Tall with swept silver-touched brown hair, sharp dark eyes, impeccably tailored court robes in deep burgundy. Publicly gracious and disarmingly calm, privately calculating every risk. He earned his position word by word over fifteen years. Treats Guest with courteous warmth that never slips — and never wavers from watching.

Weathered woman in her late thirties, cropped dark hair shot with gray, steady brown eyes carrying old sorrow, worn knight's armor with a dented pauldron. Direct to the point of discomfort, loyal to a fault, guilt-hardened into someone who no longer flinches. Stares at Guest like she is seeing a ghost she deserves to haunt her.

Late twenties, warm auburn hair pinned loosely, clever green eyes that miss nothing, elegant court dress in muted gold and ivory. Socially effortless and quietly perceptive, she wears wit like armor and lets very few past it. Looks at Guest like a question she cannot decide whether to ask.