From the highest star

18

May 17th 1470
Lorenzo and Clarice were sitting in the church and had just left their first child in the hands of Bianca and Francesco who were the godmother and godfather of little Piero.
Beatrice, pregnant, was next to Lucrezia, Giuliano had not yet arrived.
A little later he entered the church and approached Beatrice and her mother.
Everyone looked at him and laughed.
"Excuse me, but where were you?" Beatrice asked he smiled and didn't answer, in front of loto was Simonetta with her husband.
Giuliano looked at her and on his face a sense of happiness appeared.

"Can I see Piero well?" Francesco asked as he approached Clarice and Lorenzo.
He had married Novella.
"It is an honor to be her godfather," he said.
Lorenzo smiled and then joined his wife.
Francesco did the same.
"That child will have power and wealth beyond imagination."
"And a family"
"We too will have our own family very soon...isn't it going a little better with your uncle?"
"Every time at the council of Priors I vote for the Medici...it's like I'm turning a blade in Jacopo's chest...we barely talk to each other at the bank"

"Luca forgive me we need to talk."
Lorenzo said as he approached Soderini and then his mother who was talking to Giuliano.
"Mother"
"Forgive me Giuliano"
"Of course"
Giuliano reached Beatrice.
"How are you?"
"...Why do you ask?"
"I don't know...you know you're pregnant and prossi.a at the birth I can't ask?"
"I'm fine...how are you? You came in late and I don't know where you were"
"I was at home...this morning I went riding in the fields"
"I believe you only because with Simonetta there was the husband if not I knew where you were"
"Do you always think about that?"
"What should I think about?" He said smiling and moving towards Clarice.

A few days later
"Good morning!" Whispered Giuliano in Beatrice's ear who turned to him and smiled.
"Lorenzo told me that in Milan the girls get married very young, Caterina Sforza is 12 years old, poor girl."
"She's not so much younger than you, you're 18."
"Indeed...it was difficult to get married at 17, think about 12".
Beatrice gasped and placed her hand on her belly.
"What's going on"
"Your son...he's kicking"
Giuliano smiled and placed his hand on Beatrice's.
"We're almost there Giuliano"
"I know...I'm going to Sandro...you rest"
"Sure, see you later"

Giuliano was just going to Sandro, yes, but at Sandro's there was Simonetta waiting for him.
They saw each other every day, it was the only place where they could hide.
They had just finished making love.
"What is it? Julian asked.
"I'm not the answer to what's missing in your life, neither are nights out and wine."
"And what is missing in my life?"
"A purpose...you need to find your place in the world...in your family, now Beatrice will have a child, you will be a father"
"And what place would that be? Lorenzo is the head of the bank and...of the family."
"Be his right hand man"
"There is another person who occupies that position...and then...I love wine...nights out...and you"

Shortly thereafter Sandro would portray them.
"You know that by acting like this you will put her in danger and you will put yourself in danger too".
"Do you really want it to stop?" Giuliano hugged Sandro and turned him toward the painting.
"Even if you would lose that light in his eyes" Medici continued.
"I have to finish it...to paint her again."
Giuliano reached Simonetta and Sandro stood looking at her.
Shortly after while the two were posing a messenger arrived quickly in the workshop.
"Messer Medici ... your wife is giving birth".
Giuliano looked at Sandro, dressed and looked at Simonetta.
"Forgive me Madonna"
"Greet me Beatrice"
Giuliano ran quickly down the street and when he arrived at the Palazzo he found them all there in front of the door, waiting.
"Well?"
"The midwife said she's losing a lot of blood" Clarice replied.
"I have to see her!" Giuliano hurried to the door.
"Giuliano no...you better stay here."
Lorenzo stopped him.
And then the door opened and Lucrezia came out smiling.
"It's a boy!"
Giuliano let out a sigh of relief and hugged Lorenzo.
"How is she?"
"She lost a lot of blood but she's fine, you can see her."
Giuliano didn't even finish listening to his mother and rushed into the room.
Beatrice was lying in bed, the sheets were full of blood.
"Giuliano..." she whispered with difficulty.
"Shhh...don't talk, he's beautiful he looks like you."
"He has your...your blue eyes."
"I know" he kissed her forehead.
"Rest"
She got up and went to her son.
Federico.
Federico De'Medici had just been born.