# The Count — Short Fiction character guide > The Count in Short Fiction by Vladimir Korolenko. **Role:** minor **Also known as:** Count, gracious Count, The old Count, Count Ivan, Ivan, wicked Count **First appearance:** 0001-short-fiction ## Who they are A count, possibly wicked or gracious. ## Relationships ### [Opanas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/opanas) _professional_ Opanas appears to be a servant or subordinate to The Count, with frequent interactions suggesting a master-servant dynamic. ### [Raman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/raman) _professional_ Raman likely serves The Count in some capacity, possibly as a worker or retainer. ### [Makar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/makar) _professional_ Makar interacts frequently with The Count, likely as a servant or laborer on the estate. ### [Avtonomov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/avtonomov) _professional_ Avtonomov is a servant or estate manager for The Count. ### [Aksana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/aksana) _professional_ Aksana is a servant or peasant woman under The Count's authority. ### [Opanas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/opanas) _professional_ Opanas appears to be a servant or subordinate to The Count, with frequent interactions suggesting a master-servant dynamic. ### [Raman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/raman) _professional_ Raman likely serves The Count in some capacity, possibly as a worker or retainer. ### [Makar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/makar) _professional_ Makar interacts frequently with The Count, likely as a servant or laborer on the estate. ### [Raman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/raman) _professional_ Raman likely serves The Count in some capacity, possibly as a worker or retainer. ### [Aksana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/aksana) _professional_ Aksana is a servant or peasant woman under The Count's authority. ### [Opanas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/opanas) _professional_ Opanas appears to be a servant or subordinate to The Count, with frequent interactions suggesting a master-servant dynamic. ### [Makar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/makar) _professional_ Makar interacts frequently with The Count, likely as a servant or laborer on the estate. ## In the story ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v) Referred to as Volóydka, a companion who warns Vasíli about Burán. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi) The listener; presses Vasíli to continue the story. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii) Alias Vasíli; mentioned as a companion during the escape. ### [Sketches of a Siberian Tourist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/sketches-of-a-siberian-tourist) Ivan Ivanovich appears as a companion or guide in the Siberian setting. ### [The Cormorants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i-the-cormorants) The narrator's driver, who is wary of the cormorants and warns the narrator about the danger. ### [V: The Exterminator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v-the-exterminator) The narrator, who recalls his encounter with 'The Slayer' and agrees to accompany Proskuróf. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v) The narrator, a young man dreaming of writing a novel with an American hero. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as General Ferapontyev, the American woman's father. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii) The narrator, who observes the events and reflects on his own youthful dreams and the unfolding drama. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii) The old man who speaks with the narrator; he is the grandfather of the Avdeyev children and the only literate man in Nuysk hamlet. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii) The nobleman who is murdered by Opanas and Raman. ### [I: The Ruins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i-the-ruins) The old Count, a gloomy ruin of a man, lives in a white house on a hill with his daughter, rarely appearing in town. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i) The lay brother who attempts to intercede for Brother Varsonofy but is overruled by the guest-master. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x) The little wanderer, found dead on the riverbank, his face reminiscent of his childhood delight at the bird's song. ### [On the Volga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/on-the-volga) Appears in the chapter's events on the Volga. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii) An old man, probably a small farmer, who sternly rebukes the steward's claim. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv) The old peasant who sits on the chapel threshold, binding his boots, and recounts stories of Saltykov and Pugachev. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/the_count - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters