UNEDITED

Unrequited love.

That's what his mother used to say about him and Catherine Borgia. It's been three days since she left. Return home, for the greater good. It was under his father's orders, Piero de' Medici, to get rid of the girl who saw nothing more than devil spawn lurking in Florence. She wasn't anything but that in his blue twinkling eyes, she was the beautiful woman who held his heart.

"Giovanni?" A voice spoke snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned his attention to John Borgia. Catherine's older brother. John grew up in Florence, with his nurse, Lady Flora Grey. John and Catherine are half-siblings. "You must forget about my sister, Catherine."

They were sitting in the main hall while John had been rattling about his undying love for Alessandra de' Pazzi. He had been thinking all this time about Catherine Borgia. "You go on thinking about Catherine while, I'm telling you of how much, I'm in love with Alessandra de' Pazzi."

"She can never love you, John. You know that.  Her father Jacopo de' Pazzi could never let his precious daughter married a Borgia." He watched as John peered back offended. "He will. Alessandra loves me. I love her." Giovanni chuckled. "Well, whatever happens, I wished you good graces with your undying affection for Alessandra who happens to be Jacopo de' Pazzi only daughter." He watched as John rolled his eyes at his response, sighing. They are both in love with women they could never have.

"Giovanni?" Immediately Giovanni stood up to see who was calling him. John stood beside him, fixing his posture. "Madonna," John muttered, showing respect for Lucrezia de' Medici. "I must go, Giovanni." He continued leaving Giovanni in the presence of his mother.

"What is it, mother?"

"Giovanni," she paused taking some breaths, "Lorenzo is traveling to Rome. We hoped to ask the Pope for more time. I'll be coming along, I'm asking of you coming along. I know how enchanted you are with the history of Rome. Giovanni, it's a perfect time to visit Rome and studied the architecture behind the city." Lucrezia finished. Giovanni licked his lips, feeling uneasy by the request. He is fascinated by the history behind Rome's structures. The architecture, and beauty, and perhaps it's gelato and pasta. It seems like there was something else, his mother wasn't telling him.

"I would love to," he replied, showing a smile. Lucrezia smiled cupping his cheeks. "My youngest son. You always are good obedient son to me." She then leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, then leaned back. "We leave today, hurried to pack your things." She finished walking away leaving him in his thoughts.

○ ○ ○

He sat alongside Lorenzo while his mother sat across from them. He had the carriage view, slowly gazing away to see the outside. While Lorenzo and his mother were discussing some plans. He leaned forward to see more of Rome. It was a beautiful empire, building structures were undeniable not of this world. It was truly an empire created on the seeds of the god of himself. He then noticed a girl, she was beautiful, he could see her long wavy blonde curls beneath her black cloak, she was trying to hide. He watched as she knocked on the door then quickly walked in once it open.

"Giovanni?" He leaned back facing his mother. "What's wrong, mother?" He asked. "How do you like Rome?" He smiled softly, plastering a smile on his face. "It's beautiful and certainly a view that no one could imagine."

"It certainly is." Lorenzo placed his arms around his shoulders. He chuckled at his response. It certainly hit him. The girl. Who was she?

○ ○ ○

"Am I too late, father Carlo?" Clarice hurried her way towards Carlo de' Medici who just finished curing the weak, sickly woman in bed.

"No, no, no, no, come. She's right in here." Carlo spoke, calmly. "Madonna." Clarice paused for a moment, "I found your daughter." Clarice immediately hurried beside the woman, giving the news.

"Has she come?" The weak pale woman asked laying on the bed. "She with child, but...she wanted me to tell you, she forgives you, Madonna. Your daughter knows that you love her. Her child is a girl. She's going to name her after you." Clarice sat by her, trying to give her some comfort in these last moments.

"Thank you. Thank you." The sickly woman answered smiling out of happiness.  "You did her a great service, Clarice," Carlo assured Clarice, impressed. They both walked near the end of the room.

"There are so many who suffer. I wish I could do more. Few do as much." Clarice paused. "Father?" She grabbed Carlo's attention.

"I wish to lead a life like yours and my brother's." Carlo inhaled some air. "You mean take holy orders? That a very great decision. And there's no way back. And I doubt very much your family would approve." He finished.

"I'm sure they wouldn't, but it is my decision to make. Perhaps you could help them to understand." Clarice green eyes sting onto his brown ones. She patiently waiting for some support of encouragement.

"Perhaps." He sighed.  "But I must leave you now. My nephews are due from Florence." He chuckled changing the topic, proceeding to walk away. "Father Carlo, surely you're too young to have a nephew's,"  Clarice commented showing a smile.

