Freak of Time, History's Game ( I Medici Masters Of Florence)

Chapter 15

Riccardo got up late in the evening for having a walk he needed.
He was leading a massive war against his father. And the efforts was starting to give some victories.
People started to come to his side and fight for him.
The secret was to never give up.

He reached his favourite place, where he gave start to everything, where he understood he needed to own his life.

"Riccardo?" A shy voice came from the darkness of the bushes.
His heart beated faster and ran to the slim hooded figure who was walking to him.
"Vittoria!" He hugged her tightly.
"I wanted to come back here. I didn't expect to find you here" she explained.
"We think in the same way" he observed her in the dim light of the evening "You learned to come here on your own. Now I feel useless".
"I'll always need you" she laughed, but got serious again "My father said we can stay here for some more days".
"Yeah, my mother talked to mine too and he agreed to write a letter to Sforza. I'm sure we'll win it".
She sighed unable to share his optimism "I'm so worried".
"Don't be. You're not changing your mind, right? We just need to wait some days for getting a reply. I'm already feeling a free man".
"What if the reply is an army against your family?".
"We'll make them reason. There won't be a war. Milan can't afford it. And I'll take all my responsibilities for this choice of mine. Nobody else will pay for it".
His stubbornness made her helpless. She hugged him, thankful for that meeting, for his determination. But it still seemed just the quiet before the storm.
"I feel like I'm Helen of Troy. But you are the one who is turn between two women".
He laughed "She chose to fight for love".
"And started a war and many people died because of that".
Riccardo frowned "I won't let that happen. I'll fight for you, but nobody else will die for it. I can be persuasive, I'll negotiate".
"I really don't deserve all of this" she sighed.
He kissed her forehead "You do".

Next morning Vittoria was woken up by Rita, who carried a bundle of roses and a letter she found in front of the door.
The girl appreciated those gifts. Riccardo just remembered her to have faith.

The woman liked seeing the shadow of a smile into the girl's eyes "If only you can fully enjoy this. This would be the greatest union for your family. Medici were simple merchants, then bankers and now they can rule a city".
"And they will rule the world" Vittoria concluded "This is what scares me the most. I can love Riccardo forever but I'll have to give my best every day to pay back this favor his family is granting me".
"That's already what you do. You always cared for your family's businesses. Now it's time to live your own life. Change is always worrying, but don't forget that there are people you can always trust and who are ready to help you in any situation. You're not alone".
Vittoria grabbed the hand she put on her shoulder "Thank you".

Waiting was the hardest thing.
People avoided to talk about the topic as Vittoria and Riccardo to show themselves together in public.
He  left short loving messages under her door and she found funny ways to attract him into hidden places and thank him with some minutes together.

The stress just got higher.
Antonio had to hurry back home but accepted to stay just to support his daughter. She wanted to share that with someone else, but all her friends were far.

Bad thoughts started spreading. A bad sign, the smokey feeling of a tempest coming in the air.
Till Vittoria couldn't bear it anymore and one evening decided to leave before seeing the world crashing down because of her.
Rita tried to stop her but the girl was determinated. She forced one of the stableboys to free her horse.
Her father came running to her "Vittoria! What the hell are you doing?".
"I'm sorry, father. This won't work. I'm going back home".
"Dear, you have need to have some more patience. We don't have a reply yet!"
"I don't care. This is my reply".
"You want to run away without telling them? Not even Riccardo?".
"I'm not starting a new war, father. I will always love Riccardo but I can't live knowing that I sacrificed Florence's peace. I love him too much, but I need to protect him from this".
"Dear, there's no need to do it...".
She avoided his hands and climbed on the horse"I must.. I don't have the strength to say goodbye. I'm sorry. I'll be safe".
"Vittoria! No!" He screamed but she hit the horse and galloped away.
Antonio was too shocked to react.

Few moments later Riccardo reached him "What's going on? What's wrong?".
The man didn't have the courage to reply so the servants did it.
"Gone?" The young man was incredulous "You let her go, sir?".
"How can I put my daughter into a cage? It's her choice. I disagree, but do you want me to force her against her will?".
Riccardo frowned "No way. I need to talk to her. I'll bring her back. My horse!".