Tropes Media Browse Indexes Forums Videos Ask The Tropers Trope Finder Media Finder Trope Launch Pad Tech Wishlist Reviews Tools
Cut List New Edits Edit Reasons Launches Images List Crowner Activity Un-typed Pages Recent Page Type Changes Changelog
Tips
Creating New Redirects Cross Wicking Tips for Editing Text Formatting Rules Glossary Edit Reasons Handling Spoilers Word Cruft Administrivia FAQ
Tropes HQ
About Us Contact Us Advertise DMCA Notice Privacy Policy Report Bug
Go Ad-Free Changelog
  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Highlight Links
 

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Characters / The Royal Romance

Go To

Below are the major and minor characters for the The Royal Romance, The Royal Heir and The Royal Finale. Warning, spoilers ahead!

    open/close all folders 

Protagonists

    Riley Brooks 
The main character of the story who originally worked as a waitress in New York until the members of the House Beaumont decide to sponsor her in a competition for the Prince's hand.
  • Beautiful All Along: What Liam says to her in chapter sixteen of the second book, including in her waitress outfit when they first met.
  • Clear My Name: After she's framed of cheating on Liam, she spends the entire second book doing everything possible to clear her name.
  • Costume Porn: Her premium choices of outfits.
  • Awesome Moment of Crowning: In the final chapter of the third book, Riley is bestowed the title "Champion of the Realm" after helping Liam save Cordonia from almost being taken over by Anton Severus.
  • Damsel out of Distress: She gets the chance to fight the assassins attacking her, Bertrand, and her bridesmaids on the way to her wedding in the third book. When tied and bounded by Anton Severus, she and Olivia could free themselves before their friends came and found them. Later, she also helps her friends taking down Anton Severus and his guards in the end.
  • Defiant Captive: When she's tied up by Anton Severus along with Olivia and taunted, she has the option to respond him with a headbutt that is enough to make him reeled backward.
  • The Determinator: From struggling to fit in court, clearing her ruined name, fixing her friends' family dramas, convincing the noble families around Cordonia to attend her wedding, reassuring and rallying the Cordonian people as well as uniting her country to fighting her enemies. Almost everyone admires and acknowledges her fierce determination.
  • Dude Magnet: Liked/loved by all the male potential love interests. Even Tariq seems to have a crush on her.
  • Fairy Tale Wedding Dress: Her premium choice of wedding dress.
  • The Fashionista: Almost all her premium outfits are considered to be the latest trend or just fashionable.
  • Fish out of Water: She's a New York City waitress who gets thrust into court intrigue.
  • Friend to All Living Things: All the animals she encounters seem to immediately like her.
  • Go-Getter Girl: If choose correctly, Riley can do almost anything or a fast learner; ice skating, climbs near the waterfalls, bakes a perfect apple pie, sails a boat, slides down staircase, doing back flip and splits, maneuvers a speedboat, knows how to catch a fish when fishing, slices a perfect cut in the cake with a sword, endures swimming in a frozen lake, endures hot stones therapy, doing a rodeo, gathering cattle, throws knives accurately to the targets, catching an intruder after checking on an ultra-sound for her pregnancy, car racing, fire breathing, juggling and sword fighting.
  • Grand Staircase Entrance: In the new artwork of the first book's second chapter,, she is seen walking downstairs elegantly in a stunning dress. Especially if she wears the premium dress.
  • Hard Head: During the Beaumont Bash in chapter sixteen of the first book, she smashed a bottle over her head. It barely affected her, since she didn't even remember it happening. She also has the possibility of headbutting Anton in the third book, with him being the only one affected by the impact.
  • The Heart: Her friends, her rivals, even King Father Constantine acknowledges her as the one who has a way of bringing people together.
  • Hero with Bad Publicity: At the start of the second book, Riley is this after pictures were leaked to make it look like she was cheating on Liam with Tariq.
  • Hope Bringer: A premium choice in chapter thirteen of the first book has Maxwell reveal to Riley this is why he chose her to compete for Prince Liam.
  • Kicking Assin All Her Finery: She takes up a sword to fight alongside Olivia and Hana against Anton Severus and his assassin guards in the third book, while still wearing her wedding dress.
  • Last-Name Basis: Drake only calls Riley by her last name, rather than her first.
  • Limited Wardrobe: If you don’t have enough diamonds, that is.
  • Mama Bear: She'll do anything to protect her daughter Lilly from harm.
  • Meaningful Name: Her default first name, Riley, is of Irish origin that means "courageous" or "valiant". Almost everyone acknowledges her fierce determination and fearlessness in facing any challenges and solving problems.
  • The Mole: By chapter three of the final book, she, her spouse, and her friends become this to infiltrate and destroy the Via Imperii from within once and for all.
  • Muscles Are Meaningless: She is clearly slim, slender and certainly not trained for combat since young age as Olivia was. But, she could defend herself when helping her friends defeating Anton Severus and his assassins guards in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21, meets a match when sword fighting with a well-trained warrior, Olivia, in Heir Book 3 Chapter 8 and punches one of Barthelemy's personal guards, Celia, in the jaw until she is knocked unconscious in Heir Book 3 Chapter 18.
  • Never Bareheaded: One thing about her wardrobe is she always has to have a hat to go with it.
  • Rags to Royalty: From a broke waitress to a queen or duchess.
  • Screaming Birth: In Heir Book 2 Chapter 1, you can have her go into this while she's in labor.
  • Token Minority: Depending on customization options, she can potentially be the only Hispanic or South Asian character in the main cast (Liam can only be customized to be white, black, or East Asian and Hana is East Asian; the rest of the main characters are white).
  • Use Your Head: In the third book, Anton taunts her while she is tied to a chair. She has the option to answer him with a headbutt.
  • World's Most Beautiful Woman: If she chooses Liam as her love interest, he often compliments her as this.
  • You Are Better Than You Think You Are: What she has always said to her friends and (potential) allies that they come to like or love her.

    Prince Liam Rys 
Prince Liam, or whatever you decide to call him, is the current prince of Cordonia. He's currently on the search to find a suitable princess to marry and rule Cordonia alongside with him. He is one of Riley's potential love interests. By the end of Romance Book 1, he's officially crowned King. He always puts others' happiness before himself.
  • Because You Were Nice to Me: The reason why the well-known cynical Drake and mean Olivia make him an exception to act nice, protective and loyal to, is because they owe his kindness. In fact, it is also his kindness that touches his long-lost sister, Lena, that makes her eventually dares to change side against her foster mother, Sigrid.
  • Betty and Veronica: The Betty to Drake's Veronica.
  • Calling the Old Man Out: When he and Riley discover that his own father is apparently the mastermind behind Riley's sabotage that forces him to choose Madeleine to marry him and get to confront him, Liam finally dares to stand for his love for Riley.
  • Comes Great Responsibility: He is aware of the perks and his privileges as a royalty, but he tries hard to use his power to govern fairly and serve his people and country. Not abusing it for selfish reason.
  • Developers' Desired Date: He is obviously favored by the story as the Riley's love interest. Justified, since she is involved in the plot at all because she goes to compete in a selection of potential brides for him. Even if she doesn't marry him, her child (for a rather contrived reason) is declared his heir.
  • The First Cut Is the Deepest: He seems to be this if Riley rejects his proposal. It becomes more obvious in Heir Book 1 Chapter 2, when he shows up in Riley and her spouse's honeymoon and points her future child to be his next in line, because he'd rather remain single than having another loveless political marriage.
  • Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: He is the responsible, serious and dutiful son to his older brother, Leo's, foolish prankster, troublemaker and fun-loving one.
  • The Ghost: Liam maintained this status throughout the Rules of Engagement books, being mentioned by Leo and never appearing in the story until he made his first official appearance in The Royal Romance.
  • Given Name Reveal: A premium choice in Heir Book 2 Chapter 17 reveals his last name is Rys.
  • Hidden Depths: If you spend some times with him, he'll reveal how worried about what kind of king he'll be, among other subjects.
  • I Am Not My Father: What he tries hard to prove to anyone after learning from some nobles who inform him that his father, King Constantine, wasn't as good as he thought.
  • I Kiss Your Hand: As a crown prince and well-trained in courting women, he often gets to do this to all of his potential brides. Even after he declares his love for Riley in Romance Book 1 Chapter 19 and becomes Riley's fiancé (if Riley accepts his proposal in Book 2 Chapter 16), he still has a habit to do this to her.
  • I Miss Mom: Lost his mother in a very young age and often mentions her fondly whenever he remembers.
  • Kiss Up the Arm: If he is Riley's love interest, he has a habit to do this to her whenever they start to get intimate.
  • Knight in Shining Armor: What Riley says to him in Romance Book 2 Chapter 16, when he tells about his friendship with Drake.
  • Long-Lost Relative: In the Finale Chapter 3 reveals he has a long lost sister named Lena who is currently a member of Via Imperii.
  • Love at First Sight: Maxwell notices that he is instantly smitten with Riley from their very first time meeting in Romance Book 1 chapter 1.
  • Act of True Love: Even if Riley rejects his proposal, he still wants to give her the title duchess & the duchy, supports and helps her in wedding plannings, lending a beach for Riley and her spouse to spend their honeymoon in and points her future child to become his next in line.
  • Marry for Love: His wish since meeting Riley and falls in love with her after.
  • Meaningful Name: His default first name is of Irish origin and means "protector"; reflecting his fierce patriotism as well as his being protective toward his loved ones.
  • Nice Guy
  • Noble Male, Roguish Male: He is the noble to Drake's and even his older brother, Leo's, roguish.
  • Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: The rich suitor to Drake's poor suitor.
  • Royal Blood: Since it is revealed that his last name is Rys in Heir Book 2 Chapter 17, it is now clear that Liam, his father (King Father Constantine) and older brother (Leo) are indeed Kenna Rys's direct descendants.
  • Royals Who Actually Do Something: Joins forces with his guards fighting the terrorists in the Homecoming Ball in Romance Book 2 Chapter 19 and with his friends fighting Anton Severus and his assassins guards in the lair in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21. And along The Royal Heir, he rarely relies on or bring his personal bodyguard, Bastien, or any other royal guards along to accompany him and his friends wherever they go, including when doing an investigation and going outside Cordonia.
  • Single-Target Sexuality: When going on a first date with Riley at the Beaumont estate in Romance Book 1 Chapter 14, Liam tells her that he has been introduced to many women, including whom he thought he was interested in. Yet he never felt a spark until he meets Riley.
  • Stepford Smiler: He's been trained well about courtly life that he's very good at keeping his emotions under wraps. Only those close to him who could distinguish between his genuine happy smile or fake smile.
  • The Wise Prince (later The Good King): His long time wish and still trying to prove it, especially after learning from his father's mistake.
  • Token Minority: Potentially Liam, if you choose for him to be black or Asian.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Baklava and vanilla-flavored desserts.
  • Trauma Conga Line: At the end of Romance Book 2, Riley can reject his proposal, and in Book 3, his father dies, there are terrorist attacks, and he has to face recently being king.
  • Twirl of Love: If Riley accepts his marriage proposal in Romance Book 2 Chapter 16, he ecstatically does this to her.
  • Uptight Loves Wild: He is a well-known reserved, formal and dutiful goody-two-shoes who falls for a free-spirited, bold and adventurous Riley.
  • Uptown Guy: He is a crown prince and falls in love with Riley, a waitress.

