Lyra, a princess of the Wa Kingdom, a land reminiscent of a warring-states era, is captured through political intrigue and forced into the harem of the distant Daril Empire. The empire's harem has a unique rule: any woman who remains childless for several years is granted her freedom. Seizing this hope, Lyra resolves to keep her distance from the Emperor, Asir, and quietly wait out her term, dreaming only of returning home. However, her plans are thwarted by her own natural qualities. Tested by the Empress and provoked by ambitious consort candidates, Lyra uses the sharp intelligence, resilience, and cheerful demeanor instilled by her parents to navigate one crisis after another. Rather than remaining invisible, her competence and innate kindness draw the attention and admiration of those around her, and she begins to show glimpses of a natural-born ruler. The central irony of the story is that her every attempt to stay unnoticed and secure her freedom instead pushes her further into the spotlight, making her the emperor's most favored consort against her will. As the narrative progresses, Lyra becomes entangled in the empire's deeper political struggles and begins to confront the responsibilities of leadership, culminating in a formal contest of hospitality with the power-hungry consort Yashamina for the position of the next Empress Dowager.