The cast of Royal Scandal.
Due to the songs being published anachronistically, the story gains context as more is released, making it difficult to talk about the characters without spoiling other songs. As such, all spoilers will be unmarked. Please proceed with caution.
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Bar Masquerade
Alicia/Chelsea
The Red Diva of the Bar Masquerade. When her voice resonates on stage, the greatest show is about to begin. Her real name is Alicia while "Chelsea" is a Stage Name.
- Abusive Parents: Alicia's mother seems to be the kind and caring sort, which is why Alicia is so shocked to meet the Queen of Hearts, who sets her soldiers on the young girl. It's also implied that her mother abandoned her to pursue her desires using the Necklace of Hearts.
- Alice Allusion: Her Fairy Tale Motif, as demonstrated by her name, Alicia, and recurring Wonderland imagery whenever she's around.
- Animal Motifs: A minor one with cats. Her eyes are distinctly cat-like, bringing to mind the Cheshire Cat. As well, Queen of Hearts results from her going through her mother's things, resulting in a case of "curiosity killed the cat".
- Characterization Marches On: In Cherry Hunt, she was depicted as more sensual and free-spirited, basking in the audience's attention, enjoying lavish gifts resulting form her popularity, and trying to seduce Lewis. In later appearances, she's more reserved, sweet, and romantic.
- Childhood Friends: With Rosetta, as they were raised together at the bar along with Lewis.
- Childhood Friend Romance: With Lewis. Chelsea seems to cement when a young Lewis started developing feelings for her.
- The Diva: In the most traditional meaning. She became the Red Diva after Lilian stepped down.
- Expy: Of Megarine Luka, who sang the original Cherry Hunt prior to the creation of Royal Scandal.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Aside from the Alice Allusion described above, Bitter Sweet also gives her a Cinderella theme. She loses a shoe twice in the MV and waits for Lewis to come for her at midnight. Her red cloak in Wonderland in Alice brings to mind Little Red Riding Hood.
- Fairy Tale Wedding Dress: The white dress that Prince Albert commissions for her in Bitter Sweet is evocative of one, although she's not actually getting married. It gives her the air of a bride abandoned at the altar.
- Girlish Pigtails: She had these as a kid. As an adult, she wears a side ponytail.
- He Will Come for Me: She intentionally sets up such a scenario by leaving with Prince Albert, in hopes that Lewis will chase after her. It works and they both seem happier for it.
- Lady in Red: In Cherry Hunt, she's shown as free-spirited and flirtatious, trying to seduce Lewis. However, Characterization Marches On and she grew out of this.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Without prior knowledge of the Royal Cards, Queen of Hearts could be interpreted as a young Alicia discovering that her mother is a prostitute and being attacked by the clients. The Wonderland-theming of the situation could have been a way for Alicia to rationalize the traumatic event based on her readings of Alice in Wonderland.
- Ms. Fanservice: Her songstress outfit consists of a low-cut, cleavage-baring bodice with open sides, a short Showgirl Skirt, thigh highs, red high heels, and High-Class Gloves. She also has a mole on one breast, which draws the eye to her cleavage.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: In REVOLVER, she dedicates a song to a childhood friend she hasn't spent time with in a while. This friend is Rosetta, who had been about to kill Alicia out of envy.
- Pink Means Feminine: As a child she's sometimes dressed in pink, such as in Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Game.
- Rose-Haired Sweetie: Sweet and kind, and has pink hair.
- Something about a Rose: Associated with roses. She has one in her hair and is usually depicted holding one as a child. It symbolizes her innocent loving nature and her struggles with romancing Lewis. After the events of Wonderland in Alice, it veers into The Tragic Rose.
- Stage Name: Chelsea, after the cherry tree she and Lewis took care of in their youth.
- True Blue Femininity: She's sometimes shown wearing a blue dress with a white pinafore as a child, a reference to how Alice is commonly depicted.