    Drake Walker 
A commoner who has been friends with Prince Liam since childhood. Despite this, Drake is very cynical and despises everything about the royals and anything having to do with royalty, likely due to a mysterious incident that happened to his sister a while back. He is another love interest for Riley to pursue.
  • The Ace: Due to his late father, Jackson's, teachings of self-sufficiency, he is quite proficient in almost many things. Such as: fishing, sailing a boat, some martial arts, carpentry, cooking; particularly grilling, baking, even sewing (Hana secretly taught him).
  • Aristocrats Are Evil: What he thought on most nobles (except his friends; Liam, Maxwell and later, Hana) that makes him despise royalty and nobility.
  • Betty and Veronica: The Veronica to Liam's Betty.
  • Big Brother Instinct: Very protective toward his younger sister, Savannah, that he nearly assaults Bertrand in Romance Book 2 Chapter 9 upon learning the reason behind her sudden disappearance from court and what happened to her after in Book 2 Chapter 8. In Book 3 Chapter 20, when intending to propose Savannah, Bertrand tries to earn his approval.
  • Birthday Hater: He's not a fan of his own birthday since no matter what he got, Liam would get the same thing bigger and better.
  • The Cynic: Especially toward nobility.
  • Deadpan Snarker: And how.
  • Given Name Reveal: A premium choice in Romance Book 1 Chapter 18 reveals his last name is Walker.
  • Hidden Depths: Spend some diamonds and he'll divulge how he despises the court because it ruined his relationship with his sister, how he doesn't like celebrating his birthday because when he was younger, they always paled in comparison to Liam's and more.
  • Irony: Hates anything related to royalty and nobility, yet is extremely loyal and protective toward his long time best friend, Liam, who is royalty.
  • Jerkass Ball: Despite not having been depicted as caring about his masculinity before, he throws a hissy fit if you pick the pink wedding cake in Romance Book 3, Chapter 17 for your wedding with him because it is "girly". This especially stands out compare to the other two male Love Interests Liam and Maxwell, who don't care as long as you're happy. It seems that the writers also agree with this sentiment as the scene was altered just a week later.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He acts hostile and speaks rude toward Riley when first meeting her, but once approached, he is actually caring and extremely loyal. As he also usually does to Maxwell.
  • Knight in Sour Armor: Extremely loyal, protective and willing to die for everyone he cares about, but still holds a cynical view toward nobility.
  • Last-Name Basis: He usually calls Riley by her last name.
  • Like Father, Like Son: When having alone times with Riley, he frequently mentions his father and really looks up to him. He is fiercely proud on how his late father raised him to be self-sufficient and share the same personality that he even often acts as a "guard" for his friends, despite not an official royal guard like his late father. He later has a chance to become a seemingly literal personal bodyguard for Riley when intending to rescue Olivia somewhere in a mansion of one of Barthelemy's accomplices in Heir Book 3 Chapter 14.
  • Long-Lost Relative: In Romance Book 1 Chapter 7 reveals he has a sister named Savannah who suddenly disappeared.
  • Made of Iron: Despite still in the process of recovery after taking a bullet meant for Riley in the Homecoming Ball in Romance Book 2 Chapter 19, yet he could still manage to win the sword fighting duel against Neville in Romance Book 3 Chapter 10 after Neville slashed his wounded arm, does a spin kick dance on Riley's wedding reception in Romance Book 3 Chapter 20 and helps his friends defeating Anton Severus and his assassins guards in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21.
  • Meaningful Name: His first name is of English origin and means "snake" or "dragon", reflecting his guard-like protective personality and his loyalty toward his friends, especially like a right hand to his long time best friend, Liam.
  • Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold: He claims himself as a loner who is commonly unapproachable, but once Riley gets to spend more times with him, he's proved to be a good guy and extremely loyal.
  • Noble Male, Roguish Male: He is the roguish to Liam's noble.
  • Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: The "poor" suitor to Liam's rich suitor, though he's only poor in the sense that he's just a commoner.
  • Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: He is the manly, to Maxwell's sensitive.
  • Taking the Bullet / Heroic Sacrifice: What he does to Riley by the end of Romance Book 2 and how he later becomes famous for.
  • Trademark Favorite Food / Trademark Favorite Drink: Rustic food, particularly Southern American food since his mother, Bianca, is a Texan. Such as: BBQ smoked ribs and smores. He also enjoys street food like when visiting the night market in Shanghai, China, in Romance Book 2 Chapter 12. And whiskey is his all time favorite alcoholic drink.
  • Tsundere: Type A towards Riley.
  • Undying Loyalty: To Liam, who has been his closest friend since childhood. He’s even saved Liam’s life when their boat capsized.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Maxwell. Despite often seen arguing, but he and Maxwell still care for each other.
  • When He Smiles

    Hana Lee 
One of the ladies competing for Prince Liam's hand and one of Riley's closest friends, as well as a potential love interest. A lot of her motivations for competing is due to her family pushing her to do so.
  • The Ace: Due to her upbringing, she was taught a wide range of skills for the court.
  • Always a Child to Parent: She struggles to prove her parents that she has grown up, because her parents, especially her mother, seem to still consider her an immature child who needs to be taken care of.
  • Ambiguously Bi: Is Hana solely interested in women or could she be interested in men? Read more on the Broken Base entry on the YMMV page.
  • Friends Are Chosen, Family Aren't: When she could finally stand up to her parents, she says this. But she and her parents are eventually reconciled.
  • Gay Option: The only female potential love interest.
  • Grew a Spine: In Romance Book 1 Chapter 18, after Riley helps her gaining self-confidence and overcome her low self-esteem and insecurity, she could finally talk back to Olivia and be able to stand up to her father in Romance Book 2 Chapter 13.
  • Helicopter Parents: She frequently whines about how her parents are too involved in her life.
  • Heterosexual Life-Partners: Can be this toward Riley if you don't choose to pursue a romantic relationship toward her.
  • I Have No Daughter!: Her parents' threat to her when forcing her to leave Cordonia and she intends to refuse in Romance Book 3 Chapter 14. But her parents change their minds after Hana successfully convinces Rashad for a business deal with them. Thus, the family finally reconcile, her parents agree to attend Riley's wedding and let her stay at court.
  • Jack of All Trades: Due to her upbringing, Hana is known to be able to do everything from needlepoint to dancing, and more.
  • Lipstick Lesbian: Super feminine and only interested in Riley.
  • Lonely Rich Kid: Comes from a wealthy family, but she has no friends until she meets Riley and the rest of their friends. It becomes clearer as seen in Heir Book 1 Chapter 3 where she tries to find entertainment in the courting lesson.
  • Matchmaker Crush: In the first two Romance books, she supports Riley to stay with Liam, even when she is also in love with Riley.
  • Meaningful Name: Her first name means "grace" in Hebrew and "flower" in Japanese, signifying her graceful demeanor and her expertise in flowers. And as she is half-Chinese from her father, Xinghai, her surname means "beautiful" as she's known to be very beautiful as well.
  • Nice Girl: Easily the most pleasant of your fellow suitors, and the only one who is nice to Riley from the beginning.
  • Silk Hiding Steel: She is known to be graceful and suave, but when under pressure or provoked, she can get mad, competitive and fight elegantly. Such as: When she helps Liam and their friends fighting Anton Severus' assassin guards in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21 and knocks out Jin, the Auvernese spy, in Heir Book 2 Chapter 16.
  • Trophy Child: Her parents consider her this that they never make sure whether she's happy or not.

