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Ojōsama No Untenshu #1
The Heiress and the Chauffeur, Vol. 1
At an all-girls school during the Taisho era in Japan, rumors swirl that heiress Sayaka Yoshimura is having a forbidden love affair with her chauffeur, Shinobu Narutaki! Sayaka scoffs at the rumors, but could a romance between master and servant actually be brewing?
Sayaka wears a crimson ribbon that signals she is at the top of her class, and her classmates all revere her. So when Narutaki ignores decorum and breaks school rules to protect Sayaka, will she stand by him or dismiss him as the school demands?
Sayaka wears a crimson ribbon that signals she is at the top of her class, and her classmates all revere her. So when Narutaki ignores decorum and breaks school rules to protect Sayaka, will she stand by him or dismiss him as the school demands?
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2011
7 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 14, 2016
Absolutely not for me. The historical setting is little more than window dressing, and the central relationship didn't feel at all romantic to me. There's a weird imbalance of power and feelings and I just couldn't get into it.
December 6, 2025
YOUTUBE VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/h0v6SvOqSVQ
Updated Review 10/4/25: I suppose I can see why this story is "problematic," but goodness, do I still love it just as much as the first time I read it! LOL!
The forbidden romance hits so well, even though I feel bad for Narutaki in how much he gets friend-zoned. LOL!
Though after rereading this volume, I forgot how amazing a heroine Sayaka is! I love her challenging what's "acceptable" between people of different social standings. She has such a strong head on her shoulders and I admire how she is fighting back in her own way.
I'm really looking forward to rereading the next volume!
Original Review 2/20/21: SWOON SWOON SWOON!!
This was SOOOOOOOOOOO good! I admit I'm not much of a swooner in manga, but this manga was probably my first! I didn't even know I "liked" a forbidden romance until this one! LOL!
But seriously, the romance is EXTREMELY well done! I am very surprised and impressed because I saw some reviews saying that her chauffeur is always rescuing her, but Sayaka is definitely no damsel in distress. I think Narutaki's reasonings of why he DOES rescue her often are valid and very much flows with the story.
I deeply loved Sayaka! She is such a wonderful character and found her fierceness and determination so admirable. It made me want to cheer for her in standing strong in her resolve, even if times she is naive.
I LOVE the romance! This is like a slow burn, but having a completes heroine in the mix. LOL! But it 100% works and I just loved how everything has been done!
I'm eagerly ready to dive into book two because this is like the perfect swoonworthy manga and love the time era!
Definitely recommend to those who like historical romance and a strong heroine!
Updated Review 10/4/25: I suppose I can see why this story is "problematic," but goodness, do I still love it just as much as the first time I read it! LOL!
The forbidden romance hits so well, even though I feel bad for Narutaki in how much he gets friend-zoned. LOL!
Though after rereading this volume, I forgot how amazing a heroine Sayaka is! I love her challenging what's "acceptable" between people of different social standings. She has such a strong head on her shoulders and I admire how she is fighting back in her own way.
I'm really looking forward to rereading the next volume!
Original Review 2/20/21: SWOON SWOON SWOON!!
This was SOOOOOOOOOOO good! I admit I'm not much of a swooner in manga, but this manga was probably my first! I didn't even know I "liked" a forbidden romance until this one! LOL!
But seriously, the romance is EXTREMELY well done! I am very surprised and impressed because I saw some reviews saying that her chauffeur is always rescuing her, but Sayaka is definitely no damsel in distress. I think Narutaki's reasonings of why he DOES rescue her often are valid and very much flows with the story.
I deeply loved Sayaka! She is such a wonderful character and found her fierceness and determination so admirable. It made me want to cheer for her in standing strong in her resolve, even if times she is naive.
I LOVE the romance! This is like a slow burn, but having a completes heroine in the mix. LOL! But it 100% works and I just loved how everything has been done!
I'm eagerly ready to dive into book two because this is like the perfect swoonworthy manga and love the time era!
Definitely recommend to those who like historical romance and a strong heroine!
