Born from an affair, imperial princess Thalia Roem Grta grew up surrounded by cold parents, hostile half-siblings, and servants who despised her. The only person who ever made her drop her guard is Barkas Raedgo Sheerkan, the heir to the Grand Duke—a man raised under brutal discipline and emotionally numbed by duty. But when Barkas is forced to marry Thalia's half-sister Ayla to honor a promise to the late empress, Thalia crumbles. Yet just as her love seems doomed, something shifts.

The official synopsis doesn't say this is by Kim Su-ji, the author of the global smash *Under the Oak Tree*, and illustrated by Spoon (*Who Made Me a Princess*). That's a huge deal—this team is cream of the crop in manhwa. It also shares a universe with *Under the Oak Tree*, though it stands alone. This is a slow-burn romance with a deeply traumatized FL (think Maximilian vibes but sharper) and an emotionally stunted ML. The art is predictably gorgeous, and the angst is thick. For fans of tragic, high-production-value fantasy romance where everyone needs therapy.

Also known as: The Forgotten Meadow, 잊혀진 들판, Ichojin Deulpan.

manhwa, romance fantasy, slow burn, traumatic past, emotionally unavailable male lead, noble, josei, beautiful art, childhood friends, same universe