From the highest star

17

The day had come, the day Beatrice would dedicate her life to Giuliano, the day she would become a Medici, the day she never expected.

She looked at herself in the mirror with her precious dress, she was adorned with jewels and her lady went around her arranging her dress.

Fiammetta walked into the room.

"Oh my darling...look at you..."

Beatrice huffed.

"What's that face Beatrice...I thought you were happy to be marrying Giuliano."

"Yes...I was, now I am happy to do my duty and marry a Medici...not Giuliano"

"My child"

"Mother please don't give me your sympathy scene I don't need it" she said as she left the room and reached the carriage.

"Beatrice!" Her father held out his hand for her to get in.

"Are you ready?"

"If I said no what would change."

Beatrice got on and looked at Florence all the way to the Medici Palace.

When they all arrive they are out and when she comes down she looks at Simonetta, she is so beautiful.

She walks holding her father's hand, following his steps, keeping her face down.

And then she finds herself in front of Giuliano, she doesn't look at him.

The priest starts to talk, he talks, he talks, Beatrice doesn't listen she thinks about her future, she loves Giuliano, she loves him with all her heart, she raises her face towards him, he is serious, strange, she thought she couldn't be serious in that moment.

"Giuliano vis accípere Beatrice hic præséntem in tuam legítimam uxórem juxta ritum sanctæ matris Ecclésiæ?"

Julian looked at Beatrice, she had her head down, her hand resting on the girl's.

He looked at his mother, his brother and then at Simonetta.

"volo" Giuliano answered

"Beatrice vis accípere Giuliano hic præséntem in tuum legítimum marítum juxta ritum sanctæ matris Ecclésiæ?"

Beatrice remained silent, she was afraid of what she was about to do, but it was her duty to marry a man and Giuliano would love her in his own way but he would love her.

"Volo"

Everyone was celebrating, everyone was happy, Beatrice was standing...alone, looking at the people around her...Giuliano was joking with his brother and friends, Clarice was with Bianca, Lucrezia was with her husband, Fiammetta was with Tornabuoni and she was alone.

"Beatrice!" The girl turned around and stood in front of Simonetta.

"Simonetta."

"I am happy for you"

"Thank you"

Vespucci was about to say something but Giuliano reached them.

"Madonna Vespucci"

"Messer Medici congratulations"

"Thank you" the girl then left.

"So...wife, how come you are all alone?"

"I reflect..."

"About what?"

"About us...about our future."

"Beatrice, I...I want to apologize for the other day."

"Don't worry, it's nothing, I allow you to love whoever you want, but I don't want it to be known that you spend your days thinking about Vespucci"