# Countess von Rosen — Prince Otto character guide > Countess von Rosen in Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Madame von Rosen, von Rosen, Frau von Rosen, the Frau Gräfin von Rosen, Countess von Rosen, Providence von Rosen **First appearance:** 0002-book-i-prince-errant ## Snapshot A witty, mercurial noblewoman who keeps a dagger in reserve for ill-assured admirers and plays the court's game with dangerous charm. ## Who they are Madame von Rosen is the only entertaining woman on earth, by Otto's own laughing admission — a 'gem of many facets' whose beauty flashes like a weapon and whose low notes ring with tenor quality. She is in favour with the Prince, yet her gambling debts and reckless temper make her a liability as much as an ally; she laughs that cards are her destiny and a garret her end. Her intimacy with Otto gives the story its sharpest dialogue and its most unpredictable loyalties. ## Relationships ### [Prince Otto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/prince_otto) _romantic_ The Countess is infatuated with Otto and pursues him with manipulative charm, though he remains ambivalent. ### [Princess Seraphina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/princess_seraphina) _rivalry_ The Countess and Seraphina are jealous rivals, competing for influence and Otto's attention. ### [Governor Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/governor_gordon) _social_ The Countess and Gordon interact as part of the courtly circle, with mutual wariness. ### [Sir John Crabtree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/sir_john_crabtree) _social_ The Countess and Sir John share a flirtatious but cynical acquaintance, trading barbs and secrets. ### [Prince Otto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/prince_otto) _romantic_ The Countess is infatuated with Otto and pursues him with manipulative charm, though he remains ambivalent. ### [Prince Otto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/prince_otto) _romantic_ The Countess is infatuated with Otto and pursues him with manipulative charm, though he remains ambivalent. ### [Governor Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/governor_gordon) _social_ The Countess and Gordon interact as part of the courtly circle, with mutual wariness. ### [Sir John Crabtree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/sir_john_crabtree) _social_ The Countess and Sir John share a flirtatious but cynical acquaintance, trading barbs and secrets. ### [Princess Seraphina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/princess_seraphina) _rivalry_ The Countess and Seraphina are jealous rivals, competing for influence and Otto's attention. ### [Governor Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/governor_gordon) _social_ The Countess and Gordon interact as part of the courtly circle, with mutual wariness. ### [Princess Seraphina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/princess_seraphina) _rivalry_ The Countess and Seraphina are jealous rivals, competing for influence and Otto's attention. ### [Sir John Crabtree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/sir_john_crabtree) _social_ The Countess and Sir John share a flirtatious but cynical acquaintance, trading barbs and secrets. ## In the story ### [Prince Otto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/prince-otto) A flirtatious noblewoman who engages with Otto and is involved in court intrigues. ### [Book II: Of Love and Politics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/book-ii-of-love-and-politics) Flirts with Otto and becomes entangled in court intrigues. ### [II: “On the Court of Grünewald,” Being a Portion of the Traveller’s Manuscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/ii-on-the-court-of-gr-newald-being-a-portion-of-the-traveller-s-manuscript) A lady of dishevelled reputation, unequivocally Gondremark's mistress; described as frankly bad, she pleases the traveller like a piece of nature in the corrupt court. ### [While the Prince Is in the Anteroom…](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/iv-while-the-prince-is-in-the-anteroom) A tall, animated woman who flirts with Otto, hints at the Princess's bond with Gondremark, and challenges Otto to be more assertive. She dismisses him playfully, citing Gondremark's jealousy. ### [Gondremark Is in My Lady's Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/v-gondremark-is-in-my-lady-s-chamber) Referenced at the start as having spoken the truth about Gondremark being with Seraphina. ### [IX: The Price of the River Farm; in Which Vainglory Goes Before a Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/ix-the-price-of-the-river-farm-in-which-vainglory-goes-before-a-fall) Disguises herself as a young man, carries a heavy bag of money, and emotionally offers it to Otto to save his honor. ### [X: Gotthold’s Revised Opinion; and the Fall Completed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/x-gotthold-s-revised-opinion-and-the-fall-completed) Leaves Otto with a 'caress and buffet simultaneously'; informs him of Seraphina's fidelity, which stings his pride; is later defended by Otto against Gotthold's accusations. ### [Providence von Rosen: Act the First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/xi-providence-von-rosen-act-the-first) Visits Gondremark, feigns jealousy, secures the arrest order, and proposes to lure Prince Otto out of the palace. ### [Providence von Rosen: Act the Second](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/xii-providence-von-rosen-act-the-second) Visits Prince Otto to reveal the conspiracy and test his reaction; she is playful, powerful, and conflicted. ### [Providence von Rosen: Act the Third](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/xiii-providence-von-rosen-act-the-third) Acts as a conspirator and provocateur, orchestrating the Prince's arrest and then confronting Seraphina with harsh truths and a betrayal of Gondremark. ### [XIV: Relates the Cause and Outbreak of the Revolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/xiv-relates-the-cause-and-outbreak-of-the-revolution) Mentioned as having recovered the note from Seraphina and as the object of Gondremark's last call. ### [Princess Cinderella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/i-princess-cinderella) Briefly recalled in Seraphina's memory of the evening's tumult, including the dancing fan. ### [III: Providence von Rosen: Act the Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/chapters/iii-providence-von-rosen-act-the-last) Visits Prince Otto in prison, presents him with the release order, and manipulates him into agreeing to go to Gondremark. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters/countess_von_rosen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/prince_otto_se/characters