Vihreät sisaret

A twenty‑two‑year‑old son of a celebrated lawyer is dispatched in late May 1788 to the distant Ionis castle, a Renaissance masterpiece perched between Angers and Saumur, to untangle a delicate legal dispute. Though trained in the law, he feels a stronger pull toward writing and yearns for a life freer from his father’s expectations. The journey through fragrant woods and the castle’s moonlit gardens sets a vivid, almost lyrical backdrop for his reluctant mission.

At the manor he meets the reputedly beautiful Madame d’Ionis and the sharp‑tongued widow who runs the household, both women hinting at a web of family secrets and business intrigues that have left the estate in limbo. Their uneasy hospitality forces the young advocate to balance his professional duties with the allure of the castle’s mysterious atmosphere. As he prepares to argue the case, he also begins to confront the choices that will shape his future beyond the courtroom.