expressed conventionally romantic notions about both love and war, in which men were cast as Byronic heroes, but she also mentioned that she had doubts about the reality of this romantic ideal. When she meets Captain Bluntschli, not only do her views change, but so does her role. At the same time that he undermines her ideas about the romantic nature of war, he also emphasizes his dependence on her.

In her engagement with Sergius, Raina was the conventional girl who stayed at home while men saved the country through their heroism. In her interactions with Captain Bluntschli, Raina becomes a strong woman whose quick wits actually save Captain Bluntschli from capture, as well as providing him with food, warm clothing, and a safe place to rest. The beginnings of the romance represent the evolution of Raina from a romantic girl mainly concerned with her social position to a strong woman using her intellect to good purpose.

Raina first meets Captain Bluntschli when he hides in her room. He tells her not to try calling out, for he will have no qualms in shooting her if she does so. Seeing her to be an intelligent young woman, he tells her that she likely knows he is on the Serbian side; after all, his uniform gives him away. Both are wary of each other. However, Raina observes that Captain Bluntchli seems to have his wits about him. What's more, the rugged soldier seems imbued with a grim sense of humor.

When he tells her that he has no intention of dying if he can help it, she replies tartly that some soldiers are afraid of dying. Unperturbed, he reassures her that all soldiers are afraid of dying. They trade insults with one another and the Captain tells Raina that he will not be slaughtered like a pig by one of the soldiers on her side. He is a fighter and will battle until the bitter end if need be.

When a young Russian officer inquires about a fugitive on the balcony, Raina chooses not to betray Captain Bluntschli. She agrees that it is a close shave as the captain left his gun on the ottoman, and that he could have been discovered. She tells him that it is Serbian soldiers like him who have fought to deny her Bulgarian people their liberty. However, Bluntschli good-naturedly assures her that he is really a Swiss professional soldier, only fighting on the Serbian side because Serbia is closest to his homeland. He tells her that the old soldiers carry food rather than the ammunition the young ones carry. He is so ravenous that he accepts the box of candy that Raina presents him.

Despite the situation, Raina finds herself touched by Bluntschli's humanity. He soon proceeds to disabuse her about her notions regarding war heroics and battlefield maneuvers. Bluntschli describes a foolish cavalry charge led by a young, naive officer against an enemy equipped with extensive gunpower. The Russian/Bulgarian cavalry charge only succeeds because the Serbian side bungles the cartridge orders, thus rendering the Serbian weaponry impotent for a short period of time.

Raina is deeply embarrassed when she finds out that the officer Bluntschli describes is none other than her fiance, Sergius. She tells Bluntschli that he must now leave after saying all those unflattering things about her fiance. He tells her that he might as well die because he has no heart to go down the same way he climbed up. She is disdainful of his fear and calls him a chocolate cream soldier. Bluntschli tries to pull himself together; he tells her that he is very tired and has not slept in 36 hours. He reasons that if he were to die, he would sleep forever. When Bluntschli tries to get ready to climb down the way he came up, Raina has a change of heart. She can't explain it, but she really does not want him to be discovered and killed.

Raina tries to reassure Bluntschli that he should trust in the hospitality and integrity of the Petkoff family, one of the greatest families in Bulgaria. She pledges to keep his life safe in her hands. Her father is away at war in Slivnitza, but she will confer with her mother, Catherine. She begs him to try to remain awake. However, when Raina returns with her mother, they find the soldier asleep in Raina's bed.

Raina is readying for bed in the darkness of her chamber when she sees her shutters open and close and hears ragged breathing in her room.  A match is briefly lit and then put out, and a man's voice warns her not to shout out or she will be shot.  The man instructs Raina to strike a light, and when she does she sees "a man of about 35, in a deplorable plight, bespattered with mud and blood and snow".  The man reveals that he is a fugitive from a nearby battle, a mercenary member of the opposing army, and that it is imperative that he not be discovered by the homeland troops.  He points out Raina's skimpy night attire and refuses to allow her to get a cloak, shrewdly calculating that, dressed as she is, she would not want her room overrun by soldiers searching for him.  The two engage in a barbed but witty repartee; the soldier tells an incredulous Raina that he keeps chocolate in his revolver case instead of cartridges, as he has found the former to be more useful in battle.  He further expresses his unsentimental views of surviving under fire, views which contrast sharply with Raina's romantic perceptions of war.  After awhile, touched by the "chocolate soldier's" predicament, Raina agrees to give him refuge, and goes to tell her mother of his presence.  The exhausted soldier falls asleep on Raina's bed and cannot be roused, so Raina and her mother take pity on him and let him sleep (Act I).