Like Wind on a Dry Branch

Description

As plague and turmoil afflicts the empire, enchanting widow Rieta Tristi finds herself at the mercy of a malicious nobleman and his dying wish to have her buried alive beside his corpse. The plague has taken her husband, slave traders have taken her young child, and now her own life is at risk -- until an unexpected visit from the empire's outcast prince changes everything. (From Line Webtoon)

Original Webtoon:
Naver Webtoon, Naver Series

Official Translations:
English, S.Chinese, T.Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Spanish, Thai

Type

Manhwa

Related Series

Like Wind on a Dry Branch (Novel) (Adapted From)

Associated Names

Comme le vent sur une branche sèche

Cursed Blessing

El viento que mece las ramas

Like a Dry Branch in the Wind

Like a Wind on a Dry Branch

Like the Wind on a Dry Branch

Như gió trên cành khô

Wie ein welker Ast im Winde

Подобно сухой ветви на ветру

Хуурай мөчир дээрх салхи

Хуурай мөчир дээрх салхи шиг

همانند باد بر شاخه ای خشک؟

ราวลมพัดกิ่งไม้แห้ง

នារីកូនបំណុល

废皇子的神秘情人

廢皇子的神祕愛人

赤い瞳の廃皇子

마른 가지에 바람처럼

Groups Scanlating

N/A

Latest Release(s)

N/A

Status in Country of Origin

219 Chapters + Special + Review (Completed)

S1: 43 Chapters (1-43)
S2: 90 Chapters + Special (44-134)
S3: 76 Chapters + Prologue (135-211)
Side Stories: 8 Chapters (212-219)

Physical Book:
14 Volumes (Ongoing)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

N/A

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

0 topics, 0 posts

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User Rating

Average: 8.1 / 10.0 (163 votes)

Bayesian Average: 7.82 / 10.0

28%

24%

18%

13%

Last Updated

September 20th, 2025 12:29pm PDT - 1 month ago

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Genre

Drama Fantasy Historical Josei Romance
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Like Wind on a Dry Branch (Novel)

I Became the Squirrel That Saves the Villain

Usagi Yojimbo

Dearest Fiancé, I Know You Despise Me

I'm a Hero, but the Heroines Are Trying to Kill Me

Recommendations

N/A

Author(s)

Dalsaeowl

Artist(s)

Hwaeum

Year

2020

Original Publisher

Base Story

Naver

Serialized In (magazine)

Naver Webtoon (Naver)

Naver Series (Naver)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

LINE Webtoon

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #499

(-14)

Monthly Pos #813

(+30)

3 Month Pos #754

(+279)

6 Month Pos #603

(-192)

Year Pos #732

(-185)

List Stats

On 672 reading lists

On 297 wish lists

On 81 completed lists

On 44 unfinished lists

On 296 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Embarrassed

by starrymisty
3 days ago

Rating: 6.0 / 10.0

I actually feel shame for not liking this as much as others. Everyone raves about it and it did seem really good at first! But I got a bit frustrated with Rieta's inability to let go of the past (which was understandable, it was her husband and child and had only been a year plus everything else) and the pace was too slow for me. I dropped at 80 smth. But I was intrigued enough to skip to future chapters lmao the angst seems real good luck readers. I also dislike a bit Rieta's childish and naive nature at times, but on the whole I still like her character a lot. The best thing about this comic imo were the ladies of the East Annex LOVE THEM.

I didn't find the language too old-timey.

... Last updated 3 days ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

Initially promising but disappointing

by qazmlpok
6 months ago

Rating: N/A

There's just something about the main characters that drives me crazy. It had a really strong start and beautiful artwork but I can't stand reading this.

Rieta is shown as a deeply broken woman with a compulsive need to offer help to other people. Killian sees that she's burning herself out, likely intentionally, and constantly orders her to just rest. Rieta keeps disobeying him.

The problem I have with this is that Killian is a slave driver for literally every other character. He's not an enlightened boss that realizes the importance of rest, that overwork leads to mistakes, that rested people will be better able to respond to new circumstances, or anything else like that. He exclusively tells Rieta to take a break, presumably because she's the FL and he's obligated to fall in love with her. She has her reasons for disobeying him but it honestly feels more like she's doing it because she's the FL and needs to be in constant conflict with the ML so they can properly fall in love later.

Resting is working too. Just teach her that magic phrase and maybe she'd stop being so obstinate.

Also all the stuff about plague demons is really weird; I can't even tell if plague is contagious in the same way real world is because it's genuinely caused by these demons that can be exorcised.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Well...

by LazyM0nday
1 year ago

Rating: N/A

Well, tbh i went for romance .. but mostly all there is, is a story of a beyond repair broken FL who after 150+ chapters gets repaired ? As for the romance part..dont hold youre breath xD thats not the focus in this story. there will be it..but youl read a long time before any glimpse of it .
For me totally waste of time . Tho i agree the story wasnt bad and the art was nice..but a broken to pieces FL isnt really for me.. if youre looking for some HC drama with some romance to to come before the manhwa ends then this is for you.. aa and for people who ware thinking.. what about the " mature " Tagg some websites attach to this manhwa.. well theres no mature stuff here lol.. not sure why its there.. tbh im not even sure why there is a romance tag xD
Well iv rambled enough xD
hope this gave some help..

