I Will Repay · Character

Citizen Merlin

A grimy, ironical Jacobin deputy who searches Déroulède's house with obsequious courtesy and bloodthirsty patience, watching for the smallest sign of guilt.

supporting

Also known as Merlin, Deputy Merlin

First appearance: ii citizen deputy

As a supporting figure in I Will Repay, Citizen Merlin is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Leads the domiciliary search, convinced Juliette is a discarded mistress who denounced Déroulède out of spite.

In the storyXII: The Sword of DamoclesOpen this moment free

See Citizen Merlin in XII: The Sword of Damocles Book page

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Merlin represents the Revolution's ugliest face: a Terrorist who can smile while he hunts, treating a search for evidence as a pleasant game of cat and mouse. He respects Déroulède's popularity enough to be careful, but his narrowed eyes miss nothing, and he would rather find proof than not. His raid turns the household's private drama into public peril and forces every hidden loyalty into the open.

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See Citizen Merlin in ii citizen deputy

Character Web

13 connections

A slice of how Citizen Merlin sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Rivalry
Professional

Character groups

Revolutionary and Aristocratic Figures
Protagonist
Loyal Servants and Rescuers
Minor Characters and Allies

+8 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story’s dramatic climax because Juliette, after being paraded through a jeering mob and thrown int…

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Relationships

Juliette de Marny
psychological · negative
Citizen Merlin manipulates Juliette, exploiting her desire for revenge to use her as a… How this plays out →
Paul Déroulède
rivalry · negative
Anne Mie
rivalry · negative
Citizen Lenoir
professional · negative
Foucquier-Tinville
professional · negative
Paul Déroulède
rivalry · negative
Juliette de Marny
psychological · negative
Citizen Merlin manipulates Juliette, exploiting her desire for revenge to use her as a… How this plays out →
Anne Mie
rivalry · negative
Citizen Lenoir
professional · negative
Juliette de Marny
psychological · negative
Citizen Merlin manipulates Juliette, exploiting her desire for revenge to use her as a… How this plays out →
Paul Déroulède
rivalry · negative
Foucquier-Tinville
professional · negative

Juliette de Marny
Citizen Merlin manipulates Juliette, exploiting her desire for revenge to use her as a pawn against Paul Déroulède.
Paul Déroulède
Merlin is a cunning revolutionary agent who actively plots Paul's downfall, viewing him as a political enemy.
Anne Mie
Anne Mie distrusts and opposes Merlin, sensing his malicious influence over Juliette and Paul.
Citizen Lenoir
Lenoir and Merlin are revolutionary colleagues, working together in the Committee of Public Safety.
Foucquier-Tinville
Merlin and Foucquier-Tinville work together as revolutionary agents, sharing intelligence and plotting arrests.
Paul Déroulède
Merlin is a cunning revolutionary agent who actively plots Paul's downfall, viewing him as a political enemy.
Juliette de Marny
Citizen Merlin manipulates Juliette, exploiting her desire for revenge to use her as a pawn against Paul Déroulède.
Anne Mie
Anne Mie distrusts and opposes Merlin, sensing his malicious influence over Juliette and Paul.
Citizen Lenoir
Lenoir and Merlin are revolutionary colleagues, working together in the Committee of Public Safety.
Juliette de Marny
Citizen Merlin manipulates Juliette, exploiting her desire for revenge to use her as a pawn against Paul Déroulède.
Paul Déroulède
Merlin is a cunning revolutionary agent who actively plots Paul's downfall, viewing him as a political enemy.
Foucquier-Tinville
Merlin and Foucquier-Tinville work together as revolutionary agents, sharing intelligence and plotting arrests.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Citizen Merlin in ii citizen deputy

In the story

Citizen Merlin appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XII: The Sword of Damocles
Leads the domiciliary search, convinced Juliette is a discarded mistress who denounced Déroulède out of spite.
Tangled Meshes
Leads the search of Déroulède's house; his footsteps and laugh are heard from the bedroom.
XIV: A Happy Moment
Continues the search in the kitchen, questioning Anne Mie and Pétronelle, and begins to consider blaming Juliette for the failed investigation.
XV: Detected
Conducts the search of the house, frustrated at finding nothing incriminating; he gives Anne Mie a paper and hints at the anonymous denunciation.
Under Arrest
Leads the search, finds no proofs against Déroulède but arrests him anyway; returns to the house after Déroulède leaves.
XVII: Atonement
Interrogates Juliette, finds the torn letter-case and charred papers, and orders her arrest.
In the Luxembourg Prison
Escorts Juliette to prison and arranges for her strict confinement, deeming her dangerous.
Complexities
Conducts the domiciliary search and arrests Juliette; accuses her of fooling the representatives.
XX: The Cheval Borgne
Merlin is present and under attack for his failure to find proofs against Déroulède; he feels his life may be in danger from the mob.
XXI: A Jacobin Orator
The Minister of Justice, relieved that attention is diverted from his own failures, and eager to assist in the plot against Déroulède.
The Close of Day
Orders Juliette to be labelled 'dangerous' and placed in isolation at the Luxembourg.
XXIII: Justice
Minister of Justice, seated among the deputies observing the trial.
XXVI: Sentence of Death
Mopping his forehead in intense fatigue after the struggle.
The Fructidor Riots
Deputy Merlin; mentioned as having given instructions for the prisoners' transfer to the Temple.

Chapter companion notes

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See Citizen Merlin in ii citizen deputy

See Citizen Merlin in XII: The Sword of Damocles