Hi! I'm looking for a female lead that's not physically strong, but emotionally strong. It's ok if they don't start out that way like the female lead in 7 seeds( lol forgot her name), actually for me it's better because I like seeing development. There MUST be romance, and I want the romantic lead to be HORRIBLE to her like actually really mean and hateful, and for them to develop a romance, but actually develop, not I hate you but I see you like animals so I'm going to erase the years of torment. Please suggest a lot of things! I've read so many mangas but it's been a while since I've been on this site, so I forget the name of a lot of them so I couldn't give examples sorry!

Maybe:
Nakanmon!
Hana yori Dango
Ginzatoushi to Kuro no Yousei - Sugar Apple Fairytale

Cheese in the Trap

The female lead is very smart, hardworking, and doesn't let others control her life. In the beginning, the male lead torments her for no apparent reason, but eventually comes to respect her after spending some time with her. The art could be better, but the story is really well done.

Reimei no Arcana

The main character is a princess who is sold to the prince of another country to buy peace. He's initially very cruel to her.

Kirai

Art is quite bad, but the story is different from most shoujos and has more depth.

Diamond Life

A pretty amazing manga that deals with a lot of issues.

Paradise Kiss

Male lead seems like a gentleman at first but continually hurts the female lead because he's a judgmental trash. There's an anime too.

The Prince's Cactus is a good manga the mc is a girl whos sister is getting married and the man who her sisters marrying is related to a prince hes arrogant and rude. They dont get along at all as shes a serious girl who works her ass off and never gives up while hes a lazy bum he even tries to treat her like a servent read it if you want to see there adorable romance (it really is one of the cutest mangas ive read) 😁