Melusine the Serpent Woman

In the deep forests of Poitou, a young nobleman named Raymond accidentally killed his uncle in a hunting accident. Distraught, he wandered to the Fountain of Thirst, where he encountered Melusine, a woman of ethereal beauty. She promised to clear his name and bring him immense wealth and power if he would marry her. However, she imposed one strict condition: he must never seek to see her on Saturdays, no matter what. Raymond agreed, and under Melusine’s magical guidance, the House of Lusignan rose to glory, building magnificent castles and cathedrals in record time. They had many children, though each was born with a strange physical deformity. For years, Raymond kept his promise, but eventually, his brother planted seeds of suspicion in his mind. Driven by jealousy and curiosity, Raymond used his sword to bore a hole in Melusine's private chamber door on a Saturday. Inside, he saw his wife bathing, her lower half transformed into the scaly tail of a massive serpent. He remained silent until a family tragedy provoked his rage, and he publicly branded her a 'vile serpent.' Exposed and heartbroken, Melusine transformed into a giant dragon, circled the castle three times with a piercing cry, and vanished into the air, forever lost to the husband who broke his word.