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The new Pope was much younger than his predecessor and led a much more open lifestyle. He gave receptions and large audiences, so Stefano often saw him. The pontiff was a tall, dark-haired man with regular features, a mustache and a small graying beard. He carried himself with exceptional dignity and elegance, knew theology perfectly, could speak long and beautifully on theological topics, and even wrote poetry.

More than once, looking at him, Stephanio thought:

"How easy it is to touch this person and become the Pope yourself. He is quite young, active, I would be comfortable in his body. But how interesting is it to get everything ready without going your way to the top?"

But one day a simple thought interrupted all thoughts on this topic: having moved to the Pope, he would lose Lucrezia and Mario. "No, that's completely impossible. I have to get the power myself."

Stephanio went to all the open receptions that the Pope gave, kept close to him and tried in every possible way to attr