Best Love-Hate Relationships in Manhwa

Love-hate relationships in manhwa are some of the most common tropes, especially in shoujo and romance series, which rely heavily upon the tension between characters. These quirky relationships make readers bite their nails as they navigate the many fiery encounters between people who are just too stubborn to admit their feelings.

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But when those feelings finally burst, they do so in some of the most daring and fiery ways, and this often leads to some of the most incredible and romantic endings in the series. Or, to absolute destruction of the couple and all their surroundings, depending on the setting and the direction of the plot. So, here are some of the best Love-hate relationships in manhwa.

8

Raeliana & Noah (The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion)

She Was Interested For Selfish Reasons, He Was There To Support Her

• Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Isekai, Drama
• Author: Milcha
• Artist: Whale

As this story about reincarnation in a romantasy novel beings, the main character, Raeliana knows she is going to die soon. So, to prevent this, she makes a pact with Duke Noah Wynknight to fake an engagement, which could benefit them both politically as they seek their true ‘happy ending.’ What begins as a mere transactional relationship, curiously develops into a feisty and playful power struggle. They ploy against each other, and sometimes conspire against others, and it all seems to be about appearances.

But, as it turns out to be (to nobody’s surprise) the tension piles up until both start to develop feelings for each other. Ultimately, Noah instinctively starts to protect Raeliana and develop some sort of jealousy complex, but their constant bickering prevents them both to admit they are in love. Further ahead in the plot, Raeliana becomes aware of her own feelings, as Noah teases her constantly. This leads to the former Villainess in disgrace to confront the Duke, and ultimately the unmask each other’s true selves and become a couple.

7

Astina & Theriod (The Lady And The Beast)

Courting A Beast Cannot Be Easy

• Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Historical, Reincarnation
• Author: Hongseul
• Artist: Sumpul

One of the most complex love-hate relationships in romantic fantasy manhwa, and one of the most mysterious as well. Turns out that Astina and Theriod are bound to each other by fate, being both the reincarnations of their past selves. But Astina (Martina) still loves Theodor her past-life lover and object of her hate as well. Theriod doesn’t remember his past life, but he is still cursed by the terrible geiss that Martina unleashed upon his lineage. He is bound to become a beast every night, unless Astina shows him affection, which immediately starts to melt away the effects of the curse.

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At the beginning, their relationship basically consists of Astina taking over the Van Atalanta household and ‘educating’ the Archduke while in his beast form, but as she figures out how to break the curse, both of them start to develop feelings for each other. Astina ultimately reveals that she is the reincarnation of Empress Martina, and that she believes him to be his former lover. This destroys Theriod, and makes him lose faith in himself and the relationship they constructed. Ultimately, everything crumbles apart, and they seem to be on the verge of divorce, until a fateful event makes them realize what they truly mean to each other.

6

Atisse & Ephyr (Latna Saga)

No Matter The Societal Status (Or The Species) Love Is Love

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Writing Pine
• Artist: Studio HIVE

As members of the draconic species, but separated by rank and magical power, Atisse and Ephyr are always bickering and fighting each other (much to Ryu Han-Bin’s chagrin). Since Ephyr is an evolve Wyvern who recently gained her ability to shapeshift into a human girl, Atisse felt obligated to act as a guide and ‘elder brother’ to her. But as Ephyr becomes more and more accustomed to her new abilities, she also turns more impulsive, even reckless. Atisse dislikes this and often chastises Ephyr for her conduct.

This has proven to be quite chaotic, and they both go from collaboration to a fiery distrust, then to a mild acceptance, and finally mutual respect. But, as the fans have correctly predicted, Ephyr and Atisse end up developing a mutual trust (and romantic) relationship. Though Atisse at first pushes Ephyr away due to his personal quest, they end up becoming closer and closer, and in the end, hardship brings them close enough to rekindle those romantic feelings they were keeping in secret.

5

Gestella & Kayden (ELECEED)

A Kill Or Love Kind Or Relationship

• Genre: Shonen, Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery
• Author: Jeho Son
• Artist: ZHENA

This love-hate relationship comes from one of the most ludicrous misunderstandings ever seen in manhwa. It all began with Kayden Pierce going on a rampage challenging all the Top 10 awakeners from the world to a battle. Since nobody responded, he changed tactics and started to deliver citation letters, written with the utmost formality and respect. One of these letters fell into the hands of Gestella, which misunderstood Kayden’s roundabout way to challenge her to a duel for a love confession.