    Maxwell Beaumont 
The younger Beaumont brother. He and his brother, Bertrand, sponsor Riley in the competition for Prince Liam's hand. In the middle of Romance Book 2, he becomes one of the potential love interest for Riley.
  • Big Eater: Always seems enthusiastic and excited when it comes to food and a fast eater as seen when speed eating dumplings in Romance Book 2 Chapter 12 and eats 3 bowls of ice cream in Book 3 Chapter 4.
  • Calling the Old Man Out: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 11, he tells off his own father, Barthelemy, by calling him a bad father after seeing how terrible his father is and has been, when he keeps bragging as the better choice over Riley to take care of Lilly. And later in Chapter 18, after he, together with Riley and Bertrand, expose his father's crimes to the Crown.
  • Embarrassing Tattoo: A premium choice in Romance Book 2 Chapter 3 has Riley and Hana join the boys in the sauna. Maxwell is revealed to have a hippo tattoo on his chest.
  • Flanderization: In The Royal Romance, he was a keet who had his moments of irresponsibility and bad decisions but ultimately remained a Nice Guy who did his best to help others around him. In The Royal Heir, his childlike behavior has has been amplified, turning him into a narcissistic, inconsiderate Manchild who exposes his friends' private details on his memoir and The Film of the Book, and pressures Bertrand to hand control of the Beaumont Estate to their father, Barthelemy, while not taking some of the burdens himself.
  • Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: He's considered the foolish one by Bertrand.
  • Formerly Fat: He was chubby as a child before his mother enrolled him in dancing classes.
  • Hidden Depths: Despite known to be highly energetic and cheerful, he also frequently shows concern and worries about his older brother's, Bertrand's, unhappiness as well as frequently questions his worthiness in saving their family house.
  • Keet: In The Royal Romance, he was very enthusiastic and upbeat, with a wide-eyed sense of wonder. Flanderization has turned him into a...
  • Life of the Party: Almost everyone, especially his gang, acknowledge him to be this that it's impossible to be unhappy whenever he is around.
  • Like Father, Unlike Son: While his father, Barthelemy, is later turns out to be a manipulative and deceitful person who values ambition and power above loyalty and family, he always believes and sees the goods in everything, the life of a party and really values friendship and family.
  • Manchild: By The Royal Heir, he has become this, such as not shouldering some responsibility of managing the Beaumont Estate.
  • Matchmaker Crush: Despite he is the one who invites Riley to Cordonia to win Liam's hand, he eventually admits to have had a crush on her in Romance Book 2 Chapter 14.
  • Meaningful Name: His first name is of Scottish origin and means "child of the spring or the stream"; reflecting his "let go with the flow" principal, optimistic and happy-go-lucky nature.
  • Moonwalk Dance: He frequently does this whenever he starts dancing.
  • Never My Fault: He blamed Bertrand for missing out on Bartie's early childhood moments, even though it was Maxwell himself who hid Bartie's existence from Bertrand and siphoned money to Savannah in the first place.
  • The Not-Love Interest: For most of the story, Riley's inner circle of close friends consists of Maxwell, Drake, and Hana. For reasons that are never explained, the latter two are made available as love interests while Maxwell is not. Until Book 2 Chapter 14, when he's finally Promoted to Love Interest.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red to Bertrand's Blue.
  • Secret-Keeper: In Romance Book 2 Chapter 9 reveals he was this in keeping Savannah’s pregnancy and her location a secret.
  • Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: He is the sensitive, to Drake's manly.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Drake. Despite he and Drake are often seen arguing, they still care for each other.
  • Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: A premium choice in Romance Book 1 Chapter 16 has you able to play Truth or Dare with Drake, Hana, and Maxwell. Maxwell hates carousels due to the press mobbing him with questions and taking photos when he was 3.
  • You Are Not My Father: Ever since he found out about his father, Barthelemy's, deceits and treachery to the Crown for years, he asks for Liam's permission to disown him by the time they successfully put him behind bars in Heir Book 3 Chapter 17.

    Bertrand Beaumont 
The older Beaumont brother. He wants nothing more than to return the Beaumont house to its former glory. He falls in love with Drake's younger sister, Savannah, but he ever broke up their relationship due to his house's financial problems that he fears of not being able to afford her and their son, Bartie. But he and Savannah eventually reconcile and get married.
  • Aloof Big Brother: Always restrains from showing affections toward his own younger brother, Maxwell, and Riley.
  • Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: From the moment his long lost father, Barthelemy, shows up on the day before his wedding day, he constantly feels annoyed and embarrassed by his father's "taking over" habit.
  • Badass Biker: Surprisingly. In Heir Book 1 Chapter 10, when celebrating his bachelor party, Maxwell gives him a motorcycle as a gift that later is useful to help saving him and his friends from an attacking wild bear. Later, on the next chapter, Riley and Hana are surprised to learn that Bertrand is secretly a badass biker since adolescent, when he and Maxwell tell about their mischievous childhood.
  • Break Her Heart to Save Her: What he ever did to Savannah. He intentionally broke her heart, because his house's financial was in a deep trouble. He did so while hoping Savannah would find someone else to replace him and gives much better world for her, because he feels he could never afford her. But they eventually work things out and get married.
  • Calling the Old Man Out: He and his brother, Maxwell, finally get to do this by the time their father, Barthelemy, is arrested after Riley exposes his father's crimes in front of the court and the press.
  • Cannot Spit It Out: He has difficulties in expressing his feelings toward Savannah that he needs Riley's assistance to say it out loud.
  • Disappeared Dad: Revealed to have fathered Savannah's son without his knowledge.
    • Has his own disappeared dad, Barthelemy, when it’s revealed his and Maxwell’s father is not dead but spent most of their adult lives in a coma. And later it is revealed that his father's coma was fake.
  • Faint in Shock: In Heir Book 1 Chapter 7, when Riley encourages Savannah to take a sexy picture and sends it to him, he is implied to immediately fall onto the floor as the girls can hear a thud from upstairs.
  • Insecure Love Interest: Is extremely insecure about rekindling his romance with Savannah, thinking himself unworthy of her for a multitude of reasons.
  • It's Not You, It's Me: The reason why he ever broke up with Savannah, because he felt he didn't deserve her. Particularly because of his house's financial ruin that he's afraid of not being able to give everything Savannah and their son, Bartie, deserve.
  • Like Father, Unlike Son: His father, Barthelemy, is later turns out to be selfish and power-hungry. But, he is a gentleman who values family and friendship.
  • Awesome Moment of Crowning : Occurs in Heir Book 1 Chapter 10; Maxwell, Drake and Prince Liam take him camping for his bachelor party when a bear takes over their camp. If you buy the right premium choice, Bertrand will literally SHAME a BEAR into submission.
  • Official Couple: With Savannah Walker.
  • The Perfectionist: What he struggles in; from training and mentoring Riley to be fit in court, educating Maxwell to run their house to the reason he ever let Savannah go; because his family house is broke that he's afraid of not being able to give the luxurious life he thinks Savannah and their son, Bartie, deserve.
  • Promotion to Parent: He raised his younger brother, Maxwell, ever since their mother's death and their father, Barthelemy, fell into "coma" (which is later turned out to be fake).
  • Red Herring Mole: Since Heir Book 3 Chapter 9, he seems to be this by suddenly siding with his father, Barthelemy. But by the end of Chapter 17, he eventually confesses to have been pretending to turn his back on his brother, Maxwell, and Riley, to help them thwarting his father's evil plan.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Blue to Maxwell's Red.
  • Serenade Your Lover: In a premium choice of Heir Book 1 Chapter 10, when celebrating his bachelor party, he gets to do this to Savannah, with his friends' assistance.
  • Sink or Swim Mentor: Trains Riley to be fit as Liam's future wife and queen, but constantly warns her to be not too confident fearing that her overconfidence would be their downfall. In Romance Book 2 Chapter 5, it is revealed that he sells the photos of Riley and Liam's first meeting at Liam's bachelor party in New York City to make a quick buck in the name of saving his family house, because he's pessimistic about Riley's possible ability to survive at court for even a week
  • Took a Level in Badass: He's surprisingly a badass when under pressure, such as; he knocks down one of the assassins attacking Riley and the bridesmaids in the boutique in Romance Book 3 Chapter 20 and he could even throw a powerful punch to Chuck, Savannah's ex boyfriend, to the ground, for crashing his wedding in Heir Book 1 Chapter 12.
  • Uptown Guy: He is a noble, but falls for Savannah, a commoner.

