Set in Corsica and later Paris, the story follows Ginevra Piombo, the devoted daughter of a proud and powerful Corsican family. The Piombos are deeply entangled in an age-old vendetta—a blood feud with the Porta family, their long-time enemies.

Against her father’s wishes, Ginevra falls in love with and secretly marries Luigi Porta, the last surviving member of the rival clan. Her love defies tradition, but her father, Bartholomeo Piombo, is consumed by vengeance and refuses to accept the union.