Charlotte Dunois is portrayed as calm, courteous, and kind-hearted often serving as a contrast to the more assertive or volatile personalities of the other heroines in the Infinite Stratos series. Despite her original mission at the IS Academy being to observe Ichika Orimura and gather data on his unique ability to pilot an IS, Charlotte consistently maintains a polite and approachable demeanor. Compared to the likes of Cecilia’s arrogance, Houki’s temper, or Lingyin’s aggression, Charlotte stands out for her gentle and supportive nature.

She holds a deep personal discomfort with deception, and after Ichika uncovers her true identity, Charlotte expresses genuine relief and apologizes for having deceived him. Her honesty and warmth lead Ichika to consider her the kindest among his female peers, even describing her smile as that of an “angel” or “goddess.” However, when angered, Charlotte maintains the same sweet smile paired with a subtle but ominous blood vein mark on her forehead causing Ichika to jokingly refer to it as the “smile of the Angel of Death.”

Unlike most of the other heroines, Charlotte is not characterized by tsundere behavior. Instead of focusing on making Ichika fall for her, her primary concern is his happiness. This caring disposition, paired with her gentle efforts to grow closer to him, sets her apart from the others. While not overtly flirtatious, Charlotte has shown growing romantic interest in Ichika. She has shared moments of physical closeness, such as hand-holding, back-hugging during the public bath scene, and attempting to share a cookie mouth-to-mouth. Despite her usual composure, she occasionally displays jealousy such as participating in a group IS assault when Ichika nearly kissed Houki.

Charlotte’s affections are rooted in her sense of emotional connection. She once admitted that Ichika made her feel wanted for the first time, influencing her decision to abandon her mission once her identity was revealed. Her strained relationship with her father whom she has only met in person twice contrasts sharply with her fond memories of her late mother, particularly of times spent shopping together. These personal relationships help shape her longing for genuine connection and affection.

Though mature in behavior, Charlotte does not shy away from girlish or playful behavior. She enjoys wearing cute outfits, such as cat-themed pajamas she shares with Laura, and has a habit of acting impulsively leading to embarrassing situations. One such moment includes hiding Ichika in a changing room, only to forget and begin undressing in front of him.

Ironically, while she is quick to label Ichika a “pervert” for minor mishaps, she is often the cause of such awkward encounters. After revealing her true gender, she continues to enter shared spaces with him under casual pretenses once nearly telling him he could stay and watch her change. During the World Purge scenario, her subconscious desire manifested as an idealized version of Ichika who was notably more forward and perverted. Although embarrassed, she reluctantly went along with his advances, hinting at a deeper longing for intimacy beneath her otherwise composed surface.

Charlotte Dunois is a slender, fair-skinned teenage girl with long, straight blonde hair and distinct purple eyes. When first introduced, she appears under the alias Charles Dunois, disguising herself as a male student. In this guise, she wears the standard IS Academy male uniform and styles her hair in a low ponytail. Despite her efforts to appear masculine, her delicate features and overall appearance lead others to describe her as cute even while dressed in boys’ clothing, much to her embarrassment.

After revealing her true identity in Episode 8, Charlotte reintroduces herself to Class One as a female student. She begins wearing a slightly modified version of the female IS Academy uniform, featuring a shorter-than-standard skirt and red-and-white sneakers worn barefoot, distinguishing her from the other girls. Her IS training outfit also changes to the female design, shifting from a two-piece set to a one-piece bodysuit with orange trimming and stockings that cut off at the feet.

In Volume 3 of the light novel, Charlotte receives a silver bracelet from Ichika, which she wears on her right wrist. Her IS unit, Raphael Revive Custom II, appears in standby mode as an orange pendant worn around her neck.

Physically, Charlotte has a feminine and graceful build. While not as voluptuous as Houki Shinonono or Cecilia Alcott, she is still described as well-endowed, with a figure more developed than that of Lingyin Huang or Kanzashi Sarashiki.