January 17, 2018
The art is stunning! Then again, I won't pick up a manga unless I like the art. That being said, the story was boring... nothing really happened... the whole manga goes by and no one makes a move. They just keep close to each other, she whips him... just... this manga is not for me. Even if there is only one more. I just can't do it.
March 9, 2016
The Heiress and the Chauffeur was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked the premise (forbidden love during Japan’s Taisho era), because hey, it sounds like a Japanese Downton Abbey. I can get down with that. Sayaka and Narutaki’s relationship feels genuine enough, although there isn’t a lot of context to support their deep connection. I even liked that Sayaka isn’t all wimpy even though she has an injured foot and her parents are gone. She has a lot of girl power that we don’t always see in shojo manga, and it is refreshing when the protagonist isn’t a spineless husk. I even liked the illustrations… but it still didn’t wow me.
Maybe it’s because of the whole master /servant dynamic, but I felt that their relationship was a little off. Part of the time Sayaka clings to the notion they have a sibling dynamic, and the other half is spent defending his place and role in her life in a more romantic way. It felt wishy-washy, and slightly creepy. I know this is a thing in manga, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m also not sure that it adds anything to the plot. Sayaka is presented as a very steadfast character, making it feel unnatural to watch her flounder with her emotions.
You can find this and other reviews at: http://owlsandvowels.org
I also had a hard time with the pace. Characters seem to flit in and out of the school without a real sense of purpose. There is very little in the way of introductions, world building, or dramatic tension, which made it hard to connect with the cast.
However, I do feel that it is important to note that this is the mangaka’s debut series. There is a very real possibility that she will find her stride once she has had a chance to strengthen her skills and build up content. Ultimately, The Heiress and the Chauffeur has the potential to become a unique and dynamic manga, but I fear it might take a few volumes to work out the kinks.
*I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Maybe it’s because of the whole master /servant dynamic, but I felt that their relationship was a little off. Part of the time Sayaka clings to the notion they have a sibling dynamic, and the other half is spent defending his place and role in her life in a more romantic way. It felt wishy-washy, and slightly creepy. I know this is a thing in manga, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m also not sure that it adds anything to the plot. Sayaka is presented as a very steadfast character, making it feel unnatural to watch her flounder with her emotions.
You can find this and other reviews at: http://owlsandvowels.org
I also had a hard time with the pace. Characters seem to flit in and out of the school without a real sense of purpose. There is very little in the way of introductions, world building, or dramatic tension, which made it hard to connect with the cast.
However, I do feel that it is important to note that this is the mangaka’s debut series. There is a very real possibility that she will find her stride once she has had a chance to strengthen her skills and build up content. Ultimately, The Heiress and the Chauffeur has the potential to become a unique and dynamic manga, but I fear it might take a few volumes to work out the kinks.
*I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
February 2, 2017
I read both volumes of this two-book series back to back, and, oh my, is it so very poorly done. The dialogue is awful, the placement of word balloons and captions is annoying, the art and themes are absolutely generic, and the story is just dumb. The creator writes repeatedly in the behind-the-scenes sidebars that the original Japanese editor was constantly rejecting her ideas and dictating changes. Now I have to wonder if that editor kept the series from being even worse or was the reason it is so bad?
March 2, 2016
This one is a real page-turner, however not much is accomplished by the end of the volume. Narutaki makes his feelings for Yoshimura extremely well-known, but she never seems to grow to really see him that way. I feel like a romance could blossom between them in later volumes, if she would stop worrying so much about social classes/statuses and would just follow her heart. I hope that that will end up happening.
December 3, 2020
So, this book was pretty good! I know I rated it three stars, but it was a very enjoyable three star read! The only reason it was not rated higher is because it just...feel like one? Nothing super exciting happened, the love was cute but nothing to get hyped about, and I’m the end I just didn’t feel like it deserved any more then three stars.
Would totally recommend picking this up if you like mangas though!
Side Note: Luca and the Thief (one of the short stories in the back of the book) was SO GOOD! I would totally read a whole series centered around those characters!
