August Ruthven is a high-ranking vampire senator serving the Vampire Queen in Altus. He appears as an exceptionally tall, middle-aged man with pale skin, distinctive yellow sclera matching his irises, pointed ears, and long, messy red hair often tied back to reveal a widow's peak. A black eyepatch permanently covers his right eye, sustained in a past injury. He favors formal attire such as coats, cravats, and gloves, accessorized with an ear cuff featuring two tassels. Historically, Ruthven emerged as a pivotal peacemaker during the brutal war between humans and vampires. Originally a teacher advocating mutual understanding, he maintained genuine affection for both races and actively brokered peace deals. His students included Éric and Louise, who later adopted the orphaned vampire Jeanne. During this period, he befriended Chloé d'Apchier at her family’s estate in Gévaudan, sharing his worldview and entrusting her with Jeanne’s care. In 1672, however, Éric and Louise betrayed Ruthven and other vampire officials to human forces, resulting in a massacre. Ruthven survived but lost his right eye, while his students were executed and Jeanne was conscripted as a bourreau for the Senate. This betrayal shattered his idealism, leading to profound psychological trauma and a shift toward cynicism. Following his disfigurement, Ruthven isolated Chloé to seize her family’s research on World Formula Alteration Devices. When she refused, he attempted to curse her into compliance. Chloé repelled the curse and exiled him, severing their friendship. Ruthven then secured political power by integrating into the Oriflamme family, becoming adoptive uncle and guardian to the young Grand Duke Luca Oriflamme. Leveraging this position, he gained proximity to Queen Faustina and a Senate seat. By 1702, he negotiated a treaty ending the war: vampires relocated to Altus, and human vampire-hunting was outlawed. In recent years, Ruthven aligned with the clandestine organization Charlatan. He orchestrated their infiltration of Marquis Machina’s bal masqué to assassinate Luca, though the plot failed. He later exploited Doctor Moreau’s experiments on curse-bearers and collaborated with Naenia—a malevolent entity spreading the Malnomen corruption—despite her tormenting him with hallucinations since his betrayal. Ruthven’s objectives remain ambiguous, but he prioritizes them ruthlessly. He maintains a veneer of conscientiousness, such as tidying after colleagues, but reacts violently to threats or challenges to his authority. His relationships reflect his calculated nature. He outwardly protects Luca as his nephew but controls him as a political puppet, silencing his inquiries about the Queen’s status or curing his curse-bearer brother. He manipulates Jeanne, whose parents were his former students, treating her as a tool; he arranged her "date" with Vanitas as a diversion and left her vulnerable during attacks. He also forced Noé Archiviste into a blood oath of absolute obedience, intending to weaponize him against his rival, the Shapeless One. Ruthven’s philosophy evolved from idealism to pragmatism. He once asserted, "I like Vampires. And, in the same way… I like humans," but after his betrayal, he concluded, "I… was wrong. Yes. I was a fool. I took it for granted that we could understand each other." He now believes salvation need not involve curing curses, stating, "Salvation takes many forms. Being freed from the curse may not necessarily bring happiness."