This is explained perfectly! TvT I did researches on it when studying in my personal time about political marriages but lowkey got too emotional to even think abt it this helped me calm down ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~
You didn't need to write all of that lmao. The harem is fine. The problem is that Shuraka should have talked to Tei--someone from a completely different culture, someone of a lower status and class than the literal ruler of the nation--about the harem instead of letting Tei find out by himself.
And also history lol? This is all fantasy, not true history. I think it's hilarious when "history" is used as a shield to invalidate other people's thoughts and criticisms when this is a fantasy story with a hodgepodge of vaguely south east asian and middle eastern cultural elements
Well, yes, it’s fantasy. My point is about the harem within the story’s context.
A lot of the criticisms in the comments are valid, but it feels like people are overlooking what the story already tells us. Shurakaka was only a child when he fought against his much older siblings for the throne, while Tei was sent away for protection. That means Shurakaka was basically left alone. As one of the chosen eyes of Nataym, he had the forces behind the other princes working against him, so he needed all the allies he could get just to survive and secure the throne.
Because of that, I think people should try to understand his situation first instead of immediately condemning him. There’s still a strong possibility that he didn’t lie about the concubines at all. Some of them could have been the previous emperor’s concubines, while others might have allied themselves with him to secure his rule. In that sense, they might not even be “concubines” to him personally, but rather political assets tied to the palace and the throne.
That’s why it’s a bit funny to me that instead of looking at the context and trying to understand his side, people have already decided to curse him. And considering that his blood has already turned gold, people should already know what that implies in the story.
Apology for my bluntness, I just feel a bit sorry for Shurakaka. (I called him that because it sound cuter.)
It’s honestly laughable that some people don’t understand the real reason harems existed in the first place. A harem was never just about the emperor’s personal pleasure. Its true foundation was political power and stability, something that directly benefited the emperor himself.
The women who entered the harem, especially the primary consorts, were usually from powerful aristocratic families. Because of this, each consort represented more than just herself; she represented an entire clan, faction, or political network. By bringing these women into the imperial household, the emperor was effectively tying powerful families directly to his throne.
This arrangement strengthened the emperor’s authority. Those families now had a vested interest in protecting the emperor’s reign because their own status and influence were connected to the palace. In other words, the harem functioned as a political alliance system centered on the emperor.
These women were not merely decorative figures. Their presence symbolized political relationships. Offending or mistreating a high-ranking consort could risk angering the powerful families behind her, which is precisely why they carried influence within the court. That influence was not a weakness of the emperor’s power, it was part of the structure that supported it.
The system helped bind the nation’s most powerful houses to the throne, ensuring that their interests aligned with the emperor’s survival and authority. That is the true basis of the harem system: not indulgence, but political strategy designed to strengthen the emperor’s power.
Study historical facts, people! Before letting your naivety speak. History was never all rainbows and sunshine, especially in eras like this.