At about 2 p.m. on May 13, 1498, the bells rang all over Pisa at the same time.

Loud, dull, heart-wrenching bells rang over the city.

Even far outside the city, the peasants in some villages were alarmed by the sound of the bell, and could not help but go out of their homes and look in the direction of the city in confusion.

Most people didn't know what was going on, but listening to the bell also knew that something big must be going on in the city of Pisa, which made many people uneasy, and people began to ask each other about what was going on in the city.

Soon, a piece of news spread that left many people at a loss.

The daughter of the Count of Montina was born.

To the confusion of many commoners, the child was said to have been born out of wedlock, and although her mother was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, people were surprised and puzzled by the Count's fanfare about the birth of the child.

Only those who are well-informed and concerned about the current situation know the significance of this child's birth.

From the end of the reign of the Tomnio family to the fall of the two republics of Pisa, nearly a century of changes has brought more ups and downs to the originally unpeaceful life of the Pisa, among which the threat from Florence has also caused the Pisan people to face the danger of annexation many times.

But now that all seems to be in the past.

With Pisa becoming a protectorate of the Count of Montina, the threat from Florence had disappeared, and with the birth of this child, the Tomneo family, who had just overthrown the Republic of Pisa and regained control of Pisa, were destined to end their brief reign.

The birth of Estelles, a child named after the morning star in Latin, heralded the beginning of the era of the House of Gombray in Pisa.

"Estles?"

In a studio at the University of Pisa, a teenager sitting in front of an easel looked up at the name and asked his companion opposite with some curiosity.

According to the current custom, this is actually an adult who can support the family business, but perhaps because he is naturally good-looking, this teenager who looks younger than his actual age still has a little childishness on his face.

"Yes, Estles, it is said that the Count's daughter is called by that name, and I will have to find out what it means in a moment." A young man sat across from him, excitedly speaking to the young man what he had just heard: "Now many people have rushed to the Palazzo Lucrezia, and they are ready to congratulate the Count. ”

The young man shrugged his shoulders at the book and said, "Of course, they are actually there to show their loyalty, after all, since the Count's child has been born, it means that the good days of the Tomneo family are coming to an end." ”

"It's Latin," said the boy suddenly, "Estles, this is the Latin word for morning star, or morning star." ”

"Oh, is that what you mean?" The young man closed the book casually, he admired his friend's knowledge very much, and believed that his words were absolutely true: "I don't know what that young lady will look like when she grows up, but it should not be bad, her mother is a famous beauty, and her father is said to be a very handsome man, I don't know how many people will be fascinated by her in the future." ”

"But it's none of your business, you'll be old when she grows up." The boy said with a mocking smile.

"It's a bit bad, but you still have a chance, maybe you can get that lady's favor, especially since you have such good drawing skills, maybe she'll really be fascinated by your talent."

As he spoke, he walked around the table and saw the young man in front of his easel, looking at the vivid portrait on the canvas, and the young man couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"You are the greatest painter I have ever met, and I think even Botticelli would be impressed by your mastery of painting, and it is a bit wrong to say that you came to Pisa to study, because no one can give you anything. Maybe only the great Leonardo da Vinci could teach you, but it seems like there is a man in Rome who is so famous these days, I wonder how you compare to him. ”

"Are you talking about that Michelangelo?" The boy looked concerned, "I've heard of him too, and he's said to be a great artist. ”

"Perhaps you will have a chance to meet him, and even compare which of you is more skillful," the young man immediately agitated, "I think you may soon be able to meet that Michelangelo, for I have heard that he has a good relationship with the Count of Montina, and I am sure that he will come to Pisa to congratulate the birth of the count's daughter, and this is a golden opportunity, and it would be of great benefit to you if this man could approve of your skill." ”

The friend's words seemed to impress the boy, and he pondered slightly, pausing on the canvas with his slightly slender hand holding the brush.

"Think about it, that man will sooner or later become a master that everyone admires, at least now he is already famous in Rome, it is said that he is carving a statue of the Virgin Mary for the Pope, if he is appreciated by the Pope he will immediately become famous, at this time you can know this person will be very useful to you."

Listening to his friend's incessant encouragement, the young man's heart was finally moved, and he looked at his friend with a little anticipation and some hesitation: "But I don't know when that Michelangelo will come to Pisa." ”

"I'll inquire for you," the young man volunteered, "think about it, it would be great if you could get to know the Count through that Michelangelo, and even be recommended to the Pope, wouldn't it?" ”

The boy thought for a moment and finally nodded.

He then dipped his brush in paint and continued his work on the unfinished Trinity on canvas.

While the two young men at the University of Pisa were contemplating how to make a good future with the birth of the count's daughter, Lucrezia was carefully examining her sleeping daughter in the small riverside house known as Lucrezia's palace.

