Nine-year-old orphan Jean survives in Paris by carving and selling small wooden dolls. Separated from his mother Catherine at age three, he remains driven by an ongoing quest to find her. After meeting d'Artagnan, their combined savings are stolen, forcing them to cohabitate on Jean's Seine-moored boat and undertake odd jobs together. These include operating a bathing service frequented by Aramis, whose concealed female identity Jean discovers early on. During the investigation of a noblewoman's framed murder, Jean aids the musketeers' efforts and participates in an attempt to liberate the imprisoned Queen, leading to his capture.