All's Well That Ends Well

Helena, a lowborn Spanish woman, becomes obsessed with the indifferent Bertram. Following him to France when he seeks to serve the ailing king, she uses her healing abilities to save the monarch and, in exchange, secures the right to choose her husband. She chooses Bertram, who, however, departs for war, promising to love her if she bears him a child. The story explores themes of unrequited love, ambition, and the complexities of marriage against a backdrop of social class and personal sacrifice.