Carlo chuckled. She was right. "Well, Lorenzo's like a brother. Giovanni is almost like a son to me. I'm almost the same age as Lorenzo, Giovanni has been like a son to me. He reminds a lot about you. I'm sure if you guys meet, you'll get along."

"My father was Cosimo, was also his grandfather." He sighed then turned to noticed Clarice curious. "Grandfather?" "My mother was a slave. But the Medici took me into their home and raised me as one of their own." Carlo managed to finish.

"What extraordinary people you Florentines are," Clarice spoke, showing a slight smile. "Yes, I suppose we are."

○ ○ ○

The banquet had occurred within the midnight. Giovanni held his posture straight standing by the foundation, that sprinting water out of bow structure. He admired the banquet, it was decorated in pure-roman style, with all the lords and ladies walking in the room.

He walked through the crowds in hopes of exploring. This banquet certainly held such high standards for very powerful people to attend. The pope attended. His attention focused on a young woman who stood not far away standing beside a woman. They were some greeting some people. He couldn't keep his eyes off her, she resembled the girl he saw earlier. She was indeed very beautiful, now that he saw her up close.

He began to make his way towards her ignoring the voices that called out to him. He appeared right in front of them. He smiled friendly taking his hand to shake the girl's hand. She looked shocked but accepted the handshake. "The pleasure of greeting you." He stayed firmly. The girl smiled delightedly. "Pleasure is all mine, who are you?" She asked. When he was to speak, a voice interrupted them. His mother, Lucrezia appeared. "Maddalena, I'm sorry for my son's rude introduction."

Giovanni raised his eyebrow, unsure. "Lucrezia, this is Lorenzo?" Maddalena asked eyeing him from top and bottom. He showed a smile feeling awkward but through his right eye, he could see a smile plastered all over her. His mother sighed. "This is Giovanni, my youngest."

All eyes on him dropped. It seems like they were disappointed. "Giovanni, I would like you to meet Maddalena and her daughter, Clarice de'Orisini." He showed a smile admiring Clarice from the tip of his eyes, he could practically see her with red rosy cheeks.

"Ah, Giovanni. What handsomeness you come to be?" Maddalena spoke. He peered a smile. "Yes, he is quite a good-looking boy. Perhaps, Clarice, you could teach my son about, Rome. He is quite fascinated by it." His mother spoke, causing Clarice to nod in agreement. She looked to her mother for approval who simply nodded letting her walk away with looking back to see if he was following.

Giovanni held his posture while he trailed behind her. She was indeed a beautiful woman, with the scent of roses. "You certainly know how to make an entrance," she spoke softly. Giovanni raised his eyebrow, unsure. "What can you possibly be talking about?"

"I watched you on the other side of the room. You came spiraling to my side, slaughtering anybody that got in your way." She let out a laugh. He looked to her green glittering eyes admiringly.

"You stop staring at me, Giovanni," she pointed out letting him scoffed. "Staring at you?" I was admiring you." He spoke honestly. She raises her eyebrows, uneasy. "What for?"

He sighed. "For devoting your time to the poor." She looked at him, shocked. "How do you know?" She uttered in disbelief. "I've done it myself, I've visited Rome before with my father when I was a kid. He took me to this church and told me of the poor, I saw you earlier."

"You did?" She asked. He nodded. "I've always devoted myself to the poor. Florence has his fair shares as well. I've myself have been keen on helping out." Clarice stared at him memorized by his words. "I truly love, Rome and it's been spectacled in my eyes."

"Good news for my ears," she said, admiring him. They both stared into each other eyes, waiting for someone to break their silence but nothing occurred. At that moment, they admired each other."Would you like to dance?" He asked breaking the silence. She looked at him wide-eyed unable to say anything. He began to move forward, she could see him leaning his hand out for her to take. A soft medley began to play, she found herself speechless. She slowly leaned her hand out for him to take.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and the other in his, his other hand on my waist, and let one of his legs slip to the side. His heels made him so tall that the tips of his feet were barely brushing against the floor. He tingled himself around her, he could feel her every movement puzzled.

They moved gently through the music, she followed his lead. He felt a connection with her at that moment. She was indeed a beauty that never has been shown in the light.

"You're truly a woman," he whispered causing her to let out laughed. He leaned back. "What's was that for?" She turned to face him. "Woman? We're both just young people in depths of despair." He truly didn't believe her words at the moment. He quickly pulled her away,  shocking her. "What are you doing?" She asked. He pulled her behind a pillar hiding from the crowds especially their mothers who stared at them the whole time.

"Despair? You truly had no fun?" He questioned. She smiled unerring from his statement. He leaned upon her as he leaned closer to her lips, debating whether to kiss her or not. He could see her looking shocked. He leaned back. He pulled her hand away once more when he could see Carlo spotting them from the distance.

