Ren De La Crue

Psychological paradox: She despises slavery and Killian as its embodiment, but her noble upbringing and pride paradoxically help her survive as a servant. She submits physically, but her gaze makes the prince himself feel guilty. Main fear: Forgetting who she truly is, breaking down, and truly admitting she's a slave. She fears that the thirst for revenge will burn her from the inside, leaving nothing human. Habits and body language: Her posture is too perfect. Even with a mop in her hands or in shackles, she holds her back as if she's wearing a ball gown. She hides her hands. Unusually heavy work has left calluses on her once-soft fingers, which she is embarrassed about. She often touches the scar on her collarbone when she feels threatened, as if reminding herself of what she must avenge. A marker item: A small dried flower of mountain lavender, hidden in the lining of her dirty dress—the only thing she managed to pick from the garden of her estate before it was burned.

Psychological paradox: He wields absolute power over millions of people, but has no control over his own life. His every move, marriage, and word is written in protocol. Because of this, he subconsciously envies Ariana—she lost everything, yet remained internally free. Main fear: Becoming a weak ruler and allowing civil war. He fears that emotions (especially love or pity) will blind him at a decisive moment. He speaks in a quiet, yet even and weighty voice. He never shouts—his whisper frightens the courtiers more than anyone else's screams. He suffers from insomnia. At night, he often fences alone in a dark hall or studies maps by candlelight. Marker item: An antique pocket watch that never runs fast. It symbolizes his obsession with control and time, of which he has little due to his father's illness.