the field and battles of the heart, which finishes with a long-awaited wedding between two much loved characters. Characters Characters are grouped according to geographical association, either by the city-state they are primarily associated with or where the character's first appearance in the series occurred. BellezzaLucien Mulholland (Luciano Crinamorte) The protagonist of City of Masks, Lucien is recovering from cancer when he receives his talisman, a marbled notebook from his father. Upon traveling to Bellezza, he becomes a close friend of Arianna Gasparini and apprenticed to the Stravaganti, Rodolfo Rossi. With his arrival in the city, he soon becomes involved with more political matters relating to Silvia, the imperious Duchessa of Bellezza, whom he saves from assassination. This act later earns him the title of "Cavaliere", a kind of knight. However, his involvement in Bellezza's affairs cause him to be kidnapped for a long time (in the climax of City of Masks). As in his other world he seems to be in a coma without any brain activity, he dies there and is forced to live his whole life in Talia. He plays a key supporting role in subsequent books, and proposes to Arianna Rossi in City of Flowers.Arianna Gasparini (Arianna Rossi) The heroine of the City of Masks, Arianna is a spirited and strong-willed girl who seeks adventure beyond the lagoon islands where she was raised. Known as the Figlia del’Isola (Daughter of the Island), she is supposedly the only child to be born on the island of Torrone for 20 years and has been treasured and spoiled by her family and the islanders. In City of Masks, she wishes to become a mandolier, a job only done by young men, but her plan to become one goes awry when Lucien appears in Bellezza and she is forced to discard her disguise to save his life. The two eventually become friends and she is his guide in the city. Arianna's true heritage is later revealed when the di Chimici attempt to use her against the Duchessa; she is actually the daughter of the Duchessa and Rodolfo and was adopted by the Duchessa's older sister, Valeria, and husband, Gianfranco, the curator of a museum on Torrone. At the end of City of Masks, she becomes the new Duchessa of Bellezza. She continues to play a key secondary role in subsequent books, eventually becoming Luciano's fiancée, and later wife, and disguising