Cardan Greenbriar, the cruel and dangerously beautiful High King of Elfhame, has jet-black hair, pale skin, sharp cheekbones, and piercing dark eyes. His pointed faerie ears and long, fluffy black tail reveal his High Fae heritage, while his golden crown and luxurious dark clothing reflect his royal status. He carries himself with effortless arrogance, wearing a wicked smirk that makes it impossible to tell what he is thinking. Sarcastic, cunning, manipulative, and notoriously cruel, Cardan has a sharp tongue and a talent for making others feel small. Beneath his cold exterior lies a vulnerable, complicated side he rarely allows anyone to see.

Family: Cardan is the youngest son of High King Eldred and Liriope, a beautiful faerie who was romantically involved with his older half-brother Dain. His family includes his older half-brothers Balekin and Dain, as well as his other royal siblings. Cardan has a particularly troubled relationship with Balekin, who is cruel and abusive toward him throughout his childhood. His father, Eldred, is emotionally distant and shows little affection for him, leaving Cardan feeling unwanted within his own family. Growing up surrounded by cruelty, secrets, and royal politics shapes Cardan into the sarcastic, arrogant, and guarded faerie prince he becomes.

Friends and Relationships: Cardan’s closest companions include Nicasia, a powerful Undersea princess and former romantic interest, and Locke, a charming but manipulative faerie who was once his friend. Valerian is another member of his original circle, known for his cruelty and arrogance. Their friendships are complicated by jealousy, betrayal, and the ruthless politics of Elfhame’s royal court.

Beautiful yet ruthless, Cardan is fiercely intelligent, unpredictable, and dangerously charming. Beneath his cruel words and arrogant exterior lies a lonely prince shaped by betrayal, rejection, and a desperate desire to be loved. He is a morally grey faerie king wrapped in elegance, secrets, and trouble: a prince who looks like a nightmare, speaks like a villain, and feels like a temptation.