The Mystery of Oberwald

In a nineteenth-century unnamed Central European state, the ruling queen has withdrawn from public life for ten years after her husband King Frederic's assassination. She moves between residences at Oberwald Castle, attended only by her reader Edith, her personal servant Tony, and the loyal Duke of Willenstein. This mournful quiet sets the political backdrop for the drama to unfold.

A young radical poet, Sebastian, breaks into the queen's chamber with the plan to kill her. He sustains a wound during his flight from the police and faints inside the room. The queen is struck by the resemblance to her late husband and learns that Sebastian is the author of a subversive poem she admired despite its attack on her.

The queen realizes that the intruder is the author of the very poem she liked, which attacked her. She dares him to kill her, promising to kill him if he refuses. Their dangerous encounter foreshadows a shifting power dynamic between captor and captive.

To shield his true identity, the queen pretends that Sebastian is her new reader and keeps him close within her household. Her deception reframes him as a trusted companion rather than a target, while she tests her own control over the situation. The tension between them deepens as trust becomes a weapon.

The queen lashes out at Edith, accusing her of spying and ordering her arrest. This move tightens the circle of suspicion around the queen and isolates Sebastian further. The act escalates the danger faced by those around her and heightens the stakes of the unfolding conspiracy.

The next day, while wandering the Oberwald estate, Sebastian and the queen realize they have fallen in love. The queen confides that she is being dominated by her mother-in-law, and she reveals the Count of Foehn's ambitions to seize the throne. Their bond becomes a fragile beacon amid political peril.

Encouraged by their growing feelings, Sebastian persuades the queen to re-enter public life and present herself in the capital as sovereign. He frames her return as a decisive move against the conspirators and a bid to stabilize the realm. Their romance blends with a dangerous political gamble.

Count of Foehn, the chief of police, learns of the queen's plans and that Sebastian is a fugitive. He uses this information to blackmail Sebastian, pressuring him to talk the queen out of her plans. The intrigue intensifies as loyalty and ambition collide at the edge of rebellion.

Sebastian refuses to be used as a pawn in the power games and rejects the Count's coercion. Instead, he consumes a slow-acting poison, ensuring that the queen's plans cannot be derailed by his coercion. The act seals a tragic arc for both lovers, with fate turning against them.

In a furious turn, the queen claims she had plotted with Count of Foehn against him, blaming his refusal to kill her for jeopardizing their schemes. The revelation blurs the line between lover and traitor and shows how fear and ambition corrupted their fragile alliance. The political plot thickens as trust evaporates.

In a climactic moment, Sebastian shoots the queen as despair erupts into violence. He collapses immediately after, overwhelmed by their dangerous entanglements and the consequences of their choices. The act marks a catastrophic end to their attempt to navigate love and power.

As she lies dying, the queen admits that she fabricated the plot to force Sebastian to keep his promise. She reveals that she still loves him despite everything. Her confession leaves their fates unresolved, casting a pall over the future of both lovers and the realm.