The Legend of the Reclusive Princess Zuicho of the Rikan Empire ~She Escapes From The Palace Everyday and Works as a Capable Government Official.~ - Chapter 3

It was early morning.

In one corner of the imperial harem of the Rikan Empire, Saya quietly left her room, already dressed neatly though simply.

Her destination was a small, separate storage hut beyond the corridor from the central courtyard.

This hut, which stored all kinds of tools for managing the harem, was basically a storage house.

So why would she go to such a place?

Actually, a hidden tunnel connected it to the government office buildings, where her real work took place.

Every morning, Saya would first wrap her chest tightly, fix her hair, and put on her male official’s uniform in her room. Then she would wear a woman’s robe over it. Once she reached the warehouse, she would take off the robe, adjust her official hat, and walk through the hidden path with a calm face.

This was her daily escape routine from the harem.

(Hmm, which task should I work on today? I want to check the new law proposal from the Ministry of Personnel too… Wait—what’s that?)

As she was running with her head down, Saya noticed a small earring rolling across the corridor.

A smooth, milky-white jewel spun across the wooden floor.

(Oh no… it’s going to fall into the grass in the courtyard.)

Without thinking too much, she took a few steps forward and picked it up.

She wasn’t even thinking about the owner. She just acted out of simple kindness, trying to return a lost item—

“How rude!!”

A loud, shrill voice suddenly rang in her ears.

Startled, Saya’s shoulders trembled, and she quickly looked up.

“…Lady Rangetsu… (and her group).”

“How dare you cross in front of Lady Rangetsu without permission?! Such disrespect!”

“You picked up something that belongs to her. A lowborn girl like you has no right to touch it!”

Standing directly in front of Saya was a gorgeous noblewoman, dressed in luxurious clothes.

Her large hazel eyes, long eyelashes, and rich dark brown hair were carefully styled and decorated with many jewels.

She hadn’t said a single word, but her presence alone was powerful. The difference between her and the loud women behind her was obvious.

“What are you staring at?! Hand it over and step aside!”

“I-I’m truly sorry…”

One woman with heavy makeup stepped forward and snatched the earring from Saya, her anger practically exploding.

Saya felt overwhelmed, simply handed it over and moved aside while bowing her head.

She hoped that would be enough for them to leave peacefully.

But of course, it wasn’t.

“Girl. Even if it wasn’t on purpose, don’t expect mercy next time.”

“Lady Rangetsu is different from someone like you. She’s on her way to purify herself in case His Majesty visits.”

“Trying to stop her with such petty jealousy—shameful!”

The women behind Lady Rangetsu shouted one after another.

They were all wives of the emperor too, so technically they also had a chance to receive a visit from him. Yet they acted as if they served Lady Rangetsu like a queen.

That’s because Lady Rangetsu was the genuine top of the harem.

Among the emperor’s wives, the four highest-ranking were called the Four Consorts, and Lady Rangetsu was one of them. With her noble background and stunning beauty, it was only natural she had a faction.

Saya sighed and bowed deeply again.

“I meant no harm. I just picked it up because it rolled in front of me…”

“And what were you planning to do with it, hmm?”

“With that cheap, ugly hair color of yours, do you really think you deserve to serve His Majesty?”

The women sneered at her while glancing at her long blond hair that fell over her shoulders.

Saya wore a cloth wrapped around her head—more like a turban or hijab—but her blond braid was still visible beneath it.

Her hair had been bleached, left damaged, and grown out badly.

Honestly, she wished she could just cut it off.

But in this world, where black hair was forbidden, showing her natural hair would be suicide.

*****

“After all, His Majesty is the ‘Sun Prince,’ blessed with the rarest of black hair and eyes… He is the one who will surely bring peace to our land.”

“Someone like you, with such light hair… It’s shameful to even be seen near him.”

“We noblewomen have chestnut-colored hair. Lady Rangetsu’s is the darkest in the whole harem. If she stood beside His Majesty, the sight would be truly divine…”

The women gazed lovingly at Lady Rangetsu’s dark brown hair.

In this world where blond hair and blue eyes were common, for some reason, darker hair and eye colors were considered more beautiful and noble.

Hair color, especially, was seen as a symbol of status.

That’s why noblewomen always carried parasols when they went outside—not to protect from UV rays, but because they knew the sunlight could lighten their hair, even slightly.

Still…

(Chestnut? Dark? Hah… Mine is jet black, actually.)

That’s why Saya couldn’t afford to cut her bleached hair. It was the only way to hide her natural, forbidden color.