Charlotte Dunois was born as the illegitimate daughter of the CEO of Dunois Industry, France’s largest IS production and development corporation. Her mother, a mistress, raised Charlotte away from the main Dunois family estate. Charlotte’s existence remained largely unacknowledged by the family particularly by her father until her mother passed away. She was only formally recognized after presenting a letter left behind by her mother that confirmed her lineage.Lingyin Huang moved into Ichika Orimura’s neighborhood shortly after Houki Shinonono relocated with her family. Houki departed at the end of fourth grade, and Lingyin arrived at the start of fifth grade. During this time, Lingyin’s family operated a Chinese restaurant, which Ichika frequently visited partly due to his sister Chifuyu Orimura’s demanding work schedule as an active IS pilot. With Chifuyu often away from home, Ichika chose to eat at the Huang family restaurant rather than cook for himself.

In the anime adaptation, Charlotte’s father is aware of her existence but kept her and her mother at a distance, housing them separately from the main family and company until her mother’s death two years prior to the main story. Following this, a company representative was sent to retrieve her.

As an “unwanted child” within the Dunois household, Charlotte endured neglect and emotional mistreatment. However, her natural aptitude for piloting Infinite Stratos units drew attention, especially as Dunois Industry struggled to produce a viable third-generation IS under mounting pressure from the French government. Unlike other European nations, France had chosen not to join the EU IS development pact, placing the entire burden of advancement solely on Dunois Industry.

Facing the risk of losing government contracts and production rights, the company’s CEO devised a desperate plan: to gather technical data externally. Recognizing Charlotte’s potential and exploiting her status, the CEO falsely declared her to be male making her appear to be the world’s second male IS pilot after Ichika Orimura. The French government, eager for progress, selected her as its official IS Representative Candidate and sent her to the IS Academy.

Operating under the alias Charles Dunois, Charlotte was assigned as Ichika’s roommate, under the assumption that they were the only two male students. Her mission was to gain Ichika’s trust and obtain data from Byakushiki, which was then considered one of the most advanced third-generation IS units. However, after Ichika discovered her true identity, Charlotte abandoned her mission and chose to remain at the academy of her own will.

Charlotte Dunois is recognized as a highly capable IS pilot with both technical expertise and combat proficiency. Her knowledge of IS technology is extensive though not quite on the level of Kanzashi Sarashiki and she is frequently able to provide accurate assessments of IS models, including the strengths and weaknesses of various units. Her familiarity with her own company’s designs, particularly second-generation IS models, allows her to explain their mechanics in detail.

In combat, Charlotte demonstrates exceptional skill and adaptability. She is the only character shown to have mastered the Rapid Switch technique on screen, a maneuver that allows for rapid transitions between offense and defense in real-time battle. Despite initially piloting one of the oldest models at the IS Academy, she was able to hold her own against Laura Bodewig, buying time for Ichika Orimura to rescue Cecilia Alcott and Lingyin Huang. Her performance in this encounter highlights her tactical awareness and precise control under pressure.

As an IS Representative Candidate of France, Charlotte received formal military training, which she demonstrates on multiple occasions. She and Laura were able to easily subdue a group of armed robbers, showcasing not only her martial competence but also her ability to work effectively in tandem with others. Among the female cast, Charlotte is widely regarded as the second most capable IS pilot, only slightly behind Laura in raw combat performance.

Charlotte’s personal IS unit is the Raphael Revive Custom II, developed by Dunois Corporation. It is a heavily customized version of the Raphael Revive, a second-generation IS known for its durability and ease of use. In Volume 11 of the light novel, Raphael Revive Custom II merges with the third-generation IS unit Cosmos to form Rein Carnation, the world’s first dual-core IS, further enhancing Charlotte’s combat potential.

Skills Outside of Combat
Beyond her capabilities as a pilot, Charlotte is also known for her culinary skills, often preparing meals for her friends and occasionally using cooking as a way to bond with Ichika.

The given name Charlotte is of French origin, derived from the male name Charles, and traditionally means “free man” or “petite.” The feminine form reflects both her noble French heritage and her delicate, graceful personality. Interestingly, Charlotte is first introduced under the alias “Charles Dunois”, highlighting the duality of her identity at the beginning of the series.

Her surname, Dunois, is also of French origin and may reference historical figures such as Jean d’Orléans, Count of Dunois, a notable French military commander. The name conveys nobility and ties to France’s aristocratic and militaristic legacy, aligning with Charlotte’s background as the daughter of the CEO of a major IS weapons manufacturer.