    King Constantine Rys and Queen Regina 
The King and Queen of Cordonia until Constantine steps down at the end of Romance Book 1.
  • Cynicism Catalyst: The death of his beloved second wife, Queen Eleanor, was the main reason why he turned paranoid and a tyrannical king that he shut his old friends out and made a lot of enemies.
  • The Determinator: Despite already predicted to die soon of final stage lung cancer, King Father Constantine is often seen hiding his illness behind his smile and insists to attend and hosts the Costume Gala in Romance Book 3 Chapter 9.
  • Early-Bird Cameo: The two of them appear as Leo’s parents in Rules of Engagement that Katie must impress.
  • Good Stepmother: Subverted. Regina is the third wife of King Constantine, and Leo and Liam’s stepmother. Her relationship with Liam is cordial but distant, but she cares about his well being and Cordonia.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: In Romance Book 3 Chapter 10, King Father Constantine dies protecting his son, Liam, from the falling rubble caused by another bombing attack in the palace done by Anton Severus, right after he apologized to Riley over his past mistake to her. And he claims that this is better than dying on a hospital bed. Then, after he says goodbye to both his sons, he dies smiling.
  • Improperly Paranoid: In Heir Book 1 Chapter 3, King Father Constantine is this toward Olivia since she was still a young kid, only because she is a Nevrakis. To the point that when she's grown into an adult, he also prevents her from winning Liam's hand because of the same reason. Later in Heir Book 3, Hakim states that he'd became this ever since Queen Eleanor's death.
  • Jerkass Has a Point: Although Constantine was wrong to blackmail Olivia, he is right about her being too aggressive for a queen, who has to be able to act diplomatically.
  • Meaningful Name: In Latin, Regina means queen.
  • Second Love: Subverted. More of a third love, because Queen Mother Regina is King Father Constantine's third wife. It is unclear whether he married his first wife, Leo's mother, for love or politics, but he seemed to be genuinely in love with Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor, and devastatingly grieved for her death for years. Until he finally found love again in Regina.
  • Secretly Dying: When Liam and Riley finally confront him about his involvement in sabotaging Riley and ousting Olivia in order to force Liam to marry Madeleine, he finally reveals it's because he has a terminal lung cancer that he no longer have much time to guide Liam in preserving Cordonia's stability. But, he initially kept it only to his family.
  • Used to Be More Social: Despite Liam saying that he was a good king for Cordonia's people, later Hakim states that he'd changed drastically ever since Queen Eleanor's death; he became more paranoid that he shut his old friends out of his life, while Barthelemy and Godfrey thought he'd become more unreasonable and tyrannical.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: King Father Constantine was the one responsible for the conspiracy to oust Riley from court, feeling Cordonia’s enemies without and within would see her as a weakness.
  • Wicked Stepmother: Oddly enough, Queen Mother Regina subverts this as well. She was one of the main suspects for Riley's framing so that she can run the latter out of court and have Liam choose Madeleine. But later, she turns out to be a Red Herring, while King Father Constantine was the one behind it.

The noble ladies of the court

    Olivia Nevrakis 
Riley's main rival for Prince Liam's hand. She attempts to undermine Riley any chance she gets. But since Romance Book 2, she gets better as Riley's friend, despite she is reluctant to admit it. She loves and is always interested in everything about war, violence and martial arts.
  • Action Girl: Gains more prominent since The Royal Heir.
  • Allergic to Love: Always seems reluctant everytime Riley wants to hug her or invites her for a group hug with her friends and laments anyone who shows PDA.
  • Alpha Bitch: Of the court. Character Development turns her into a Lovable Alpha Bitch.
  • Ambiguously Bi: In the final chapter of Finale, when encouraged by Riley, besides Liam (if he's single), she is also interested to pursue Queen Amalas and they are seen dancing together.
  • At Least I Admit It: Unlike Madeleine who is well trained in courtly politeness and keeps her nastiness to private moments, Olivia treats everyone but Liam with the same aggressive hostility, at least along Romance Book 1. Unfortunately for her, this is exactly the reason why Constantine decides to oust her by blackmailing her. Madeleine is at least capable to feign friendliness and diplomacy.
  • Badass in Distress: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 12, when attempting to investigate and collect Barthelemy's crimes track record, she's outmaneuvered by Barthelemy with his accomplices and gets imprisoned in Vance Kovac's mansion. Fortunately, in Chapter 14, Riley and co (with Queen Amalas' assistance) could track her down and rescue her in time.
  • Blade Enthusiast: Despite her parents trained her with any kinds of weapons, she is well known to be fond of using knives for fighting. Not only for its practical reason, but also because it can fool the enemies into underestimate it for its small size.
  • Blood Knight: She's fiercely proud to be a Nevrakis who's always ready for combat, get dirty in a blood bath to maintain her ancestors' creed that glorifies war and conquest. She even proudly claims herself and her people, the Lythikans, are war-crazed people.
  • Bring My Red Jacket: In Romance Book 3, she says that she likes wearing red in case she gets bloody injuries.
  • Brutal Honesty: How she deals with almost everyone, including when having to impress any potential allies or convincing allies.
  • Bully Turned Buddy: Olivia starts as a mean, self-centered rival for Prince Liam's heart, but after her Character Development since Romance Book 2, she becomes one of Riley's closest friends. The process can be sped up if Riley acts nice towards her from the start.
  • Dark Horse Victory: In a potential Finale, she pursues Liam again (if Liam is single) after Riley convinces her to and they're implied to start dating.
  • Demoted to Extra: Her role ever since The Royal Finale, despite she joins on the book cover.
  • The Determinator: Tries her best in keeping the glory of her house pride and family name as well as consistently proves her loyalty to the Crown, despite her parents raised, educated and trained her with the intention to usurp the Crown.
  • Don't You Dare Pity Me!: In Romance Book 1 Chapter 19, she expresses this when Riley pitied her after telling the reason behind her sudden withdrawal from the contest of winning Liam's hand and when telling about her feelings toward Liam in Heir Book 1 Chapter 7.
  • Dressed in Layers: In Heir Book 2 Chapter 14 and 19, Olivia can switch her red ballgown into her spy suit back and forth.
  • Enemy Mine: Teams up with Riley in Romance Book 2 to try to catch the person who sabotaged them.
  • Fiery Redhead: Redheaded and hot-blooded.
  • Flaming Sword: Her house sigil and she uses it to rally her people in her duchy in Holiday Chapter 4 and later to fight with Riley in Heir Book 3 Chapter 8.
  • Friendship Denial: Has a habit of denying her eventual liking toward Riley and co, especially along Romance Book 1 and 2. Even after she becomes one of Riley's inner circle, she still hates it whenever Riley calls her a friend. She prefers the term ally rather than friend.
  • Girly Girl with a Tomboy Streak: She loves wearing dresses and high-heels yet she's always been fascinated by martial arts and everything about war and violence.
  • Good is Not Nice: She is mean to everyone but Liam, used to violence, yet is loyal to the Crown, a benevolent mistress to her servants and a great duchess to her people in her duchy, Lythikos.
  • Heel–Face Turn: Over the course of the series, Olivia goes from Riley's worst enemy to one of her closest friends.
  • Hereditary Hairstyle: When she grows into an adult, she has the very same hairstyle as her ancestor, Zenobia Nevrakis.
  • It Runs in the Family: Fiercely proud to be a Nevrakis descendant who inherits their notorious ruthless, cold-blooded and barbarous nature. To the point of extremely idolizes her "identical" ancestor, Zenobia Nevrakis, such as: naming her toy sword after her in The Royal Heir and wears her outfit in The Royal Holiday. But she's strongly against her parents' betrayal to the Crown.
  • I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Toward Liam. Even going as far as from preventing Riley to win Liam's hand turning to fully supports Riley to be his future wife and queen as well as warning her to not ever hurt him. But, if Riley turns Liam down, she no longer wants to pursue him either.
  • Lady in Red: She titles herself as The Scarlet Duchess as she loves wearing red, beside it also comes with another function.
  • Lady of War: A duchess who is proficient and well-trained for combat and always seems to be ready for it as she always keeps stilettos, knives or any sharp objects concealed inside her dress, boots and even as hair accessories.
  • Made of Iron: Despite getting severely injured after being slashed on her side by her husband, Anton Severus, when fighting him in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21, she could still manage to retaliate and help Riley and their friends finally defeat him.
  • More Deadly Than the Male: Olivia is obviously deadlier than the boys; Liam, Drake and Maxwell, as she’s always more than ready to attack or even torture her enemies with her excellent combat skills since she wants to maintain Nevrakis’ sadistic and dreadful notoriety. Despite Liam, Drake and Maxwell are also capable in combat, they (especially Liam, since he’s well-trained in courtly life and diplomacy) prefer an honorable negotiation over a brutal physical fight. Notable example: When Riley and co successfully defeat Anton Severus, Riley and Liam can choose to let Olivia handle him (like putting him chained in a dungeon as one of the choices) and Anton seems terrified that he begs them not to.
  • The Rival: Along Romance Book 1, while all of the women are technically Riley's rivals, Olivia is the one who is most proactive about blocking Riley's efforts to romance Liam.
  • Silly Rabbit, Romance Is for Kids!: It's what she thought after she realized that Liam never loves her when asked about her love life in Heir Book 1 Chapter 7.
  • Sour Outside, Sad Inside: She appears to be mean, brash and sharp-tongued, but in Book 1 Chapter 7, Liam explains that Olivia has gone through a lot all her life: her parents were assassinated when she was just 5 years old, left alone with only servants and later learns that her parents were assassinated for a reason; because they were apparently traitors.
  • Sugar-and-Ice Personality: She might be unpleasant on the first meeting. But once Riley and anyone gains her trust, she's extremely loyal and even ready to fight for anyone she cares about.
  • Tsundere: Romance Book 2 has her be on the harsh side on Tsun when she’s in Riley’s company.
  • Undying Loyalty: To the Crown, especially to Liam. She is the only grand noble of Cordonia who confidently votes against Barthelemy from the start.
  • Unlucky Childhood Friend: Having been friends and grows up together with Liam since childhood, she grew to love him. But unfortunately he doesn't reciprocate. But in the final chapter of Finale, she got lucky that this time Liam responds to her (if he is single) with Riley's encouragement.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: She and Riley are constantly arguing yet they always end up working together and help each other.
  • White Sheep: Her parents, her aunt (Lucretia) and her husband (Anton Severus) are notorious traitors. She is the only current Nevrakis who confidently supports and defends the Crown.

