The Princess I Loved in My Past Life is Now a Middle-Aged Dad Vol. 1

by Wasa Sagiri

Once upon a time, a princess and knight loved each other very much but they never tied the knot. The two vowed to find each other in their next lives. Bartholomew the knight has been reborn as a high school student named Haruto and has spent his whole life searching for Princess Claudia. But when he finally finds his princess, she's a fifty-something high school vice principal and a father! But this knight loves his princess in any form.
On the other hand, "Claudia" is self-conscious about now being a middle aged man with a dad bod and how others might perceive a relationship with a younger man. The princess just isn't ready to accept Bartholomew's feelings yet. Can the young knight win over his fated love?

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Romance

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is peak camp and so sweet all at once. A reincarnation love story if one of the affected ended up reincarnated early and in the wrong body.

[Sol · Rating 2 out of 5]

“You’re still young with a lot to learn and experience. In time you’ll realize just how much others love you.”

5/14/2026 2nd read review:
2.5 ⭐

It’s been a while since I read this, so I decided to give it a quick reread before I finally go on to volume 2!
I still think that this is a pretty cute setup, testing the limits of love in a reincarnation love story. It’s unique and VERY cute to have an unconventionally attractive older gentleman be referred to with she/her pronouns and as “Princess” at every turn, I thought that that was very sweet. In terms of a parody of a fantasy reincarnation romance, I think that this is both silly and cute.

However, the only thing that really gnaws at me is the age gap that makes this just shy of being totally creepy. Princess Claudia was reincarnated into a high school vice principal in her fifties, while her knight was reincarnated into one of her underage students. In my opinion, it kills any sense of romance that this story could have, making scenes that are meant to be heartwarming feel a little more uncomfortable. Again, I don’t think that this is completely creepy because obviously these two have their circumstances, and the screwball comedy aspect of this helps it too, but seeing a vice principal and student act romantically on a high school campus does rub me the wrong way while I’m reading. I felt a little more weirded out than enjoying myself while reading, so I'm lowering my rating from an optimistic 4 stars to a slightly disconcerted 2.5.

The thing I like most about this book is Claudia, herself -- she accepts both her current identity as a grown man as well as her past identity as a young princess. I really like that she has such a gruff, manly exterior while being such a shy maiden on the inside. 100% Moe Points for the tsundere lovely old man. I adore her!

--

Original 9/8/2025 Review:

I thought this was just plain sweet ;-;
There's no reason why a man in his fifties can't be a princess, that's what I say!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sweet and over the top. It's funny enough to sustain its absurd premise, while also offering some heartwarming moments.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely ridiculous, but fun.

This is yet another reincarnation story, with a twist that makes it pretty much just a comedic romp. A handsome knight and beautiful princess died tragically young after vowing to always be together, including in their next life. When they're reborn, the knight comes back as essentially the same person - the same good looks, the same brashly outspoken personality, the same honor and devotion to his promises.

The princess, though, spent several decades alone in this world, navigating through it as a boy, then a man, then a middle-aged dad with a career as a vice principal and a waistline that keeps expanding. While he'd remained single (the daughter is his older sister's - I'm assuming she died), always having his knight somewhere in the back of his mind, he didn't hold out any hope that their promise would actually come true.

Until the knight barged into the school grounds, pledging love yet again, and enrolling in the school...because he's a student, his daughter's age.

There are so many funny moments, starting with the knight misidentifying the princess, then covering for it with "I always knew it was you!!" when the middle-aged VP snaps his first life's name and tells him to stop making such a fuss.

The villainess love rival was okay - handled in a pretty cute way, with the VP seeing her as a cherished student instead of any real menace now. And I'm intrigued by the magician turned fellow teacher, who'd apparently cursed the princess in her past life to never be able to marry her knight.

With the whole curse breaking deal, I hope there isn't something where the princess returns to a beautiful young female form, etc. The age gap is pretty rough - mostly just for the fact that they would have a limited amount of time to spend together - but the princess himself doesn't want to let go of a life he's worked hard on and found things to cherish. His daughter, for example, who becomes the knight's buddy and confidante, and who has a really sweet relationship with her adoptive father.

This series feels like it's mostly going to be a bunch of hijinks, but it's weirdly sweet so far, and very enjoyable. I liked the knight making friends without having to tone down his extreme over-the-top weirdness. It's nice when stories just make a bunch of people very decent and accepting.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

can not explain how tailor made this is for me

[sun · Rating 2 out of 5]

read for work

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 Stars

Well that was unhinged *whispers* and surprisingly good in not just a hilarious way, what the hell *whispers*. What a way to end 2025.

[Rin · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seemed like a funny/cute premise, but the schtick got old by chapter 2

[Allison MacKenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd. Wouldn’t recommend based on uncomfortable age gap romance, as well as weird romantic moves from Knight boy. If you’re into that, go for it. Decent art and sometimes comedic, very campy. Really wanted to like it (I love campy) but the age gap is grossing me out.

[Logs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ngl this was so fuckin funny for no reason. I was very much amused, I love a self aware ridiculous manga.

[Martina Weiß · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: Minor Adult/Minor relationship kinda. It's reincarnation and they have all their past memories

3.5/5 Stars

Well. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't find it as funny as some other folks here either, simply because I think Princess Claudia repeating how she's an old middle aged man now every.single.chapter and sometimes multible times at that, is not as funny as she and the book make it out to be. A lot of the humor comes from the fact that our Knight Guy is not just socially incompetent, but is, what feels like, mentally 4. He's been reincarnated and has lived 17 years as his new self. Clearly he has lived a life before that and was - just throwing out a random unconfirmed number - at least 17 in his past life as well. So you'd assume that he'd be able to behave but no. Princess Claudia especially has lived thrice as long, has had to raise a kid, went to collage, became a Vice Principle and has so much life experience - on paper. And yet, the one acting the most mature out of everyone is Princess Claudias daughter Ringo.
It's way too over the top - which is part of the joke and charm, I get that - and that HAS made me chuckle once or twice but I would honestly prefer if we were capable of allowing these characters to be more than empty silhouettes and if there was some meat on the bone of like literally everyone involved. Would love to see some character development too, or like, flashing out of characters in general, for future volumes. The "oh nooooo I'm an old man now" joke will carry this manga only so far.

[chewy chewington · Rating 4 out of 5]

ridiculous but hilarious and heartfelt!

i honestly doubt it’ll go down an uncomfortable path. this looks exactly like the kind of comedy manga to make you reconsider your life choices by the end of it

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so goofy and ridiculous.

[Del Delaney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite being only 160 pages this manga was a chore to read. I have no idea how the author managed to make this concept not funny, but they succeeded.

[Kerry A]

DNF 😬

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so campy and over the top that it was almost too much.

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so silly, I can't wait to read the next volume. Seeing the VP/Princess blush is top tier adorable.

[Emma Boley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning- this book ends on a cliffhanger 🩷👸🗡️

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and campy!

[Kayla Lodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first 2 volumes of this series in my local free little library. I love reading manga so I knew I had to give them a try and I was not disappointed.

[Krissy Kins · Rating 4 out of 5]

get the vice principal some estrogen stat!!

[Amara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I'm a bit unsure how to feel about this. I like the overall message of loving someone despite their appearance, but I also feel we didn't need a semi illegal age gap for this...

[LelandraTheLazyReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this on a whim because I thought it sounded funny and silly, and it is!