Marquise Brinvillier Celebrated Crimes

On a crisp autumn evening in 1665, a crowd gathers on the Pont‑Neuf as a locked carriage struggles against police. Inside, a veiled woman hides her face while the young cavalry captain, Chevalier Gaudin de Sainte‑Croix, is seized on a royal warrant. The officer’s insistence and the captain’s calm defiance set a tense tableau, and the mysterious lady slips away amidst the turmoil.

Sainte‑Croix, a striking twenty‑eight‑year‑old officer of the Tracy regiment, is known for his charm, reckless generosity, and a quick temper when his honor is challenged. Though his origins are shrouded in rumor—some say noble birth, others humble roots—he carries a reputation for both gallant deeds and indulgent excess. His recent acquaintance with the enigmatic Marquis de Brinvilliers promises to pull him into a web of intrigue that will test his loyalties and ambitions.