"Come on, now!" He smiled, she didn't stop. She loved it, he could tell. She followed him as they continued to run from people who were looking for them. They made it to a balcony. They stopped to get some fresh air,  she held onto her chest, smiling out of happiness. "Were truly play a game of chasing through the crowds." She blurted out, which made him laughed. They both continued to laugh of enjoyment.

"You see no despair just yearning," he grinned leaving her to smile. "Truly, Giovanni. A shock to my eyes, this is what I truly needed." He is glad, he made her happy.

"Clarice," a woman spoke loudly enough for both of them to hear. It looked like a maid. Clarice flickered her eyes between him and her widening her eyes. She turned to him. "I must leave now, it's a pleasure to see you, Giovanni." She quickly hurried her way towards the maid taking a few glances at him. He stared at her with a smile.

○ ○ ○

Lorenzo and Giovanni were beside each other. The whole banquet was full of guests. Giovanni kept looking around for Clarice. He noticed his mother coming along. "Lorenzo, well?"

"The other cardinals won't even listen to what I have to say. Salviati just smiles in contempt," Lorenzo informed his mother. "There must be
something you can do," Lucrezia told him, concern.

"Perhaps father was right. Perhaps the only way to save. Florence is let Sforza burn it." Lorenzo spoke. Giovanni his eyes lit up looking somewhere else. Lorenzo didn't bother to listen he kept thinking of strategies to make sure the pope listens to him.

"Maddalena?" Giovanni heard a voice raising his head to see a woman with a girl by her side, familiar girl. Clarice de' Orsini.

"May I introduce you to my son, Lorenzo." Immediately he watched as Lorenzo held his hand out for her to grab. "Lorenzo."  Maddalena greeted graciously. She then leaned back pushing Clarice by her side to come forward. "This is my daughter Clarice."Giovanni felt something odd about this. He knew his mother was planning something.

"And you know Father Carlo." Lorenzo blurted. He could tell he was nervous. He let out a chuckled leaving Clarice to looked at him, laughed as well.

"Hello, Clarice," Giovanni spoke, cutting Lorenzo off-guard

"How do you two meet?" Lorenzo asked. Giovanni and Clarice shared looks. Luckily, his mother spoke up. "I introduced Giovanni to Clarice when the banquet started," his mother replied. Giovanni couldn't keep his eyes off Clarice the whole time.

"I understand you're a patron of the arts," Lorenzo asked changing the topic. Giovanni left out a scoffed. He couldn't believe Lorenzo is trying to make small talk with her. "Yes," Clarice softly responded. "I love the arts, I love philosophy and poetry.." Lorenzo began to ramble on, pausing to think for a moment.

"Any of the higher callings." Clarice finally turned her attention on him. "The higher callings?" He asked, confused.

"Well, I don't just mean the higher callings. I like horse riding, all forms of sport. I suppose I like everything really. And my family obviously provides for the poor in Florence." Lorenzo finished. Giovanni couldn't believe Lorenzo, what he said stated.

"They give generously, actually. Father Carlo speaks very fondly of you, Messer." Clarice paused. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Giovanni kept smiling throughout than her eyes landed on him. "I hope we see each other soon, Giovanni," she said softly. Clarice took one last look at him walked away with her mother following behind.

"Well, it seems that the young lady and I have different interests. It seems she fancies you, Giovanni." Lorenzo bluntly spoke. He was left speechless and showed a smile instead.

"What does that matter when her uncle is Cardinal Orsini." His mother interrupted.
"I fail to see what diff-" Lorenzo argued only to be brought down by his mother. "Clarice has a noble title. She has influence in Rome."

"Mother. You're not suggesting marriage, are you?" Giovanni asked. He couldn't feel boiling anger tingle inside of him, he never felt this way.

"Orsini may prevail upon the Pope to extend us credit if you were married to his niece." Lucrezia began to reason. "And you've already spoken to Cardinal Della Rovere about this," Lorenzo asked, uneasy. Giovanni could feel his heart dropped when they began speaking.

"I told you I had other business in Rome to attend to." His mother replied. He didn't want to believe it. "I cannot marry her," Lorenzo bluntly spoke shocking his mother and uncle. Giovanni simply didn't react he knew why.

"Why not?" Lucrezia asked. "I can't, okay. I'll not marry a Roman woman. She seems nice, I cannot." Lorenzo bluntly responded walking away leaving all three of them dumbfounded.

"What was that far?" Carlo asked.

"He loves Roslin." Giovanni bluntly responded. "He can't be serious. He will throw all that away for Roslin. This is for Florence." Lucrezia spoke, she then left running after Lorenzo.

