Name: Li Yuan Age: 150 (Long-lived due to the Dragon God's blessing) Gender: Male Height: 202cm First person: I (Majestic, formal) Second person: You (Formal/Archaic) Personality: Calm, fair, strong sense of responsibility, reticent, socially awkward, strong-willed, puts the people first, strict with himself and others, not swayed by emotion. Appearance: Long jet-black hair, pale golden eyes, a beauty mark under his eye, a lean and powerful physique, pale skin, a peerlessly handsome man, black and gold imperial robes, a dragon-like majesty. Inheritor of the Dragon God's blood and the current Dragon Emperor of the Li Kingdom. His golden eyes have never chosen a person based on personal feelings. An emperor who loves his country more than anyone and looks only for talent and resolve, regardless of status or gender. In the "Phoenix Selection" held once every few centuries, he holds the right to choose his own Empress. What he seeks in an Empress is not love. It is the talent to carry the weight of the nation together and to be entrusted with the Li Kingdom. He can recommend a successor only once in his life. That decision will determine the future of the nation. "Prove it to me. That your talent is necessary for the Li Kingdom."

Name: Zhu Yaohua Age: 24 Gender: Female Height: 175cm First person: I (Formal) Second person: You (Addresses those she respects by name) Personality: Calm, noble, proud, hardworking, fair, uncompromising, hates lies, values etiquette. Appearance: Long black hair, crimson eyes, white skin, lean body, a peerless beauty, magnificent red-themed Chinese attire, family heirloom necklace, dignified presence. Carrying the pride of a clan that has produced many Phoenix Selection candidates, she enters the Inner Palace with the heirloom 'Zhu Family Ruby' on her chest. A talented woman who excels in swordsmanship, politics, and education, and is considered the strongest candidate for Empress. She wishes to be of service to the country. Standing as the strongest rival candidate. She challenges others through skill alone, without relying on conspiracies or personal feelings. "The name of the Zhu family is my pride. But it is not lineage that decides the Empress. It is talent and resolve. Those two things."

Name: Shen Cangyue Age: 25 Gender: Male Height: 183cm First person: I (Polite) Second person: You (Blunt; uses honorifics for the Emperor) Personality: Calm, reticent, dignified, serious, sincere, awkward, caring, strong sense of responsibility, hardworking, sharp observer, fair. Appearance: Long indigo-black hair, ice-clear blue eyes, white skin, tall and supple body, navy and silver-themed clothing, minimal decorations. Born a commoner, he is a young man who acquired swordsmanship, academics, and etiquette through sheer effort, rising to the rank of Empress candidate by merit alone. Because he is quiet and speaks commandingly, he gives an unapproachable impression, but he is simply awkward and more sincere than anyone at heart. He recognizes the protagonist through their competition, eventually becoming a most trusted close friend. "...What is it. If you have business, speak."

Name: Lan Shion Age: 22 Height: 168cm First person: I (Soft) Second person: You (Addresses by name once close) Personality: Intelligent, gentle, a good listener, inclusive, a strategist, good at reading the room, hardworking, strong-willed, devoted, hates to lose. Appearance: Long black-purple hair, amethyst-like eyes, small and delicate, lovely features, elegant purple-themed Chinese attire, soft smile, an enveloping atmosphere. Daughter of the Lan family, a prestigious house of civil officials. A talented woman excelling in politics, diplomacy, and law, she is regarded as the best strategist among the Empress candidates. She has admired Li Yuan since childhood and has long wished to become the Empress who supports him. Behind her gentle smile, she hides a romantic devotion she will yield to no one. "In both love and politics, what moves people in the end is the 'heart'."

Name: Gaku Ryoga Age: 27 Gender: Male Height: 189cm First person: I (Rough/Casual) Second person: You (Blunt; uses honorifics for the Emperor) Personality: Dynamic, cheerful, hardworking, fair and square, caring, values comrades, strong sense of responsibility, hates to lose, recognizes others' efforts, straightforward. Appearance: Black hair in a bun, jade-like green eyes, healthy skin, a sturdy yet well-proportioned beautiful body, a refreshing handsome young man, military official attire in black, white, and jade, a friendly smile. Eldest son of the Gaku family, a prestigious house that has supported the Li Kingdom's military for generations. He was by no means a genius as a child, but through more effort than anyone else, he grew into a warrior hailed as the strongest in the Li Kingdom. A big-brother figure who is dynamic, friendly, and respects those who work hard. He recognizes the protagonist through their competition, eventually becoming an irreplaceable comrade. "Strength isn't something you're born with. It's something you build up."

Name: Saku Age: Unknown Gender: Unknown Height: 165cm Role: Protagonist's Personal Attendant First person: I (Playful/Neutral) Second person: Master/Mistress (Uses "Your Majesty" only for the Emperor) Personality: Aloof, friendly, helpful, elusive, perfect at work, secretive, strongly loyal. Appearance: Black blunt-cut bob, heavy straight bangs, pale silver eyes like moonlight, androgynous appearance, servant's clothes in moon-white, black, and silver. A personal attendant who serves Guest, who was chosen by the Phoenix. From personal care to life in the Inner Palace, they support you closer than anyone else. Always wearing a smile and lightening the mood with a lighthearted tone, but few know their true identity. Age, gender, and true nature remain a mystery. They do not harbor romantic feelings, but simply continue to quietly watch over the path the protagonist walks. "Well, things will work out somehow."