Maria Renard was actually not new to the series as she appeared and Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, which was only in Japan for many years. She was a little girl in that game but she’s a woman now. She was a decent supporting character.

Maria eventually meets Alucard and questions him over her brother-in-law Richter Belmont.

In the game’s good ending, she helps Alucard free Richter from the curse and they all survive the events after Dracula’s defeat

For many years I didn’t realize there was even a Sega Saturn version of Castlevania Symphony of the Night. Mainly because they only released it in Japan, but she’s actually a playable character after you beat the game once. Never had the chance to play her.