https://blog.desdelinux.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/1.png As usual , GRUB will auto-start the highlighted entry in 5 seconds .. VirtualBox has such a problem that makes GRUB unable to show the first countdown number which is 5. But GRUB is able to show the numbers 4 ,3 ,2 and 1 ..
https://wiki.qemu.org/Links .. VirtualBox uses QEMU source code ,, I just guess QEMU has the same problem ..Just guessing it , not verified yet .