Cardinal Richelieu functions as the primary antagonist in this adaptation of *The Three Musketeers*. As France’s religious leader, he commands substantial political influence and engineers schemes to weaken King Louis XIII’s authority. His motivations focus on extending control over the monarchy and removing rivals, particularly the king’s loyal musketeers and their captain, M. de Tréville. He disregards conventional morality, utilizing manipulation and espionage to advance his objectives.

He masterminds conspiracies against Queen Anne of Austria, notably exploiting the affair of diamond studs gifted by the Duke of Buckingham to sow discord among royal factions. His operatives, Milady de Winter and Count Rochefort, conduct missions to tarnish the queen’s reputation and disrupt the court’s stability. Despite his ruthlessness, he exhibits measured respect for formidable opponents like d’Artagnan and the musketeers during direct encounters. His methods include invoking state interests to legitimize covert operations, issuing orders "for the good of the state" to authorize morally dubious assignments.

The character’s involvement is strictly limited to the political machinations of the Musketeers’ narrative, with no expansion into other anthology segments. His antagonistic role fuels the core conflict but resolves entirely within this adaptation.