Love of de Wardes for Milady (unrequited)

The Comte de Wardes, a young, handsome, and wealthy nobleman in the service of Cardinal Richelieu, becomes the object of Milady's calculated affections, a passion that is never genuinely reciprocated by him but which she pursues with obsessive intensity. This one-sided love affair serves as a crucial lever in Milady's intricate plots, ultimately leading to her devastating humiliation and a thirst for revenge that shapes the novel's final acts.

Identity and Role

Comte de Wardes is introduced as a creature of the cardinal, a man of high rank and considerable personal charm, described as "young, handsome, rich, and high in the cardinal's favor" . He is a rival to d'Artagnan in the dangerous game of courtly intrigue, and his name is one that "figured most frequently in the daily brawls which all the edicts of the cardinal could not repress" . His position as a favorite of Richelieu makes him a natural enemy of the king's Musketeers, and his personal qualities—youth, beauty, and wealth—make him a perfect target for Milady's predatory affections.

The Unrequited Love and Milady's Manipulation

Milady's love for de Wardes is not a passive emotion but an active, possessive force. She writes him passionate letters, declaring, "I love you" , and arranges secret rendezvous, such as the one at the ball of Mme. de Guise . She is utterly convinced of her power over him, telling her maid Kitty, "I understand my game, Kitty; I have this one safe" . However, de Wardes's feelings are never shown to be genuine; he is a target of her manipulation, not a willing partner. This unrequited nature is the foundation of the tragedy, as Milady's love is a weapon that can be turned against her.

The Impersonation and Its Consequences

The pivotal moment in this relationship occurs when d'Artagnan, having intercepted Milady's letters to de Wardes, impersonates the count. He writes a forged reply to Milady, arranging a meeting (E04463-E04467). D'Artagnan then takes de Wardes's place in Milady's bed, a deception that shatters her pride and unleashes her fury. When she discovers the truth—that it was d'Artagnan, not de Wardes, who had been with her—she is consumed by a desire for vengeance. She cries out, "Ah, wretch!... you have basely betrayed me, and still more, you have my secret! You shall die" . This moment transforms her from a calculating agent into a vengeful fury, and de Wardes, though innocent of the deception, becomes the symbol of her humiliation.

The Shift to Hatred and Vengeance

Milady's love for de Wardes curdles into a murderous hatred. She confides to d'Artagnan, "He has deceived me, and from the moment he deceived me, he merited death" . She then demands that d'Artagnan, whom she believes to be a loyal admirer, kill de Wardes to prove his love for her . This demand is the ultimate expression of her unrequited love: she seeks to destroy the object of her desire because he has failed to reciprocate. The Comte de Wardes, though largely absent from the narrative's action, is thus a catalyst for Milady's most dangerous schemes, a ghostly figure whose rejection fuels her relentless pursuit of revenge against d'Artagnan and all who have wronged her.