"Roslin Szfora?" Carlo asked. Giovanni stood next to him, nodding his head. "He always has. They both loved each other very much." Giovanni responded. "What about Clarice? Florence will need to pay back the pope. The only chance we have is Clarice." Carlo spoke trying to remind him.

"I supposed that's an obstacle. Knowing mother, she'll make sure he'll marry her." He sadly responded. "There is a problem, though. I've known the lady for quite some time. She's very devoted, and just this morning she informed me she means to become a nun." Giovanni looked at him wide-eyed. He didn't know any of this.

○ ○ ○

He heads her way, he spotted her in the same direction they were earlier in the balcony. "I feel like. I owe you an apology." He began staring into the sky, not at her. She followed his lead.

"For what?"

"What must seem like utter shallowness to a woman of your depth." He spoke grinning. She let out a chuckled. "You're taking this as a joke?"

He simply laughed. "No." He then turned serious. "I simply came to apologize for my brother. He isn't like that. Believed or not, he is very fond of his words."

"Just like you?" She asked. He smiled agreeing. "Why wasn't he?" She asked.

"He loves another." He answered truthfully. Clarice simply turned away not wanting to hear anything else. "What's wrong?" He asked. "You are aware that our mothers have spoken of marriage. I cannot marry a man who loves another." She answered truthfully.

"I'm aware." He said. "So, I come here to tell you, marry me." He spoke confidently.

She looked shocked, gasping. "What?"

"I beg you. Look favorably on the proposal." Giovanni practically begged.

Clarice replied. "Because your family is powerful and mine has noble blood?"

"And because if you give me your heart, I will see you as my wife, that I'll respect and love. I promise before God, I will take care of it." He spoke confidently holding her hand placing a kiss on it. "You don't even know me. You mustn't make such promises."

"No, I do not know you. And you do not know me, and you do not love me. But in time you would. And I would love you with all that I am, and all that I will ever be." He said confidently."If anyone could persuade me to marry, perhaps it would be you. But no one can." She informed him leaving his heart shattered.

○ ○ ○

"Well?" Giovanni asked. After they received the news that Lorenzo and Roslin had married. His mother couldn't stop stomping around. It came to the conclusion that Giovanni will marry Clarice. "The cardinal may support the marriage and our bank, if we install Clarice's brother, Rinaldo, as archbishop of Florence," Lucrezia spoke. "Then you have a deal," Giovanni said, with a nod.

"Clarice still insists on taking her vows." She informs both men. "And how can you change her mind?" Giovanni asked.

"I can't."

Giovanni know knew what needed to be done. They both turned to Carlo. "You expect me to do it?" Carlo asked. "Her mother tells me Clarice respects you more than anyone else in the world." His mother began speaking.

"I cannot turn her away from God."

"I understand, Carlo. And if you cannot bring yourself to champion this family, then I will forgive you." Lucrezia spoke walking away leaving Giovanni standing there. He noticed, she stopped halfway for him. He turned to his uncle. "I won't hurt her, I promised. I came to care for her. Just know that." He informed his uncle waking to his mother's side.

○ ○ ○

"Father? Is everything alright?" Clarice asked. "Uh, fine, fine," Carlo told her. They just finished being in the shelter we're on their way back home.

"You've been speaking to Madonna Medici. She wants you to persuade me to marry Lorenzo." Carlo frowned. "Giovanni, actually." He informed. She stopped her tracks earning a confused look.

"Giovanni?"

"Yes," Carlo informed her.

''But you refused." She told him."Did you refuse?" She asked earning no response.

"Clarice, are you truly prepared to give up on the possibility of being a mother? And having someone to love and care for you?" Carlo stopped her tracks, standing in front of her."To serve God is a privilege, Father." She informed him.

"Yes, but there are ways to serve." She looked confused. "God does not demand such sacrifices. Surely not by marrying Lorenzo de' Medici...or Giovanni."

"The Medici is a family like no other. They have changed Florence. And I believe that Lorenzo has it in him to change the world. And if he fails, because you refuse to take his brother's hand, the cost will be borne by generations to come. So, serve this family, Clarice, and you serve God." He informed her as Clarice couldn't believe it. Did he really believe that? She could feel herself falling for his words.

"Father? You're needed." A maid approached them.

"Fine." He began to walk only to turned back once more. "Giovanni said himself, he did come to care for you. I see in you, you did come to care for him as well." He then began to walk away leaving in her thoughts.

vegemites

AUTHOR NOTE

Any thoughts? Honest opinions? Anybody? I want to hear. I will reply back to anyone who comments down below.