the Boy I Loved Became Jaded Emperor 1

A fairytale about a young prince and the forest creature who saved his life is twisted by tragedy into a bittersweet palace mystery in this new josei manga from the creator of The Ex-Villainess's Unsightly Daughter. As a young boy, Prince Alexei was rescued from certain death by a friendly monster, and the two of them spent blissful days in the forest. But tragedy struck when Alexei's royal destiny caught up with him again. Now a young man, Alexei has taken the throne, becoming Emperor and vowing revenge. Little does he know, the creature who saved him has been reborn as the daughter of a duke--a taciturn young lady with a secret. When fate throws them together at the imperial court, will they recognize each other, or will their jaded pasts keep them apart?