Would totally recommend picking this up if you like mangas though!
Side Note: Luca and the Thief (one of the short stories in the back of the book) was SO GOOD! I would totally read a whole series centered around those characters!
May 3, 2016
"I've loved her from the moment we met..."
Set in the Taishou era, Sayaka Yoshimura is a lady of new money. Her father neglected her after an accident killed her mother and left Sayaka crippled for life. The only solace she had was in her childhood friend and family servant, Shinobu Narutaki. Only he was there for her when no one else was.
But the social class forbids anything more between them than business. Sayaka has no idea of the feelings her chauffeur holds for her and most of her knowledge of the world is very limited. Her father hasn't seen her in a year and what she needed to learn from her parents is now something she must learn on her own.
In a society unforgiving to those who can't meet the "norms", what can Sayaka accomplish without the aid of Narutaki? Crippled, of unpopular background, and with little knowledge of the customs required of her, how can she uphold her lineage's honor?
Narutaki is the only one willing to risk the punishments in order to make sure Sayaka can succeed in her life. But problems arise when Sayaka begins to realize just what it means to breach social conduct-even if it's nothing more than a simple glance.
I loved it. It was simple and grounded in a time where honor meant everything. Prejudices and racism and social class was what everyone fretted over, and while this manga doesn't go too in depth with it, it defintely did a good job highlighting these issues.
Sayaka views Narutaki as a brother figure and trusts him implicitly. There was a moment where she had to take responsibility of whipping him to punish him for stepping over the line. It was disgusting but I liked how she found the act despicable and how she tried to take responsibility.
Highly recommended for a short, 2 volume series that will make your heart ache with FEELS.
*I own all the manga I read/review.
Set in the Taishou era, Sayaka Yoshimura is a lady of new money. Her father neglected her after an accident killed her mother and left Sayaka crippled for life. The only solace she had was in her childhood friend and family servant, Shinobu Narutaki. Only he was there for her when no one else was.
But the social class forbids anything more between them than business. Sayaka has no idea of the feelings her chauffeur holds for her and most of her knowledge of the world is very limited. Her father hasn't seen her in a year and what she needed to learn from her parents is now something she must learn on her own.
In a society unforgiving to those who can't meet the "norms", what can Sayaka accomplish without the aid of Narutaki? Crippled, of unpopular background, and with little knowledge of the customs required of her, how can she uphold her lineage's honor?
Narutaki is the only one willing to risk the punishments in order to make sure Sayaka can succeed in her life. But problems arise when Sayaka begins to realize just what it means to breach social conduct-even if it's nothing more than a simple glance.
I loved it. It was simple and grounded in a time where honor meant everything. Prejudices and racism and social class was what everyone fretted over, and while this manga doesn't go too in depth with it, it defintely did a good job highlighting these issues.
Sayaka views Narutaki as a brother figure and trusts him implicitly. There was a moment where she had to take responsibility of whipping him to punish him for stepping over the line. It was disgusting but I liked how she found the act despicable and how she tried to take responsibility.
Highly recommended for a short, 2 volume series that will make your heart ache with FEELS.
*I own all the manga I read/review.
February 10, 2013
Ah, forbidden love is always the sweetest kind of love. <3
August 25, 2024
This is set during the Taisho era. When Sayaka was little, her mother was killed in a construction accident and Sayaka's foot was injured badly enough that she could no longer walk. In an effort to earn her father's praise and make him spend more time with her, she trained herself to walk again, and to be elegant enough to be called the "crimson lily" of her finishing school. Although Sayaka's father continues to spend most of his time away from her, Sayaka instead grows very close to her chauffeur, Shinobu Narutaki, seeing him as something like an older brother. What she doesn't realize is that Narutaki has fallen in love with her. His overly familiar behavior with her often gets them in trouble, but he's happy to take whatever punishment he's given as long as he can stay by her side.
Still, the difference in their social classes is an issue. In this volume, a jealous girl tries to get Narutaki dismissed, and Narutaki worries that Sayaka will fall in love with someone at a soiree she's invited to.
