From the highest star

15

"Sorry uncle" Feancesco got up and looked at the people present.
"In favor!" Giuliano looked at his brother, everyone was upset, why had he done it, why was he on the side of the Medici?
Beatrice smiled.
Francesco sat down on the chair. "Why?" Jacopo asked.
"It's the blood of my blood ... if Guglielmo isn't a Pazzi, neither am I." Francesco replied.
Now they were even, it was up to the head of the Priors to decide and when he declared himself in favor in the room everyone was, the two brothers embraced, Jacopo left the building. Giuliano approached Francesco.
"I never thought I'd tell you but thank you" Pazzi looked at him.
"We owe you Francesco"
"Don't be under any illusions I didn't vote for you, I voted for my brother" "Whatever the reason ... now we are a family" Lorenzo held out his hand to Feancesco but he left him there and left the palace.

Just outside Beatrice approached Giuliano.
"Giuliano I ... I wanted to apologize" "No ... you don't have to apologize ... you're right" She looked at him with the sweetest eyes in the world. "Guys ... we are invited to lunch at Palazzo Ridolfi" Lucrezia said to her children

That evening at Palazzo Ridolfi, most of the Signoria gathered.
They were all there, only the Pazzi were missing, there were the Vespucci, the Ardinghelli, the Soderini and then Guido, Sandro, Roberto, they were all gathered there and soon Ridolfi would make a great announcement.
Beatrice was standing next to Agnese, Simonetta and Clarice. Giuliano was instead with his brother and friends. "Sorry gentlemen ... I have an important announcement to make ... in the last few days I have discussed an important issue with Lucrezia ... my daughter Beatrice, she is the most beautiful thing I have, she is my little girl and I am not I would never allow to give it into the wrong hands and I came to an agreement with Lucrezia" Beatrice looked at her father and immediately after Giuliano who did the same.
"Soon Giuliano and Beatrice will marry" everyone applauded, Giuliano instead put down his glass angry and went out, Lorenzo started to follow him but Beatrice stopped him.
"I'm going Lorenzo"

Beatrice went out and stopped Giuliano.
"You knew it?"
"No ... I didn't know"
"Tell me the truth Beatrice!"
"I swear to you ... I make you so disgusting" He looked at her, put his hands on her face.
"For God's sake Beatrice no, you just know that marrying me is one of the last things I would do in the world" "Why"
"I don't want you to suffer ... I wouldn't be faithful to you"
"I am willing to give up fidelity just to be with you and not with Pazzi or with someone else"
"And the love you dream of so much?" "I already have all the love I need, I have plenty of it"
"Beatrice I ... I promise you that I will protect you and love you all my life ..."
"Giuliano, you are not obliged to love me" She turned and walked away, but before returning she stopped, he caught up with her, looked her straight in the eye.
He took her face in his hands, leaned his forehead against that of the girl, their breaths were coordinated.
Beatrice placed her lips on Giuliano's and the two joined in an exciting moment.
"Giuliano no ... I'm sorry"
"Don't apologize, you'll soon be my wife!" She returned to the room smiling and Giuliano did the same, but returning he looked at Simonetta who had a sad look, but he smiled having understood that the girl was in that mood for her wedding.
When everyone left they spent two hours organizing a wedding then they started talking about politics, Giuliano got up, took a glass of wine and went to the window.
Beatrice walked towards him.
"It's late to drink"
"It's never too late to gorge yourself on good wine"
"I promise you I'll be a good wife"
"I know you will be ... now I'm sorry but my mother is asking me to go home ... goodnight Beatrice"
"Good night"

A few days later
"You are more agitated by Bianca's marriage than yours did ... a union with the Pazzi, a new treaty ratified with Milan, you are winning Lorenzo ... Lucrezia asked as she sat naked on the bed, Lorenzo is lying down, the he looked at
"the bank's finances are unstable and this marriage will strengthen Jacopo Pazzi's desire to annihilate us" the boy got up and opened the window.
"But he's old and you know how to stand up to him"
"But I have the weight of conscience ... that's why I'm at a disadvantage" the girl got out and stood in front of him, in such a way as to look him in the eye.
"Can conscience be a disadvantage?" "There are moral limits ... that I will not cross, he has none"
"There is strength in goodness and I trust you" He kissed the back of her neck "Clarice is waiting for me and now there is also Giuliano's wedding to organize"
"He and Beatrice look beautiful together"
"I just hope it doesn't hurt her ... I have to go!"
"But ... maybe it can wait a little longer ..."
"Maybe" And I start kissing again. Medici Palace They were all gathered at the table, Clarice was looking at Lorenzo's empty seat, Sandro and Poliziano were always fighting over the same thing.
"Clarice? ... Clarice?" Lucrezia Tornabuoni exclaimed.
"I'm sure Lorenzo will arrive soon" Giuliano at the head of the table was observing the scene with a glass of wine in his hands, and here is Lorenzo.
"Lorenzo please stop these two, I'm having a headache" exclaimed the young Giuliano.
"Here it is, seen" Tornabuoni replied. "Sorry I'm late"
"We were expecting you hours ago" Clarice asked "Business ... I'm sorry, I couldn't help it, can you forgive me?" A servant approached Lorenzo "Excuse me Messer Medici, Messer Maffei is here directly from Volterra" "Without notice?" Lucrezia asked, the boy looked at Clarice apologizing.

"Lorenzo!" The old man embraced the Magnificent,
"Giuliano!" He did the same with him "Madonna Medici ..."
"Two more family marriages ... my sincere congratulations ..."
"Thank you Messer Maffei" replied Lucrezia.
"You will not have come here solanently to wish us well," the man pulled out of a small sack of stones. The three Medici immediately became interested.
"Are they ... Crystals?" Giuliano asked. "They are not just any crystals ... it is worked alum"
"And in the textile industry, this is more valuable than gold"
"And there are many others where he comes from, a shepherd found a mine in his land"
"Well ... then the people of Volterra are about to become very rich"
"Yes, however, the fabric traders take alum from the Pope's reserves ... he cannot lose those revenues"
"Ours is a small town and we will offer a little defense if Papa decides to invade us"
"Volterra is under the protection of Florence ... it won't dare" Giuliano continued.
"No ... the Pope needs that money, for his good works, he would have no choice"
"So it would be war ... between us ... and the Pope" replied the boy looking at Lorenzo.
"What do we have to do?" Maffei asked.
"You will be very tired from the trip ... come and have a drink ... Clarice will be happy to see you again" He said making Maffei leave the room.
"And now what do we do brother?"
"I intend to go with Maffei to Volterra tomorrow"
The next day the two men ride to the small town of Volterra.