Estelles, the name made Lucrezia feel a little strange, she knew it was a very Latin name, and although she couldn't remember it for a while, she wouldn't object to it.

It is the father's right and duty to name the child, and only in this way can the blood relationship between the child and him be proved, perhaps because she is an illegitimate child, although as the Pope's daughter, she enjoys a luxurious life that even the children of the nobility who are born in wedlock cannot enjoy, but Lucrezia is still very concerned about whether her daughter can be recognized.

"It seems to be the morning star," Lucrezia finally remembered the meaning of the name, and then she looked at the child lying next to Zou Baba, and frowned a little disappointed, "Why is it so ugly, I thought it should be very flattering, but now she looks like a monkey and a mouse that has grown bigger." ”

"You say your child is a monkey," Alexander's voice came from the other side of the bed, holding a vial of goat's milk, which had just been squeezed from a few female goats tied to the outside of the house, "although you are not mistaken, in fact, there are many similarities between humans and monkeys, so people may have become monkeys." ”

"What nonsense are you talking about," Lucrezia instinctively reached out to cover her daughter's ears, as if she was afraid that her daughter would understand, "and you actually said such blasphemous words, are you not afraid of God's punishment?" ”

"So you're going to denounce me?" Alexander walked over and bowed his head and kissed Lucrezia on the forehead, then handed the goat milk bottle to her mouth, "You need to increase your nutrition and take care of your body." ”

"Let me think," Lucrezia pushed away the bottle and looked at Alexander with serious eyes, "if you will marry me, then I will be your wife, and I will not denounce my husband." ”

"So will you denounce the father of your child?" Alexandre handed the bottle over again, reminding herself that she really had to pay attention to something, after all, with her daughter's voice, some things that Lucrezia didn't care about before might have become important to her, such as wanting to marry him.

"Of course I won't, but how are you going to repay me?" Lucrezia didn't push the bottle open this time.

"How about having another son?" Alexander asked softly in Lucrezia's ear.

"You want a son?" Lucrezia's eyes sparkled.

Alexander smiled and kissed Lucrezia's forehead, cheek, and then slowly fell on the corner of her lips, where she had just drunk goat's milk and had a drop of milk: "Of course, our son must be beautiful. ”

"Maybe my father won't agree," Lucrezia looked worried, "you know that Billy Scieri's Alfonso is still in Rome, and maybe my father thinks I should marry him." ”

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this."

Alexander comforted Lucrezia, who could understand Lucrezia's worries and knew that it didn't matter to Borgia and his son whether Lucrezia had a child or not.

Historically, after Lucrezia and Cadron gave birth to an illegitimate son, they were also married by the father and son to Alfonso of Billy Silly.

It's just that Alexander is certainly not Caderon, Cadheron gave his life because of his affair with Lucrezia, and now he not only obtained the inheritance of Pisa for his daughter, but also kept Lucrezia by his side and made her never leave for the rest of her life.

Aside from the side, Estelles made a sound, first with a "grunt" from her mouth, and then with a loud cry that rang out in the room.

Lucrezia immediately tried to pick up the child in a hurry, but she was extremely clumsy because she didn't know the essentials, and when the maid next to her helped her put the child in her arms, she looked at the child who was wrapped like a big worm and couldn't help arching, Lucrezia smiled on her face.

"Our child must be very smart," she said, looking up with a little pride, "that she knew at such a young age that she claimed sovereignty and knew that this bosom belonged to hers." ”

Seeing Lucrezia's proud face, Alexander opened his mouth to tell her that it was actually animal instinct, but after thinking about it, he forgot about it.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Ulliu, who still had a look of exhaustion on his face, pushed the door in.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Estelles was born, but Ulliu was starting to get busy.

He had to take care of a lot of things for the newborn lady, and although those things had been prepared in advance, there were still many temporary problems that kept him busy, and he barely slept for a few hours until late at night, but then he got up early in the morning.

"Sir, the council and the chamber of commerce are here." Uliu stood in the doorway and whispered.

Alexander nodded, although he didn't know the purpose of these people, but he could vaguely guess it.

Looking at Lucrechia, who was breastfeeding her baby in her arms, Alexander walked out of the room with Ulliu.

In the downstairs hall, several pisbians who were already waiting bowed to Alexander, who appeared at the top of the staircase.

They seemed to have just gone through some discussion when they saw Alexander, and one of the Pisan nobles stepped forward.

"My lord, we hope you will accept a title."

Alexander felt a slight difference, he originally thought that these people should have come for his daughter.

"We hope that you will accept the title of Pizza Flag Bearer in recognition of your outstanding contribution to the preservation of Pisa."

The nobleman's words were echoed by the others, and with a whisper of echo, they all looked at Alexander with wistful eyes.

