TL;DR, Manga UP! Global launched the English version of Akira’s manga adaptation of Aoi’s The Cruel King I’m Marrying as a Substitute Bride Is My First Love. The adaptation began on Square Enix’s Manga UP!
in March 2025 and Square Enix published volume 3 on April 7.
A quiet power move for romance readers. Manga UP! Global has launched the English release of Akira’s manga based on Aoi’s fantasy romance, The Cruel King I’m Marrying as a Substitute Bride Is My First Love manga.
The rollout opens the door for English readers while the series continues in Japan. The adaptation began on Square Enix’s Manga UP! in March 2025, and Square Enix published volume 3 on April 7.
With English chapters now live, international fans can finally jump into the same isekai romance that Japanese readers have been following.
Manga UP! Global just added The Cruel King I’m Marrying as a Substitute Bride Is My First Love manga
Manga UP! Global announced on Wednesday that it has launched the English edition of Akira’s manga based on Aoi’s web novel. Positioned as a Manga UP Global new manga spotlight, the title expands the platform’s growing library of fantasy romance.
The company identifies the series as a direct Akira manga adaptation of Aoi’s story.
The announcement frames the series as a mature-leaning isekai romance centered on a substitute marriage and a feared monarch. The Cruel King I’m Marrying as a Substitute Bride Is My First Love English release gives readers outside Japan official access, aligning the title with other localized offerings available on the service.
Press materials highlight the hook of reuniting with a first love and the contrast between rumors and reality around the eponymous king. The notice focuses on the premise and creative credits. It does not include a chapter cadence or English print information, so future update timing remains not yet confirmed by the platform.
- Title: The Cruel King I’m Marrying as a Substitute Bride Is My First Love?! (Japanese: Migawari de Totsuida Reikoku Kokuō wa Hatsukoi Aite Deshita).
- Creators: Original story by Aoi, with the Akira manga adaptation handling art and composition for the comic version.
- Availability: Officially launched in English on Manga UP! Global, according to the platform’s announcement and press release.
- Genre tags: Fantasy romance, isekai setup, substitute bride marriage, and a ruler feared as the “Cold-Hearted Wolf.”
- Japanese run: The series serializes on Square Enix’s Manga UP!, where it began in March 2025.
- Collected releases: Square Enix has published three volumes in Japan, with volume 3 released on April 7.
- Scope of release: The English version is positioned as a platform release. Details on print or additional formats were not provided.
What The Cruel King I’m Marrying manga is about and where it started
Kanae Yano, 28 and single, is suddenly summoned to another world and asked to become a stand-in bride for noblewoman Rita, her near look-alike. The plan is to marry King Eugene Eistalotte, a ruler feared as the “Cold-Hearted Wolf.” Stranded by the summoning, Kanae accepts, only to confront truths that clash with the rumors.
That pivot is the heart of the Migawari de Totsuida Reikoku Kokuō wa Hatsukoi Aite Deshita manga. The story builds a slow-burn romance around identity, duty, and memory as Kanae discovers the king’s real nature and a past connection. The premise is billed as a fantasy romance about reuniting with a first love, with danger and court intrigue shaping every choice.
The roots go back to Aoi’s web novel, which debuted on the TellerNovel platform in October 2021. The comic version, by Akira, began serialization on Square Enix’s Manga UP! in March 2025.
Square Enix published volume 3 on April 7, marking steady progress for the adaptation. com/best-romance-anime-of-all-time/”>best romance anime list.
- Protagonist: Kanae Yano, an ordinary woman thrust into a royal scheme with no immediate way home.
- Key players: Duke Zach Skrein, his daughter Rita, and King Eugene Eistalotte, whose reputation hides deeper layers.
- Core hook: A body double marriage agreement creates tension between duty, survival, and long-buried feelings.
- Origin: Aoi web novel TellerNovel launch in October 2021 established the narrative and tone.
- Comics timeline: Akira manga launch March 2025 on Square Enix’s Manga UP! initiated the graphic adaptation.
- Collections: The Japanese edition reached its third compiled volume, released by Square Enix on April 7.
Where to read The Cruel King I’m Marrying as a Substitute Bride Is My First Love in English
The official The Cruel King I’m Marrying English manga where to read location is Manga UP! Global. The platform has launched the series in English, offering the adaptation directly from the rights holders.
Search the full title inside Manga UP! Global to find the series page and begin reading from the start.
In Japan, the manga runs on Square Enix’s Manga UP! and already has multiple collected books. Square Enix volume 3 was published on April 7.
The English version now gives international readers a legitimate way to follow the same story path, while details on chapter cadence or English books have not been announced.
For updates on future chapters, check the official notices within Manga UP! Global and announcements from Square Enix’s Manga UP!. Both outlets handle posting and volume news for the series.
If timings or availability shift, those channels will confirm changes first, keeping readers current without relying on unverified sources.
- Platform: Read it in English on Manga UP! Global, as confirmed by the service’s announcement.
- Creators: Manga by Akira, based on Aoi’s fantasy romance web novel.
- Japanese status: Ongoing on Square Enix’s Manga UP!, with three volumes released so far.
- Collected books: Square Enix released volume 3 on April 7, reflecting steady publication in Japan.
- Official info: Follow platform announcement feeds for chapter postings and schedule notes when available.
- Story flavor: Fantasy romance, isekai premise, substitute bride plot, and a feared king who is not what he seems.
Related: best romance anime list.
Source: ANN