Chapter LXXIV: Why do I have such thoughts?  

Night had come, and with it, the carnival ended, lasting until the break of dawn. Immediately after the carnival ended, we went to our bedroom because Cesare was to celebrate the Closing Mass of the solemnity early tomorrow morning. I think that if we don't rest tonight, Cesare won't be able to handle celebrating the Mass tomorrow...

As we were walking to our bedroom, I started thinking about many things. My future in Rome, my past in Wallachia, my present beside Cesare and the Pope, and many other things. Plus, most likely, we will meet Cesare's and the Pope's family tomorrow, specifically his sister Lucrezia and his brother, the condottiere Juan.

Seeing me deep in thought, Cesare stopped to look at me for a few moments under the astonished gaze of the moon that watched over us. Honestly, I think he was more worried about me than I was about the future. It seems Cesare had some suspicions about certain cardinals, but he chose not to tell me anything.