"Pizza flag bearer?" Alexander was a little strange because he knew that Florence had the title of Standard-Bearer of Justice, and that Cosimo, the first of the Medici family to enter the political arena, had been given this title.

"And in recognition of your contributions, the council is considering passing a succession decree recognising the power you can give this title to anyone."

Hearing this, a flash of realization flashed in Alexander's eyes.

In the end, everything was for Estelles, who went around in a big circle just so that Estelles could have an impact on Pisa before she officially inherited the throne of the Duke of Pisa.

Alexander, who had figured this out, looked at the few Pisas in front of him with a look of satisfaction, although he also thought that these people might make a move to strengthen Estles' identity, but he did not expect that they would think so long-term.

Obviously, for these Pisans who had decided to completely defect to Alexandria, Tomneo's rule was obviously a great constraint on them, and they not only hoped that Estelles would inherit the title of Pisa as soon as possible, but also that she should play the role of legitimate heir as soon as possible.

"Also, my lord, in order for our Miss Estelles to feel the grace of God, we hope that you will perform a baptism ceremony for Miss Estelles as soon as possible."

The nobleman's suggestion made Alexander's heart move.

He knew what these people were worried about.

The harsh environment has put the children of this era in danger of dying at birth, and many children die too early to be baptized and cannot be buried in church cemeteries.

Of course, Alexander did not ignore these dangers, he had been preparing for Lucrezia since she was pregnant, and when Estelles was born, he was even more cautious to do everything possible to avoid those terrible dangers for his daughter.

However, Alexander knew that the nobles' proposal was not actually for fear that Estelles might not have time to be baptized, but that their real purpose was to prevent disputes about the identity of the heir to Pisa that might arise in the event of an accident with Estelles.

Assuming that Estelles did have an accident and became a Christian because she had been baptized, then she also had an irrefutable inheritance of Pisa.

In this way, even if Lucrezia is not born, as long as it is any child who is related to Estles, he or she has the right to inherit the status and power of Estelles as an older sister.

Thinking of this, Alexander's expression couldn't help but be slightly ugly.

Although he knew that the advice of the men was perfectly correct from the point of view of the rulers, and that they were clearly defending his right as Count of Montina, Alexander was still annoyed by what seemed to be a curse on his daughter.

"My lord, let Miss Estelles be baptized as soon as possible, this is the best way to stabilize the hearts of the people of Pisa." The captain of the city defense came over.

As a veteran known to Gompati as "Daddy", he had been wandering on the battlefield for far too long, and because of this, it was a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the captain of the city to be able to gain a foothold in Pisa, and possibly even have a decent status in the city.

Because of this, the captain of the city defense wanted Alexander's children to inherit the title of Pisa more than anyone else.

"Are the Pisans opposed to my daughter inheriting the ducal title?" Alexander glanced at the captain of the city defense, and when he noticed the flickering eyes of the other man, he looked at the others again.

"Actually, my lord, there are people who think that the Zaloni family should be allowed to come back," a merchant thought about it, but decided to tell the truth, "and you know that the Zaloni family still has some influence in Pisa. ”

"I know." Alexander nodded.

Alexander was not surprised to hear the surname Zoloni, as the former Duke of Pisa who was overthrown by the Second Republic of Pisa, not only had the Zaloni family been active in Rome, but also that the people of their family were not as inaccessible in Pisa as Medici was in Florence, as far as he knew, there was a Zaloni in the Pisa government.

Such a family naturally hopes to return to power, and it can even be said that if the Zaloni family does nothing to accept the inheritance, Alexander will feel that it is abnormal.

Seeing that Alexander seemed to be lost in thought, several Pisamen looked at each other, as if after reaching a tacit understanding, the nobles of the council bowed to Alexander.

"My lord, I promise you in the name of the Council that the Council of Pisa will support Miss Estelles' inheritance."

"The Chamber of Commerce of Pisa supports the inheritance of Estelles the Smaller." The merchant from before also bowed.

"The army of Pisa owes allegiance to Miss Estelles." 'Daddy' announced in a deep voice.

Looking at these people, Alexander smiled slightly.

He made a gesture of waiting, then turned and went upstairs.

The hall was silent, except for a few people breathing heavily from nervousness, and as they looked at each other, some saw something terrible in the eyes of others.

The stairs rang again, and Alexander appeared at the top of the stairs with his daughter in his arms, and he looked down at the nervous Pisan people in the hall.

"My daughter, Estelles Giulian Gombray," Alexander held the child up gently, "and now I want you to swear allegiance to my daughter." ”

Looking at the infant baby who was still drowsy from being fed, the Pisa people first looked at each other, and then several people let out a whisper like a gambling curse: "Hooray, Miss Duchess Estelles!" ”