Exploring the castle, Alptraum comes across the Countess in the Hall of Memories, where the portraits of the previous rules and their children are on display. He spots her contemplating a portrait that he takes to be her deceased older brother, but when he approaches her he finds out otherwise.

The portrait is of Duke Andrei Vasile Albu, a white vampire Eeee with dark hair. Rose explains how they were married when she became Countess, since Andrei had the knowledge and experience and overall leadership skills that the County needed – a political marriage.

The Countess tells of how the former Count Karstein had begun raiding his neighbors, and Andrei went to talk to him – never to return. Then she found out he was publicly executed in Gallis. It made her self-destructive, ending in her attempt to insult the Marquis himself on Rephidim during a New Year's celebration in the hope of being arrested and executed – only to find out that Rephidim had more sympathy for her than for the Marquis, ushering her away to safety.

She goes on to describe her various failings as a leader, and Alptraum counters with examples from his own life where friends believed in him and kept him going, and how it made it possible for him to save others when he could.

Altpraum also asks formally becoming Rose's consort, which the Countess is seems willing to announce when Alptraum is ready to be exposed to the nobles and ensuing political minefield.