[Act 2] [Scene 10] [Homecoming]

[EinBein]

Gregor followed Marco and the others through the winding hallways of the manor, trying to memorize the layout as good as possible. When Giorgio is ordered to stand guard, the German joins him but keeps close to the door in order to listen to Lucio's confession.

[thirtythr33]

Lucio rolls onto his knees and buries his face into his hands inches away from the floor. "It... It wasn't supposed to happen like this. He wasn't meant to die." He can't even bare to look Marco or Giacomo in the face. "Yes. I confess it. I have committed unforgivable sins against this household. I broke my oath to do no harm and in the most treacherous way possible I betrayed those who had faith in me. I poisoned Claudio." He takes a deep shuddering breath then his confession picks up speed. "My sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what my lips tremble to name, what my heart can no longer bear, and what has become a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to ---" Lucio continues and It occurs to you that Lucio is no longer confessing only to the people in the room, but also in prayer to God.

Giacomo stands stunned for a time with only his bottom lip trembling and then he bursts into action. "Aargh!" He shouts to the heavens with anger and agony, before charging out of the room and down the hallway.

[Benedict]

After Giacomo storms out Ferran speaks.
"Giorgio, please look after maestro Giacomo. He shouldn't be alone in a time like this. But be discreet. Gregor can stand guard to this room." - He looks directly with piercing eyes at the ex-mercenary - "For I trust you. Despite what others might think."

The Catalan turns his attention to Lucio once again.
"All this we already know. We need answers doctor, not prayers nor remorse. Namely. Why you did it? How you did it? Who put you up to this? And to what end?"

[thirtythr33]

Lucio ignores Ferran's question and continues his prayers. "--- to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Almighty God, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all our sins ---"

Giorgio barely gets a few steps after Giacomo before the man reemerges from a nearby room. Only now, Giacomo is holding his rapier drawn. "I'll gut this Judas so that he might die with sin and go straight to hell! Get out of my way, before his prayers for forgiveness are answered!"

[Benedict]

Ferran shots a vile glance at Giacomo. "You want to kill him? You want to make it that easy for him? And lose any possibility of avenging your father, YOU FOOL? Be my guest, he's all yours. I don't really care."

At the same time he slaps hard Monte. "As for you half-wit, pray all you like. God won't hear you. You know why? Because God is a liar. He gave us free will and he is punishing us for that. God is a tyrant who loves to torment people, like a small child toying with a worm on a hook. Take it from a man who stared both God and the Devil in the eyes, yet somehow returned to tell the tale. NOW SPEAK!"

With that last proclamation the Catalan thrusts his baselard on the table, his knuckles white like bleached bone.

[Korbel]

Marco was never the man to give orders to his servants... but apparently, something has changed.

For the whole time, Marco is trying to stay between Lucio and Giocomo, with his hand on the hilt of the rapier.

[Benedict]

Ferran sheathes his weapon and stands up. "You are sure about this Marco? Very well. I'll do as you ask. After all I owe you one. Monte is all yours."

He turns to Giacomo. "I'd sheathe that blade senor. Weapons and temper is a bad combination that can easily lead to tragedies. I don't care about this murderer here..." - the Catalan kicks Monte's chair - "..it's more about your brother and yourself that I'm concerned."

[thirtythr33]

Quick to spring to action, Gasparo comes to the side of Marco. Lucio continues his prayers from his hands and knees, still having not looked up.

Giacomo looks to Marco with tears in his eyes and then back to the pathetic wretch in from of him. He hefts his rapier in his hand and he says to Marco "Stand aside."

[Korbel]

"Haven't you heard Ferran's words?" - Marco is not speaking loud - "we need to find out, who has orchestrated all of this. It was not Lucio alone and if we don't find the source of evil, we might be the next ones to go. Calm down, brother"

[thirtythr33]

He looks Marco square in the face and gives a defeated chuckle. "When did it come to pass that you became the level headed brother?" He takes a few steps to the dresser and he drops his rapier on top of it, clattering loudly enough for Gasparo to hear.

[Korbel]

Did it matter at that time? Now, it was not about Marco, but about Lucio Monte. The young noble has focused his attention on the former medic of the Acerbi Family.

