Tearmoon Empire

Tearmoon Empire (ティアムーン帝国物語 ～断頭台から始まる、姫の転生逆転ストーリー～) is a Japanese light novel series written by Nozomu Mochitsuki. The series began publication on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in August 2018; it was later acquired by TO Books, who are publishing the series in print with illustrations by Gilse. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Mizu Morino, began serialization on the Comic Corona manga website in August 2019. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link aired from October to December 2023.

Plot
At the collapsed Tearmoon Empire, 20-year-old Princess Mia Luna Tearmoon, who was scorned as a selfish princess, was executed through guillotine. However, instead of dying, she awakens to find herself back in her 12-year-old body, initially believing the event to be a dream, before finding her diary covered in her blood from the execution and containing the entries she made prior to the event. Pleading to avoid the execution at all cost, she decides to rebuild the empire. As such, she would "put her own safety first". Her supposedly selfish action, mixed with her knowledge from her first life, somehow charms the people around her instead as she works hard to turn her enemies in her first life to be her allies.

Characters

 * Mia Luna Tearmoon (ミーア・ルーナ・ティアムーン)
 * The protagonist of the series and the sole princess of Tearmoon Empire. After being executed at the age of twenty following a revolution, she time-leaps back to her 12-year-old days in order to fix her empire's problems while armed with her diary from the future. In the new timeline, her previous epitaph as "The Selfish Princess who Ruined Tearmoon" was erased, eventually becoming "The Great Sage of the Empire". On the surface, they couldn't be more different; but at their core, they were one and the same. Beneath the delusions surrounding her lay an arrogant, cowardly and slightly-selfish persona that hid a lovable idiot even further below. Because, by God, she was trying despite her flaws.
 * The protagonist of the series and the sole princess of Tearmoon Empire. After being executed at the age of twenty following a revolution, she time-leaps back to her 12-year-old days in order to fix her empire's problems while armed with her diary from the future. In the new timeline, her previous epitaph as "The Selfish Princess who Ruined Tearmoon" was erased, eventually becoming "The Great Sage of the Empire". On the surface, they couldn't be more different; but at their core, they were one and the same. Beneath the delusions surrounding her lay an arrogant, cowardly and slightly-selfish persona that hid a lovable idiot even further below. Because, by God, she was trying despite her flaws.


 * Anne Littstein (アンヌ・リトシュタイン)
 * One of Mia's most loyal subjects who tended to her during her time in prison. In the new timeline, Mia rewards Anne's loyalty by making her her personal maid-in-waiting.
 * One of Mia's most loyal subjects who tended to her during her time in prison. In the new timeline, Mia rewards Anne's loyalty by making her her personal maid-in-waiting.


 * Ludwig Hewitt (ルードヴィッヒ・ヒューイット)
 * One of Mia's most loyal subjects who sought to reform the financial crisis of the Tearmoon Kingdom, yet his expertise was unable to keep Mia from her execution. In the new timeline, Mia sought Ludwig's help early, utilizing the knowledge she learned from the original Ludwig to help guide him and her to a better empire and away from her execution.
 * One of Mia's most loyal subjects who sought to reform the financial crisis of the Tearmoon Kingdom, yet his expertise was unable to keep Mia from her execution. In the new timeline, Mia sought Ludwig's help early, utilizing the knowledge she learned from the original Ludwig to help guide him and her to a better empire and away from her execution.


 * Eris Littstein (エリス・リトシュタイン)
 * She is Anne's sick and frail little sister and an aspiring author. In the original timeline, she wrote a novel titled "The Impoverished Prince and the Golden Dragon." Though it was still unfinished at the time, Anne periodically read the story to an imprisoned Mia until Eris' death. In the new timeline, Mia hires Eris to be her personal author, wanting to see a decisive conclusion to the story that the original Eris was unable to write.
 * She is Anne's sick and frail little sister and an aspiring author. In the original timeline, she wrote a novel titled "The Impoverished Prince and the Golden Dragon." Though it was still unfinished at the time, Anne periodically read the story to an imprisoned Mia until Eris' death. In the new timeline, Mia hires Eris to be her personal author, wanting to see a decisive conclusion to the story that the original Eris was unable to write.


 * Abel Remno (アベル・レムノ)
 * The second prince of the Kingdom of Remno. In the previous timeline he was a playboy and gambler stuck in the shadows of his older brother. In the current timeline he instead takes up horsemanship and starts developing a romantic relationship with Mia.
 * The second prince of the Kingdom of Remno. In the previous timeline he was a playboy and gambler stuck in the shadows of his older brother. In the current timeline he instead takes up horsemanship and starts developing a romantic relationship with Mia.


 * Sion Sol Sunkland (シオン・ソール・サンクランド)
 * First Prince of Sunkland. A skilled swordsman and a firm believer in justice. In the previous timeline he helped Tiona lead the revolutionary army that caused Tearmoon to collapse and was the one who adjudicated Mia's execution. In the current timeline he slowly becomes Mia's friend.
 * First Prince of Sunkland. A skilled swordsman and a firm believer in justice. In the previous timeline he helped Tiona lead the revolutionary army that caused Tearmoon to collapse and was the one who adjudicated Mia's execution. In the current timeline he slowly becomes Mia's friend.


