The catch? She's only ten years old.
The Bride of Adarshan (Adarshan no Hanayome) is a Shoujo Light Novel series written by Amekawa Kei, adapted into a Manga series. Despite what the premise might suggest, the series focuses on Alexid's struggles as the prince of Adarshan, with his (primarily platonic) relationship with his arranged wife giving him the support and healing he needs to pull through the political issues that he must face.
Tropes associated with the series:
- Abusive Parents: Yuuzerick's biological mother/Alec's stepmother was verbally abusive to Alec.
- Adorably Precocious Child: Euti, who uses terms/phrases she doesn't understand and dislikes being called cute because it's usually patronizing.
- All of the Other Reindeer: Alec, who's looked down on and resented for various reasons: being an illegitimate child who could usurp the throne, not being fully Adarshan in blood, being Adarshan's Black Demon, not showing any grief after Samuel dies, etc. For his part, he just ignores it, which doesn't sit well with Euti, who hates that his lack of reaction gives people incentive to make up whatever they want about him.
- Aloof Big Brother: Yuuzericks.
- Arranged Marriage: Between Euti and Alec.
- Beware the Silly Ones: Fradd is usually Alec's light-hearted retainer, but when Samuel tries to kill Alec, he finally reveals his serious side.
- Big Brother Instinct: Underneath his cold demeanor, Yuuzericks possesses one towards Alec. Not that he'd ever admit it, of course.
- Bishie Sparkle: In an Out-of-Character Moment, Alec has these. Euti is understandably suspicious.
- Book Dumb: Alec, a little. He's not so great with paperwork and often depends on Fradd for it, and Fradd notes that Alec isn't the kind of person who can appreciate books.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Euti occasionally, at her worst.
- Cool Big Sis: Azelia.
- Cool Old Guy: Samuel. Until he betrays Alec, that is.
- Cool Sword: Halcifon, which Alec wields as a symbol of his devotion to the king.
- Deadpan Snarker: Alec doesn't openly snark much (though inside his head is a somewhat different story), but during the period in which Euti hates his guts, he resorts to being passive-aggressive, showing this side of him.
- Despair Event Horizon: Alec nearly crosses it when not only does Samuel tries to kill him, but he implies that it's under Yuuzerick's orders. The notion that the one he'd dedicated his life to would dispose of him is enough to make Alec give up on everything—until Fradd appears on the scene and clears matters up.
- Et Tu, Brute?: Alec hides it behind a Jerkass facade, but Samuel's betrayal shakes him to the core.
- Evil Prince: People think Alec is this. It couldn't be further from the truth either; Alec is terrified of becoming king, because he knows that he's not capable, and practically worships his brother, whom he's devoted his life to.
- Extreme Doormat: Alec, to an extent. He tends to take all the abuse that's thrown at him and has no other reason to his existence to serve Yuuzericks. Subverted in the second part, though, as Alec eventually comes to realize that he doesn't feel subordinate to his brother—that is, he doesn't serve him because he has no will of his own, but because it's what he wants to do and strives for.
- The Good King: While a Manipulative Bastard, Yuuzericks is noted to be a competent ruler and genuinely does his best for Adarshan.
- Happily Married: Yuuzericks and Azelia. In a more platonic vein, Alec and Euti become this.
- Heroic Bastard: Alec, as the illegitimate son between the former king and his mistress.
- Hypercompetent Sidekick: Fradd to Alec, at least when it comes to paperwork.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Yuuzericks is condescending and icy, but he ultimately does care about his country and Alec.
- Living Emotional Crutch: Samuel is somewhat of one for Alec. After his betrayal and death, Euti takes his place. Alec's biggest one, however, would be Yuuzericks, who's the center of Alec's world.
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Alec.
- Married to the Job: Alec's usually too busy with his duties to spend time with Euti.
- Old Man Marrying a Child: Less squicky than it sounds, though, due to Alec himself being the most disturbed and their relationship being more familial in nature than anything else.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Alexid and Eustinia are referred to by primarily by their nicknames (Alec and Euti, respectively).
- Overly Long Name: Eustinia Elminias Ravin Dol Leira Del of Castoria, natch.
- Parental Substitute: Samuel, for Alec.
- Puppet King: Alec realizes that this is what the nobles intend to make him when Yuuzericks falls ill and is unable to handle his duties.
- Red Baron: Alec is feared as the "Black Demon" of Adarshan.
- Revenge: Euti initially wants to kill Alec, due to his reputation as Adarshan's Black Demon who killed her soldiers—made even worse when they realize he personally killed a soldier important to her. She gets over it after Samuel betrays him.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Both of the royals of Adarshan. Yuuzericks has a direct hand in the politics of his country, while Alec is the most well-known soldier in his country.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Alec is a fighter but not much of a thinker who isn't so good in social settings, even if he can fake it when he has to. On the reverse side, Yuuzericks is physically weak but a master at the political game.
- Sour Outside, Sad Inside: Alec, after Samuel's betrayal and subsequent execution. It causes people to resent him even further, as the nature of Samuel's death is kept hidden, and so to everyone else, it looks like Alec doesn't even care about his mentor's death.
- Spare to the Throne: Alec. It's why he was brought to the palace in the first place, and gives him plenty of issues when he realizes that he's not needed and his ascension to the throne would be looked down on, making his entire purpose pointless.
- The Stoic: Yuuzericks and Alec (though the latter is prone to being Not So Stoic). It apparently runs in the family.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Alec, who's on the uptight side but a decent person.
- That Came Out Wrong: Alec and Euti are prone to this when it comes to their relationship.Euti: "As I thought, it's lonely if there are only two children. Make more children, Alec!"Alec: "You're at it every single day! Are you trying to kill me of exhaustion!?"Fradd: "If you only listen to their conversation, it sounds like a husband-and-wife talk." note
- During the first night after the wedding of Alec and Euti, the latter blurts out "Aren't you going to do it?", to which Alec gives a suitably disturbed reaction. She actually meant a good-night kiss to the forehead, rather than what he assumed.
- Tranquil Fury: Played for Laughs. Fradd learns the hard way that Yuuzericks gets jealous very easily when it comes to Azelia.
- Undying Loyalty: Alec to Yuuzericks, so much. It's what gives him strength too, as when he realizes that he's not needed as the Spare to the Throne, he instead devotes all that he is to Yuuzericks as per Yuuzerick's demands, rather than merely be his shadow, and when Yuuzericks falls deathly ill, Alec finally steps out of his brother's guidance to protect what Yuuzericks would've wanted.
- Warrior Prince: Alec. It actually works against him, as people tend to think he's an Ax-Crazy Blood Knight when he's nothing like that.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Euti, who can be very perceptive.
- You Killed My Father: Or rather, You Killed My Knight, from Euti to Alec.
