Asterope is the Crown Prince of the empire. He goes by "Asher" to avoid telling Aria he's part of the royal family. He first meets Aria when he's in town investigating the casino case and she's retrieving her repaired hourglass. Asher is described as an exceptionally tall young man with short black hair and highly handsome facial features. He has an angled face, pale skin, and ears that redden when embarrassed. Although Asher’s build is rather slender overall, he has very wide shoulders. Most prominently, his eyes have a distinct blue color which is commonly remarked upon in the novel.