The Poisoned Wedding

The exterior of the palace showed its age, surrounded by walls that appeared to date back to the Crusader era, and adorned inside with the most beautiful historical paintings. Philip came here with his wife in late April 1836, accompanied by their son, who was named Arman after his slain father. He had been given the title of count when the revolution died down, and he lived a life of isolation and solitude with that unhappy woman who, after learning of her husband's death, pale, listless, and thin, having been one of the most beautiful women of her time, as attested to by all who saw her at the court of the great Napoleon.

One day, four years ago, as she sat in her house anxiously awaiting her husband's return, consoling herself for his painful absence by playing with her young son, Philippe entered, dressed in mourning clothes.

We must mention that Helena hated this man intensely and rebuked her husband for his loyalty to him and warned him against him. However, Arman was pure of heart and clear of conscience, so he did not listen to his wife or pay attention to her, and he continued to be affectionate toward his friend. This increased Helena's aversion and hatred for this man, to the point that she would busy herself when he visited or feign illness so as not to meet or see him.

When she saw him entering her room dressed in mourning clothes, his appearance betraying his grief, she stood up in alarm, trembling with fear. He approached her, took her hand in his, and, feigning tears, said: "We are powerless, my lady, before God's decree. You have lost your husband, and I have lost my dear friend. Let us weep together, for we are both afflicted."

A few days later, the widow learned of her husband's will, which stated that she must marry Philip after him. However, the widow's hatred for Philip was so strong that she initially disobeyed her husband's will and refused to marry his treacherous friend.

As for the commander, he expressed his astonishment at his friend's will, saying that he was not worthy of her. He was broad-minded, very patient, and extremely gentle, so he begged the widow to accept him as her friend and show him kindness, and she accepted him. He remained close to her for three years, pretending to be modest and dignified. Then he began to win her over with affection and tenderness until she reconsidered her previous judgment of him. She had raised his rank in the imperial court and hoped for the best for her son through him when she saw his high status and impeccable morals. She accepted him with some satisfaction and leaned on him with some reliance. He seized this opportunity and increased his flattery and adulation, continuing until she accepted him as her husband and their marriage was announced.

However, she did not remain in that unhappy marriage for long before she returned to her previous hatred and aversion towards him when she saw the ferocity and cruelty that lay dormant in his heart like a smoldering fire. and when he sought revenge on that weak widow, she returned to her isolation, fleeing from that predator who smiled at her in front of people with a smile of love and respect, but tormented her with the most severe torture when they were alone.

He was preoccupied only with ways to harm this woman who had never loved him, and he cared only about ways to take revenge on her, even though she had never wronged him in her life, until one day he learned that she was pregnant with his child. He found what he was looking for, and his hellish imagination conjured up this terrible idea: "If her son dies, my son will inherit all this great wealth alone, and there is nothing easier than killing a child who is not yet four years old." From then on, he began to look for opportunities to achieve this tremendous goal.

We have already mentioned that the Karlován palace stood on the seashore and had a roof surrounded by a narrow corridor where Arman used to play when the sun went down.

His mother was very devout and eager to pray, finding in it the best consolation for her sorrows. One day, she left him playing alone on the roof and went into her room, where she knelt before an ivory cross and immersed herself in her prayers. She did not finish until the sun had set and darkness had fallen. She was startled by the roar of the waves, and the first thing that came to her mind was her son, whom she did not see near her.

The weather had turned gloomy, the wind had picked up, and the sky had darkened. Thunder rumbled and torrential rain poured down, and the waves roared so loudly that they almost drowned out the thunder. She went out to look for her son, fluttering about like a bird wet from the rain. She had barely reached the door when she found her husband inside, dressed in his hunting clothes and looking terrified. She was startled to see him and felt her heart sink at the sight of him. Unable to hide her distress, she asked him about her son with concern and suspicion, and he replied coldly: "I was surprised that he was away from you. If you hadn't asked me about him first, I would have gone to him first."

The unhappy mother's heart sank, and she opened the window overlooking the roof and called out in a broken voice: "Arman." Her voice echoed, and only the raging wind answered her.

On the table in the room was a dim lamp, its flickering light illuminating the corners of the room. She looked at Philipon and saw the signs of fear etched on his face, his eyes darting about like those of a frightened sinner. She felt betrayed and cried out to him, "My son, tell me what you have done to my son."

Philip summoned all his strength and said, "I have not seen your son, and I have only just entered the palace.

His answer only increased her suspicion, and she left the room in a rage, shouting, "Arman, Arman." But her voice was heard only by the raging sea.