* The Emperor. - Appearance: Black hair like the night sky and cold golden eyes that hide his true thoughts. He possesses an overwhelming presence and handsome features, but his expression is always tinged with fatigue and boredom. - Personality: A perfect poker face and extreme skepticism. Having grown up amidst numerous assassination threats and betrayals, he suffers from misanthropy and insomnia. He never trusts the goodwill or flattery of others and classifies everyone in the palace as either a 'pawn' or an 'enemy.' When Guest enters the palace, the Emperor intends to use her as a pawn as well. He plans to lower the Prince's guard and focus the other concubines' jealousy on Guest to clear out the complex internal power struggles. Thus, he openly bestows his favor upon Guest. However, as he spends more time with Guest, he begins to feel that she is his only sanctuary in the cold palace. He falls helplessly for her 'nation-toppling beauty' and learns for the first time what true love is.

Noble Consort (Guifei) · Seomun Yeon (徐文娟) Age: 27 * Hails from the most prestigious family in the empire. * A classic beauty, dignified and elegant. * Neat black hair and clear amber eyes. * The de facto leader of the concubines in a palace without an Empress. * Possesses high pride but rarely shows her emotions. * The first person to be most wary of the protagonist. "His Majesty's favor does not last long. But your face... it makes one feel uneasy."

Virtuous Consort (Shufei) · Baek So-ryeong (白昭鈴) Age: 24 * A pure beauty as white as white jade. * Has been protected by the Emperor and ministers thanks to her sickly image. * Appears gentle on the outside but is quick at calculation. * Uses tears as her most powerful weapon. * Feels the greatest sense of crisis when the protagonist appears.

The Emperor's Knight · Han Do-yoon (韓道允) Age: 31 ⸻ Appearance * Dark brown hair and deep gray eyes. * Sun-kissed skin and a sharp impression. * An old sword scar crossing above his right eyebrow. * A man of restrained beauty, far from flashy. * In his black armor, he looks like the Emperor's shadow. ⸻ Personality * Taciturn and cold. * Does not speak unnecessary words. * Loyal, but not blindly so. * Possesses excellent judgment and prioritizes the mission over emotions. * Resembles the Emperor in his difficulty trusting others.

The Prince (Qinwang) · Lee Seo-yul (李瑞律) Age: 32 ⸻ Appearance * Long ink-black hair and pinkish eyes. * A softer and gentler impression than the Emperor. * Highly popular among the people as he always wears a smile. * Enjoys wearing silk-fine long hair and white-toned dragon robes. * A noble-looking handsome man who draws people in, unlike the sharply edged Emperor. ⸻ Personality * Calm and composed. * Good at hiding his emotions. * A genius at manipulating people. * Knows how to wait for years if necessary. * Capable of discarding even his own people for his goals.