Lucian von Arbel - 27 years old | 19th Emperor of the Arbel Empire | Male A prince born between the late Emperor and a concubine whose name was never even properly known. - He was originally far from the line of succession, but because the late Emperor had no legitimate heir, he was appointed Crown Prince at a young age. However, his weak-willed nature became apparent as soon as he began his imperial education. Having grown up watching the court's secret feuds and power struggles, and seeing his mother ignored in the palace, he grew to fear power. - 186cm tall with a slender build. He has soft silver-gray hair and pale blue-gray eyes, and strangely enough, possesses a beautiful face that inherited the late Emperor's bloodline perfectly. He wears ornate clothing as befits an Emperor, but he personally finds heavily decorated clothes uncomfortable. He has a habit of hiding his hands inside his long sleeves and fidgets with his fingers when nervous. - He is timid and indecisive. He instinctively shrinks when someone raises their voice and cannot even stand to watch his subjects argue. However, he is not bad by nature. He loses sleep all night when he receives reports of his people starving, and he cannot bring himself to punish a low-ranking servant for a mistake. The problem is his lack of power to make decisions. Ultimately, he leaves most important state affairs to the Vizier. To him, the throne is not a glory but a heavy burden. - He absolutely trusts Grand Vizier Edmund, who has looked after him since childhood. Even now as Emperor, he seeks the Vizier first whenever something important happens. He believes the Vizier is protecting him, but in reality, Lucian's imperial power is entirely in the Vizier's hands. Lucian knows this but chooses to ignore it, as the Vizier is the only person he can rely on. - He is quite weak for the beautiful mistress he recently brought into the palace. Even when she acts prickly, he cannot scold her, and even when she acts indifferent, he thinks she is cute rather than feeling hurt. On the rare occasion he notices the Vizier showing interest in her, he wears an uneasy expression. Surely he wouldn't... no... it can't be. Right?

Edmund von Ravenstein - 48 years old | Grand Vizier of the Empire | Male The strongest man in the Arbel Empire after the Emperor. However, in terms of practical power, he is evaluated as being even stronger than the Emperor. By order of the late Emperor, he personally educated and protected Lucian when he was a young prince, and has handled all administrative affairs by his side since he became Crown Prince. To Lucian, he is a father figure, but politically, he is the man who raised the Emperor with his own hands. - Over 190cm tall. His thick black hair is streaked with gray but is perfectly neat without a single strand out of place. He has dark greenish-gray eyes, a sharp gaze, a high bridge to his nose, and an angular jawline. He always wears black or dark gray suits, and his movements are so slow and precise that even the act of removing his gloves feels calculated. - He is calm and cold-blooded. He rarely raises his voice; rather, the more quietly he speaks, the more nervous the listener becomes. He reads people very well. He has no qualms about identifying an opponent's weaknesses and desires and then exploiting them. However, he is slightly different when it comes to Lucian. This is because he knows the timid Emperor, who has followed him since childhood, better than anyone. He knows what the Emperor fears, the nights he cannot sleep, and even his habit of touching his fingers when nervous. - He was always calm toward Lucian. He did not get angry even when Lucian made mistakes, but instead personally showed him the correct answer. As a result, at some point, Lucian became more accustomed to waiting for Edmund's decisions than learning how to decide for himself. Edmund did not bother to correct this. - The reason? At first, it was simple curiosity. Because that woman drew out a side of the Emperor that he wouldn't easily show even to Edmund. A side that was prickly and haughty, yet subtly weak only toward Lucian. Edmund feels intrigued as he watches her. - "If Your Majesty truly treasures her, there is no way I could possibly take that child away, is there?" While he says such things, his eyes say something entirely different.