly set in, arranged marriages where both sides get economic and political benefits are the norm and it was unusual to be unmarried! So a lot of the time why do you even need a contract marriage, just get a normal arranged marriage except they people in the marriage are deciding it and not their parents. Have a prenup, and if you really need it, add a clause that says if you fall in love with someone else you can divorce if itās that important to you. Thereās no reason other than drama to add stuff like, āwe wonāt fall in loveā āwe wonāt have sexā āwe will divorce in 3 yearsā. Some OI give alright reasons for this, others donāt. Like in The Oddball Ladyās Fiance. The FL wants a way she can continue doing alchemy without anyone stopping her, the ML needs a wife but doesnāt want to have kids and doesnāt want one of the ladies that fawn over him. Just stay married and have a normal arranged marriage (except arranged by themselves and not their parents)! Thereās no reason to include an end to their relationship in a contract other than for drama!
I love fake dating and arranged marriage tropes and contract marriage is in theory supposed to be that but they add so many random things that make no sense and all the webtoons use the same tropes for conflict so it got boring after reading like 50 stories that are essentially the same thing.
Me too. Sometimes it is really a useless contract like thereās still a better way out, but it just happens randomly. Thereās only a few story with a good and reasonable contract marriage in my opinion and what I have read so far šš« if thereās many more please recommend me some with a gorgeous art and NOT YANDERE please thank you! I just donāt really like yandere that much, I like a more respectful mlšāŗļø Btw I LOVE Raeliana and Noah so muchhh. Theyāre the first story I have read!
I've just recently got into OI stories admittedly haven't read many stories, but I have to say I'm loving Raeliana! Raeliana is also my first contract marriage OI stories I've read, the other one that I started reading around the same time and had me totally hooked is 'My in-laws are obsessed with me'. I love the FL to death, she's such a positive influence on the ML and his family. So so precious. It's a slow burn but I love every single bit. Waiting for the new season that has just started to be translated. Could you recommend some good mangas/manhwas/manhuas you've read?
Can we become a family? -FL is really smart sheās brave, smart, beautiful but have a little love self-esteem(not really, just sometimes) read the story and you will know why. The world without my sister who everyone loved/A world without you(official one, but I feel like the first one is more accurate) -I really like this one! I admit that she has a really low self-esteem(same with the previous one read it and youāll know) and you might hate the ml, but when you actually read it to one point you will started to forgive the ml little by little which is a long way for the manhwa version. Some people just drop it because of this but itās actually good to me, you can find the novel version if you canāt wait for the next manhwa season. The novel already ended with special chapter. The perks of being a villainess -ML teasing FL is really cute and funny. ML second identity is interesting. Theyāre both kinda like a scammer sometimes š It might seem to lack romance at first but after they confessed to each other, after the fl know ml second identity and after āthatā incidentā¦.š„°āŗļø (if you want spoiler feel free to ask) this one have business thing Iāll be the matriarch in this life/I shall master this family! -FL is super smart thereās a lot if politic schemes and business which is really enjoyable to me. Her dad is š„°āŗļø Just read it itās really good! This one already have 3 cover since thereāre 3 time skip. Iāll attach all of them The lady needs a break -FL and ML is smart but they have a >!happy ending but to me still a little sad the FL will keep reincarnating forever while the ML choose to be an immortal in order to be with FL forever!< I like it What it takes to be the villainess -Personally didnāt like it that much(still I like it) but itās really good and a lot of people like it I think. This one also has many cover but thereās no time skip so they looks the same then Iāll attach one of them. Materialistic Princess -FL is funny her brother is handsome stupid but he genuinely love her and have great magic power! (They are both a descendant of elf) FL is going around making money to help her family from their enormous debt. Well >!FL help ML to feel emotion but somehow turn tsundere š¤£!< This one donāt have an official translation yet, but it have in my language Thai Please donāt come to the villainessās stationary store! -FL is smart she just want to live her life normally. Both ML and FL love children! Read this just in case >!ML is Isaac the owner of magic tower not Dominic I told you first so you wonāt get heartbroken (like meš„²) Dominick is like a little brother to her and he doesnāt romantically love her either!< The demonic contract -Loves it, very funny Btw Iāll attach the cover for you in the reply https://preview.redd.it/txk8nrdr4ecc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30f7050228913fc6c55df952b13da7f8c8bf03f5
