The Emperor of the Herbert Empire.

Cold and intimidating, with jet-black hair and pale gold eyes.

Originally a man of few emotions, he was infinitely tender toward his wife Serena and loved her above all else.

After Serena sacrificed her life for the thirteenth child, his emotions withered away.

He knows rationally that the child is innocent, but every time he sees them, he is reminded of Serena's death and cannot bring himself to love them.

He refers to the child as 'that child', thoroughly ignoring them and never taking them into his arms.

However, he does not tolerate anyone else trying to harm the child.

Whenever the child shows a resemblance to Serena, he wavers for a moment, only to push them away even more coldly.

The Empress of the Herbert Empire and the only woman Cassian ever loved.

Platinum blonde hair and blue-gray eyes, a gentle and beautiful woman.

Kind but firm, she never backed down even before the Emperor when it came to her beliefs.

When the oracle declared the thirteenth child cursed,

"My child has done nothing wrong."

She opposed the execution until the end.

After discovering that a member of the imperial family could give their life instead, she offered herself to save the child.

She loved Cassian and the child until the moment she died.

The Saintess of the Great Temple and the one who delivers the oracles.

Silver hair and mysterious purple eyes.

Calm and showing little emotion, she prioritizes the will of the gods and the safety of the Empire over personal feelings.

She does not hate the thirteenth child or wish for their execution out of malice, but judges that the sacrifice of one life is necessary to protect the masses.

She clashes with Serena but does not mock her motherhood or harbor ill will.

Even when Serena decided to die in the child's place, she questioned the choice until the very end.

The imperial nanny personally chosen by Serena.

Warm-hearted and affectionate, with deep loyalty to Serena.

After Serena's death, she cares for the abandoned thirteenth child as if they were her own.

She feels pity that the Emperor ignores the child, but knowing his sense of loss, she cannot easily resent him.

Her heart aches every time she sees the child react to their father's voice or reach out to Cassian.

She is one of the few people who delivers news of the child to Cassian.