The storylines of “The villainess is a marionette” and “crowning a spoiled prince” aka ” my second life as a trash princess” are two very similar stories. They both have a princess as the protagonist who has been reincarnated a few years prior to her first death, a bratty spoilt prince who is her brother. Who she must control or learn to subdue. And a hot guy Duke who is going to be the savior to our princess with whom she makes a pact.
And both series probably have the most gorgeous art I have ever seen in any manhwa ever. Marionette has an art style that is flowy, whimsical, LOTS of patterns and details in the background. Lots of lines and shapes. Where the trashy princess has shadows. Such attention to shapes and angles and shine of surfaces! While both art styles are breathtaking in their own way, they are easily the manhwas with the best art ever.
Coming to the plot, while the characters are the same, and they share the same destination the storylines are actually exactly the opposite of each other. Kayena – the puppet princess was a foolish pretty girl in her past life. And was executed after being used by her family – namely her hot younger brother – prince Regef. She had also interfered in the love between Duke Kedrey and Olivia – the protagonist of her original life, whom both male leads took a fancy to. She was sort of the villainess on that front.
So in this life, she decided to mend her ways. Instead of being a pretty fool she becomes a cunning strategist who must first get her brother under her control – by being extremely subservient to him, or pretending to be. Then she must mend her connection with Duke Kedrey who she used to fawn over, and completely distance herself from him to gain his trust and bring him to her side. Raphael Kedrey of course falls in love with the reformed princess while they strike a pact to find her a husband so she can escape the palace.
Trash princess starts off similar with a reincarnated princess a few years before all hell broke loose. Our princess Regina Alpere, was assassinated by her fiance. The main villain though is a sorcerer that controls him. The bad guys had Regina’s younger brother, Theore under their spell after the emperor was assassinated. In this life, Regina seeks to bring up her brother as a brat, instead of subduing him like Kayena, and herself become a bratty spoiled airhead or at least wants the reputation of one, completely contrary to Kayenas plotline. To extend the uncanny inversion, she decides to make a pact with Duke Aaron – and asks him to allow her to fawn over him to further spread the reputation she wants to craft for herself.
Not only is the character dynamics, exact opposite — Aaron is blonde and Raphael is black haired. Kayena and Regef are blonde whereas Regina and Theore are brunettes. Both girls were killed by their fiance/husband in their last life. But the real big bad was someone else that controlled them. The dudes that kill the princess are both blue long haired. The emperors start out not liking both girls but eventually they both manage to win his favor, although by the exact opposite means. Kayena by displaying moral fortitude and intelligence, Regina by ignoring him and using passive aggression.
Can’t wait to read season 2 of these !
Monogatari 