Kardinaalin nuuskarasia

A tranquil garden on the banks of the Aco River frames the opening, where an elderly hostess offers coffee to the curious Peetri. He settles at a shaded table, sipping while the river winds past poplar groves and distant castles glitter on the horizon. The scenery, a patchwork of vineyards, white villas and dark forests, feels almost like a painted tableau, echoing a familiar poem that drifts through his thoughts. The peaceful tableau is suddenly broken by an unfamiliar, melodic English voice.

A young woman in a white dress steps onto the opposite bank, her eyes bright and her hair shimmering like sunrise gold. Her questions about the view stir an unexpected turmoil in Peetri, his heart pounding and his mind racing between admiration and doubt. A subtle, almost mechanical presence seems to echo her words, debating whether the landscape is a natural miracle or a crafted stage. As the conversation deepens, the listener senses that beneath this idyllic setting lies a web of secrets tied to the mysterious host and the distant Monte Sfiorito.