From the highest star

10

Florence
The carriages slowly arrived pulled by horses to Palazzo Medici, Lorenzo entered and gave his gloves and his cloak to a servant.
"Brother" Giuliano exclaimed as he left the room where he was with Sandro, Cosimo, Poliziano and other friends.
"How did it go?" Sandro asked
"A disaster ... complete failure"
"We are ruined" said Poliziano "our mother remained there ... she hopes to negotiate my marriage ... with Clarice Orsini"
"Ah, I saw her ..." Cosimo leaned against a column, next to Giuliano.
"And how is she? Bella?" Asked the young blond-haired boy
"She is a rare pearl Giuliano" Giuliano made a captivating grimace.
"Lorenzo" Bianca came out of nowhere "ah ... Bianca" she approached him quickly and without making him speak she slapped them, a beautiful slap in the face.
Everyone looked at them
"You promised to marry me without even asking me"
"Bastiano Soderini is a good match and he can benefit the family"
"But I didn't choose it"
"Does it matter? Our mother wants me to marry a noblewoman from Rome and I didn't even choose her" Giuliano came up "but she's beautiful" the boy said softly, joking, the two brothers looked at him, "Giuliano" he nodded and moved, "Listen, I don't want to marry Bastiano and I have nothing else to say" the girl left "white!"

Rome
Lucrezia was in a large garden with Cardinal Orsini, not far from them was Carlo.
She approaches the priest and Orsini went away.
"Well?" "The cardinal would support the wedding if we were to appoint Aldo, Clarice's brother, cardinal of Florence"
"So you have a deal?"
"Clarice still intend to take vows"
"How can you make her change her mind?"
"I can't" Carlo looked at Lucrezia
"eh ... do you expect me to do it?"
"Her mother says that Clarice respects you more than anyone else in the world"
"I can't take her away from God"
"I understand Carlo, eh if you won't be able to help this family, I'll forgive you * Lucrezia came up and placed her hands on her shoulders * But it is a forgiveness that it will be necessary to ask"
Carlo, without other choices, nodded.

Florence
Lorenzo walked the streets of Florence quickly, passed among the poor, among those poor people he loved to help.
He stopped in front of the door of the Ardinghelli house.
Lucrezia opened the door, she looked at him took her arm and dragged it inside her "How I missed you!"
Lorenzo kissed her, they were naked in her bed, then overtook the body of Lucrezia while their lips were still joined, the fire that warmed them crackled behind them.
"You know, you will be rightfully so, the queen of the tournament Madonna Ardinghelli" the girl laughed lovingly.
"Thank you Messer Medici"
"it is a pleasure"
"Have you ever thought about how different things could have been for us"
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe if I had been richer ... or you poorer ... now maybe we will be together"
"maybe it's true ... but now my mother wants to see me married to the Roman nobility" on the girl's face there were signs of discouragement "married !?" Lucrezia stood up covering her body, went down and took the slip "now I'm at the head of the family"
"and you didn't think to tell me before we made love" she tossed them the clothes.
"Does it bother you?"
"Why shouldn't he?"
"Maybe because you are already married?"
"I married a man I don't love"
"yes, I don't love my betrothed either ... I hardly know her" continued Lorenzo
"If you marry her, things will change between us"
"they must not change ... they must not" they looked into each other's eyes and Lucrezia had so much contempt for her.
"Get out!"
"Lucrezia what did I say?"
"Please go away" Lorenzo remained still and sitting where he was, sighed and got up.
He took clothes, looked at Lucrezia one last time and went out.

Rome
Clarice was in the hospice serving the sick. Father Carlo approached her.
"Father! Is everything okay?"
"Er ... well well"
"Have you talked to Madonna? Medici wants you to persuade me to marry Lorenzo, yes ... you refused" said Clarice "did you refuse?" She continued worried.
"Clarice are you really ready to give up the possibility of being a mother, of having someone to love, someone who cares about you"
"To serve God father privilege"
"sure, but there are ways to serve God that don't require these sacrifices"
"certainly not marry Lorenzo De 'Medici"
"The Medici ... They are not a family like any other ... The doctors have changed Florence, and I am convinced that Lorenzo can really change this world ... And if he fails because you refuse to give him your hand, the consequences they will fall on generations to come so serve this Clarice family ... and you will serve God "they were then interrupted by a nun, Calrice did not know what to say, he stood motionless looking at the earth beneath his feet.