Narutaki is 5 years Sayaka's senior, so there's a little bit of an age gap, but that wasn't really an issue for me in this series. In this first volume, Narutaki mostly suffers his own unrequited feelings in silence - although there's a bit where Sayaka gets a little jealous of Narutaki and his relaxed behavior with an old female friend, for the most part she's completely unaware of any possibility of romance between herself and Narutaki.
There's a definite thread of "dudes who stoically put up with punishment for the sake of the one they love are hot" here - even the author mentions it. Anyway, I'm generally a fan of "butler/mistress" romance dynamics, and it's relatively enjoyable here. It's not a great series so far, but it's decent.
Extras:
Author sidebars throughout, a 4-page bonus story in which young Narutaki goes off to his chauffeur training, and a brief comic-style afterword from the author. There's also an unrelated bonus story, "Luca and the Bandit," about a pair of siblings who are essentially being held captive in the red light district - Anna is required to sing every night for customers, even though her health is fragile and it puts strain on her. Luca, meanwhile, wants to free her, even if it means helping a thief whose plan is to "take the most valuable maiden in this place." The bonus story was a bit predictable, but nice.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Still, the difference in their social classes is an issue. In this volume, a jealous girl tries to get Narutaki dismissed, and Narutaki worries that Sayaka will fall in love with someone at a soiree she's invited to.
Narutaki is 5 years Sayaka's senior, so there's a little bit of an age gap, but that wasn't really an issue for me in this series. In this first volume, Narutaki mostly suffers his own unrequited feelings in silence - although there's a bit where Sayaka gets a little jealous of Narutaki and his relaxed behavior with an old female friend, for the most part she's completely unaware of any possibility of romance between herself and Narutaki.
There's a definite thread of "dudes who stoically put up with punishment for the sake of the one they love are hot" here - even the author mentions it. Anyway, I'm generally a fan of "butler/mistress" romance dynamics, and it's relatively enjoyable here. It's not a great series so far, but it's decent.
Extras:
Author sidebars throughout, a 4-page bonus story in which young Narutaki goes off to his chauffeur training, and a brief comic-style afterword from the author. There's also an unrelated bonus story, "Luca and the Bandit," about a pair of siblings who are essentially being held captive in the red light district - Anna is required to sing every night for customers, even though her health is fragile and it puts strain on her. Luca, meanwhile, wants to free her, even if it means helping a thief whose plan is to "take the most valuable maiden in this place." The bonus story was a bit predictable, but nice.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
May 16, 2019
Fue una cosita tam bonita 😭💖
Ya ha pasado un tiempo desde que un manga le ponia 5 estrellas
A pesar de sus 9 capítulos este manga se ha ganado su lugra y eso que lo termine en medio de mi descanso de 4h 😅 Como tremendo tesoro aun no habia sido leido?! Fue cuestion de abrir mi sección de mangas que tenia que leer y me encuentro con este guardado y ahora estoy a punto de llorar y más por el extra que me encontré en los comentarios 😭💖✨
Sin duda un buen manga, me doy por satisfecha hasta nuevo aviso
LÉANSELO POR LO QUE MÁS QUIERAN!!! 💖🙏🏼✨
Ya ha pasado un tiempo desde que un manga le ponia 5 estrellas
A pesar de sus 9 capítulos este manga se ha ganado su lugra y eso que lo termine en medio de mi descanso de 4h 😅 Como tremendo tesoro aun no habia sido leido?! Fue cuestion de abrir mi sección de mangas que tenia que leer y me encuentro con este guardado y ahora estoy a punto de llorar y más por el extra que me encontré en los comentarios 😭💖✨
Sin duda un buen manga, me doy por satisfecha hasta nuevo aviso
LÉANSELO POR LO QUE MÁS QUIERAN!!! 💖🙏🏼✨
January 2, 2024
I don't think that this is for me. The story was dull.
November 10, 2019
This was a neat little historical manga that takes place during the Taisho era ( early 20th century) about the growing forbidden relationship between a teenage heiress and her chauffeur. The art is lovely and I liked the main characters—their personalities were well developed.
