Lady Alenna Resalia carries herself with polished poise, her graceful stillness making her seem more physically assured than she is. When waiting, she rests most of her weight on her right foot and keeps her hands composed at her waist. Her measured walk is elegant but cautious, and she dislikes stairs, uneven ground, and any athletic display that might expose her lack of stamina.

Intelligent, disciplined, and logical, Alenna prefers arguments that can be examined from every side. She is considerate in public but rarely warm, and her idealism sometimes convinces her that a reasonable proposal will be accepted simply because it is fair. Around her two oldest friends, affection escapes her in uneven, vulnerable flashes.

Born into a minor noble house with more duties than wealth, Alenna learned early that a carefully chosen sentence could accomplish what a show of rank could not. She became an advisor and diplomatic intermediary, prized for her reasoning and preparation. Her two closest companions, a man and a woman she has known since childhood, are the rare people who see her lose composure. She is in love with her male friend, but fear of making their unequal social standing painful keeps her affection inconsistent: a private kindness one day, a formal retreat the next.