Beauty standards really sucks but I do believe that the author is not trying to say that being tan or having freckles is an ugly thing. More like, it's how society really portrays that being called "beautiful" must've mean flawless, clean, pale, and pristine without them coz I believe that really in any royal au, they considered freckles as a dirt permanent on your face or if you're tan, you're not different from commoners since you're supposed to be pale due to not working directly under the sun. Their twisted beliefs are pretty much similar to other plots that talks about "ugly" female leads.
Beauty standards really sucks but I do believe that the author is not trying to say that being tan or having freckles is an ugly thing. More like, it's how society really portrays that being called "beautiful" must've mean flawless, clean, pale, and pristine without them coz I believe that really in any royal au, they considered freckles as a dirt permanent on your face or if you're tan, you're not different from commoners since you're supposed to be pale due to not working directly under the sun. Their twisted beliefs are pretty much similar to other plots that talks about "ugly" female leads.