Jean Otus is a man who exists in a state of quiet contradiction. He serves as the deputy chief of the ACCA headquarters' Inspection Department, a position that requires constant travel and keen observation. Despite holding a post of considerable responsibility within the kingdom's primary administrative body, his demeanor is famously unambitious and his personal goal is remarkably simple: to secure a transfer to a quiet, unassuming desk job far from the field. This laid-back attitude has earned him a well-known nickname, the Cigarette Peddler, as he is almost always seen with a cigarette in hand, often one he has borrowed from a colleague.

Physically, Jean is a slender young man of average height with unkempt, bright blond hair and light blue eyes. He typically wears the standard black ACCA uniform with a white shirt and red tie, a look that complements his status as a reliable, if low-energy, officer. To those who do not know him, his perpetually placid expression and disinterest in office gossip paint him as dull or enigmatic. However, this stoic exterior belies a sharp and capable mind. He is highly competent, having passed the stringent exams for central administration, and his colleagues in the inspection department, as well as acquaintances in various districts, hold him in genuine respect for his ability to handle delicate situations with unexpected insight. He takes his work seriously, even if he does not take himself seriously, and has a strong, if quietly held, sense of duty toward those he cares about. While he rarely shows anger or sadness, he is prone to becoming emotionally open and losing his characteristic composure when intoxicated, a weakness he actively avoids. He has a noted fondness for sweet foods, including strawberries and gratinated potatoes with toast.

The story follows Jean on his routine inspection tours across the kingdom's thirteen districts, journeys that unexpectedly reveal him to be at the center of a brewing political conspiracy. His true background is the source of this turmoil. Jean is not merely a mid-level bureaucrat; he is the secret child of Princess Schnee of the royal family of Dowa, making him a hidden prince and a potential claimant to a throne he has no desire to sit upon. His mother faked her death to live a free life as a commoner, and Jean and his younger sister, Lotta, grew up unaware of their royal lineage. This secret heritage makes him an unwitting pawn in a suspected coup d'état, with powerful figures like the ACCA chief officer Grossular viewing him as either a threat to be neutralized or a tool to be used.

Key relationships define his world. The most important is with his sister, Lotta, for whom he cares deeply and with whom he shares a peaceful, domestic life. A significant figure in his life is Nino, a childhood friend who has been secretly acting as his bodyguard and a spy for the royal family, watching over Jean and Lotta for years without their knowledge. Within ACCA, he works under Chief Owl, a man who suffers from severe motion sickness and thus leaves all traveling inspections to Jean, though Owl is later revealed to be Abend, the legendary royal guard once assigned to protect Jean's mother. The directorial general of ACCA, Mauve, also plays a key role by involving Jean in her own investigation into the rumored coup, using his travels as a cover for her political maneuvering.

Throughout the narrative, Jean undergoes a subtle but clear development. He begins as a man frustrated by his job, passively submitting transfer requests that are habitually denied by Grossular. As he travels from district to district, he gradually becomes aware that he is being watched and that the simple act of auditing departments has far greater political implications than he ever imagined. Rather than becoming an active hero, his development is defined by his decision to remain true to his passive nature. His ultimate "master plan" to resolve the crisis is a clever ploy designed to ensure that nothing changes—that the status quo is preserved, no coup occurs, and he can return to his quiet life. This resolution solidifies his character: a man who is far more intelligent and observant than he appears, but whose only genuine motivation is to protect his peaceful existence and enjoy his cigarettes. His notable abilities lie not in combat or grand speeches, but in his sharp perceptiveness, his ability to read a room and understand the true nature of a situation without reacting, and his skill at diffusing tension through inaction.