herself as the youth "Adamo" while visiting Luciano at University in Padavia. She becomes engaged to Luciano in the City of Flowers.Rodolfo Rossi Lucien's master and a powerful Stravagante. Rodolfo is a well-respected and distinguished citizen of Bellezza as a scientist and Senator as well as a close confidante and lover of the Duchessa. He is kind and understanding, but can appear serious and intimidating. He has two older brothers, Fiorentino and Edigio, and is later revealed to be Arianna's father and acts as her regent when she becomes Duchessa. Rodolfo plays a key supporting role in all the Stravaganza books.Silvia Bellini (Silvia Rossi) The beautiful and imperious Duchessa of Bellezza for twenty-five years. Beloved by all of Bellezza, she is extremely strong willed, dangerous to her enemies, and loyal to her friends. While she has had a number of lovers in her life, she takes a shine to Rodolfo and sends him to university; when he returned an established scholar, he becomes her sole lover and the father of her secret child, Arianna, though he did not find out about her for fifteen years. After a near successful assassination attempt, Silvia decides not to reveal the truth and arranges for her daughter to become her successor. She moves to Padavia under the guise of a wealthy widow and lives with her loyal maid, Susanna, and a devoted reformed assassin, Guido Parola. She visits Rodolfo and Arianna whenever she has a chance and plays a supporting role in the City of Stars and City of Flowers; she eventually openly marries Rodolfo and returns to Bellezza as Arianna's stepmother, continuing to advise her daughter on statecraft.William Dethridge (Gugliemo Crinamorte) The first Stravagante, an alchemist from the Elizabethan era. He first arrived in Bellona, but relocated to Montemurato when he "translated" and then to Bellezza. Eventually becomes foster-father to Luciano and marries Leonora Gasparini, the widowed sister-in-law of Arianna's adopted father Gianfranco. In Talia, he is an astronomer and natural philosopher.Leonora Gasparini (Leonora Crinamorte) Arianna's aunt, the widowed sister-in-law of Arianna's foster father, Gianfranco. After Arianna's failed attempt to become a mandolier, her foster-parents send her to live with Leonora in hopes of satisfying Arianna's desire to live in Bellezza. Leonora marries Dr. Dethridge at the end of City of Masks and becomes Luciano's foster mother. RemoraGeorgia O'Grady The protagonist of City of Stars, Georgia is a withdrawn girl who lives with