Arrived in Naples with Bernardi, Lorenzo had difficulty convincing King Ferrante of Aragon to abandon the alliance with the Pope. While Il Magnifico tried to win the trust of the king, helped by the beautiful and astute Ippolita Sforza, to whom he was linked by a profound and tormented relationship, Florence remains under siege: the people and Clarice herself fear that Lorenzo has abandoned them. In the end, risking his own life, Lorenzo manages to obtain the withdrawal of the troops.