So, Gestella went ahead and met Kayden, and she was actually excited about the idea of getting out of her fortress and meeting a worthy man/potential love interest. But Kayden received her with a surprise attack, which made Gestella go back reeling into her fortress, lamenting and writing in anger. How dared he! A few years later, she still resents Kayden for hurting her feelings, and Kayden has somewhat understood Gestella’s intentions and clearly knows what he did was wrong. They have started to slowly accept each other’s presence and worked around their differences. Now, Gestella is trying to woo Kayden in one of the least expected of ways: protecting his disciple from the other top rankers. Turns out, this move seems to be super effective.

4

Medea & Helio (Your Throne)

One Of The Most Complicated Love-Hate Relationships Ever

• Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Psychological
• Author: SAM
• Artist: SAM

Medea and Helio have a more than friends, less than lovers relationship for nearly one decade, and at some point, Helio began to develop true feelings for her. But, as it turns out, Medea’s intentions are all too focused on political ploys and scheming, which has put a strain on their relationship. Still, Helio has become a trusty confidant and supporter of her agenda, even if it works against his own interests. Ever since Medea and Psyche switched bodies, the confused Helio has been like a ragdoll going through a rollercoaster of emotions.

He didn’t take too long to figure out something was going on, since Medea and him had a pretty tight relationship, and upon switching bodies with Psyche, they became somewhat estranged. So, Helio went to confront Psyche to learn the truth about Medea and her exchanging bodies. This overcomplicated things for him, who was clearly in love with Medea (and even admitted it to Psyche while she was living in Medea’s body). Despite both disagreeing on this, and hating each other, Psyche in Medea’s body and Helio end up working together. Helio teaches Psyche how to impersonate Medea, and how to protect herself. Ultimately, this turns in his favor since he is able to prove that no one knows Medea better than him.

3

John & Seraphina (UnOrdinary)

When Light Seemed To Have Found A Way, It Took A Twist For The Worst

• Genres: Action, Supernatural, School Life, Drama
• Author: Uru-Chan
• Artist: Uru-Chan

The tragic fate of John Doe and Seraphina from UnOrdinary is one for the record books of unrequited love. Their relationship began at odds, since both of them belonged to different statuses of the societal order that rules the world of the series, with John’s tragic past binding him to a promise of revenge, and Seraphina’s upbringing and role as one of the top students converging into a maelstrom of emotions. Little by little, Seraphina grows fond of John, but as she gets close enough to figure out why he hides his true abilities (and intentions) he pushes her away for being part of the elite which he hates so much.

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Ultimately, John becomes a dark avenger of sorts, ruthless and violent. Seraphina, tries to heal his heart and realizes she loves him, but cannot reach beyond the thick layers of pain and trauma that surround John’s heart. The constant disagreements, fights against each other, as Seraphina struggles to remain perfect at all times (because that’s what’s expected of her) create a rift between the two. Though this love was never meant to be, it was a bittersweet example of a love-hate relationship that never reached the desired resolution.

2

Ji-Eun Han & Hyun-Ho Lee (Something About Us)

Lovely, Endearing, And Sometimes Maddening

• Genres: Romance, Drama, Comedy, Slice of Life
• Author: Lee Yun Ji
• Artist: Lee Yun Ji

This comedic manhwa about romance and the little things that draw people together has its main protagonist trapped in a vicious love-hatred relationship. Though Ji-Eun and Hyun-Ho have been childhood friends for long, they never managed to overcome the (shipping creep) barrier that sepparantes friends from lovers. Thus, frustration led to some of the most lovely misunderstandments, with both of them pursuing each other but at the same time, too stubborn to ‘go for the kill.’

All the painful (and sometimes unnecessarily prolonged) quarrels, bickering, jealousy scenes, love entanglements, and spicy moments are worth the wait. As tension builds up and they finally start to transition from friends to lovers, they develop an even stronger bond. Since this is a romcom, it is bound to have its corny and heartwarming moments, and readers might feel their story relatable enough to find space in their hearts for this ship that has already sailed.

1

Melissa & Nine (Beware The Villainess!)

Please Get Married Already! Thank You

• Genres: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Berry
• Artist: Soda Ice

Melissa and Nine from Beware The Villainess are one of those couples that makes readers scream: Get married already! Their constant ins and outs, bickering, the intervention of annoying third wheels, and also bitter moments of breakup have led to maximum tension. What is expected in most romantic comedies is that at this point, these two should have undergone all the formalities of a married couple. But their stubbornness is legendary, and they dragged out wooing and romance with their constant fallouts.

But Nine’s meekness has always sparked some sort of maternal instinct from Melissa, so she tends to be overprotective of him, as much as Nine is thankful to Melissa for getting him out of the streets, so he is loyal to death. That is perhaps what makes this couple one of the most endearing (and conflictive) love-hate relationships in manhwa.

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