"Confessing is one thing, now it's time for reparation. And you will help us, Lucio Monte. First, you need to tell us, why did you do all of this..."

[thirtythr33]

“Amen.” Lucio finishes his prayer and finally looks up to Marco and Giacomo from his place kneeling on the floor. “I did it for my homeland, Florence. For Italy, and the very soul of Europe. For Jesus Christ and Catholics everywhere.”

“I'm a God-fearing man, Marco. I would have never risked this if there were any other way… but the Medici must be stopped, at any cost.” He hesitates a moment to read the reaction of the Acerbi brothers before launching into his explanation. “Yes, they spend enormous wealth on statues and paintings, proclaiming their dedications to Christ… but these are nothing but stone and canvas to them! Sinful idols of avarice and gluttony! In truth, the Medici are vile tyrants in league with the Devil himself. They suppress the word of God and twist it’s meaning to further their own ends. They extort the ignorant with indulgences and pardons.” He spits the words with disdain.

“We even have testimony from a woman who escaped one of their obscene hedonisms. She was one of three harlots they bought, which they bound and forced sodomy and bestiality upon. She recounts that she saw some of her captors eating worms and the flesh of man. They spoke in tongues, communing with demons and souls damned to purgatory. Her captors were going to sacrifice the three of them in the most sinful ways possible. She slipped her bonds and jumped from a third story window, breaking a leg but escaping with her life.” Lucio pauses to let you reflect on the story before continuing.

“The reformers have agents working for their downfall in Rome, Florence, Venice and other places… coordaining to bring down the Medici.” He hangs his head, to speak to the floor again. “We already tried to convince Claudio, but he was absolutely adamant in keeping the Medici as an ally. No testimony could change his mind.”

“Claudio's place on the council made him the linchpin that held together Venice’s support for the Medici. With him out of the way, the other council members could be divided and the opportunity for rebellion in Florence could come to fruition… The reformers told me they needed to have Claudio removed. They were going to kill him!” He looks to Marco pleadingly. “But I convinced them to let me keep Claudio incapacitated instead. I… regret that in my endeavor to hide the evidence of my misdeeds, I… put him through more than he could bear.”

The room falls silent for a few moments before Giacomo speaks up. “Brother, you don't believe this fairy-tale, do you? Necromancy and cannibalism... The Medici have made Popes for generations! They practically define the Church!”

[Benedict]

The Catalan chuckles. He tries to control himself, but it's evident to all that it's beyond his powers. Ferran explodes into loud hysterical laughter, barely able to stand. He points at Lucio and tries to speak, but he can't contain himself, laughing to tears. Slowly he composes himself as everyone is staring at him.

"You old deluded fuckard. You did all this for the sake of God and country? Are you daft? You went and murdered maestro Claudio for THAT? You are worried about tales of witchery, when you have the Antipope right outside your gates? You make me sick! For God and country? Bah! These are words. Mere words you knave. If you really loved your country you'd beg the Medici to aid you. Now bend to the Spaniard yoke you fool. When you die, go with the knowledge that you murdered your friend who trusted you, that you betrayed your country to that bastard false emperor Charles!" Ferran spits at the name, without caring about anyone's reaction.

"With that knowledge beg for forgiveness. You are so stupid, God might even forgive you in the end!"

[Korbel]

"And who are the revolts you are talking about? Who do you work with? Who has helped you to poison my father?"

[thirtythr33]

Giorgio glowers at Ferran's outburst.

"The reformation is lead by Martin Luther. In Florence, Filippo Strozzi has gathered enough strength to try to throw out the Medici and their supporters, in order to return her to a Republic. But in Venice..." He trails off. "The Soranzos lead to charge." Blasio and Enrico.

"I manipulated Francesca into mixing foxglove into each of Claudio's meals, so that his illness could continue with my absence. She was too clever for her own good though... While I was away, she realized Claudio's health was getting worse and suspected that Claudio's medicine was having that effect. She must have taken a sample to another doctor to have it identified. She wrote the letter that Giacomo received, no doubt fearing coming forward directly because of her involvement and culpability. When Giacomo confided his situation with his friend, Blasio knew that Francesca might soon confess. He attacked her, to scare her into being quiet. The night you left for Mirandola, she packed her belongings and fled the city I imagine."