Kazuko Yoshimura is the top student in the prestigious finishing school her father has enrolled her in, but she’s from a new money family, so deals with some aristocratic snobbery. When she was a young girl, she and her mother were in an accident. Her mother didn’t survive and one of Kazuko’s feet got messed up— she has a bit of a limp, had to learn to walk again after the accident, and has limited mobility. She’s feisty, tho, which is nice.
Kazuko’s father is a workaholic who’s never home, so she’s been raised by servants, who she regards as family. Shinobu Narutaki, her chauffeur, is basically her best friend. He’s been with her family since the accident and helped her a lot with her recovery. He’s gorgeous, protective, somewhat rebellious and hates wearing ties. All the girls at her school have crushes on him, and there are, of course, rumors that Kazuko and her chauffeur are lovers. She laughs these off, claiming they’re like siblings, but the sexual chemistry is obvious.
Over the course of the book, Kazuko and Shinobu deal with rumors started by a jealous schoolgirl, discover an illicit romance between her classmate and a teacher, deal with stuck up aristocrats at a party and help Shinobu’s childhood friend with her cafe when she’s short staffed. All these experiences bring up the societal constraints between classes Kazuko is finding she doesn’t agree with, while making it clear the feelings between them aren’t brotherly.
There were times I found the plot and action a little hard to follow, but I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
Kazuko Yoshimura is the top student in the prestigious finishing school her father has enrolled her in, but she’s from a new money family, so deals with some aristocratic snobbery. When she was a young girl, she and her mother were in an accident. Her mother didn’t survive and one of Kazuko’s feet got messed up— she has a bit of a limp, had to learn to walk again after the accident, and has limited mobility. She’s feisty, tho, which is nice.
Kazuko’s father is a workaholic who’s never home, so she’s been raised by servants, who she regards as family. Shinobu Narutaki, her chauffeur, is basically her best friend. He’s been with her family since the accident and helped her a lot with her recovery. He’s gorgeous, protective, somewhat rebellious and hates wearing ties. All the girls at her school have crushes on him, and there are, of course, rumors that Kazuko and her chauffeur are lovers. She laughs these off, claiming they’re like siblings, but the sexual chemistry is obvious.
Over the course of the book, Kazuko and Shinobu deal with rumors started by a jealous schoolgirl, discover an illicit romance between her classmate and a teacher, deal with stuck up aristocrats at a party and help Shinobu’s childhood friend with her cafe when she’s short staffed. All these experiences bring up the societal constraints between classes Kazuko is finding she doesn’t agree with, while making it clear the feelings between them aren’t brotherly.
There were times I found the plot and action a little hard to follow, but I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2017
This was a great by-chance find for me.
The series is complete after volume 2, so after flipping through the first volume in B&N, I grabbed both to enjoy a nice, short series (for once).
You know how there are some manga-ka whose art is for the most part really nice, and they're really recognizable (Tanemura Arina, Hino Matsuri, Watase Yuu) but there might be one or two things about it that bug you (for me, Hino's characters having really tall heads, and Tanemura's characters' tiny chins from the side)? Well, throw all that out, because this hidden gem has the most amazing artwork.
The girls are beautiful and the guys are gorgeous--from. every. angle. Like, the art loses nothing no matter which way Ishihara draws them. That's like, huge. The profiles of the characters are really nice, and the hair and the eyes and the backgrounds and just everything.
Story-wise, it's a cute story of love between an upper class girl and a servant. Sayaka is a nice character, in that she's good to her servants because they're like her family and she's just not a terrible person, and she's intelligent and hardworking. Narutaki is fun and doting and does his best to protect her, even though that sometimes gets them in trouble. Many of the supporting characters add a good bit of humor and drama (but not excessive or overdone).
Definitely a recommended read, especially since it's so short and accessible.
The series is complete after volume 2, so after flipping through the first volume in B&N, I grabbed both to enjoy a nice, short series (for once).
