The story's pivotal narrative engine hinges on the hidden identity of Emily's murderer. In life, Emily was seduced by an impoverished, charming outsider who persuaded her to elope with her family's jewels and gold, only to ambush, rob, and slaughter her beneath an oak tree in the forest. When Victor is brought into the underworld, Lord Barkis Bittern takes advantage of Victor's mysterious absence to court and marry the distraught Victoria, intending to claim her family's supposed riches.
Upon learning that Victoria has married Barkis, a crushed Victor agrees to Elder Gutknecht's ritual to formalize his marriage with Emily by drinking the deadly 'Wine of Ages' in the land of the living, as death vows are only binding when both are dead. During the wedding ceremony at the village church, Emily notices Victoria watching in silent agony. Recognizing that she would be stealing another woman's dreams just as hers were stolen, Emily stops Victor from drinking the lethal cup and reunites the living lovers.
Lord Barkis bursts in, attempting to abduct Victoria, and Emily recognizes him as her killer. In the ensuing duel between Victor and Barkis, Barkis arrogantly drinks from the poisoned cup, mockingly toasting Emily. Having ingested the poison, Barkis dies instantly, allowing the vengeful spirits of the underworld to drag him away to face retribution. With her murder avenged and her vow willingly released, Emily steps into the moonlit courtyard, smiles at Victor and Victoria, and dissolves into a swirl of blue butterflies, ascending peacefully into the night.