REVIEW: Marriage of Convenience (manhwa, vol. 1) art by Antstudio, adapted by hanheun, original story by Ken, translated by Tapas Entertainment Inc.

Marriage of Convenience is a fantasy romance series originally published on the Tapas Web Comics site. I bought my copy of this volume new.

Review:

In Countess Bianca de Arno's first life, she eventually died in poverty (maybe in her 30s or 40s?), wishing that she could do things over again. Somehow, this wish is granted, and she awakens as herself at age 18.

Bianca's father married her off when she was only 10 or so years old. The only person young Bianca trusted was her nursemaid, who died when Bianca was 13. In her first life, Bianca was cold towards her husband, Zachary, and spent his money like it was nothing. They first had sex when she was 20 and, after that, only ever just before Zachary headed to battle. Bianca never produced an heir, and he eventually died when she was only 25.

This time around, Bianca is determined to bypass the mistakes of her first life, the first of which, she is sure, is the fact that she never produced Zachary an heir. She remembers rumors that Zachary had a mistress - while that situation wouldn't be ideal, she does her best to convince him that she's fine with it as long as she's allowed to do her duty as his wife. Meanwhile, Zachary is surprised in and doubtful of this sudden change in his wife, who's been afraid of him since they were first married, and annoyed at the idea she's gotten into her head that he has a mistress.

So far, this is okay. I'm reminded of Under the Oak Tree. Zachary seems like a more distant and less angry Riftan, and Zachary and Bianca have a communication rift that's similarly as large as the one between Riftan and Maxi. Bianca (the second time around, anyway) is more aggressive than Maxi but similarly flustered by her hot and intimidating husband. Both Riftan and Zachary insist that their wives deserve and should be given only the best.

I was a little uncomfortable with the way Bianca beating a maid was generally treated as a positive change in her attitude towards being the lady of the house. Multiple characters were more concerned that she'd hurt her hand beating the maid than that she'd beat the maid. Granted, the maid was an idiot who'd been running her mouth without checking her surroundings, making it sound like she had plans to try seducing Zachary and insulting Bianca.

This somehow led to another maid, Yvonne, being kind and loyal towards her (because Bianca reminded her of her sister, or something). Whatever. I initially mistook Yvonne for Bianca at the end of her first life. I don't think there's actually supposed to be some sort of connection there, but who knows?

By the end of the volume, Bianca was acting like one of those "reborn in my favorite novel" heroines, preparing to start a business. I'm interested enough to try the next volume, and it doesn't hurt that the artwork is nice.