I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons (Japanese: 妃教育から逃げたい私, Hepburn: Kisaki Kyōiku kara Nigetai Watashi) is a Japanese light novel series written by Izumi Sawano and illustrated by Miru Yumesaki. It was serialized online from August 2018 to May 2019 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by Shufu to Seikatsu Sha, who have published two volumes between April 2019 and March 2020 under their PASH! Books imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Uri Sugata has been serialized online via Shufu to Seikatsu Sha's PASH UP! website since March 2020 and has been collected in six tankōbon volumes. Both the light novel and manga have been licensed in North America by J-Novel Club. An anime television series adaptation produced by EMT Squared premiered in January 2025.
Premise
Duke's daughter Leticia "Lettie" Dorman became betrothed to Crown Prince Clarke at the age of seven. Once a free-spirited girl, she now feels stifled from the strict education she’s receiving to make her into a proper future princess. Wishing for the prince to someday take an interest in someone else, she is elated to see Clarke show up to a royal ball with another woman beside him. Presuming her dream has come true and her engagement has been broken off, she leaves with the intention of pursuing a simple life in the countryside. However, her newfound peace is interrupted when Clarke shows up, claiming that they're still engaged. Clarke is determined to woo Lettie and marry her, while Lettie is determined to resist his charms and escape. The story follows the ensuing battle of wills that take place between the two of them.
Written by Izumi Sawano, I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons was serialized online on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from August 12, 2018, to May 11, 2019.[5] It was later acquired by Shufu to Seikatsu Sha, who published two volumes with illustrations by Miru Yumesaki between April 26, 2019, to March 27, 2020, under their PASH! Books light novel imprint. An additional third volume was published for the paperback edition on May 31, 2024.
During their Anime Expo 2023 panel, J-Novel Club announced that they licensed the light novels for English publication.[6]
A manga adaptation illustrated by Uri Sugata began serialization on Shufu to Seikatsu Sha's PASH UP! website on March 25, 2020.[10] Its chapters have been collected into six volumes as of December 2024.[11]
On September 15, 2023, J-Novel Club announced that they also licensed the manga adaptation.[12]Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga as well.[13]
An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 2, 2023.[22] It is produced by EMT Squared and directed by Shinobu Tagashira, with Tomoco Kanemaki writing series scripts, Tagashira designing the characters, and Yuki Hayashi and Naoyuki Chikatani composing the music. The series premiered on January 5, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks and is set to run for 12 episodes.[23] The opening theme song is "Kimi to Shika Koi Shinai" (君としか恋しない, lit.'I'll Only Fall in Love With You') by Jun Fukuyama, while the ending theme song is "Alibi na Courtesy" (アリバイなカーテシー, lit.'An Alibi-Like Courtesy') by Dialogue+.[2][3]Crunchyroll streams the series.[24]Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[25]
Seven year old Leticia, daughter of Duke and Lady Dorman, is told she has become engaged to Prince Clarke. Her parents immediately send Leticia to the capital with only her stern elder brother Nadir. Leticia is placed with the intimidating Laila Mayer for harsh lessons on how to act like a Queen. The only friend Leticia gains is her royal maid Lily. Several years pass and Leticia endures lessons on smiling, polite conversation, politics, history, economics and dozens of other subjects. She also becomes emotionally withdrawn and depressed. After ten years Leticia attends a royal ball where Prince Clarke arrives with Lady Brianna Larique and confirms Brianna is his companion. The entire court is shocked when Leticia yells in triumph, thrilled the engagement and lessons are finally over. Thanking Brianna profusely for taking her place she flees the palace, leaving Clarke bewildered, and reminds Nadir that he promised if Clarke ended the engagement they would leave. Nadir unwillingly agrees to take Leticia to live in Aberta, one of the villages on their father’s land. Lily also decides to go with her.
2
"Episode 2"
Naoki Murata
Sumi Hatsuta
Shinobu Tagashira
January 12, 2025 (2025-01-12)
Clarke's mother, the Queen, demands a full explanation. Brianna only endures a few days with Laila before she can't take it anymore. Leticia moves into Aberta with Lily and happily spends her days fishing. Unfortunately, Clarke appears and begins following her. Clarke learns from the locals that Leticia's cheerful and generous nature has made her beloved by the village. He himself cannot believe how Leticia has changed once freed from her lessons. He then drops the bombshell that legally he and Leticia are still engaged. Leticia rushes home where Nadir explains that during their supposed breakup Clarke never actually said he was ending their engagement, only that he was accompanying Brianna to the ball. It was Leticia who misunderstood his words, but her emotional outburst has ignited real passion in Clarke. Brianna arrives and begs Leticia to take Clarke back as she can't stand Laila anymore. Plus Clarke has made an official declaration he will only have royal heirs with Leticia. To make matters worse Leticia's parents arrive, demanding to know everything. Leticia decides to run away but is stopped by Brianna. Leticia escapes anyway by promising to introduce Brianna to Nadir as a potential husband. Unfortunately, Leticia only makes it a short distance before running into Clarke.
3
"Episode 3"
Takanari Hirayama
Tomoco Kanemaki
Shinobu Tagashira
January 19, 2025 (2025-01-19)
Queen Laura decides to meet the famous Leticia. Leticia finds everyone is in total support of Clarke returning her to the capital, even Lily. On the trip Clarke claims he wants her to get to know him as a person, though this only creeps her out. Arriving at the castle Clarke shows he has had a garden constructed for her with horses, sheep and a river for fishing. Plus he has cancelled her lessons with Laila, having bribed his father, the King, with the promise of future grandchildren. He then asks her to marry him, but she resolutely refuses. After locking her in her room Leticia has a nightmare of Clarke as a monster she can't escape. The next morning Leticia attempts to escape at the first opportunity but is apprehended by Clarke in the castle garden. Next she attempts to swap clothes with her new maid Maria, who summons Clarke at once. Clarke then spends all evening keeping an eye on her, complimenting her beauty for hours. Once left alone Leticia grows even more daring and breaks a window to escape, but Clarke apprehends her in the garden yet again, this time to ask which jewellery she wants to match her wedding dress.
4
"Episode 4"
TBA
TBA
TBA
January 26, 2025 (2025-01-26)
Reception
By November 2023, the series has 1.2 million copies in circulation.[22]