    Kiara Theron 
One of the competing ladies introduced in Romance Book 1. She is well-known as a multilinguist and a talented diplomat.
  • Ambadassador: She is credited to be a capable negotiator.
  • Cunning Linguist: It was revealed in Book 1 that she speaks 10 languages, including English and French.
  • Daddy's Girl: She follows her father's footsteps as a diplomat to Cordonia.
  • Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The responsible diplomat golden child to her brother's foolish animal lover.
  • Gratuitous French: Kiara peppers her speech with French.
  • Heroic BSoD: Suffers extreme anxiety after being attacked at the Palace at the start of Book 3. She got over it in the finale.
  • Post-Support Regret: In Heir Book 3, she constantly shows her regret for ever choosing Barthelemy over Riley & her spouse to take Lilly's custody & to be a Crown Regent upon learning Barthelemy's true nature.
  • Those Two Girls: In Book 1, she is almost always seen with Penelope starting as Olivia's friends. Riley can turn them over to her side. Books 2 and 3 start to flesh her out as her own character.

    Penelope Ebrim 
One of the competing ladies introduced in Romance Book 1. She has always been struggling to keep up in courtly life and proudly admits to have an intense interest in poodles.
  • Ambiguous Disorder: In Romance Book 3 Chapter 4, it’s implied that Penelope suffers from an anxiety disorder that her poodles help mitigate.
  • Animal Motif: Poodles. They are her beloved pets that she never want to be apart from.
  • Best Friends-in-Law: With Kiara Theron.
  • Better with Non-Human Company: Along Romance Book 1 and 2, she admits that she has always been struggling to keep up in loud parties and crowded events and constantly says that she'd rather snuggle up with her poodles instead. Even goes far as designing luxurious clothes for her poodles as if they're her children and Kiara used to be her only friend. Until Riley, Hana and Maxwell came along and convince her to go back to court in the premium scene of Romance Book 3 Chapter 4 that she can slowly become more confident, thus they become friends.
  • Birds of a Feather: She and Ezekiel immediately bond each other through their shared strong love for animals, particularly dogs.
  • Cloud Cuckoo Lander: She is incredibly absent-minded person who has an intense interest in poodles. This is Deconstructed when her family pressures her to get married to Liam in order to have someone to take care of her and let her easily being manipulated by the conspiracy against Riley.
  • Daddy's Girl: Her father, Landon, seems more understanding than her mother over her struggle to fit in court. He even goes as far as to sell out Riley's daughter, Lilly, as he voted for Barthelemy to take Lilly's custody; ALL in the name of protecting her from the risk to get exposed as a disgraced noblewoman for being a divorcee. But after Riley can help her to come clean, she and her father can finally stand up to the blackmailers (Guy and Barthelemy) and brave enough to reswitch his vote for Riley as he is inspired by her courage.
  • Fourth-Date Marriage: She immediately agreed to marry Guy Brixton after four weeks and five dates and eloped after getting pissed off by Kiara's disapproval of their relationship and thought that in time, her parents would love Guy as much as she did. But the marriage didn't last long as her parents later discovered about their finances and her newly-opened joint bank account with Guy's name, followed by secretly investigated Guy's history that concludes he is a gold digger and a conman. Thus, Penelope devastatingly agreed with her parents to annul the marriage.
  • Nice Girl: She's always nice to Riley, even when they're competing for Liam.
  • Official Couple: With Ezekiel Theron.
  • Ship Tease: With Kiara's brother Ezekiel since Romance Book 3. In Heir Book 2, she and Ezekiel become an official couple, later are engaged and eventually married in Heir Book 3 Chapter 3.
  • Those Two Girls: Along The Royal Romance, she is often seen with Kiara, starting as Olivia's friends. Riley can turn them over to her side. Books 2 and 3 starting to flesh her out as her own character.
  • Unwitting Pawn: Romance Book 2 reveals that Penelope was a part of the conspiracy to oust Riley from court.

    Countess Madeleine Amaranth of Fydelia 
Another rival for Liam's hand. She had previously been engaged to Liam's brother Leo before he abdicated the throne. She's well known to be the epitome of prim and proper and for her fierce patriotism.
  • Aloof Ally: Although she eventually accepts Riley's offer to be her new press secretary after initially rejected it and acts nicer afterwards, but she remains distant toward Riley and her friends. Especially when it comes to have fun or hang out with them.
  • Alpha Bitch: Takes the spot after Olivia, and is even worse.
  • Arranged Marriage: She is aware of being raised and bred to be this and believes this is better than Marry for Love.
  • Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Unlike Olivia, who makes no attempt to hide her unpleasant nature from anyone, Madeleine puts on a thin veneer of politeness when in front of Liam, the king, and queen. That is precisely why Constantine ends up preferring her over Olivia, since he considers that a queen should be someone who acts with diplomacy and kindness, even if it is pretended.
  • Break the Haughty: Along The Royal Romance, she always acts arrogant and superior toward anyone whom she considers unimportant. Even after she finally accepts Riley's offer to become her press secretary, she still thinks that Riley needs her more than otherwise. Later in The Royal Heir Book 2, after she's disillusioned by her father, Godfrey, being Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor's, murderer, she becomes sincerely nice as she is ashamed of her parents' betrayal to the Crown, especially if Riley treats her nicely.
  • The Bully: Since the start of Romance Book 2, she abuses her status as Liam's fiancée and queen-to-be to constantly look down on Riley, bullying Hana, Penelope and Kiara.
  • Control Freak: In Romance Book 2, she treats her ladies-in-waiting, Penelope and Kiara, as if they are her subordinates or even servants. She even seems also controlling over her own mother, Adelaide, about behavior and decorum. When she takes over as Riley's press secretary, she keeps everyone on a tight schedule, and is rarely seen without her clipboard.
  • Daddy's Girl: Averted. Her father considers her a failure and humiliation, especially after her second failure of becoming queen. All of her hard works and achievements seem nothing for him to appreciate.
  • Don't You Dare Pity Me!: In Romance Book 3 Chapter 3, when playing drinking game with Riley and her friends, while nearly drunk states to be still outraged about her second failure to be queen, concerning about her country that's under attack and her constant arguing parents, then Riley and Hana pitied her. And she seems to hate it.
  • Early-Bird Cameo: Briefly appeared in Rules of Engagement before gaining a much more prominent role here.
  • Gold Digger: She doesn't care whether or not Liam loves her; she simply wants to be queen. She even tells Riley that she doesn't mind if Liam fools around with her as long as they're discreet about it.
  • Good is Not Nice: She often acts snarky and superior toward anyone whom she considers unimportant, but she's proven to be not involved in Riley's scandal and fiercely patriotic.
  • Green and Mean: Besides green is her noble house color and she often wears it, along Romance Book 1 and 2, she is well-known to be mean and nasty towards anyone, but the royal family and the press. Until she slowly warms up since Book 3.
  • Heel–Face Turn: In Romance Book 3, she becomes Riley's new press secretary and begins acting more pleasantly toward her, especially if Riley helps her repair her rift with her parents. It started out as an Enemy Mine situation, however. She gets even better in The Royal Heir after the discovery of her father being apparently the one who is responsible for Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor's, death that she continues to help Riley and co however she can.
  • Hidden Depths: Despite her vanity, she genuinely loves Cordonia and wants to serve it any way she can.
  • Ice Queen: In Romance Book 3 Chapter 3, while playing drinking game, with Riley intending to recruit her as the new press secretary, she claims herself to be too 'cold' and closed-off. But Riley could make her a Defrosting Ice Queen if she could help her repairing the rift in her family.
  • Improbable Weapon User: She managed to defend herself from professional assassins with a clipboard.
  • Jerkass Woobie: Failed twice to achieve her dream to become a queen, her parents never stop arguing over how to deal with her yet she must maintains her stoic façade for the sake of her country. It gets worsen when it is later discovered that her father, Godfrey, turns out to be the wanted murderer who is responsible for Liam's mother's death.
  • Loners Are Freaks: What Olivia says to her in Heir Book 1 Chapter 7 that she needs friends and entertainment, because she has difficulties in staying away from her scheduling binder.
  • Silly Rabbit, Romance Is for Kids!: It's what she thought when asked about her love life in Heir Book 1 Chapter 7.
  • Sour Outside, Sad Inside: Appears to be cold, snarky, mean and haughty, but on the inside she's stuck in the middle of her never-ending arguing parents over how to deal with her; her father pressures her to be the number one best and never appreciates even a bit about her works and her mother seems to not to care about her mourn over her second failure in achieving her dream to be queen, reasoning to comfort her.
  • The Stoic: She is well-known for her ability to control her emotions that she is considered proper to be queen as Queen Mother Regina calls her the epitome of prim and proper.
  • Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Along The Royal Romance, Riley feels this toward her ever since Bertrand forces Riley to recruit her as her new press secretary. Even if Riley has always tried to be nice to her from the beginning.
  • Wacky Parent, Serious Child: Downplayed but Madeleine is much more serious than her mother.
  • "Well Done, Son" Guy: Although her relationship with her father is obviously distant and cold, but when he finally praises her work a bit in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21, she can't hide her happy smile. Indicating that, all she wants is her father to appreciate and acknowledge her works, even though not as a queen as they wished before.