You know how there are some manga-ka whose art is for the most part really nice, and they're really recognizable (Tanemura Arina, Hino Matsuri, Watase Yuu) but there might be one or two things about it that bug you (for me, Hino's characters having really tall heads, and Tanemura's characters' tiny chins from the side)? Well, throw all that out, because this hidden gem has the most amazing artwork.
The girls are beautiful and the guys are gorgeous--from. every. angle. Like, the art loses nothing no matter which way Ishihara draws them. That's like, huge. The profiles of the characters are really nice, and the hair and the eyes and the backgrounds and just everything.
Story-wise, it's a cute story of love between an upper class girl and a servant. Sayaka is a nice character, in that she's good to her servants because they're like her family and she's just not a terrible person, and she's intelligent and hardworking. Narutaki is fun and doting and does his best to protect her, even though that sometimes gets them in trouble. Many of the supporting characters add a good bit of humor and drama (but not excessive or overdone).
Definitely a recommended read, especially since it's so short and accessible.
September 7, 2025
The art is lovely but the story is just lacking. I’m not sure how, but this felt very repetitive for 2 volumes. And the falling in love really seemed to happen off page for me I wouldn’t typically mind this but the lack of romantic feeling on page prevented me from really hoping these two found a way to a happy ending.
May 25, 2022
I couldn’t even finish it lol. The art was nice, but the story/romance didn’t interest me. Like another reviewer mentioned, it was rather generic and without much purpose. The dialogue was…hm yeah lol. (Also, whenever he said “m’lady”, i could only think of cat noir T^T).
November 1, 2022
Pretty stereotypical
June 29, 2016
In Summary
If you’re looking for a historical romance with spot-on details, you’re better off looking elsewhere. But if you like devoted bishounen in servant attire longing for a love that cannot be, Heiress is worth a try. It does have its dramatic and poignant moments but for the most part stays a lighthearted story of one-sided affection.
The Review
When I first read the title, I thought The Heiress and the Chauffeur was going to be a Japanese version of Downton Abbey. After all, Heiress takes place during the same time period as Downton, and its main characters are a very rich young lady and her servant. But whereas Downton was all about portraying the class differences in early 20th century British society with painstaking accuracy, Heiress‘ Taisho-era setting mainly seems an excuse to have a butler-type romance in period costume. The heroine Sayaka Yoshimura might attend a finishing school where they wear hakama uniforms, but she and her classmates have sensibilities more aligned with modern teens. Among the cast is a gaggle of self-proclaimed fans of Sayaka’s 22-year-old chauffeur Narutaki, and one fan in particular practically oozes otaku.
The cause of all their excitement, aside from Narutaki’s and Sayaka’s good looks, are the rumors that the two are having a forbidden love affair. Sayaka calls them nonsense; as far as she’s concerned, Narutaki’s a brother figure. That sentiment, however, is not mutual. Thus, we have a one-sided love on Narutaki’s part, a love he demonstrates by helping Sayaka through the various scrapes she gets into. And though Sayaka cherishes him as a friend, she’s utterly oblivious to his actual feelings.
This work is Ishihara-sensei’s debut series, and the manga does have a first-timer’s feel to it. Chapter 1 was originally a one-shot, and the illustrations are cramped because of all the details crammed in to complete the story arc. But even the panels of the subsequent chapters tend to be overcrowded, which is a shame because I really do enjoy Heiress‘ period costumes. Sayaka’s character profile also feels overloaded. She’s an heiress, she’s lame, she’s from an upstart family, she’s the “Crimson Lily” of her school, she’s ignored by her dad, and on and on. Narutaki’s, on the other hand, is a bit on the lean side for a leading man. He’s handsome, charming and in love with Sayaka just because. Fortunately, his previous place of employment is a bit of a mystery, which makes him somewhat more interesting.
This volume contains four chapters, each with its own arc. Despite their misadventures in those chapters, Sayaka and Narutaki’s relationship doesn’t really go anywhere, and given that Heiress is only a two-volume series, I wonder how far this romance will actually manage to progress.
