"...If you dare to kill the Head of the Holy Synod, the Inquisition of all Europe will hunt for you. Even YOU can't get away from this, and Theodore knows it. He also knows that you are not a devil, you are nothing more than just a cunning guy who...
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The prince's spacious parlor was lightened by dozens of candles; reflections of light danced on panes of tall windows and the curves of polished furniture. Doors were locked from the inside. Napoleon held a small blue bottle and slyly glanced at his friends — Theodore, Sergey, and Elizabeth. A few more bottles sat on a low table before him.
'Come on, tell them,' Balzac quietly pestered.
Napoleon smirked and started a story.
On the northwest of Benefia, in Abyet county, lived a young viscountess whose family was friendly with the emperor, so they were often welcome at court balls and other events at the palace.
This young lady, both susceptible and ambitious, was charmed by the young prince and fell in love with him recklessly and uncontrollably. Napoleon, who always valued friendship and amiable relations, hadn't pushed the viscountess away. Still, he hadn't shown any romantic affection toward her, as he was already in love with Balzac.
The viscountess was the most beautiful of wealthy noble heirs, and many prominent grooms had asked for her hand. She was curious why Caesar had remained indifferent, why he had expressed no wish to take a walk with her in the garden late in the evening, embrace her, hiding from prying eyes under the shadow of dense apple trees... Maybe the young prince already had a lady friend?
At the next ball in the Marescall Palace, the viscountess sent a servant to watch Napoleon. Inconspicuous, more transparent than a shadow, the servant followed the prince in the semi-dark royal gardens and witnessed a scene he reported to his mistress which elicited disgust and regret. Napoleon, dragging Balzac to a quiet deserted place between lilac bushes and orderly rows of hedges, kissed him passionately, embracing, caressing him, and running his hand under the boy's shirt.
The viscountess couldn't believe her ears: Napoleon, the master of flirting, generously attentive to ladies, preferred a man. Who could have thought... To the girl, Balzac was disgusting as a bat, and she flamed with hatred for the unsuspecting young man, her hatred so strong that she wished to destroy him. The lady paid a visit to a doctor, who had served her family for many years, and he sold her poison powder.
During the next ball, the viscountess sprinkled the powder into Balzac's glass. She tried hard to carry it out unnoticeably, but Napoleon saw what she had done and immediately understood her motive. He approached Balzac, took his glass from him, raised it, and asked loudly: "May I steal a drink from you, my friend?" The prince raised the wine to his mouth, and the viscountess shouted: "No, don't drink it, Your Highness, no!" Realizing her shame and failure, the lady fell on her knees and broke into tears. Napoleon poured the wine into an urn, told everyone to return to the fun, and invited the viscountess to take a walk in the garden.
Hand in hand, they calmly walked under the grand trees of the royal estate, and for the young viscountess, that evening was the worst of her life. After finishing calm, though pressure-filled conversation, Napoleon demanded a meeting with the man who gave her the poison. "You will spend the night at the palace, and tomorrow we will meet with your doctor."