Was this comment useful? Yes

In my Top 3

by velvetv
2 years ago

Rating: N/A

I read A LOT of manga and manhua. This series is in my top favorites. It's written incredibly well -- the scanlation teams are doing a fantastic job of translating the elegant dated speech to English and I am so grateful. It's been a long time since I had so much fun reading a story, since there are usually so many grammatical errors and it's not edited by a native speaker.
The story itself is also beautiful, positive, and satisfying. I like almost all of the characters. The pacing and development is good, as is the artwork. 10/10!!

Was this comment useful? Yes

One explicit rape scene away from a 1970s/80s Harlequin Romance/Western bodice ripper

by TiredandDeadInside
2 years ago

Rating: N/A

I'm not sure if that's amazing or not. I haven't felt this weirdly on edge since the 90s about a piece of "historical fantasy" romantic. I'm fairly certain I've read nearly this exact plotline in various Western books. I've felt Deja Vu kicking my face in every few pages or lines of overpowering, flowery dialogue.

I'm not a fan of the dialogue style because, again, it's very dated. But it fits the atmosphere and increases the drama perfectly. Whoever did the translation deserves a raise for how well it flows.

I don't know if I like this work or not but:

Artwork: 5.5

Story & Pacing: 4.5.

Characterization: 8.5. (Best, most respectful male lead, yet. WOW.)

Plot, so far: 4.5

World Building: 6.5

I've only started reading Korean manhwa aimed at girls/women about a month ago but I've read A LOT of Western romance novels and Josei manga marketed towards career women. There's VERY noticable differences between all 3 but this manhwa is the first one I felt could easily be marketed at Western Women who've never read a single manga/manhwa/manhua in their life.

Was this comment useful? Yes

one of my favorite slow burns

by Ziggyzag
3 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

Art is beautiful. The dialogues are uncommon. The flow of their relationship is something I admire.
Refer to milkgreentea's comment cause I think they said what I also wanted to say.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Not for those who hate slow paced stories

by kunia343
3 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

I've read until chapter 133 and really love this story. The story is a MAJOR SLOWBURN so it's not for those who want a fast paced or fluffy romance though there is still fluff here and there which is
very much appreciated. Both leads are grieving and trying to continue living in a world without their most precious people. Grief is definitely a major theme in this story so of course there would be some angst. And I don't think Killian and Rieta deserve the hate they seem to be getting. Killian is a major gentleman who respects women and their boundaries.

I really love that despite his strong feelings for her, he isn't pushy and doesn't force his feelings on her. Plus, he totally respects Rieta's need to grieve and is understanding of her hesitance to fall in love.

The storywriting is beautiful and honestly for me, Killian is probably the most gentlemanly and most respectful male lead I've ever read in stories with european-like historical setting and I've read plenty.

I really like the various interactions between the many characters and we see how Rieta's many new encounters help her to cope with her loss and grief and to open up to the possibility of a future with others.

Major kudos to translators because the words they used are just beautiful. I read in both Indonesian and English and Line Webtoon really did a great job with their TL work.

Was this comment useful? Yes

The reviewer before me got it right

by ciel_bleu
3 years ago

Rating: N/A

Seriously, their review is so apt, concise and pertinent. If you're not into angst then ditch it fast. It's a cringefest.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Terrible story but great for horny teens into angst

by gaiafires
3 years ago

Rating: 1.0 / 10.0

This story is absolutely the worst if you like coherent stories or logical progressions or are sane. Honestly speaking if the archduke can be suspected just because of blood scent in the room then the empress knifing the pope in their alone room should have at least lead her to being detained for questioning not walking away with his blood still on her feet

This story is great if you just like drama dragged out romances in Korean dramas where small issues turn into 30+ chapter hills and get blown out of hand so the ML and FL can angst and will they won't they together.

... Last updated 3 years ago

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Not a simple love story but an elaborate series of schemes and high fantasy

by Crimtos
4 years ago

Rating: 4.0 / 10.0

The story started out pretty grounded and the characters were all fairly likeable. However starting at about chapter 15 when the empress is introduced the story takes a sharp turn into elaborate scheming and high fantasy. The schemes that the empress are able to pull off are so elaborate that I found them to be ridiculous and I wasn't expecting the story to suddenly introduce zombies. If you aren't looking for a grounded love story but instead a dark high fantasy story about scheming and manipulation you might like this but it wasn't what I was expecting.

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