The Prince in His Dark Days Series

Dethroned

A heart can only know true pain once it has known true love. For Atsuko, watching Ryô work relentlessly for Itaru’s sake changed something in her, and she falls in love for the first time. But one day, Ryô’s dark plans of betrayal are revealed and Atsuko’s admiration for him shatters. She must take action before it’s too late, as Itaru’s Coming of Age ceremony—where everything could go wrong—quickly approaches. Will the prince’s stand-in, caught in the midst of an unstable empire, come to regret her decision?

“Hico Yamanaka delves into heavier, more socially conscious subjects than most shojo does. Recommend.”—OTAKU USA

“What makes it such a wonderful read is the sincerity that comes across. The story also touched on the characters’ sexualities in an honest, yet respectful way. Other manga should take note regarding how to handle this topic.”—The Fandom Post

Caught in the Act

Plucked from her dreadful surroundings, Atsuko is still living as Itaru, a capricious and spoiled heir who ran away from his charmed life. Her co-conspirator, Ryô, teaches her that to pass as one of the elite, she must be cold and cruel. However, amid the ranks of the wealthy, she meets Daigo, a gentleman who shines like a true prince. Before long, Daigo sees through Atsuko’s façade and makes a troubling request when she has no one to turn to…

Meanwhile, Itaru struggles to forge his own life in a completely new world.

“Hico Yamanaka delves into heavier, more socially conscious subjects than most shojo does. Recommend.”—OTAKU USA

“What makes it such a wonderful read is the sincerity that comes across. The story also touched on the characters’ sexualities in an honest, yet respectful way. Other manga should take note regarding how to handle this topic.”—The Fandom Post

Disenchanted

Atsuko, a penniless high school girl, is the spitting image of a wealthy family’s missing son, Itaru. Masterminded by Itaru’s confidant, Atsuko doubles as the missing boy to help keep up appearances. Meanwhile, the disappeared prince Itaru carries with him a deep secret no one can know as he works the streets in the nighttime. The darkness in the young men’s seemingly glamourous lives seeps through–revealing a world of sorrow, frailty, and even love.

PRINCE IN DISTRESS
A drunkard for a father, a household of poverty… For 17-year-old Atsuko, misfortune is all she knows and believes in. Until one day, a chance encounter with Itaru–the wealthy heir of a huge corporation–changes everything. The two look identical, uncannily so. When Itaru curiously goes missing, Atsuko is roped into being his stand-in. There, in his shoes, Atsuko must parade like a prince in a palace. She encounters many new experiences, but at what cost…?
 
A heartrending modern love story.