Chih is a nonbinary cleric from the Singing Hills Abbey who travels the Empire of Anh to uncover and record forgotten histories. Tasked with archiving the contents of Thriving Fortune, they methodically inventory imperial artifacts while piecing together the true story of the exiled empress. Quiet, observant, and respectful, they serve as an advocate for marginalized voices historically silenced by the ruling class.

Rabbit is a former servant who became the closest friend and confidante to Empress In-Yo. Originally sold to the palace as a young child to pay her county's taxes, she spent years surviving the rigid hierarchy of the royal court by keeping her head down. Underneath her unassuming exterior, she is highly observant, perceptive, and a careful curator of the historical record.

In-Yo is a princess from the conquered northern kingdom married to the Emperor of Pine and Steel in a political alliance. Dismissed by the xenophobic court of Anh as a lonely, superstitious outsider, she secretly harbors immense political ambition and sharp strategic instincts. Following her exile to the remote property of Thriving Fortune, she begins laying the groundwork to assert her own autonomy against her husband's regime.

The patriarchal ruler of the Empire of Anh. He treats his wives, including Empress In-Yo, as political tools to secure his own legacy and solidify control over conquered territories like the north. After In-Yo provides him with an heir, he coldly orders her sterilization and banishment, demonstrating his ruthlessness.

Almost Brilliant is a talking hoopoe, known as a neixin, kept by the clerics of the Singing Hills Abbey. She possesses a supernaturally perfect memory and travels with Chih to memorize the historical accounts they uncover. While she exhibits a dry, sassy personality, she takes her solemn duty of preserving history for future generations very seriously.

Sukai is a fortune-teller from the capital who becomes a vital spy in Empress In-Yo's underground information network. His given name is Bucket, but he earns the nickname Sukai (a type of migratory bird) from In-Yo's family. He hides his espionage work behind terrible jokes, juggling acts, and astrological charts, bringing a rare sense of joy to the tense environment of the exile camp.

An unfriendly official serving the Emperor of Pine and Steel. Tasked with overseeing Empress In-Yo's exile, he regularly brings court ladies to Thriving Fortune under the pretense of providing company, though his true purpose is espionage. He constantly seeks to catch the empress committing an act of treason.

A former inn worker who serves as an accessory wife to the emperor. Unsuited to the snobbish culture of the palace due to her lower-class background, she genuinely befriends In-Yo and Rabbit during her visit. She introduces them to the dice and fortune-telling game Lo-Ha, unintentionally providing In-Yo with a valuable new tool.

An influential accessory wife of the emperor who hails from a noble family. Beautiful, charismatic, and powerful within the court, she treats the newly arrived In-Yo with a mixture of fear and contempt, viewing the northern princess as an uncultured outsider.

An actress, con-woman, and fortune-teller who paints her eyelids to resemble a fox. She becomes one of the most important figures in Empress In-Yo's covert information network, using her marginalized status in society to pass along critical intelligence completely unnoticed by the imperial guards.

A highly skilled artisan who creates a golden, jewel-encrusted mammoth figurine for Empress In-Yo. She demands a high personal cost for her labor and briefly shares an intimate encounter with the empress before eventually leaving to become a nun.

An older fortune-teller who joins Empress In-Yo's covert espionage operation. He harbors deep resentment toward the imperial establishment because his son was killed by the emperor's guards, making him a willing participant in the empress's plans.

A famous and formidable colonial general in the empire's army. He is directly responsible for the death of Empress In-Yo's brother during the conquest of the northern kingdom, marking him as a primary target of the empress's wrath.

The son of Empress In-Yo and the Emperor of Pine and Steel. Immediately after his birth, he is forcibly separated from his mother by palace officials so he can be raised strictly as an imperial heir, prompting In-Yo's subsequent exile.