Hello there! It has been some time, but I've finally found the courage to write again. This new story is a Cesare/OC. I own nothing in The Borgias except the take of Contessina. I hope you enjoy this story and please leave reviews. I plan on only continuing this story following the show and maybe a prologue beyond. I made Contessina several years younger so that Cesare has that bit of advantage, because that is all he'll get from her.
Florence 1490, Medici Palazzo
Contessina's childhood did not pass in any expectation of greatness. She was a woman, in the eyes of Florence and society, only useful for children and power acquisition. Her father, Il Magnifico spent the last of his years in quiet contemplation while mourning the death of her mother Clarice. Il Magnifico was determined to be peaceful in his last years, but in his negligence, Florence fell under the grip of the friar Savonarola, who preached the end of art, nobility, and vanity. After his death, her brother Piero took up the mantle of the de facto leader of Florence and has since floundered, his grip on the city becoming less and less each day. All her life Contessina has strived to help her family and the city they raised. But sometimes, one's family member are not worthy of loyalty, especially Piero.
"Milady?" Her lady's maid Anna interrupted her wandering thoughts.
"Yes Anna? What is it?"
"Your brother requests your presence milady. He seems anxious about something."
"Oh, I'm sure." Piero is always anxious, of Savonarola, of the Signoria, of decreasing position. And of her mind. Being a woman in this day and age means using anything for survival. So, while Piero was being a jealous busybody as a child, Contessina was readying her mind in mathematics, poetry, art, and most of all, politics. If she wants to accomplish anything worthwhile, she had to be smart and not be afraid of getting her hands dirty. Her father had once told her of the word her great grandfather, Cosimo, once said.
"To do some good, you have to do some bad." In his youth, her father believe that to do good, you have to be good.
The Pazzi changed that.
"Well, let us not keep my brother waiting." And so, Anna begins to escort her lady to her brother's study. As she enters the room, Piero is there pacing relentlessly. She could see the stress lines beginning on his young face. Signs that the leadership of Florence has begun to take its toll, if one could call Piero a leader.
"Sister, you took your time. Standing in front of a mirror I imagine?" Oh, how Piero loves to be snide. Unfortunately for him, petty comments like that are not helping him in Florence among the nobility or the people.
"Come now brother, you surely have a better repertoire than that. But then again, I always bested you in the battles of wit and word. What do you want." He called her for some reason, not just to stand there and be petty.
"I need for you to support your family. Which means I needs those funds of yours." Her blood ran cold. She thought she had been careful! Contessina had been buying small businesses around Florence, renovating them, earning a tidy profit for a short time, then sell them to a buyer who would be kind to the tenants who used the property. She finally had enough to start something for herself. How the absolute hell did Piero find out?! She could not afford to show this on her face though.
"What ever do you mean brother?"
"Don't play coy, you know what I mean! The tidy little profit is quite astounding, but your childish games are over now. You will turn over your coffers to me as the head of this house!" His smug countenance boils her insides, as she starts to laugh.
"Head of this house? You are nothing Piero, your own insecurities have poisoned your ability to rule, you cannot find a way to control Savonarola, and you cannot seem to restore our bank. So really, you being head of the house? It is as impossible as father coming back from the dead! But then, maybe he would finally give you that acceptance you seek!" My face swings to the side, the pain not registering until a second later. Striking her was the last thing he should have done but he dared to do it. Her coward of a brother forever seeking love from their father but never getting it. But he will not drag her down, not when she has worked so hard to become better.
"You will do this or by God, I will confine you to a nunnery to live out your days in poverty!"
"Our family comes from poverty brother; I have not forgotten that." He motions to guards of their home, as they seize her arms.
"My sister is feeling unwell. Confine her to her room. Maybe tomorrow sister you will change your mind, or you will take your holy orders." Dragging her down the hall, the guards toss her into the room slamming the door shut. She bangs her hands against it in fury, her anger overwhelming. How can she find herself out of this? She has one trusted associate, but how can she contact him. Suddenly the door opens, and Anna appears. She motions her mistress to be quiet.
"Anna, thanks be to God you are here! My brother is demanding my money or to take holy orders. Here, find this man who can help me out of the city, find him and ask him to help me." Anna appears worried and frightened for her mistress. Contessina pushes her to the door. "Come now you must be quick. My brother cannot catch you or else I am doomed."
"Milady, I will do the most I can to find him but are you sure about this? You have not seen him since you were young, and he has quite the reputation."
"But his family has been loyal to mine since my ancestor Cosimo, he will come I do not doubt him. And his reputation is why I need him. Now hurry you must go!" Contessina pushes her out the door, hoping beyond hope that this plan will succeed.
Hours pass and night falls as Contessina's worry begins to take over her mind. Was Anna discovered and Piero just has not come to gloat yet? Or worse, her ally has abandoned her! Grief enters her heart knowing that while being sent to or willing enter a convent is a noble profession for some like her mother, but not for Contessina. Contessina is meant for more and being confined to a convent is a death sentence for her. Her musings do her little good, distracting her from a noise from her window. A sharp bang pierces her thoughts as she heads to her window. She nearly cries in happiness when she sees Anna and her loyal friend Cassio Bello. The Bellos have served her family for generations, starting from Cosimo, and ending with her. Their reputations as fixers is unparalleled, for those who live to tell the tale of encounters with the family. She quickly opens the window to speak when Cassio shushes her.
"My lady, put on your riding clothes, you will need them for the journey we will take." She nods her head, staying quiet as to not to alert the guards. She quickly packs a bag and pries up several floorboards in her room. While Piero may have found out about her fortune, he did not discover where. Afterall, hiding something is plain sight is always the best option. She takes all she can carry while still being silent which is surprisingly a lot of money. She exits through the window, climbing down the terrace. She lands on the ground with a soft thud, embracing her old friend.
"I knew you would come."
"Was there any doubt? Now come, I managed to bribe a city guard to open the gate for a few minutes. We must move quickly." Anna grabs hold of Contessina's arm, a pleading look on her face.
"Please milady, let me come. I have nothing here for me and I swear on my life to serve with the loyalty you deserve." Contessina smiles, happy to have another ally and friend.
"Stand up and be safe in the knowledge that we all will be gone from the place." The trio hurries through the city on foot as not to raise suspicion. They make it the gate where the guard opens it for them, the Tuscany countryside magnificent even in darkness. Horses wait outside the gates for their riders. Contessina turns to the guard and hand him 50 ducats.
"For your eternal silence. Speak to no one of this, I beg you." The guard gives a small smile.
"Milady, your family has done good for the city, if only Savonarola would stop his madness."
"Thank you, sir. God be with you and your family." The three mount their horses, galloping into the night. Hours pass with the land blurring around them, changing into unknown territory. Contessina remembers she did not ask where they were going.
"Cassio! Where is our destination?"
"Rome, my lady. Where the corruption of the Church will hide most people looking to start over." Rome. A hive of greed, politics, and lust. All goes hand in hand when concerning lusty bishops and grasping cardinals. Rome, where most Medici failed to leave their mark. But not this one, no, Contessina will rise above and be something, although what Rome might make of her, she did not know.