Extras include an author afterward and the short bonus stories “Luca and the Bandit” and “The Promise from Four Years Ago.”
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
If you’re looking for a historical romance with spot-on details, you’re better off looking elsewhere. But if you like devoted bishounen in servant attire longing for a love that cannot be, Heiress is worth a try. It does have its dramatic and poignant moments but for the most part stays a lighthearted story of one-sided affection.
The Review
When I first read the title, I thought The Heiress and the Chauffeur was going to be a Japanese version of Downton Abbey. After all, Heiress takes place during the same time period as Downton, and its main characters are a very rich young lady and her servant. But whereas Downton was all about portraying the class differences in early 20th century British society with painstaking accuracy, Heiress‘ Taisho-era setting mainly seems an excuse to have a butler-type romance in period costume. The heroine Sayaka Yoshimura might attend a finishing school where they wear hakama uniforms, but she and her classmates have sensibilities more aligned with modern teens. Among the cast is a gaggle of self-proclaimed fans of Sayaka’s 22-year-old chauffeur Narutaki, and one fan in particular practically oozes otaku.
The cause of all their excitement, aside from Narutaki’s and Sayaka’s good looks, are the rumors that the two are having a forbidden love affair. Sayaka calls them nonsense; as far as she’s concerned, Narutaki’s a brother figure. That sentiment, however, is not mutual. Thus, we have a one-sided love on Narutaki’s part, a love he demonstrates by helping Sayaka through the various scrapes she gets into. And though Sayaka cherishes him as a friend, she’s utterly oblivious to his actual feelings.
This work is Ishihara-sensei’s debut series, and the manga does have a first-timer’s feel to it. Chapter 1 was originally a one-shot, and the illustrations are cramped because of all the details crammed in to complete the story arc. But even the panels of the subsequent chapters tend to be overcrowded, which is a shame because I really do enjoy Heiress‘ period costumes. Sayaka’s character profile also feels overloaded. She’s an heiress, she’s lame, she’s from an upstart family, she’s the “Crimson Lily” of her school, she’s ignored by her dad, and on and on. Narutaki’s, on the other hand, is a bit on the lean side for a leading man. He’s handsome, charming and in love with Sayaka just because. Fortunately, his previous place of employment is a bit of a mystery, which makes him somewhat more interesting.
This volume contains four chapters, each with its own arc. Despite their misadventures in those chapters, Sayaka and Narutaki’s relationship doesn’t really go anywhere, and given that Heiress is only a two-volume series, I wonder how far this romance will actually manage to progress.
Extras include an author afterward and the short bonus stories “Luca and the Bandit” and “The Promise from Four Years Ago.”
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2018
--- Romance for My Lady 1-2 ---
Plot: Ok.
Gambar: Saya... jujur saja suka dengan protagonis perempuan dan semua baju-baju umum untuk masa itu di buku ini.
Penokohan: Sifat protagonis perempuan nyaris sangat saya sukai kecuali di bagian betapa 'lamban' dirinya (roman).
Mumpung saya telah membaca Strange Dragon sampai buku dua, rasanya saya ingin membeberkan pikiranku mengenai buku itu. Pertama, buku itu merupakan karya kedua Ishihara sensei yang saya baca dan kedua, saya lebih suka Romance for My Lady untuk satu, dua dan beragam hal.
Komik ini romansanya tidak sekilat Strange Dragon dan punya duduk cerita sendiri yang membuat ceritanya dapat dinikmati dengan alur nyaman. Keduanya memang sama-sama di jalur plot komik perempuan, tapi penanganan di Romance for My Lady terkesan lebih kuat. Tokohnya kuat (kedua protagonis dan temannya) dan ada sesuatu di gambarnya yang membuat saya lebih suka komik ini dibandingkan Strange Dragon^^. Satu-satunya yang menjengkelkan adalah protagonis utamanya agak lambat dalam menyadari perasaan protagonis yang satunya. Tapi yah, kalau dibandingkan Strange Dragon, hubungan mereka terasa menaiki tangga satu per satu, tidak langsung chapter pertama sudah jadian (haha).
