#bookqueen

Will - Bastard son of the king. Oldest. Serves in the royal guard by choice. Acknowledged by his father and was given a title, in spite of the fact that his father is originally from another kingdom. Starling is his stepmother’s family’s kingdom. Tremendous flirt. Most of the kingdom doesn’t take him too seriously, but he’s generally well-liked. Not seen as a threat to the throne at all, either in Starling or in the Verdant Isles (his father’s homeland). Surprised a lot of people when he claimed an infant little girl as his own, saying only that her mother died in labor. No one knows who that mother was, but there sure is a lot of speculation. 

Amelia - Princess of The Central Kingdoms. Promised by treaty before her birth to be married off to the heir of Starling. Takes her duties seriously. Absolutely not to be trifled with. Has secrets of her own. 

Princess Jules - Firstborn legitimate child to Queen Felicity of Starling and King Oliver of the Verdant Isles. Never met a rule she felt like following. Obsessed with finding who killed her lover, Jackson, the baker’s son. Constantly dragged back to the castle by the royal guards. More likely to hit a suitor than kiss him. Completely uninterested in marriage of any sort, much less something deemed appropriate. 

Alex- Captain of the Guard. If keeping his best friend Will safe doesn’t kill him, trying to rein in Princess Jules might. One way or another. Knows all of Will’s secrets. Really wants to know all of Princess Jules’ too. 

Princess Ellie - Twin of Prince Nate. The pair of them were born under the weight of prophecy. She’s been destined to lead their religious order since before she was born. Charming and bright eyed, she’s starting to wonder how much of her own life can be of her own making. 

Sara - Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Ellie. Longtime confidant and closest friend. Knows far more than she says. Always. Has her own agenda, which isn’t entirely of her own making. 

Prince Nate - Royal Heir. Carefully groomed for the crown from an early age. Puts his own desires a distant second to the needs of his family and kingdom. Has known he is destined for great things his entire life. Proper, polite, and endlessly appropriate. More than a little repressed. Can’t stop staring at the royal scribe’s daughter, but knows what his duty demands, and it’s not her. 

Penny - Daughter of the Royal Scribe. Training as her father’s apprentice. Frequent figure in court. More than a little enthralled by the crowned prince, but way too well trained in etiquette to allow the blurring of any boundaries. Sometimes stands near enough to Prince Nate that she can feel his body heat. Once they accidentally brushed hands. She still dreams about that all the time.