Child of the Kingdom (Japanese: 王国の子, Hepburn: Ōkoku no Ko) is a joseimanga series written and drawn by Bikke [ja]. It was serialized from September 22, 2011, to June 7, 2018, in Kodansha's magazine Itan [ja], and has since been collected in nine tankōbon volumes.
The kingdom of Zentoren,[a] currently under attack by the large northern country Neruto,[b][1] traditionally appoints a body double for those in line to the throne, and so the squire William Cecil[c] looks for a suitable candidate as the body double for Princess Elizabeth,[d] who is third in the line of succession. At a small theater he finds Robert,[e] a young man playing a female character, who looks so similar to Elizabeth that William at first mistakes him for a woman. Robert is reluctant to take the job, but accepts on the condition that his sickly brother will be cared for. After the death of the king, Elizabeth's brother takes the throne, but is poisoned.[2] Robert and Elizabeth grow closer as they work together to survive the schemes, conspiracies and court politics that follow.[2][3]
Child of the Kingdom was written and drawn by Bikke [ja],[4] who was inspired to write the story by the period drama film Elizabeth (1998), and by her love for fiction set in the Sengoku period of Japanese history.[5] The manga premiered in issue 6 of Kodansha's josei manga magazine Itan [ja] on September 22, 2011,[6][7] and was serialized until the magazine's final issue on June 7, 2018.[8] Kodansha also released it across nine collected tankōbon volumes from August 7, 2012,[9] to August 7, 2018,[10] under their imprint KCx.[11] At the time of Itan's discontinuation, Kodansha said that they were preparing plans to continue the serialization of Child of the Kingdom,[12] but the series was eventually concluded with a final chapter published in the ninth collected volume.[13] In addition to the original Japanese release, the series has been published in Chinese by Tong Li Publishing,[14] and in Thai by Luckpim Publishing [th].[15]
^ abc"美しき感情を描いた『極彩の家』の作者「びっけ」特集!オススメ漫画5選" [Feature on Bikke, who portrayed beautiful emotions in Gokusai no Ie! We recommend five of her comics]. Mangapedia (in Japanese). Shogakukan. 2020-12-12. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^ ab"華麗なる王宮の裏側……謀略の目撃者になれ!" [The other side of the great royal palace... Witness the intrigues!]. Mangapedia (in Japanese). Shogakukan. 2016-11-17. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^ ab"びっけ" [Bikke]. Mangapedia (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^Fujimoto, Eri (2013-11-12). "初心者むけ"進撃"講座も!「ブロスコミックアワード2013」大賞は「王国の子」" [A primer on Attack on Titan is also included! Bros. Comic Award 2013's grand prize goes to Child of the Kingdom]. Otajo (in Japanese). Tokyo Sangyo Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"王国の子(1)" [Child of the Kingdom #1] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"「昭和元禄落語心中」など輩出したITANが休刊、連載作はコミックDAYSに移籍" [Itan, which published Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju among others, is discontinued, as serializations are transferred to Comic Days]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2018-06-07. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^ ab"【8月7日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [August 7: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2012-08-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^ ab"【8月7日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [August 7: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2018-08-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【4月5日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [April 5: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2013-04-05. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【11月7日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [November 7: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2013-11-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【6月6日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [June 6: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2014-06-06. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【12月5日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [December 5: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2014-12-05. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【8月7日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [August 7: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2015-08-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【8月5日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [August 5: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2016-08-05. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"【9月7日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [September 7: List of tankōbon volumes releasing today]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2017-09-07. Archived from the original on 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
^"今年のブロスマンガ大賞は、びっけのITAN連載「王国の子」" [This year's Bros. comics grand prize goes to Bikke's Itan serialization Child of the Kingdom]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 2013-11-06. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-06.