The entry into the field of the Kingdom of Naples alongside the papal troops is likely to mark the end of Florence. Among the Priors there are those who doubt Lorenzo, but the Magnificent, determined not to let Florence fall into the hands of his enemies, finds a stratagem to de-authorize the Priors by replacing them with the Council of Ten, made up of men loyal to him. When Clarice, pregnant, is sent to the countryside with the children, the family suffers an attack by the men of Riario. Faced with the approach of the military threat to the city, Lorenzo decides to leave for Naples with his new adviser Bruno Bernardi, to try to break the encirclement and restore peace.