Blanc Marie by Yoshihara Yuki

What is one of the worst things that can happen to bride on her wedding day? Saying to bride to carry on with ceremony alone so that her “dear” unfaithful husband can be as irresponsible as ever. (they have already signed the marriage certification). What prevented her from divorcing him that very same day was her brother-in-law Soujirou acting as stand-in vowing:

I vow a thousand, a million times…. never to let you leave my side.

I  swear she must have been bewitched at the time. Her raging before altar changed to:

M-me, too. I won’t leave you.

Since then she spent her time over at in-laws, being the perfect daugher-in-law they want to keep. I found it selfish of them to plead her to stay with them. On top of that, stating such reasons that just more urgently showed how terrible husband he is and to divorce him immediately. Pretending everything is as it should be would make no one concerned happy. Fortunately, Yoshihara Yuki approached whole situation with humor, making what I stated above more of an afterthought when finished reading it for I was too preoccupied with Kiriko’s and her brother-in-law’s budding relationship.

Definitely my most favorite interaction between two was when Kiriko could differentiate subtle changes in Soujirou’s expression that made even his own parents impressed (but really, his expression was pretty much never-changing like carving in the stone. Almost whole time. Kiriko’s observation is amazing.).

Kiriko’s husband was, despite creating conflict and being mentioned quite often, such secondary character that when we finally met him I thought of him only as sleazy necessary scumbag obstacle. Something that needs to be done over with so these two can move on.

And after scene in elevator, things escalated too quickly… I have not seen this manga labeled as mature anywhere else only… at Aerandria (scanlation group) one of the genre is smut. So for those who are sensitive about such things or need warning there is definitely nudity (of upper body) in there. Thought it’s not something severe, more like it’s very very mild smut. Just they start kissing, there is this blank part that is entirely skipped and after we only see them in bed talking. I would say it was quite gently portrayed.

I can’t say I’m not happy with how little time we spend with playboy husband but come on. I know it’s not series and there is no space but I really don’t understand his actions. So he married a woman just for the sake of having one (who don’t overspend) and he himself later on implied he didn’t expect her to stay being his wife…. What exactly was his purpose then? In all honesty that made him in my eyes not only frivolous but also stupid. And after what he has done, we don’t see him dealing with any real consequences of his actions? But then again this was never story about him and by the end of the day what’s important is Kiriko’s and Soujirou’s happiness.

~~~ By Karra