Max and Charles - 6. The Romanian Connection

They met at Conrad’s and over coffee he told the following story.

“One hundred years ago a young Romanian noble named Grigore, fell in love with a seamstress named Violeta. She was the daughter of the palace tailor and would sometimes accompany her father on his palace visits. But of course Grigore could not marry her because of the difference in rank. He fought strongly with his family for the right to marry the woman he loved, but his father would not assent to his son’s wishes. Grigore was eventually forced into a betrothal with a woman of his own status, Stefania. Grigore was not happy with the arrangement but had to obey his father’s orders and traditions or be cast out of the family, lose his title and inheritance. Needless to say, Violeta was devastated by this when Grigore told her he was going to marry another. She felt her life had no purpose without the man she so loved. That night after her parents had gone to sleep she left her home, with no warm clothing and ran into the forest. She ran and ran until exhaustion and disorientation overcame her and she fell asleep under an old oak tree. She was awakened in the morning by an old woman shaking her violently and yelling, ‘You can’t sleep here in my forest.’ Violeta apologised to the old woman and asked if she could stay as she had nowhere else to go and didn’t want to live anyway.”

“That’s a sad story Conrad, but what’s it got to do with this box.”

“I’ll get to that, but I want you to hear the whole story. I’ll continue...The old woman took Violeta back to her shanty, fed here and gave her a warm cloak. Violeta told of her reasons for running away and the old woman was sympathetic. Over the next few days the two talked a lot and Violeta found out that the old woman had been cast out of her gypsy family when she was young because she also would not comply with her family’s wishes to marry an older man from her group. She was in love with a younger man from a rival gypsy tribe. During a fight between the two rival tribes the young man she loved was killed so she ran off and lived the rest of her life alone in the forest. She became a bitter and angry woman with a wish to punish her family for the way she was treated. During the years alone she developed her skills of witchcraft, future telling and creating spells for good and bad. She occasionally went to the market in a nearby village to sell her services and make a small amount of leu to buy basic supplies.

Violeta was fascinated by all that the old woman told her and asked if she could learn witchcraft. When asked why she wanted to learn, Violeta said she wanted to punish the woman who had taken her man. When told it would take many years to learn, Violeta begged the old woman to cast a spell on her behalf. She agreed and the two set about finding a way to cast a spell on Grigore and his intended wife.

The old woman could easily cast a spell but it was unlikely that they could get close enough to them so a plan was devised to send a wedding gift that would take the spell right into the palace where they were to be wed.

They sought the services of a master wood carver who lived on the edge of the principality. He was commissioned to make a box that looked attractive enough for the noble family to accept it into the palace. To ensure this, he carved the family crest into the lid.”

“Was that gift, this box?” asked Max.

“Yes, according to what used to be considered the legend it was. But now this has been found it may be more than just legend.”

“So do you know anything about the curse?”

“Yes, there is more to the story. As you know there are some incomplete instructions on the bottom of the box, but I have been able to find a book that describes this box and has the complete version of the instructions.”

“Wow, do you know the rest of the instructions?”

“I do and I think you might find them amusing.”

“It doesn’t sound like an amusing story so far.”

“You will understand when I tell you the rest of the instructions. As you know, the box is to be placed under the matrimonial bed, so picking up from what you have read so far, it continues, ‘The box will open when the couple’s first child is conceived in the matrimonial bed’. You see the irony now?”

They all had a good laugh, then Max asked, “But, what about the curse?”

“As the story goes, the curse was effective and Stefania never became pregnant at all, so the box never opened. To break the curse and open the box, it must be given by the custodian, to the first couple that marry after the 100 year anniversary. Now, of course we don’t know who the most recent custodian was but whoever it was they chose you two as the next newlyweds.”

“Not knowing the conditions, that the couple must conceive a child.” observed Charles.

“Exactly, so now you see the box may never be opened and the curse never lifted.”

“That’s kinda sad really.”

Max asked, “Do you think there is anything in the box?”

Legend has it that it contains all Stefania’s ova, and that is why she could not conceive a child.”

“Oh yuk, I don’t want to open it now.”

Always on the lookout for a deal, Conrad asked, “Do you want to keep the box, or would you sell it to me?”

“I don’t know, what do you think Charles?”

“It certainly seems to have some interesting history and it is a wedding gift, so I don’t think we should dispose of it so soon.”

“Yes, I agree with Charles,” replied Max. “But thanks for the offer Conrad.”

“No problem, but if you ever change your mind, would you give me first offer?”

“Certainly.”

Conrad then observed, “Often when I give an appraisal like this and the owner declines my offer I say, ‘Well you will at least have an interesting story to tell your grandchildren’, but in this case...”

They took their mysterious gift home, displayed it in a prominent position and were looking forward to their next dinner party when they could relate the story to their guests.