Antagonists

    Justin/Anton Severus (WARNING: SPOILERS) 
Riley's first press secretary. He provides Riley with advices on how to deal with the press and present herself to the public along Romance Book 2 before he is injured in the terrorist attack at the end of Romance Book 2. Later, it is revealed that he is apparently the one behind every attacks to the Crown.
  • Big Bad : Of The Royal Romance, Book 3.
  • Dirty Coward: He is seen constantly orders his guards to cover him everytime the fight starts that it takes Riley's friends to remind some of the assassins to realize that they're just his pawns.
  • Evil All Along: He's responsible for the attacks in Homecoming Ball, the apple orchard burning, the incidental flood in the art gallery in Castelsareillan and King Father Constantine's death.
  • False Friend: At first he claims himself to be Riley's new best friend and helps her on handling the press. Until he revealed himself to be the traitor
  • Hidden Villain: He is actually a noble named Anton Severus who was secretly betrothed to Olivia when the two were children. It turns out that he and Olivia's aunt, Lucretia, are the ones responsible for masterminding the terrorist attacks, since if Liam is eliminated, the throne will pass to the Nevrakis family, thus he and Olivia will become king and queen.
  • The Usurper: He wants to kill Liam, so he and Olivia would take the throne and rule Cordonia.
  • Virtue Is Weakness / Love Is a Weakness: What he says about Liam when taunting the bounded Riley and Olivia in the dungeon, in an attempted coup against the Crown, in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21.
  • We Can Rule Together: His intention when hoping Olivia would side with him and help him eliminating King Liam to take the throne when tying her and Riley (and her spouse) in the dungeon, in Romance Book 3 Chapter 21.
  • Walking Spoiler: All his tropes are plot revelations.

    King Bradshaw Achilles and Queen Isabella 
The King and Queen of Auvernal, one of Cordonia's neighboring kingdoms. They try to annex Cordonia by forcing a betrothal between one of their twins, Isaac, and Riley's daughter, Lilly.
  • Affably Evil: They seem friendly and pleasant on the outside, but they are proven to be a serious threat when they have taken over one of their neighboring kingdoms, Rivala.
  • Arranged Marriage: In Heir Book 1 Chapter 9, Isabella openly admits to Riley, Hana (and Olivia) that her marriage with Bradshaw is for political reason. And she even makes no secret to tell that she married Bradshaw for financial advantage as well.
  • Awful Wedded Life: In Heir Book 2 Chapter 15, when Riley, Hana and Olivia decide to infiltrate King Bradshaw's private office, (if Riley uses the Orbie) they can overhear their heated dispute. And it becomes more obvious by the time they must call off the children betrothal, they immediately get into a clash toward each other.
  • Big Bad Duumvirate: Of The Royal Heir, Book 2.
  • Happy Marriage Charade: When introduced in the beginning in Heir Book 1 Chapter 4, they seem to be a couple goal. However, when their plan to annex Cordonia is foiled, they immediately go into a clash toward each other, revealing their true miserable married life.
  • Lineage Comes from the Father: Inverted. Despite Bradshaw being the king of Auvernal, but it is Isabella who is royal-blooded. This makes their children ineligible to rule a kingdom and country per Auvernese royal protocol and laws, because the twins, Isaac and Lyra, do not share Isabella's royal blood.
  • Mandatory Motherhood: When playing a drinking game in Heir Book 1 Chapter 9, Isabella admits that she never wanted children, but she feels obligated to produce an heir for her kingdom.
  • The Masochism Tango: In public they appear as a perfect couple, but behind closed door, they are at each other's throats.
  • Miles Gloriosus: In Heir Book 2 Chapter 8, Liam challenges Bradshaw for a sword fighting duel. Bradshaw keeps boasting about his used-to-winning attitude and when he realized he is about to lose due to his actual inability to fight, he immediately calls his back-up to protect him. Then Drake or Hana (Liam's chosen back-ups) intervenes, stating that is illegal unless Bradshaw decides to withdraw the sword. He eventually lost, because in a premium scene of Heir Book 1 Chapter 9, Isabella has spilled that her husband can only order troops around and strategized but never really fought, despite he is a decorated officer.
  • Never My Fault: Ever since they are exposed for their lies in Heir Book 2 Chapter 19, Isabella blames Bradshaw's recklessness. Even after they're dethroned in Finale Chapter 6, she still keeps blaming her husband for all of their eventual misfortunes.
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech: When they are finally defeated and reluctantly call off their proposed children betrothal in Heir Book 2 Chapter 19, Riley, her family and their friends give each of their pieces of mind to them before they depart.
  • Sexless Marriage: In Heir Book 2 Chapter 19, when Riley and her friends, with the help of Queen Amalas of Monterisso, successfully uncover the truth about the twins, Isaac and Lyra's, parentage status, Isabella admits that she has always been aware of her husband's affair with an unknown woman that resulted in the twins. She has no problem raising as well as taking care of them as her own (and because her kingdom needs heirs) and prefers that way rather than having to get in bed with her own husband, Bradshaw.
  • Sleeping Single: In the premium scene of Heir Book 1 Chapter 13, Olivia first discovered that Bradshaw and Isabella sleep in a separate bedroom. Later in Heir Book 2 Chapter 16, Riley and Hana just found out when infiltrating Bradshaw's private office.