- Unknown Rival: She has no idea that Rosetta sees her as a rival and is working to sabotage her budding stardom.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: It's clear that she's as interested in Lewis as he is in her, but their mutual insecurities prevent them from forming a romantic relationship. In Cherry Hunt, he rejects her attempts at seducing him, seemingly out of a desire for her to be honest with herself. The tension finally gets resolved in Bitter Sweet, when Alicia leaving with Prince Albert motivates Lewis to chase after her as a demonstration of his feelings. By Wonderland in Alice, they've become engaged and are looking forward to a wedding.
- Worst Wedding Ever: Just before she's to be wed to Lewis, she becomes trapped by the Necklace of Hearts and Lewis is shot by Harvey.
Lewis
The Bartender. Many guests visit to converse with him.
- Alice Allusion: His Fairy Tale Motif, as demonstrated by his name, Lewis, and association with Alicia.
- The Bartender: His occupation. His description says that many visit to talk with him, so he must either be a good listener or give good life advice, despite his aloof personality.
- Childhood Friend Romance: With Alicia. Chelsea seems to cement when a young Lewis started developing feelings for her.
- Dark and Troubled Past: He was kicked around and beaten as a slave before Kevin saved him.
- Expy: Based on Luz, who was blond at the time of commissioning RAHWIA for the Cherry Hunt MV.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Aside from the Alice Allusion described above, Bitter Sweet makes him the Prince Charming to Alicia's Cinderella. Hikari themes him after The Little Match Girl.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: When Alicia leaves with Prince Albert in Bitter Sweet, Lewis is reluctant to go after them due to believing that he can't make Alicia happy. It takes Rosetta chewing him out for him to gather his resolve.
- Image Song: Hikari is from his perspective, being a song about him finding hope in a hopeless situation.
- Named After Someone Famous: After Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland and other works.
- Retcon: Cherry Hunt showed him being sold to the bar. Hikari retcons this by instead having Kevin take him in, thus saving his from his abusers.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: In Cherry Hunt, he coldly rebuffs Alicia's attempts to seduce him but smiles and looks at her fondly when she's asleep. It's likely that his rejection was due to wanting Alicia to approach him honestly rather than putting on an act. Nonetheless, this comes back to bite him in the butt in Bitter Sweet, as his rejection made Alicia think he wasn't interested in her.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: It's clear that he's as interested in Alicia as she is in him, but their mutual insecurities prevent them from forming a romantic relationship. In Cherry Hunt, he rejects her attempts at seducing him, seemingly out of a desire for her to be honest with herself. The tension finally gets resolved in Bitter Sweet, when Alicia leaving with Prince Albert motivates Lewis to chase after her as a demonstration of his feelings. By Wonderland in Alice, they've become engaged and are looking forward to a wedding.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Him finding the Necklace of Hearts in the trash as a kid sets up the events of Wonderland in Alice, when an adult Alicia discovers it.
- White Shirt of Death: He was wearing a white suit for his wedding when he got shot in Wonderland in Alice.
- Worst Wedding Ever: Just before he's to be wed to Alicia, she becomes trapped by the Necklace of Hearts and he's is shot by Harvey.
Rosetta
The White Diva of the Bar Masquerade. Her beautiful and pristine appearance can charm any man.
- Abusive Parents: Her father was The Alcoholic and beat her mother. While her mother tried to shield her by shouldering the abuse, she eventually did abandon Rosetta to the troupe's custody to commit a Murder-Suicide.
- Attention Whore: Part of her envy toward Alicia seems to stem for a desire for attention. She seduces men to fawn over her and tries to steal Lewis from Alicia out of spite. After REVOLVER, she appears to have moved past this.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Plays nice but is actually a vicious, vindictive person. After her Heel Realization, she seems to have sorted herself out.
- Character Tic: Tends to bite her thumbnail when stressed.
- Childhood Friends: With Alicia and, to a lesser extent, Lewis, as they were all raised together at the bar.