 * Tiona Rudolvon (ティオーナ・ルドルフォン)
 * Daughter of Outcount Rudolvan, a lesser noble family looked down upon by the central nobility. Knowing this, Tiona studied hard in academics and swordsmanship yet was bullied heavily by Mia in the original timeline, leading to her forming the Revolutionary Army with Sion and adjudicating Mia's execution. In the new timeline, Mia saves her from bullying and humiliation and treats her as an equal, leading to her becoming one of Mia's greatest allies and future friend.
 * Daughter of Outcount Rudolvan, a lesser noble family looked down upon by the central nobility. Knowing this, Tiona studied hard in academics and swordsmanship yet was bullied heavily by Mia in the original timeline, leading to her forming the Revolutionary Army with Sion and adjudicating Mia's execution. In the new timeline, Mia saves her from bullying and humiliation and treats her as an equal, leading to her becoming one of Mia's greatest allies and future friend.


 * Rafina Orca Belluga (ラフィーナ・オルカ・ヴェールガ)
 * Daughter of Duke Belluga of the Holy Principality of Belluga. In the principality her father is the highest human power, with only God above him. This makes her functionally equivalent to a princess in power and duties. Known as a Saint, she has a strong sense of right and wrong and believes that commoners and nobles are both beloved creations of god. In the previous timeline she despises Mia and helped Sion and Tiona from behind the scenes. In the current timeline Mia initially tries to avoid her as much as possible to avoid incurring her wrath again. Through a series of misinterpretations Rafina eventually comes to believe in Mia's prowess and righteousness, leading to them eventually becoming good friends.
 * Daughter of Duke Belluga of the Holy Principality of Belluga. In the principality her father is the highest human power, with only God above him. This makes her functionally equivalent to a princess in power and duties. Known as a Saint, she has a strong sense of right and wrong and believes that commoners and nobles are both beloved creations of god. In the previous timeline she despises Mia and helped Sion and Tiona from behind the scenes. In the current timeline Mia initially tries to avoid her as much as possible to avoid incurring her wrath again. Through a series of misinterpretations Rafina eventually comes to believe in Mia's prowess and righteousness, leading to them eventually becoming good friends.


 * Keithwood (キースウッド)
 * Sion's personal attendant. He is often at a loss when trying to control his master, or shepherd those around him.
 * Sion's personal attendant. He is often at a loss when trying to control his master, or shepherd those around him.


 * Liora Lulus (リオラ・ルールー)
 * Tiona's personal assistant. She belongs to a tribe living inside the Forest of Stillness, which, in Mia's first life, came into conflict with the Empire, and one of the reasons for her execution.
 * Tiona's personal assistant. She belongs to a tribe living inside the Forest of Stillness, which, in Mia's first life, came into conflict with the Empire, and one of the reasons for her execution.


 * Chloe Forkroad (クロエ・フォークロード)
 * The daughter of the owner of a well-known trading group in Tearmoon who gets bestowed with noble status. She becomes Mia's reading buddy.
 * The daughter of the owner of a well-known trading group in Tearmoon who gets bestowed with noble status. She becomes Mia's reading buddy.


 * Dion Alaia (ディオン・アライア)
 * The soldier who executed Mia in her previous life. Despite being sent to the edge of Lulu territory, he is against engaging the tribe. He finds her act in the Forest of Stillness as an excuse to pull out the troops guarding the forest.
 * The soldier who executed Mia in her previous life. Despite being sent to the edge of Lulu territory, he is against engaging the tribe. He finds her act in the Forest of Stillness as an excuse to pull out the troops guarding the forest.

Light novels
Written by Nozomu Mochitsuki, the series began publication on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō novel posting website on August 13, 2018. In June 2019, the series was acquired by TO Books, who published the series in print with illustrations by Gilse. As of September 2023, fourteen volumes have been released.

In November 2019, J-Novel Club announced that they licensed the novels for English publication under their J-Novel Heart imprint.

Manga
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Mizu Morino, began serialization on the Comic Corona manga website on August 12, 2019. As of April 2023, its individual chapters have been collected into six tankōbon volumes.

In May 2022, J-Novel Club announced that they also licensed the manga.

Theatrical
A theatrical adaptation of the novel series ran in Tokyo from September 9 to 13, 2020. It was directed by Yuki Shinome and written by Suika Suika. Kanako Hiramatsu, Reo Hotta, and Miyuki Torii performed the lead roles. A second theatrical performance with the same staff and cast as the first was shown in Tokyo from July 14 to July 19, 2021.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on September 6, 2022. It is produced by Silver Link and directed by Yūshi Ibe, with scripts written by Deko Akao, character designs handled by Mai Otsuka, and music composed by Kōji Fujimoto. The series aired from October 8 to December 24, 2023, on Tokyo MX, BS11 and MBS. The opening theme song is "Happy End Princess" (ハッピーエンドプリンセス) by Sumire Uesaka, while the ending theme song is "Queen of the Night" by KanoeRana. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.

Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised the first volume for its illustrations and tone, while criticizing the authorial interjections.

The manga was nominated for the 2021 Next Manga Award in the web manga category.

As of September 2023, the series has sold over 1.7 million copies between its digital and print releases.