Canute is introduced as the 17-year-old prince of Denmark, characterized by long blond hair, large blue eyes, and delicate, feminine features frequently causing others to mistake him for a girl. This appearance starkly contrasts his initial timid and sheltered personality. Deeply devoted to Christianity, he was raised in the faith by his retainer Ragnar, who served as both guardian and surrogate father. Ragnar's overprotectiveness shielded Canute from the royal court's political schemes and violence, resulting in an emotionally fragile prince who avoided public speaking and relied entirely on Ragnar for decisions and emotional support.

During Denmark's invasion of England, his father, King Sweyn Forkbeard, placed Canute in command of forces in London despite Ragnar's objections about his inexperience. Following a military defeat, Canute was captured by the mercenary Thorkell and later rescued by Askeladd's band. Throughout this period, he remained largely silent, hiding behind Ragnar and showing extreme discomfort in confrontations. His passivity and perceived weakness drew mockery, particularly from Thorfinn, who openly ridiculed his inability to assert himself. Travels through Wales saw a subtle shift as Thorfinn's provocations gradually forced Canute to articulate his thoughts, though his emotional dependence on Ragnar persisted.

A pivotal transformation occurred after Askeladd assassinated Ragnar, an act intended to force Canute's emotional independence. Grief-stricken and disillusioned, Canute experienced a philosophical crisis, rejecting his Christian ideals after a priest suggested true love could only exist beyond earthly corruption. He concluded that paradise must be created on Earth through human agency. This realization hardened his resolve, forging a commanding, ruthless persona. He manipulated Askeladd and Thorkell into serving his ambitions and orchestrated his father's assassination to seize control of England. His methods grew increasingly calculating; he poisoned his brother Harald to claim the Danish throne and ordered massacres to confiscate lands, believing such violence necessary to fund his vision of a utopian society free from suffering.

As king of Denmark and England, Canute prioritized consolidating power and resources to achieve his "paradise." He sanctioned the invasion of wealthy farmer Ketil's lands to fund his military, using aggression by Ketil's sons as a pretext for seizure. During this campaign, he reunited with Thorfinn, now a pacifist slave. Initially wary of assassination, Canute was bemused by Thorfinn's rejection of violence and ultimately withdrew his forces, sparing Ketil's farm. This decision stemmed partly from recognizing Thorfinn's parallel but opposing philosophy—peace through nonviolence versus peace through control. Despite this concession, Canute's broader ambitions remained unchanged. He later confronted internal dissent within the Jomsvikings, ordering their disbandment after neutralizing their leadership. His rule was increasingly plagued by hallucinations of his father, Sweyn, taunting him about his hypocritical and morally compromised methods.

In later years, Canute continued balancing pragmatic ruthlessness with his utopian ideals. He negotiated briefly with Thorfinn during the Eastern Expedition Arc, acknowledging their shared goal of peace while maintaining divergent paths. His physical appearance evolved to reflect maturity; he cut his hair short, grew a beard and goatee, and adopted regal attire including a cape and circlet. A scar below his left eye, inflicted by Thorfinn during a failed assassination attempt, remained a visible reminder of his ascent to power. Throughout his reign, his commitment to building a "worldly paradise" persisted, though his willingness to sacrifice lives and morality underscored the complexity of his character.