- Control Freak: BULLET has Sven note that much of Rosetta's attention-seeking seems to be a bid to establish a sense of control in her life. Even though she Does Not Like Men, she still attracts a group of yes-men that she can keep under her thumb. This also implies that she felt that Alicia was a threat to that stability, since Alicia was gaining more attention than her. All of this seems to be a coping mechanism for unresolved childhood trauma.
- Cymbal-Banging Monkey: Seems to be associated with a cuter variant. Throughout Phantom Pain and BULLET, a toy monkey with cymbals appear around her. In Phantom Pain, her father steps on and crushes the monkey. In BULLET, the monkey appears concurrently with the puppet imagery associated with Sven, implying that for all her performing otherwise, Rosetta is still as helpless as a toy.
- Decomposite Character: The sensual, attention-seeking behaviour from Alicia's Cherry Hunt characterization was moved to Rosetta after Alicia's personality was rewritten.
- Does Not Like Men: Although she surrounds herself with male groupies, she actually hates men and finds them disgusting. This is likely due to her childhood with an abusive father.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: BULLET makes her the Blue Fairy to Sven's Pinocchio.
- Falling Chandelier of Doom: She gets her groupies to drop a stage light on Alicia while she's performing. A Heel Realization prevents her from going through with it.
- Green-Eyed Monster: She hates Alicia for getting chosen by Lilian over her, which drives the plot of REVOLVER.
- Heel Realization: After Alicia's Oblivious Guilt Slinging, Rosetta realizes that her hatred is unfounded and that she's about to murder an innocent childhood friend. This causes her to knock Alicia out from under the falling stage light that would have killed her.
- Pink Means Feminine: Wore a pink dress as a kid, in contrast to Alicia's True Blue Femininity.
- Precision F-Strike: From REVOLVER:I don't care whatever it takes.
Just kill that bitch! - Scars Are Forever: She has a scar on her thigh from an injury her dad gave her as a child. She still has it as an adult.
- Ship Tease: BULLET gives her some with Sven, implying them to be or will become a Beta Couple.
- Something about a Rose: In contrast to Alicia's romantic red roses, Rosetta is associated with yellow roses, which symbolize hatred and envy.
- Trauma Button: Sven reaching out to her reminds her of her physically abusive father, sending her into a panic attack. Realizing his mistake, Sven comforts her.
- Unknown Rival: Alicia has no idea that Rosetta considers her a rival and is trying to sabotage her budding stardom. After her failed murder attempt in REVOLVER, Rosetta has gotten over it.
- The Vamp: Downplayed, as she's not evil, just misguided. She uses her body to gain control over men. She tries to seduce Lewis away from Alicia out of spite, but it doesn't work. After REVOLVER, she appears to have stopped doing this.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Chews out Lewis for letting Alicia leave with Prince Albert. When berating him doesn't work, she summons Sven with a fancy suit and, with some encouragement, motivates Lewis into chasing after his love.
- Yellow/Purple Contrast: Her clothes tend to have purple accents to contrast with her blonde hair and yellow roses.
Sven
- Because You Were Nice to Me: His loyalty to Rosetta seems to partially be because she was kind to him when others bullied him. Subverted in that Sven knows that Rosetta only acted this way to sway him to her side, but he allowed it anyways because she was the only one who accepted him even if it was to take advantage of him.
- Education Mama: It's implied that both his parents were like this, considering the emphasis on books and the two people with their backs turned on a younger Sven in the BULLET MV. This seems to have informed his current lack of will.
- Extreme Doormat: He lacks desires of his own, calling himself an "empty puppet", so he tends to go along with other people's wishes. This got him bullied by his peers at the bar. It's why he initially followed Rosetta around, as her desire for control complimented his desire to be controlled.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: BULLET describes him as Pinocchio, a puppet brought to life by Rosetta's Blue Fairy.
- Image Song: BULLET, which fleshes out his character, his thoughts about Rosetta, and his perspective on the events of REVOLVER.
