18th of December 1530 - London, England

Walking through the halls of the Tudor palace, Ippolito was more than relieved to finally have arrived especially after such a long journey; the seas had been quite rough and there had been a moment where he had feared that he might not make it to England at all. 

The guards that led him through the palace had been most kind to him since he had arrived at the gates; he was sure the sight of him had come as quite a surprise. 

He had shown up at the gates not even an hour before and demanded that he speak to the King of England on the matters of Rome; he had refused to be swayed and had insisted that he had information to help the King in his cause to marry the woman that he loved. 

Entering the throne room, Ippolito ignored the sight of some many nobles knowing that he had to play his part right; one wrong step and it wouldn't just be him that suffered for his actions. 

"Your Majesty," Ippolito stated dropping down onto one knee before the King, his eyes catching sight of his sister not far from the throne where she had been speaking to who he was sure was the Lady Anne Boleyn. 

Clarice looked well considering the sudden loss of her lands and Ippolito held no doubts that her current status was because of the kindness of the Lady Anne and King Henry. 

"It is truly the greatest honour to finally be at your court," Ippolito stated keeping his head bowed until the King bid him to rise, he moved to stand and looked upon the sovereign who seemed rather pleased with his display. 

A smile set upon the King's face, looking down from his throne to the man that had demanded that he would only speak to him; he had been most interested to hear what he had to say on the matters of Rome. 

"However, I fear that I bring nothing but grave news with me," Ippolito stated with a shake of his head, he clasped his hands behind his back and took a deep breath; he had travelled here for a reason and he could not afford a mistake now.

"I am Signore Ippolito de' Medici," he said introducing himself, no doubt that the King offered a glance to the side where Clarice was; the name Medici was rare in these parts and his sister was the first of their notable family to be stationed at this court. 

His name might not mean as much as Clarice's did especially considering he had been naught but a bastard at birth; a fact that some people would not let him forget. 

"Cardinal Medici," More stated with a frown, surely a man promoted by the Pope himself would not forget his calling to the church; not even to appease the King who temper at best was directed at those who would deny him what he desired. 

The look that formed on Ippolito's face at the mention of the title that he had been gifted by the Pope could not be missed; his nose wrinkled and a scowl formed on his face. 

"I am only a Cardinal because that decerped old man that calls himself Pope decided so. I do not feeling the churches true calling. I was Ruler of Florence before that was taken from me and gifted to the Pope's own nephew," Ippolito spat shaking his head, he would not go back to the church and he would do whatever it took to care for the only true family that remained to him. 

His words seemed to please the King while other seemed shocked by such an outburst that tainted the Vicar of Rome; surely a man of God could not have acted in such a way. 

"It seems His Holiness has a habit of taking what is not his to give," Henry mused with a content look on his face, the truth about what the Pope was truly like leaking through now with those closest to him turning on him. 

First, he had arranged for Clarice to lose her lands and title, then he had done the same to this man; how many more had he cheated of what was rightfully theirs to appease his needs. 

"I fear so Your Majesty. To rob myself and my sister of our birth rights then to deny Your Majesty freedom from a woman that betrays your country," Ippolito stated, choosing his words carefully and ignoring the look that he knew that he was getting from the devote that were in attendance. 

They would not take any slander against the Pope well but Ippolito cared not for them at this time. 

Leaning forward in his throne, Henry frowned not liking what Ippolito was implying but signalled for the man to continue curious about what he intended to share; a part of him did not wish to believe that Katherine would sink so low to keep her throne. 

Despite refusing to accept his demands nor any decision made in England, Henry had assumed that when she realised that he was truly done with her that she would stand aside. 

"I have seen it for myself. The Emperor acts on behalf of his aunt in these matters. He pressures the Pope to give him the answer he wants in your matter," Ippolito stated reaching into his bag, his every move being watched as he produced the evidence that he had collected. 

He had been waiting for the right moment to strike back at Clement for what he had done, he would not allow the man to ruin their family nor damage his sister's reputation for his own needs. 

"I could not stand by and allow such an injustice. Surely it is not God's will that a traitor to your crown should be Queen of England and deny Your Majesty of a true heir," Ippolito continued holding onto the letters, he had friends in some interesting places from when he had been an ambassador. 

It was not hard to line people's pockets when he had access to Vatican funds, it was rather easily to get them to tell him things that might one day be of use to him. 

"She passes messages through the ambassadors of your doings to the Emperor. Tells him that she is his loyal servant," Ippolito said handing over the letters that he had been given, all in Queen Katherine's hands promising undying loyalty on her part to the Emperor. 

There was silence, no one daring to even utter a whisper at the evidence being presented against the Queen; all knowing that should it prove true then there was nothing that could be done to save Queen Katherine. 

Flicking through the letters, Henry had no doubts on who had written them and a sudden sense of relief filled him; he would be free of Katherine for her actions. 

Not even the people would stand behind a Queen that had betrayed them just to keep a crown that did not even belong to her; the final letter made Henry stop, he stared down at it for a moment before a large smile formed on his face.

"Thank you, Mister de' Medici," Henry stated gratefully, he would be rid of Katherine for once and for all and nothing that she could say would be able to talk her out of this; whatever had been said here would quickly spread. 

There was no denying that news that their Queen had betrayed them to the Holy Roman Emperor would spread and Henry had no doubts that it would lead to Katherine certain downfall. 

"What are your plans?" enquired Henry sure that there would be no return to Rome for Ippolito especially if he had found himself in such a position as his sister had. 

Clarice had entered the service of Anne to support herself and by coming here, Ippolito would have burnt any bridges that he had when he left Rome; there would not be any going back for him now. 

"I cannot return to Rome nor did I wish to, nor do I have the funds to take back Florence," Ippolito replied with a shake of his head, he would continue to fight to regain Florence but right now he could not do as he wished. 

While he had money to last him for a time, securing his future here in England was his focus especially when his sister was too remain; he would not abandon her. 

"Then you shall remain here of course. I am sure a man of your talents will be most welcome here," Henry encouraged, Clarice's testimony against the Pope was one thing but to have another Medici turn on him was promising enough. 

Perhaps a position on his council and a title would be enough to ensure that the two Medici that were at his court continued to promote his cause and show those on the continent that the Pope was corrupt. 

First there was the matter of Katherine that he needed to deal with, he would see how loyal Ippolito remained then he would make his decision on the matter at hand. 

Offering a bow to the King, Ippolito stepped away and approached his sister knowing that their fates rested in Henry's hands now; no matter what happened to him he would find her a good match. 

Stepping away from Anne, Clarice wrapped her arms around the brother that she had never thought that she would see again; she could not believe that he was here right now. 

No matter what happened, they would find a way to right the wrongs that Pope Clement had heaped upon them; together they would make sure that the Medici name would not fail.