The Royal Pawn of Venice A Romance of Cyprus

Venice has long dreamed of the sun‑kissed island of Cyprus, a place where fragrant woods, glittering mines and ancient temples mingle with the myths of Aphrodite. Its strategic position and bustling trade make the island a prize that the Republic’s Senate has coveted for generations. When the chance finally appears, the city’s leaders turn their attention to the emissary of the Cypriot king, whose lavish entourage promises gifts and a potential alliance.

At the centre of the negotiations stands Janus II, the youthful king of Cyprus—brash, charismatic, and already famed for his daring exploits. He arrives in Venice with a court of opulence, bearing a proposal to wed a Venetian patrician’s niece, the shy yet striking Caterina, whose portrait by a master painter has already captured his imagination. As both courts weigh the political and personal stakes, a delicate dance of ambition, romance, and cultural clash begins.