    Barthelemy Beaumont (WARNING: SPOILERS) 
Maxwell and Bertrand's long lost father who was presumed dead, but turns out to be still alive and currently goes against the Crown by suddenly claiming himself as the future Crown Regent who gains the rights to take the royal heir, Lilly's, custody. Later it is revealed that he has always been plotting against the Crown all along, ever since King Constantine's reign.
  • 0% Approval Rating: He wins the vote as the future Crown Regent as well as the heir, Lilly's, guardian, by blackmail, empty promises and manipulations. But, he eventually fails again in gaining his longtime wish to usurp the throne after Riley and her friends expose his crimes in front of the court and the press.
  • Attention Whore: He really loves attention that he needs to ruin Riley and her supporters' reputations to steal their fame and supports from the court and the press.
  • Because I Said So: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 11, he commands Maxwell to stop criticizing him, when Maxwell tells him off by questioning his fatherhood when he keeps boasting to be the best choice to rule Cordonia and become Lilly's guardian. But Maxwell disobeys.
  • Big Bad: Of The Royal Heir, Book 3. In Chapter 18, he is proven to be the mastermind of all of the attempted coups against the Crown since King Constantine's reign.
  • The Chessmaster: He convinced Godfrey to assassinate Queen Eleanor, influenced Olivia's parents to set a coup against King Constantine, convinced Anton Severus to assassinate King Constantine and Liam as well, taking away Riley's daughter, Lilly, from her parents by manipulating the grand nobles to vote for him over Riley and slandering Riley and her friends are plotting against him on the press conference when about to be crowned Regent.
  • Disc-One Final Boss: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 18, Barthelemy's arrest was the end of all the coup plots he planned during his time in the shadows. Turn out it is false because he was a chess in a much larger game thanks to the VIA IMPERII, a secret organization that subtly manipulates who maintains positions of power and were the ones behind Barthelemy's attempt at seizing the throne ALL ALONG .
  • Engineered Public Confession: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 18, Riley exposes his involvement in Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor's, assassination using Godfrey's hard drive in front of the court and the press. Thus, he is invalidated to be crowned Regent as he has always wished for, followed by being arrested for regicide.
  • Evil Patriarch: Of the Beaumont family. Despite the fact that he and Riley are not blood-related, but he technically becomes Riley's 'adoptive' father since his two sons sponsor her representing their noble house to win Liam's hand and due to her close ties with them. So, Riley, together with his two biological sons, Maxwell and Bertrand, must fight him as he is proven to be Cordonia's most wanted criminal who is responsible for all of the attempted coups against the Crown since King Constantine's reign.
  • False Friend: He and Godfrey used to be King Constantine's trusted vassals as well as friends. But later they backstabbed King Constantine by assassinating his beloved wife, Queen Eleanor. When Godfrey left after their mission failed, he secretly continued to work everything in the shadow to end the Rys dynasty.
  • Faux Affably Evil: He is seen composed, subtle and polite when in front of the court and the press, despite behind closed door, he threatens and intimidates Riley and anyone who stands in his way. And despite he takes Lilly away against her parents' will, he still tries to be nice to her. It doesn't work.
  • Gold Digger: He wants to be king, because he wants to maintain the hedonistic and luxurious lifestyle of aristocracy, gains an unlimited wealth, uses his money for a complete impunity and as the Crown Regent, to make rules for everyone but himself.
  • Gruesome Grandparent: Whether Lilly is his direct grand-daughter (if Riley marries Maxwell) or not, he insists to take her custody against her parents' will, relying on the votes from some grand nobles.
  • Hate Sink: Since he shows his true colors by the end of Heir Book 2, along Book 3 only makes him even more loathsome when he spends most of the times ridiculing and taunting Riley and her supporters. Later, he even goes as far as occupying Riley's duchy in the name of watching over Lilly in Chapter 12. And in chapter 17, he slanders Riley and her supporters for throwing baseless accusations to him as criminals when behind closed doors, he keeps threatening them.
  • Parental Hypocrisy: He insists to become Lilly's guardian, accusing Riley and her spouse as bad parents, when he, himself, abandoned his two sons dealing with their house's financial ruins by themselves for years by faking an illness. He also slanders Riley and her friends, including his own son, Maxwell, to intentionally ruin his reputations when actually he IS the one who does everything to make them look bad.
  • I Regret Nothing: When he finally meets his downfall and invalidated to be crowned Regent after Riley exposes all of his crimes against the Crown (ever since King Constantine's reign) in front of the court and the press, his two sons question him if he ever regret that some of his "patriotic sacrifices" include missing out half of their youths and siphoning their house's money. He adamantly states that ALL he regrets is his failure to take the throne, NOT abandoning his children.
  • It's All About Me: After he is exposed as a traitor in Heir Book 3 Chapter 18, he's proven to be utterly selfish who cares for no one but himself, when he shows no remorse to ever lied and abandoned his two still-young sons for working against the Crown all along behind the shadows; indicating how he cares more about ambition and power than his own flesh and blood.
  • Lack of Empathy: He doesn't mind of abandoning his own sons and tearing a family apart, as long as he could gain more and more power.
  • Malicious Slander: He convinces the court and the press that Riley and her spouse are bad parents to their own daughter, Lilly, and accuses Riley and co are plotting against him on the press conference, in hoping everyone would turn against them and supports him instead as the future Crown Regent.
  • The Man Behind the Man: Since Heir Book 2, everyone believes that Godfrey killed Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor, alone. But later, in Heir Book 3 chapter 14, it is revealed that Godfrey was just a pawn who pulled the trigger, when Barthelemy IS the true culprit who planned the assassination and loaded the gun.
    • Later in Heir Book 3 Chapter 18, it is revealed that he’s had a hand in EVERY attempted coups against the Crown since King Constantine's reign; from bankrolling Olivia’s parents to giving crucial information for Anton Severus to kill Liam.
  • Manipulative Bastard: He manipulates the current Cordonian royal laws and customs and convinces some of the grand nobles to vote for him to be the Crown Regent and forces to take Lilly's custody. In the past, he used Godfrey's dislike of Queen Eleanor to convince him to assassinate her, supported Olivia's parents to set a coup against King Constantine, convinced Anton Severus to assassinate King Constantine as well as King Liam and Cedric Vescovi to vote for him as Crown Regent. Then he convinces the press into believing that Riley and her friends are plotting against him.
  • Moral Myopia: He purposedly abandoned his two young sons, siphoning money from their financial house, never had second thoughts in tearing a family apart; from influencing his friend, Godfrey, to kill Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor, supporting and bankrolling Olivia's parents to set a coup against King Constantine to taking away the future monarch, Lilly, against her parents' will. ALL in the name of protecting the kingdom and country, not thinking that they have children to think of.
  • Multiple Identity IDs: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 7, when going to his secret hunting lodge, Riley and Maxwell discover that he had traveled under different aliases for secret meetings with his potential accomplices under the cover of a fake illness.
  • Opportunistic Bastard: He takes every opportunities, including the illegal ways, to take the throne. One notable example is to bring a convict, Lucretia, to vote for him as Regent and Lilly's guardian, so he could win the vote in Heir Book 3 Chapter 12. Even his former friend, Godfrey, is shocked to find out that he's willing to go such length as to become a member of a secret society called Via Imperii that is presumed to be behind all of the attempted coups against King Constantine in Heir Book 3 Chapter 16.
  • Pragmatic Villainy: He tries to gain the Regent Crown title by insisting to take Lilly's custody in the name of becoming her guardian and bringing back Cordonia's glory. He tries everything to show that he is the best choice to be Lilly's guardian when Riley and co know that he only cares about himself.
  • Smug Snake: He is overconfident and enjoys looking down on Riley and her spouse, even after one by one nobles that used to vote for him, start warming up to Riley and question his worth of becoming Lilly's guardian.
  • The Usurper: He tramples anyone who tries to stop him to become the Crown Regent. In fact he has always been after the throne since King Constantine's reign.
  • Utopia Justifies the Means: He deceives the grand houses' leaders and their people into thinking that Liam's way of ruling by winning loyalty and building alliances makes Cordonia looks weak. That he promises to give everything that no other leaders have promised them before, such as: independence, sovereignty and freedom to the Lythikans in Olivia's duchy, reducing House Krona's taxes, returns House Vescovi's lands to Cedric Vescovi as well as reinstating his title, as long as they vote for him to become King Regent.
  • Villainous Friendship: He and Godfrey used to be good friends who shared their dislike toward Queen Eleanor. That they conspired to kill her in order to influence King Constantine further.
  • Villain with Good Publicity: If Riley doesn't impress everyone, he would be this.
  • Walking Spoiler: Almost all his tropes are plot revelations.
  • We Used to Be Friends: He and Godfrey used to be good friends. But ever since Queen Eleanor's death, as their mission failed, they had a falling out.
  • Wise Old Folk Façade: When he makes a shocking comeback in Heir Book 1 Chapter 11, he acts cordial and nice toward Riley and friends and insists to retake their house's finances management to help his sons, in the name of atoning his absences. Later, it turns out to be a ruse when after he successfully gained Bertrand's trust in retaking his Duke title, he immediately shows his true colors by the end of Heir Book 2, where he uses his regained-title to gain the most votes from the grand noble houses to become Crown Regent as well as the royal heir, Lilly's, guardian.
  • Wounded Gazelle Gambit: In Heir Book 3 Chapter 16, on the press conference, he twists the facts that he wins the votes of Lilly's custody from blackmail and force by telling lies that Riley and her friends are intentionally ruining his reputations by throwing baseless accusations on him.
  • Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: In the premium scene of Heir Book 3 Chapter 9, Riley and her spouse discover that he is afraid of crows.
  • You Have No Idea Who You Re Dealing With: His final word before arrested:
    "Barthelemy: You have no idea what you've done or who you're trifling with! You're meddling with forces (Via Imperii) you can't begin to understand!"
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: What Eirik says about him while revealing himself to Riley as a member of the secret society, Via Imperii, in the last chapter of Heir Book 3.

