Merteuil – The Seduction is more than a prequel to Dangerous Liaisons: it is a rewriting of the original story, moving away from the play, the novel, and the film, while embracing their core elements and recreating an “almost” original narrative. And the third episode fully confirms that.

After the abortion, Isabelle de Merteuil awakens in the middle of the night to the sound of a baby crying. For a moment, everything feels unbearably real — but it is only a nightmare. Still, she wakes in panic and runs through the dark corridors.

The following morning is marked by discomfort and tension. Rosamunde and Madame de Volange await the arrival of Count Gercourt, already determined to rush the wedding arrangements with Cécile, as if everything were under his absolute control.

Isabelle seeks refuge in prayer. A priest insists that she confess, promising relief from her pain. But after hearing her story, he refuses absolution and demands the name of the man involved. Cornered, Isabelle flees once again.

While searching for her, Rosamunde notices something that changes everything: Isabelle is — or has recently been — pregnant. When she returns, Rosamunde is firm and pragmatic: Isabelle must learn to keep up appearances and pretend to forgive Gercourt. But behind the scenes, she acts. She writes to Valmont, who is lost in yet another of his parties. The message is simple and urgent: Isabelle needs you. He returns immediately.

In conversation with Isabelle, Valmont makes it clear that he disagrees with his aunt about the need to appear cordial toward Gercourt. He warns her of something unthinkable: once Gercourt marries Cécile, with Merteuil’s husband absent (or even dead), it will be Gercourt, as the man of the house, who controls everything and governs the family. From what it seems, he is the one truly holding the upper hand. And it is precisely here that the new scheme of Dangerous Liaisons takes shape: to shock Gercourt with an “experienced” bride. The initial plan is to unite Cécile with Danceny.

Everything appears to move according to plan — until Danceny proves to be “too quick”… and flees before actually consummating anything. Isabelle tries to speak with Cécile, but the young woman shuts her out: Gercourt has forbidden their friendship. Even so, Isabelle delivers a clear warning: sisterhood must come before everything else.

Meanwhile, Valmont suffers in silence over his love for Merteuil.

At a so-called “family” luncheon, Madame de Volange asks how Isabelle and Gercourt first knew one another. The Count, defiant and insolent as ever, is dangerously candid as he recounts how he met Merteuil at one of his parties. He recalls that Isabelle was poor and eager to rise socially, conveniently leaving out a few crucial details. As if that were not enough, he declares that he will not hold her past against her and even asks for her “forgiveness” — though it sounds far more like checkmate against Isabelle and Rosamunde. Faced with such hypocrisy, Rosamunde admits she was wrong and decides to help Isabelle and Valmont with their plan.

There is little difficulty, since Danceny and Cécile are already in love. But Valmont is betrayed by his assistant, who steals the certificate of the false marriage between Merteuil and Valmont. Gercourt, now holding the evidence, says he will take the document to Magistrate de Tourvel so that Isabelle will lose everything — including her title as Marchioness. He is cruel, ruthless.

And yes: soon, we will also meet Madame de Tourvel.