Richter sinks into his chair, staring at the crackling fireplace. How long has it been? He can hardly tell. Tonight, his regrets weigh heavily on him? Could he have done something different then? Perhaps if Annette could have been saved, he wouldn't have wandered into the woods that night.

Maria tells him no one blames him, save for himself, but Richter isn't too sure. It was by his hand that Dracula's Castle returned. If not for Alucard and Maria rescuing him, the world may have fallen to ruin.

Richter picks a parchment up from his side table. A letter from Maria. Despite himself, Richter finds himself smiling as he reads. Maria has made progress with Alucard. He's slightly more open with her.

As the letter goes on, the topic shifts to a report on a growing vampiric threat as well as not so subtle hints that he should return. Richter sets the letter aside. Maria took his decision to live in isolation harder than expected. Richter wishes she understood like Alucard does. He doesn't even have the whip anymore.

But, should she truly need it, Richter knows he'll help her. Maria is family. Vampire Killer may be in the hands of the Morris Clan now, but Richter still has plenty of other ways to dispatch a vampire.

Richter rises from his seat. The hour is late. For now, he will rest and pray for the safety of his friends. In the morning he will send Maria a reply. Perhaps he can give her the advice she needs for the hunt.