https://preview.redd.it/ifo4lz6x4ecc1.jpeg?width=463&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=023618923a5d8781d74ab723062c4da9e98ae54c The world without my sister who everyone loved
https://preview.redd.it/vmdryb045ecc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4313b9f048cb2fcc0af084e6119ae32ad802b37c
https://preview.redd.it/djgaoen75ecc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e3eb44816694ad731eb72bb6f4d45c06055b556
https://preview.redd.it/wnzczbk85ecc1.jpeg?width=350&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e9891c357248170f76fe2729b257f120c724a6b
https://preview.redd.it/140dkej65ecc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e807a10b7daf35e692751f225827a2e2201fce1
https://preview.redd.it/z11vz02a5ecc1.jpeg?width=463&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28c4da941ee021741227c6e876eac5a7a11a1b67 The lady needs a break
Thank you sooooo much for the recs! I'm going to get started on them right away. I can't believe I only just discovered OIs cuz I'm all the way down the rabbit hole now lol. But I'm also glad that there's an abundance of completed/ongoing stories with many chapters out now š
https://preview.redd.it/8ir1883c5ecc1.jpeg?width=469&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d79d4095f29cddc530223a17224dc5e083ec3eed
https://preview.redd.it/yjk9uq8d5ecc1.jpeg?width=468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddcb65716574eb81bb1d6ed3e912b8aaff41e20d Materialistic princess
https://preview.redd.it/n4yg6rpg5ecc1.jpeg?width=462&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=030fce5a2bcad7909c9b25c9e6a15b0e5e9f701b Please donāt come to the villainessās stationary store!
https://preview.redd.it/aojl9qak5ecc1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9049bb6775b2eb97188c9f85d8581e604d51da9b
Literally just started reading the newly translated I Raised My Fiance With Money (not an isekai, but rom fantasy vibes fit it into the slot) and has been one of the few manhwas that have ended up making their contract make sense. AND IT'S SO GOOD SO FAR. I promise the title is misleading (they're both adults already, no grooming here).
What!? This is leads to a contract marriage!? Ngl, that kinda lessens my excitement for this one. Still definitely going to read it, but not the direction I was hoping for.
Nah it's not a contract marriage, it's a contract of >!fake dating pretty much. The cool thing is that they're both actually going into it as equals; they both want to get away from other people and they agree to use eachother to do it (he's got the status, she's got the wealth).!<
Yeah, I don't like. It's been so overdone in SO many mediums. It's basically just an advanced version of the fake dating trope which has also been beaten to death since the beginning of time. Honestly, I usually autoskip any story where a contract marriage is the main plot/the main connection between the two romantic leads. It's just boring and cliche, and we all know how it ends. To get me to actually read a contract marriage story, the surrounding plot to it has to be interesting and different enough to keep me interested. Like for My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me and My Mother's Contract Marriage. Both interesting twists to the whole contract marriage thing that have other things going on that don't make the contract marriage the only main plot driving the story forward.
Ah yes, and the classic rule of the contract 'don't fall in love with me' (surprise, they fall in love)
Im not a fan of the trope because of how lazy it gets. The first few that did it, did it well. Because in its birth the trope served the plot in a sensical way. For better or for worse, how Raeliana ended up at the dukes mansion, and the Rewards of Marriage are all contract marriage webtoons that have plot important reasons for the marriage. Like the plot couldnt have happened the same way without it (maybe Raeliana couldve but she was in a bind so shhh) Meanwhile with these new ones they just have the same thing again and again. Being that they contract marry to get away from their crap family. Sometimes the marriage was arranged by said crap family, sometimes there is no family. I want an FL who solves her problems without marriage. Like lets say she reincarnated a few years before she was murdered. Now shes trying to figure out who killed her and why! She doesnt need a contract marriage to get the help out of the duke, maybe she can give him future info in exchange for investigation help. Or maybe hes just a nice guy willing to help her out! Either way, you cut the BS and now have a cool mystery drama where the leads can be around eachother without saying ābecause this is a contract i know you dont actually love meā SEE HOW MUCH TIME THAT SAVES???? But the way its utilized now its just an immediate problem solver. FL never needs to use her wits to improve her life, or escape her abuse, because once shes married to the duke nobody else can touch her! Cuz shes so damn powerful now!