- "Not So Different" Remark: BULLET contains an implicit one when Sven realizes the depth of Rosetta's self-loathing and finds it similar to his. While she can't live without manipulating others and Sven can't live without being manipulated, the fact that they're not so different is what helps him to start overcoming his subservient mindset and genuinely care for her.
- Once More, with Clarity: Overlaps with P.O.V. Sequel, as the later half of BULLET retells the events of REVOLVER from his point of view.
- Ship Tease: BULLET gives him some with Rosetta, implying them to be or will become a Beta Couple.
- Stoic Spectacles: Wears glasses and is unemotional, stated to feel apathy most of the time.
Aylmer
An bright and energetic apprentice staff member.
- Advertised Extra: Despite being billed as part of the main cast on the official website, so far he's only appeared in one scene in Bitter Sweet, and in the background to boot.
Lilian
Bar Masquerade's first diva, before she stepped down and passed the position to Alicia. She has a harsh demeanor but it comes from a place of love.
- Early Installment Character-Design Difference: Prior to REVOLVER, she was a faceless background character with a simplistic design. After becoming a named character, her dress got more elaborate and embellished.
- Parental Substitute: She's something of a surrogate mother to Rosetta, after Rebecca left her daughter in Lilian's care. To a lesser extent, she's also one to Alicia and Lewis.
Kevin
The owner of Bar Masquerade, who has a habit of taking in orphaned children.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Before his name was revealed, supplementary materials referred to him as "Master" (マスター), which is more or less like calling him "Boss" in English.
- The Faceless: In Hikari, his face is hidden by shadows when he rescues Lewis. His face isn't shown until Phantom Pain.
- Parental Substitute: He's something of a surrogate father to Alicia, Lewis, and Rosetta, being the one to give them a home and later a workplace after they escaped from unfortunate circumstances.
Rebecca
Rosetta's late mother. She was the Bar Masquerade's designer and had an abusive husband.
- The Alcoholic: She's introduced drinking a lot to "take the edge off the pain." Lilian and Kevin stop her and express concern, which she waves off.
- The Dog Bites Back: After all the abuse she suffers, she finally decides to poison her husband.
- Domestic Abuse: Her husband was The Alcoholic and was physically violent with her. She put up with the abuse to shield her daughter but eventually she decided enough was enough.
- Murder-Suicide: After poisoning her husband, she kisses him to be poisoned as well, so that they can die together. The lyrics to Phantom Pain implies that she did this out of some twisted, residual love for him.
- Parental Abandonment: Since she planned a Murder-Suicide, she left Rosetta to be taken care of by Kevin and Lilian, and lied that she's be back by midnight.
- Widow's Weeds: Even before becoming a widow! She puts on a black dress for her final dinner with her husband.
Patrons
Olivia
An elegant noblewoman and one of Bar Masquerade's regulars. She was romantically involved with Alam.
- All Take and No Give: The Giver to Alam's Taker, as he bleeds her dry of money without really loving her. In Magic Ring Night, it was actually originally the other way around, with Alam spoiling Olivia with gifts.
- The Dog Bites Back: Alam only got together with her for her money and cast her aside when her funds ran low. She repays him by shooting him, once in the torso and once in the head.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Beast in the Beauty makes her both the Beauty and the Beast.
- Sexy Slit Dress: She wears a white dress with a slit at the climax of Beast in the Beauty. It serves to hide the gun holstered on her thigh, which she uses to kill Alam when he approaches her for a kiss.
- Uptown Girl: The uptown girl to Alam's poor man. Downplayed, since he's still able to shower her with gifts, so he's not that destitute. Regardless, a humble merchant and a noblewoman weren't a permitted union.
Albert
The prince of the western nation of Amol/Amor. He is skilled with both a pen and a sword. The weight of his nation's future and hopes rest on his shoulders.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Bitter Sweet makes it seem like he's the Prince Charming to Alicia's Cinderella but he actually isn't. Lewis is.
- Graceful Loser: In seeing that he never had a chance at Alicia's affection, he graciously accepts his loss and give her and Lewis the moment together.
