Online:Countess Ilise Manteau

Countess Ilise Manteau is a Breton and the current leader of Wind Keep. Her husband died early into their marriage, leaving her to rule in his stead. Due to her wealth and beauty, the Countess has many suitors-all of which she doesn't think very highly of. After a surprise gift, the Countess began to act very strangely, isolating herself in her house.
 

Related Quests



Quest-Related Events
A Look in the Mirror
The Countess can be first found up in her bedroom in Manteau Manor staring into a mirror.

:"The lines on my face tell a sad story: the tale of a woman whose youth was stolen by circumstance. I was widowed even before I flowered. I did what I thought was right. I assumed the burden of leadership, but paid for that choice. I paid dearly."
:Mathias is worried about you.
:''"Of course. Mathias is such a sweet boy, and he's served me well. It's a pity that I no longer have need of his service. I've been so false. So empty. I have no right to be a countess. I can see that now in my reflection."
:Mathias says that Wind Keep needs you.
:"Wind Keep needs a real leader, not a little girl masquerading as a woman of authority. Don't you see how hollow I am? I'm a shell of a person. Just look in the mirror."

Before you interact with the mirror, she will say:
:"I'm sorry. You'll simply have to excuse me. I'm getting to know myself and I'm not who I thought I was. You can see it too. Just look. Look in the mirror."

Once the Reflective Spirit has manifested, the Countess will reiterate her feelings:
:"I feel so empty. Like there's no one here. I am not a person. I'm just a reflection."

If you speak to her after speaking to the spirit, she will say:
:"You can learn so much about a person by simply studying their face. The same is true of yourself. I can see now so many things I've refused to acknowledge about myself."''

While in the Reflective Spirit's domain, both memories of her interacting with her suitors and the real countess can be found. 
:Countess Ilise Manteau: ''"An enchanted saddle-warmer? You're too generous, Sir Brice. I don't go riding often these days, but I do appreciate the gesture."
:Sir Brice: "So does this mean you will consider my request for your hand?."
:Countess Ilise Manteau: "You make it hard to resist your advances, but I don't want to rush into anything."
:Yarelion: "Perhaps you should tell him the truth, Ilise. That you and I plan to sell the estate and elope to Summerset Isle."
:Countess Ilise Manteau: "Indeed I would, Yarelion ... if that were truly the case. I'm afraid you gentlemen will have to excuse me now."

The real countess can be found looking aghast at the constantly shape-shifting copy of her.
:"You you see? Do you see what I've become. Look at the reflection! I'm old. I'm fat. And sometimes Argonian! No one will ever admire me again!"
:That's not the real you. It's an illusion.
:"It's not? Are you sure? I don't want to go back to a world where I'm reviled. Where is Mathias? Why hasn't anyone come to help me?"
::I'm here to help you. Mathias sent me.
::"He did? How do you know Mathias? Nevermind. Can you take me to him? Can we leave this terrible place?"
:::Yes. Come with me.
:::"Whoever you are, I'm going to make sure you're well-rewarded for this."
::You need to pull yourself together.
::"I do? I do, don't I? I've been acting like some silly child. I don't know what came over me. I'm a grown woman and I have responsibilities to attend to. Can you get me out of here?"
:::Yes. Come with me. 
:::"Whoever you are, I'm going to make sure you're well-rewarded for this."
::Do you remember how you got in here?
::"Hm. I remember being upstairs, and I heard a voice at the door—a man's voice. A few minutes later, Mathias brought up the mirror. When I looked, I recall feeling dizzy, and then I was here. Mathias didn't do this, did he?"
:::No. Mathias sent me to help you.
:::"He did? How do you know Mathias? Never mind. Can you take me to him? Can we leave this terrible place?"
::::Yes. Come with me.
::::"Whoever you are, I'm going to make sure you're well-rewarded for this."
:::You need to pull yourself together.
:::"I do? I do, don't I? I've been acting like some silly child. I don't know what came over me. I'm a grown woman and I have responsibilities to attend to. Can you get me out of here?"
::::Yes. Come with me.
::::"Whoever you are, I'm going to make sure you're well-rewarded for this."''

If spoken to again, she'll simply say:
:''"Lead on. I'll follow."

Once back in the real world, the countess is eager to speak to you.
:"Well, that was an adventure now, wasn't it? I'm fortunate you came along. 
:You certainly have my thanks. Where is Mathias? Where are the other servants?"
:Mathias said you dismissed all the servants.
:''"I did? That's worse than I thought then. I had absolutely no control over myself whatsoever … or was that even me? I'm sorry. I'm not used to being...compromised like this. But that only doubles my debt to you."''