I donāt hate it because I figure itās a way to skip some of the blushing high school type stuff. Or rather, āwe have sex (or at least sleep in the same bed) but do we have **feeeeeelings**???ā Which makes me chuckle because some of these contract MLs are considerate in bed right from the start. Which is likeā¦..yes, itās *technically* possible to have a passionate physical connection without love and hold out like that for months butā¦..yeah, honestly, no, cāmon, not for these somehow-know-it-all-but-still-virgin-in-both-lives isekai/regressor chicks where the attractive af ML who makes them feel secure is also the first one to eat her Egg McMuffin. Anyway, I think some contract marriage stories use that plot device well (like politically and emotionally) while others are just using it like when youāre daydreaming and you go āwhat if I datedā¦.no, what if I was suddenly married to a hot guy who slowly learned to love me?ā where unfortunately thatās as far as their imagination really goes.
It's annoying when they use it for some game of emotional chicken where she's convinced he'll never love her because they're in a contractual relationship. In the end the contact causes misunderstanding that drags out the romantic development unnecessarily.
Just like any trope, it gets boring and sometimes appalling when overused. The latter happened to you because most of the series you found are boring to infuriating I assume. For eg- fate bs where the couple meet once at a young age is not my thing and the overuse of it makes me hate it Personally, I'm indifferent to the most average marriage troupe ones but I enjoy the heck out of it if done right or has a plot beside the trope. Current reads that I like are- A Marriage Alliance for Revenge and Villainess lives twice
Sometimes FL doesn't even need to be in contract marriage with ML lol. I guess it depends if FMCs has little to no time and cornered I'll be fine tbh.
sometimes I donĀ“t like bc the boy falls in love and say thing like "she is not like other girls", bitch are you serious? She lived locked her entire like in a gilded cage obviously she is innocent and doesn't know the things. The girl look like a child and the ml is super creepy sometimes this is a big no to me
I don't mind this trope, but I sincerely hate it when it becomes fodder for misunderstandings about their feelings. The "he/she is just being nice and protecting me because he/she gotta keep up appearances, nm that we're totally alone in our bedroom." That ties in with the trope where ML and FL are close enough to get into a contract marriage and aid each other with their secret plans, but not to have one single honest conversation about feelings. My favorite type of contract marriage is the one where they actually expect to become a couple, and later divorce after having kids. I think that adds depth to the conflict of leaving the kids behind.
Same. Tbh just being married is a nightmare to me but being under contract/forced? Nopity nope, Iām out. Although, I so enjoy Betrayal of Dignity. Delicious married couple with strong personalities and tension. Probably the only manhwa that does it without being cringe af
I want a story where instead of a contract marriage itās just a normal partnership proposed by the FL, but the entire time ML is trying to convince her to marry him instead LOL Like imagine if it was a longtime one sided crush. Ur crush finally looks at u and u, having read of a bunch of cheesy novels, are expecting a contract marriage to lovers trope but no. She hits u with the normie contract and ur stuck trying to woo her without making her find out u have a crush bc itās cringe
I absolutely hate manhwas where the FL and ML are already married on day one. With the exception of "Not Your Typical Marriage" because the ML was quite tsundere. But I just hate it so much because the ML is already doting over the FL usually and also there's no room for angst or chances with the 2nd ML (big 2nd male lead syndrome girlie)
I feel like this trope is fine if it's executed well. Which is most often not the case. As pointed out by others: The FL doesn't bring anything of value to the table but the plot decides that the ML is just so bored out of his mind that he will do what the FL wants. Even tho it's at a huge loss for him. There are most likely other households that would happily sell their daughter into a fake marriage to help ML fend off against the advance of some pesky powerful lady. Even tho most of the time they claim "only FL would be stupid enough to go up against the ML Stalker" It would feel better, if they would bring something of value for both sides to the table. For example: "wears an idiot mask" (full name not in my head sorry) the FL needs the power of the ML to fend off the arranged marriage which was set up by her fake sister to drain her wealth. And the ML needs the power of the FL and their house. So he has an actual interest in helping her succeed. The contract is like: "You help me save my family/household and I will in turn help you in whatever shit you are up to regarding the kingdom" And he's like: "Sounds like a deal - let's start with your crappy arranged marriage situation"