    Queen Sigrid Runarsdottir (WARNING: MASSIVE UNMARKED SPOILERS) 
The queen of Vallenheim, Lena Rys' foster mother and the leader of Via Imperii that is assumed to have been responsible for the numerous attempts to eliminate or overthrow the Rys monarchy.
  • The Chessmaster: As The Empress, Sigrid is the one who has the power to put whoever she and the Circle wants to govern a nation, manipulating events in favor of the Via Imperii, despite it is unknown if the republics were affected.
  • The Empress: Not a literal one, but she does technically rule the world through Via Imperii, so she does kind of count. Besides, this is also the title of the Via Imperii leader.
  • False Friend: Queen Eleanor trusted her to bring back her daughter, Lena, to Cordonia when Constantine is no longer tyrannical. However, she betrayed the latter's trust as she secretly took Lena as her ward after she approved Barthelemy's attempt to murder her.
  • Greater-Scope Villain: She is later revealed to the biggest bad of the entire Royal Series.
  • How the Mighty Have Fallen: She used to think that she's untouchable because she's the empress or main leader of Via Imperii who almost took over the world. Now, with Riley and her friends successfully take them down, she'd spend the rest of her life in jail along with her former accomplices.
  • Lack of Empathy: When Riley and co, including her former ward, Lena, expose and interrogate her in Finale Chapter 16, she shows no remorse for ever torn a family apart and endangered many innocent lives.
  • Light Is Not Good: Her regular dress color is mint green, but she is ruthless and cares for no one but herself.
  • Malicious Slander: She slanders the Rys family to not care about everything when actually she is the one who tried to corrupt all the royalties and nobles and doesn't care about the consequences.
  • Manipulative Bitch: She manipulates royalties and nobles around the world to join Via Imperii to do illegal things in grabbing power.
  • Non-Action Big Bad: As the main villainess, she only gives orders or approval to her fellow Via Imperii. Despite she eventually attacks Lena with a taser when Riley reveals herself as The Mole in Finale Chapter 16, but she relies on her manipulation skills to make Lena defend her as always. it doesn't work
  • Not Good with Rejection: She ever convinced Queen Eleanor to join Via Imperii to gain more power, but the latter rejected it. When she found out about Barthelemy's attempt to assassinate Queen Eleanor, she gave the approval.
  • Obfuscating Stupidity: She at first seems like a minor member of the Via Imperii and perfectly happy being a figurehead who lets others make the decisions in her place while she happily acts as Idle Rich. This is all an act as she’s the leader of the Via Imperii and has been since the protagonists’ childhoods.

    Lena Rys 
King Liam's long lost younger sister as well as Queen Sigrid's ward who is a Via Imperii member.
  • Brainwashed: She is the victim of Sigrid's brainwashing to turn against her family.
  • Big Little Sister: In Finale Chapter 12, when she first meets her half-brother, Leo, she describes him to be shorter than her.
  • Break the Cutie: Lena's past was tragic. She was born and raised far from Cordonia, manipulated by Sigrid, making her believe her family never cared about her while they believed she was dead, making her a cold-hearted woman. She gets better in the end.
  • Defrosting Ice Queen: Lena started as a cold and stoic woman. She slowly learns to live with Riley's friends and family, especially with Lilly, who recalled her of a childhood she should've had. In the end, she learns to be independent by leaving Via Imperii for good and values Riley's family and true friends.
  • The Dragon: She was this to Sigrid before she eventually decides to turn against the latter and sides with Riley and co.
  • Easily Forgiven: Despite Riley and her friends are aware of her being responsible for all of the threats Cordonia has been facing, she is not punished or jailed at all.
  • Friend to All Children: Despite her emotionless and cold demeanor, but she is fond of children. Not only to Lilly, but also to Queen Amalas' daughter, Micaela.
  • Flaw Exploitation: She's known to be barely able to say "no" to Lilly, so Riley and co often exploit this flaw in order to distract her whenever they intend to infiltrate to Via Imperii.
  • Heel–Face Turn: She used to fiercely defend her evil foster mother, Sigrid, but in the near-end chapter, she has a change of heart to turn against her and instead helps Riley with her friends arresting Sigrid. In the end, she even goes as far as to step back in the line of succession after Lilly.
  • Morality Pet: Lilly is the only exception she acts nice to. In fact, it is also her flaw that is used as an advantage for Riley and co to distract her or to lower her guard, whenever they want to sneak out, infiltrate and uncover everything about Via Imperii.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: She genuinely feels remorse for ever hurting and killing many innocent people in the past.
  • The Resenter: She initially resented Liam as Cordonia's king, thinking that he becomes king only because of his birthright, not his capability. But, when getting to know more about her brother and his friends by herself, she eventually accept it.
  • Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Despite being cold-hearted and seemingly emotionless, when she eventually warms up to Riley and co, she's basically loyal.
  • Tomboy Princess: She is a princess (until she decides to abdicate later in the end), but she is far from feminine, due to her childhood being trained as a stoic mercenary.
  • Turncoat: In Finale Chapter 16, Lena eventually turns against her foster mother, Sigrid, as well as the Via Imperii and helps Riley and the gang destroy the society.
  • When She Smiles

Minor characters

    Adelaide Amaranth of Krona 
Lady Madeleine's mother and the matriarch of the main family based in Krona. Fydelia is the county in Krona. She always enjoys parties and drinks.
  • Arranged Marriage: In Romance Book 3 chapter 3, Liam says that her marriage with her husband, Godfrey, is a political one.
  • Hard-Drinking Party Girl / Lady Drunk: Unlike her daughter, Adelaide is a woman who loves her champagne and knocking them back.
  • Laser-Guided Karma: By the end of Heir Book 3, due to her vocal support for Barthelemy, her reputation is ruined; implicating that she has lost the support of the Crown and the press. She later gives control of Duchy Krona's business and administration to her daughter, Madeleine, instead, as she chooses to disappear from public, out of shame.
  • The Masochism Tango: She and her husband, Godfrey, are always seen bickering and arguing, especially on dealing with their daughter, Madeleine.
  • Strong Family Resemblance: Riley can say this is how she recognized Adelaide.
  • Ungrateful Bitch: In Heir Book 2, she confidently votes for Barthelemy over Riley to be Lilly's guardian as well as the Crown Regent. Even when Riley and her friends already help restoring her house's reputation by throwing a fairytale-themed ball in her duchy in Book 3 Chapter 6, after the discovery of her husband, Godfrey, being the wanted murderer who killed Liam's mother, Queen Eleanor, and impressed by Riley and her spouse's capabilities to be good parents as well as guardians for Lilly in Book 3 Chapter 11, she still votes for Barthelemy again, anyway, in the final vote on the next chapter. But later, when Barthelemy is exposed for his crimes in front of the court and the press, she reswitches her vote for Riley.

    Bastien 
Prince Liam's current bodyguard and Leo's former bodyguard. He has been close to the Walkers family for years. However, in Romance Book 2, it is revealed that he was involved in the plot to sabotage you from becoming Queen on orders from King Constantine. Even worse, since The Royal Finale, he is revealed to have been working with Via Imperii.
  • Didn't Think This Through: When confessing about being the indirect cause of Drake's dad, Jackson's, death in Finale Chapter 13, he knew that Via Imperii was dangerous that when Jackson convinced him to help him taking down the society, he refused. When he failed to prevent Jackson from infiltrating and taking the society down, he should've just kept his mouth shut. Instead, he reported Jackson to them as The Mole but begged them to spare Jackson. As could be expected that evil never compromises nor keep promises, thus Jackson was murdered by one of them.
  • The Mole: In Finale, he is revealed to have been secretly working for Via Imperii.
  • My God, You Are Serious!: In Romance Book 2 Chapter 13 has him give this reaction when Riley suggests using Maxwell to help find Tariq.
  • Parental Substitute: Subverted. More like an uncle to Drake and Savannah since they were young kids. Especially after their father's death.
  • The Stoic: Rarely shows much emotion.
  • Undying Loyalty: Toward King Father Constantine and (later) Liam, including to Liam's late mother, Queen Eleanor (initially). Later, turns ambiguous as he is revealed to have been a Via Imperii member, despite him showing a genuine remorse for indirectly causing King Constantine and Jackson Walker's death.

    Savannah Walker 
Drake's long-lost sister, who first appears as a premium choice in Romance Book 1, Chapter 11. In the premium scene of Romance Book 2 Chapter 8, she is properly introduced when Riley and Drake are able to find her in an apartment secretly paid for by Maxwell, after she gets pregnant with Bertrand's child. But she and Bertrand eventually work their things out and get married.

Previous

Index

Next

  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Wide Load

Important Links

Ask The Tropers Trope Finder Media Finder Trope Launch Pad Tech Wishlist Reviews Go Ad Free!
Crucial Browsing
Resources
Top