- Rich Boredom: Bitter Sweet begins with him "desiring a night of passion" and going to Bar Masquerade for a night of fun, of all places. There, Alicia piques his interest.
- Romantic False Lead: Albert figures out Alicia's hang-ups over Lewis from the sad looks she sends him and swoops in to show her that Albert's a better choice. However, this ends up helping Lewis come to terms with his feelings and chase after her, cementing their relationship.
- Sheep in Sheep's Clothing: At first, he seems like a Millionaire Playboy who's trying to steal away Alicia for his own gratification and to spite Lewis. While he enjoyed Alicia's singing and dresses her up, Albert did sincerely want to cheer her up and is satisfied when Lewis makes her smile.
Antagonists
Matt
An enigmatic mad hatter.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Alice in Wonderland, being a reference to the Mad Hatter.
- Man of Wealth and Taste: Smartly dressed in a sharp suit and introduced in Wonderland in Alice having a spot of tea. He is also a villain.
Harvey
A mysterious man wearing a rabbit mask.
- The Heavy: Of his associates, he's the most frequently seen manipulating other characters and events. The Queen of Hearts' soldiers all wearing rabbit masks imply his involvement. He's also the one who gave Olivia the gun she'd use to kill Alam. He, along with Matt, sent Alam after the Ring of Spades, causing his corruption.
- Malevolent Masked Men: He's known by his distinctive rabbit mask and he's done things that have ruined people's lives.
- Moon Rabbit: His description on the official website mentions that his "crescent moon" has been broken.
Catherine
A creepy, grinning cat.
- Exotic Eye Designs: Her pupils are horizontal.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Alice in Wonderland, being a reference to the Cheshire Cat.
- Mysterious Purple: She wears and is associated with purple. Fitting for a mysterious and mischievous villain.
- Villain Song: Cheshire Game is her character introduction.
Loreena
Alicia's mother, the Queen of Hearts.
- Abusive Parents: While she seems to have been a decent mother to Alicia at least until becoming the Queen of Hearts, if her ordering her soldiers to attack Alicia is reflective of her hidden desires, then she probably wasn't all that great.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Alice in Wonderland, as she's outright named the Queen of Hearts.
- Ms. Fanservice: She's wearing a shoulderless leotard with a heart-shaped Cleavage Window and thigh highs. Plus, Queen of Hearts has rather suggestive lyrics.
- Parental Abandonment: Seems to have abandoned Alicia in her pursuit of her pleasures using the Necklace of Hearts.
- Villain Song: Queen of Hearts, which switches between her and Alicia's perspective.
Others
Alam
A merchant from the southern nation of Podel/Poder. He was romantically involved with Olivia.
- All Take and No Give: The Taker to Olivia's Giver, as he bleeds her dry of money without really loving her. In Magic Ring Night, it was actually originally the other way around, with Alam spoiling Olivia with gifts.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: He wanted a way to be with Olivia. Harvey and Matt led him to the Ring of Spades, which fulfilled his wish, at the cost of killing his love for her and turning him into the Jerkass Gold Digger we see in Beast in the Beauty.
- Fairy Tale Motifs: Magic Ring Night assigns him an Arabian Nights theme.
- Gold Digger: In Beast in the Beauty, he only got together with Olivia for her money and started cheating on her once her funds ran low. Subverted when Magic Ring Night shows that this behaviour was caused by the Ring of Spades and that he originally sincerely loved her.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Without prior knowledge of the Royal Cards, Magic Ring Night can be interpreted as a metaphor for Alam's Start of Darkness, where his attempts to accumulate wealth so that he can be with Olivia corrupts into unrepentant greed.
- Tearful Smile: Moments before succumbing to the Ring of Spade's corruption, he imagines Olivia's smiling face and gives a faint one of his own, knowing that he won't see her again as himself.
- Uptown Girl: He's the poor man to Olivia's uptown girl. Downplayed, since he's still able to shower her with gifts, so he's not that destitute. Regardless, a humble merchant and a noblewoman weren't a permitted union.