Gift from a Suitor
If you haven't started the quest, she will say "Now I need to find out who was responsible for this."

Countess Ilise wants to find the person who gave her the mirror, and enlists your help.
:"My first older of business now will be to shatter that mirror into a million pieces. Next, and possibly even more important, I need to find out which of my suitors gave me the accursed thing."
:Why do you have so many suitors?
:''"Greed. Plain and simple. Since the day my husband died, there's been a line of suitors, each with a more extravagant gift than the last. They want to buy me and my title."
:But you've refused them all?
:"I certainly have. Why would I share my land, my bed, with such fobbing louts? Now one of my suitors apparently seeks to take me of the picture. Mathias will know which suitor dropped off the mirror. Would you help me investigate this?"
:Yes. I'll talk to Mathias.

After agreeing to help the countess, she can be asked further about her suitors.
:"If you don't mind, please apologize to Mathias for me as well. Tell him I would have him and all the other servants return if they're willing. No more suitors though. I'm done pretending. I have no intention of marrying again—certainly not now."
:Do you suspect any of your suitors specifically?
:"No, they're all equally shallow and untrustworthy. Sir Brice and the Altmer Yarelion are the worst. It was probably one of those who gave me the mirror."
:Tell me more about Sir Brice. / What about Sir Brice? / Where did Sir Brice come from?
::"Sir Brice is a 'man of honor'. A Knight of the Flame with what he claims is a passion to match. The poor man. Brice believes his own falsehoods. he says he loves me, but if I were clothed in rags, I'd be invisible to him."
:You're being courted by an Altmer? / What about the Altmer? / Yarelion is an Altmer?
::"He claims he was drawn across the leagues by my beauty, but the truth is that Yarelion is the disinherited son of some wealthy mage. Rather than a talent for magic, though, Yarelion has a talent for spending. He would have me be his bank."
:How would they profit from your absence? / How would he profit from your absence?
::"Oh, I'm sure that several of my suitors will have already suggested they take custody of the estate. Both Yarelion and Sir Brice are likely trying to rally support so they can petition the king."''

After learning of Mathias's death, you can return to inform her of the sad news. She will say:
:''"Did you find Mathias? I hope he hasn't left town or anything. It would ... break my heart if I lost him as a manservant."
:Mathias has been killed.
:"Mathias is... dead? That's... That's terrible. Whoever did this... we have to make him pay. Please find out who it was. I'm going to need a few minutes to myself if you don't mind."

After finding out that cultists have targeted Countess Ilise, she can be found at the Wind Keep Graveyard.
:"Have you come to pay your respect? That's very kind of you. Mathias was such … he was good to me. Better than I deserved, I think."
:I came to warn you. You're in danger here.
:"In danger? Is it one of those pathetic suitors? Are they really determined to have me out of the way?"
:No. It's cultists. There's no time to explain.

Once the cultists arrive:
:Countess Ilise Manteau: "On no! That must be them! Please—you have to protect me!"

When they have been defeated:
:Countess Ilise Manteau: "It looks clear now! Hurry. Meet me back at the manse!"

Countess Ilise can be found next to the fire in Manteau Manor where she wants to thank you.
:"It seems you wound up saying me twice. I wish I knew a proper way to express my level gratitude."
:I'm just glad you're safe now.
:"Whoever these Supernal Dreamers are, they are cunning and clearly willing to go to great lengths to achieve their goals. I'm happy to be alive, and I'm also glad to know you stopped them cold."

Afterwards she can be further questioned about her future plans.
:"This has been such an ordeal. I feel like there's so much to do now that's over."
:What do you plan to do now?
:"Well, I want to go back to the graveyard and pay proper respects to my poor sweet Mathias. And I suppose I must say something to my suitors. Speaking of which, I'm sorry you had to talk to them before. I know that must've been painful."
:It was. I hope you find someone better.
::"I think it's probably best if I just stop pretending. I have no intention of marrying again, and I should stop playing these games. You helped me realize that."
:They actually weren't that bad.
::"You don't think so? Have I judged them too harshly? It's hard being a woman of authority and being unmarried. I felt Mathias understood me, but that the suitors were all fools. Perhaps I should rethink that."
:I wanted to ask about Mathias.
::"You wanted to know if we were lovers? Yes. We were. No point in hiding it now. I think I loved. It felt like it was just a game. Only now do I realize how wonderful he really was. Better than my suitors at least."''

Notes
The ghostly "reflection" of the countess inside the mirror realm changes from her true form to an old woman, an Orc, and an Argonian.