Sorry about the delay, but here is the long overdue prologue, and further chapters should follow very shortly!

Prologue

A Matter of Duty

'I can't choose!' the frustrated voice rang through the regal palace. 'Violet or indigo? It doesn't matter!' The Duchessa swept past a terrified maid, who stood trembling in the middle of the room, holding two swatches of fabric. With an exasperated sigh, Arianna collapsed onto her bed, swatting away another maid who rushed over to comfort her. 'Oh, just leave me be; all of you! I'm tired of all these decisions!'

'Yes, milady.' Barbara knew better than to try and reason with the Duchessa when she was in this sort of mood. Silently, she shooed the other maids out of the room and followed them, curtseying to the Cavaliere who was coming the other way. Luciano nodded at her distractedly, before knocking and going into Arianna's room.

'Violet, then?' he asked, trying not to laugh. Arianna sat up with a jolt and glared at him.

'Silvia wants to see you,' Luciano said smirking, 'she wants you to decide on ribbons –' Luciano ducked as a cushion sailed over his head, unable to suppress a grin. Arianna's eyes were blazing, and her hand searched for another missile as she glowered at her fiancé. Suddenly, her expression cleared, and she threw herself backwards, sprawling on the covers. 'I'm going mad.' She said with a short laugh, 'I didn't know that planning a wedding could take so much effort! I would be happy with a small ceremony on the island, but instead I have to go through with a day that will be a city-wide celebration. I hate it!'

Luciano sat down beside her and took her hand. 'You are Duchessa.' He said, 'Your wedding is a cause for Bellezza to celebrate.'

Arianna sighed, 'You sound like my father. He said that it was my duty to provide the city with a day of partying.'

'He's right,' said Luciano, 'but I don't like it that much. Still, if we focus on each other, maybe we can forget that everyone's watching.'

Arianna turned to face him with a mischievous smile. 'I think we should get married the way we want to – with just our family and friends looking on.'

Luciano knew her well enough by now to know what she was thinking. 'They'll never agree to it,' he sighed, 'the Pope would consider it an insult if you were not married by him. I don't see any way that we can get out of it.'

'Everything has turned into a show of wealth.' The Duchessa's violet eyes looked away. 'It's bad enough that the di Chimici will be there, but my father says that they will try and upstage me, just to show that they should be controlling my city.' She shuddered. 'I don't want to wear a monstrous dress stiff with gems and parade up an aisle adorned with exotic flowers while the entire city looks on. I just want to marry you.'

Luciano stroked her hair. 'I know,' he said, 'and I feel the same way. All the same, how can a city's ruler have a simple wedding without insulting the population and being seen as weak and vulnerable?'

'I don't know.' Arianna was so frustrated that she could have screamed. 'It just makes me sick that while it is perfectly alright for people like me to flounce about in expensive lace and pearls, there are people dying in this city. People who I am meant to be taking care of. That is my duty, Luciano! My real duty; not this silly business of putting on a show! I am ruler of a city full of people who look to me to guide and help them.'

Luciano's hand froze on the way toward his fiancée's. The People's Sovereign. That was what they called Arianna. Yes, why not? Why not let her live up to that title? Luciano strode out of the room half in a daze, hardly noticing Arianna as she collapsed backwards onto the bed once more with an exhausted sigh.

'I can't allow it,' said Rodolfo, 'what an idea! Giving away all that money! It's a wonderful concept, but it would raise too many eyebrows and offend too many people.'

'But isn't raising eyebrows what Arianna's reign has been about?' Luciano pleaded, 'She's not a normal ruler.'

'Duchesse rarely are,' Rodolfo sighed, tightening his grip on the hand of the woman next to him.

'I think it's a wonderful idea,' said Silvia, beaming at Luciano. 'The Bellezzans already see her as kind and generous. How better to help that impression along than a wedding like this? A humble Dechessa who thinks of her people first. I always thought that as Duchessa I had more money than I knew what to do with.'

Inwardly, Luciano fervently thanked Silvia for her support. Now, it was only a matter of time before Rodolfo came round to the idea as well.

After a silence that seemed like an age, Rodolfo sighed. 'I know all too well that if I don't agree then you will all arrange it behind my back. Very well, I'll support it, but we must go about this the right way, so as notto offend the di Chimici and the other rich people. I just hope that this wedding doesn't follow the new tradition of bloodshed that's making its way across Talia.'

'He agreed?' Arianna jumped up from her seat and clapped her hands. 'Oh, Luciano, thank you!'

'Consider it an early wedding present,' Luciano laughed and picked up his fiancée, whirling her around and around. 'I'm glad you like it!'

'Oh, I do!' Arianna's smile lit up the room. 'Nothing could make me happier right now!'

'So it's settled then,' said Luciano, 'you shall have the wedding you wanted, and the moneythat would have been spent shall go to those who need it. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but if that's not fulfilling your duty, I don't know what is!'