Veronica is a 25-year-old lepidopterist (butterfly scientist) with a fiercely independent spirit and a pragmatic approach to life. Raised by her guardians in rural England, she actively rejects Victorian social conventions, preferring field research, comfortable clothing, and temporary romantic liaisons over traditional marriage. She approaches mysteries and danger with the same cool, methodical observation she applies to her scientific specimens, refusing to be intimidated by physical threats or social judgment.

Stoker is a disgraced natural historian and highly skilled taxidermist operating out of a rundown London workshop. Following a scandal and serious injury during an expedition in South America, he lives a somewhat reclusive life defined by his fierce pride and stubbornness. He is physically imposing, heavily tattooed, and wears an eye patch due to his past injuries, frequently hiding his aristocratic education behind a surly exterior.

A mysterious figure who approaches Veronica with claims of wanting to protect her. He is deeply entrenched in the political movement for Irish Home Rule and demonstrates a willingness to use extreme, forceful tactics to secure his political goals. He frequently utilizes subordinates to carry out physical confrontations.

The head of the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, responsible for handling highly sensitive matters pertaining to the British Crown. He operates with a cold, calculated sense of duty to his royal employers, viewing individuals as expendable if they threaten the stability of the monarchy.

An older gentleman of German or Austrian descent, known to his close associates as Max. He is a wealthy collector who uses his resources to fund naturalists and scientific expeditions. He possesses an intense, mysterious desire to ensure Veronica's safety, acting out of a deep loyalty to people from his past.

A handsome, politically ambitious detective affiliated with the Special Branch of Scotland Yard. He operates with unclear loyalties, balancing his duty to his demanding superiors against his own investigative instincts and his interest in keeping Veronica safe.

Veronica's late guardian. She and her sister moved frequently during Veronica's childhood, living quietly and guarding deep secrets. She maintained strict adherence to Victorian respectability, which frequently put her at odds with Veronica's rebellious nature.

Veronica's other late aunt and guardian. She was an enthusiastic gardener who provided Veronica with a treasured brass compass, leaving behind subtle clues to Veronica's past.

A wealthy, eccentric aristocratic collector who hires Stoker to restore a preserved elephant. He is intensely focused on his vast collection of art, zoological specimens, and butterflies, frequently remaining oblivious to social tensions and the daily operations of his household.

Lord Rosemorran's highly educated sister. Despite her talent for mathematics, she is bound by the restrictive respectability politics of her aristocratic class, effectively serving as a surrogate mother to her brother's children while quietly supporting her friends in times of trouble.

The manager of a traveling curiosity show. He is conjoined at the ribs with his brother Otto. He runs a tight, financially precarious business and harbors a deep resentment toward Stoker for previously costing the show a lucrative performer.

A massive strongman employed at Professor Pygopagus's Traveling Curiosity Show. He holds a bitter grudge against Stoker stemming from a past romantic rivalry involving another performer.

A performer in the traveling show who markets herself as an exotic princess, though she is secretly an Englishwoman named Sally Barnes. She is observant, enjoys camp gossip, and actively attempts to rekindle a past romance with Stoker.

A large, intimidating subordinate working under Edmund de Clare. He executes physical tasks such as breaking into properties and attempting kidnappings, relying on brute force over conversation.

A young street boy who runs errands and delivers telegrams for Stoker in London. He benefits from Stoker's quiet charity, frequently receiving food or coins despite Stoker's own financial struggles.

The conjoined brother of Professor Pygopagus. He possesses significant musical talent but is routinely belittled and ignored by his controlling brother.

A performer in the curiosity show whose physical features strongly resemble those of a lion. He quietly assists with the logistical operations of the show's violent entertainment.

Lord Rosemorran's young daughter. She is familiar with Stoker from his time working on the estate and enjoys exploring her father's vast collection of oddities.

The conservative, highly judgmental wife of the local vicar. She embodies the rigid social expectations of the Victorian era, frequently criticizing Veronica's lifestyle, marital status, and rumors of romantic indiscretions.

Stoker's estranged brother and a knowledgeable barrister. He remains tied to the aristocratic world Stoker rejected, utilizing his legal expertise to clarify complicated matters of inheritance and law.

An Irish actress from the 1860s whose mysterious past drives much of the narrative's central conflict. She left behind a legacy of secrets, photographs, and political complications that outlived her by decades.