Sebelum saya lupa, cerita tambahan di komik ini juga lebih menarik daripada di Strange Dragon. Yah, ini sudah bicara selera sih... lagipula dari awal saya memang sudah selalu berbicara selera.
[8.3/10]
Plot: Ok.
Gambar: Saya... jujur saja suka dengan protagonis perempuan dan semua baju-baju umum untuk masa itu di buku ini.
Penokohan: Sifat protagonis perempuan nyaris sangat saya sukai kecuali di bagian betapa 'lamban' dirinya (roman).
Mumpung saya telah membaca Strange Dragon sampai buku dua, rasanya saya ingin membeberkan pikiranku mengenai buku itu. Pertama, buku itu merupakan karya kedua Ishihara sensei yang saya baca dan kedua, saya lebih suka Romance for My Lady untuk satu, dua dan beragam hal.
Komik ini romansanya tidak sekilat Strange Dragon dan punya duduk cerita sendiri yang membuat ceritanya dapat dinikmati dengan alur nyaman. Keduanya memang sama-sama di jalur plot komik perempuan, tapi penanganan di Romance for My Lady terkesan lebih kuat. Tokohnya kuat (kedua protagonis dan temannya) dan ada sesuatu di gambarnya yang membuat saya lebih suka komik ini dibandingkan Strange Dragon^^. Satu-satunya yang menjengkelkan adalah protagonis utamanya agak lambat dalam menyadari perasaan protagonis yang satunya. Tapi yah, kalau dibandingkan Strange Dragon, hubungan mereka terasa menaiki tangga satu per satu, tidak langsung chapter pertama sudah jadian (haha).
Sebelum saya lupa, cerita tambahan di komik ini juga lebih menarik daripada di Strange Dragon. Yah, ini sudah bicara selera sih... lagipula dari awal saya memang sudah selalu berbicara selera.
[8.3/10]
Read
September 16, 2016Setting this in the Taisho era makes this series very interesting and vibrant. The romance itself has no surprises but that's not really necessary to enjoy it. I loved the costuming.
May 27, 2016
*Review in Progress*
Reasonably cute. I love the artwork. Very well done. Sayaka is naive and her views of others and how society works is broken. I love that she doesn't want to see a difference in her relations with Narutaki. He is amusing and very obviously cares for her but she is oblivious. Each chapter beginning is the same and I didn't care for the repetition. And each time was several pages long. So it took away panels that could have given more unique story depth. I look forward to seeing where volume 2 will take this.
Also, cute short story at the end with more great art!
Reasonably cute. I love the artwork. Very well done. Sayaka is naive and her views of others and how society works is broken. I love that she doesn't want to see a difference in her relations with Narutaki. He is amusing and very obviously cares for her but she is oblivious. Each chapter beginning is the same and I didn't care for the repetition. And each time was several pages long. So it took away panels that could have given more unique story depth. I look forward to seeing where volume 2 will take this.
Also, cute short story at the end with more great art!
October 3, 2017
I like shojo manga just as much as the next person, but this volume was way too vanilla for me. That being said, the artwork was beautiful. The chauffeur is total eye candy and so is the bandit in the cute little after story. I've read much better elsewhere is all. Since there is only one more volume, I'll probably finish the story and hopefully it gets better.
January 14, 2020
the title tells you the story: in the taisho era a heiress and her chauffeur are very close but their budding romance faces the barrier of class difference. nothing special tbh and i found the art overly busy
2 stars
2 stars
May 11, 2016
Cute and sweet without requisite shoujo romance creepiness, this is unpolished, but a good read. Plus I love the Taisho era costumes.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
July 24, 2016
A lovely story involving class division
October 4, 2016
Not much story here. Ever chapter is the same story rehashed.
March 28, 2017
2.5 stars
December 22, 2017
I just wasn't into this. The chapters felt very repetitive , and I didn't feel invested in the couple.
February 8, 2018
It was kind of eh and I didn’t really feel the love connection. But it was a very quick read.
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