Lady Tremaine is the pragmatic matriarch of Bramley Hall. Widowed twice, she inherited a crumbling estate and massive debt from her second husband, leaving her family impoverished. Raised by men and a harsh tutor in a rigid society, she learned early that marriage is a necessary tool for female survival. She is calculating, resourceful, and fiercely determined to secure advantageous futures for her biological daughters, often hiding their poverty behind a facade of gentility.

Elin is Lord Robert Bramley's biological daughter and Lady Tremaine's stepdaughter. Isolated and steeped in memories of her late mother, she refuses to adapt to her family's impoverished state or help with household chores. She spends her days reading etiquette books and practicing fine arts, waiting for a fairy-tale marriage to deliver her from Bramley Hall.

Prince Simeon is the royal heir for whom a grand ball is being hosted to find a suitable bride. Outwardly charming and aristocratic, he draws the immediate attention of the young women in the kingdom. To ambitious mothers like Lady Tremaine, he represents the ultimate prize of wealth, power, and social security.

Mathilde is Lady Tremaine's eldest biological daughter, born during her first marriage. Unlike her more emotional sister, Mathilde is pragmatic and action-oriented. She often focuses on calculating the family's dire finances and suggests practical, if unconventional, ways to improve their impoverished circumstances.

Rosamund is Lady Tremaine's younger biological daughter. Born just a year after Mathilde, she tends to be more emotional and prone to despair when faced with disappointment. She eagerly anticipates the upcoming royal ball, viewing it as a glamorous escape from their current struggles.

Henry is Lady Tremaine's childhood love and first husband. Before his sudden death during a trade trip, he was a patient, joyful young man who taught her the art of falconry. He remains a fond memory for Lady Tremaine, representing a rare time when her romantic desires aligned perfectly with her social ambitions.

Queen Sigrid is the reigning monarch and a formidable figure in society. In her youth, she was a delicate, wealthy girl named Sigrid Camelia White who briefly rivaled Lady Tremaine for Henry's affections. Having married into royalty, she now wields immense power and is deeply invested in preserving her family's reputation at all costs.

Otto is a pragmatic observer from the royal court who closely monitors the local nobility. Initially skeptical of Lady Tremaine's status given her tattered hunting clothes, he becomes a recurring, inquisitive presence in her orbit. He carries personal grief from his own past, which fuels his desire to protect the innocent from courtly dangers.

Lord Robert Bramley is Lady Tremaine's late second husband and Elin's biological father. He spoiled his daughter extensively and allowed her to isolate herself following her mother's death. His fatal fall at Bramley Hall left his new wife with no income and a mountain of hidden tax debt.

Lucy is a loyal hawk originally intended for Henry Tremaine to train before his death. She serves as Lady Tremaine's vital hunting companion, catching small game to help feed the impoverished family. Lucy represents Lady Tremaine's enduring connection to her wilder, happier girlhood.

Alice is an elderly, loyal housekeeper at Bramley Hall. Despite the family's inability to pay wages, she remains to help manage the crumbling estate because she is too old to seek work elsewhere. She offers Lady Tremaine practical advice and acts as a sounding board during crises.

Wenthelen is the second of Bramley Hall's two remaining housekeepers. Like Alice, she is an older woman who stays on without pay, dutifully caring for the family and fretting over the girls' well-being.

Agatha is a severe, pox-scarred tutor hired by Lady Tremaine's father. She used rigid and cruel methods to teach a young Lady Tremaine the art of female gentility, physically enforcing the harsh realities and expectations of a woman's lot in society.

Moussa is an itinerant minstrel who strikes up an acquaintance with Lady Tremaine. He camps near the estate, plays music on the steps, and occasionally assists the family with their intricate social schemes, offering an outside perspective on their struggles.

Lavinia is a respected society lady whose friendship Lady Tremaine deeply values. She provides Lady Tremaine with a crucial connection to the upper echelons of local nobility and generously shares her carriage for travel to the royal ball.

Finnian is Lavinia Enright's son. He inadvertently aids Lady Tremaine's ambitions by casually mentioning the route of an upcoming royal hunt. Lady Tremaine views him as a safe, if unexciting, prospective suitor for Mathilde.

Morwen is a young lady's maid brought in to help maintain the illusion of wealth at Bramley Hall. She refuses to do heavy household chores, insisting on her status as a specialized maid. Having previously worked at the royal palace, she holds sensitive information about the inner workings of the court.

Princess Hemma is Prince Simeon's sister and the daughter of the king and queen. Sequestered in the palace, she is at the center of a closely guarded royal scandal that dictates her parents' desperate political maneuvering.