Rahima, disparagingly referred to as "it" by those around her, is summoned to the castle by the chef. Her task is to attend to the queen while her maid is absent. Access to the queen has been denied to all others. On her journey, Rahima encounters lecherous men who demand a glimpse of her bosom, and a guard hesitant to enter the chamber.
But inside, the monstrous figure Rahima envisioned was not to be found. She was asked her name, and instead offered a succulent orange. Catherine seemed to toy with Rahima, testing her mettle. With Charles' coronation as King of France looming in a week's time, Catherine finds herself burdened with countless details, yet she loathes the monotony of duty. She seeks Rahima's conversation as a respite, finding a reflection of her own youthful self in the newcomer.
As Catherine drifts off to sleep, shivering beneath the chill, she poses a question to Rahima: What would she be willing to do to rise above the label of "it" and become something more? Catherine asks Rahima to listen intently to her story and offer her counsel on what she might have done differently.
Catherine recounts her childhood, where her parents were driven to madness by syphilis before she was taken in by her grandmother, who soon passed away. She grew up in an orphanage, harboring the belief that if she remained virtuous, God would protect her. But she was wrong.
The nun whose orange she once stole mercilessly lashed her, the blows raining down upon her frail body. In the midst of the beating, Catherine envisioned the nun's dog dying before her eyes. A strange sense of power coursed through her, she thought: I can do this.
Soldiers arrived, searching for the elusive "Medici Bitch." Catherine tried to hide, but her efforts were futile until a woman hacked off her braid. Catherine was paraded as a nun, a mockery of the Bride of Christ. Yet, it was a soldier who intervened, saving her from further humiliation. That moment marked the first time Catherine realized she mattered to someone.
She had never ventured beyond the convent's walls, yet now she was dragged through the streets, bound by ropes. She cried for help, but none came to her aid. The next morning, the Pope arrived to find Catherine bound and lying on the ground. He had come to retrieve her, and Catherine realized that she had never truly been alone in the world. Having the Pope as an ally was a formidable force, threatening to burn those who dared oppose her.
She, the niece of the esteemed Pope, was the focus of much curiosity, especially for the Holy Father, who pondered what she had done to her hair. The following day, Catherine graced his chambers, only to find him enduring a painful abscess being squeezed from his posterior. Already, he had arranged her marriage to the second son of the King of France, a union that required her to be presented in the best possible light.
Ahead of the union, the Pope had dispatched a flattering portrait of Catherine, but now they faced the challenge of transforming her into a fitting bride. They first addressed the purpose of the marriage, then moved on to a more personal inquiry - her virginity. With a chair and some probing fingers, they declared her to be untouched.
A renowned atelier confessed that he would need the powers of a magician to transform her into a beautiful bride. Yet, he found one redeeming feature - her ankles - and decided to make them the focal point of her attire. Catherine embarked on a rigorous training, learning to dine gracefully, dance gracefully, and serve as the embodiment of the royal marriage.
When Catherine finally emerged before Clement, she resembled a clown in a gown, yet she knew it was not enough. She lacked the beauty and refinement required to captivate her future husband. She demanded an increased budget, reminding him of his earlier threat of a grisly fate if they failed.
To adorn Catherine with the finest wigs, many women sacrificed their own hair. Then, it was time to choose her attendants. Catherine favored Angelica, the perfumer's daughter, who had left her father with stomach aches from her concoctions. The dwarf who had assisted her earlier arrived, juggling skillfully. Catherine confessed that she could not juggle, but suggested that if she passed gas, it would be amusing due to her diminutive stature. The Pope chuckled and agreed.
The fortune teller who had abandoned her in the square was next in line, and Catherine chose him for his impudence and true prophetic abilities. Clement admonished her for her stubbornness, insisting that a wife must be a blank canvas, yielding to her husband's every whim, even if it meant pleasing him with a brush up his posterior.
For her journey to France, Catherine traveled within a gigantic egg, terrified by the time they arrived. However, her reception was not as warm as expected. The dowry was incomplete, and Clement promised to send the remainder upon his return. Undeterred, Catherine stepped forward, offering an additional duchy, a cardinalship for a son, and forgiveness for leaving the church. It was then decided that Henri, Duke of Orlean, and Catherine de Medici would be united in marriage.
Catherine's reception is far from warm. The dowry is incomplete, and Clement vows to send the remainder upon his return. Undeterred, Catherine boldly offers an additional duchy, a cardinalship for a son, and forgiveness for abandoning the church. Henri, Duke of Orlean, and Catherine de Medici are betrothed.
During their courtship, Henri favors Diane de Poitier, Catherine's distant cousin, who immediately captivates her. Their bond solidifies when Henri remarks that she surpasses her portrait in beauty. Henri appears chivalrous, yet Diane de Poitier remains a constant presence.
Catherine leverages her connection with Diane to curry favor with Henri. Once, Henri captures a frog and asks Catherine to serenade it. At their wedding feast, Diane ingratiates herself with Catherine, who is taken by her apparent kindness. Catherine ensures the table is adorned with silverware, leaving guests bewildered.
Diane shares all the juicy gossip, which Catherine recognizes will be invaluable someday. Even as Diane leads Catherine to the dance floor, the dwarf senses something amiss. Diane's counsel for Catherine's wedding night is to allow Henri to falter, advising her to be bold.
As the fireworks explode, signaling the end of the festivities, Diane drags Henri to the front, where they observe Catherine preparing for bed. When she enters the chamber, she finds it filled with spectators eager for the main event. The two lie there, neither willing to make the first move. The silence is deafening, yet Catherine, heeding Diane's advice, gathers her courage and straddles Henri. She gazes into his eyes, urging him to pretend they are alone. Meanwhile, the whispers and gossip about the night's events swell.
It all ended abruptly, scarcely having begun. The audience erupted in applause, their hearty wishes trailing behind as they dispersed. Henri's voice rang out, urgent and commanding, telling Catherine to flee. "GET OUT!" Echoing through the air, the words sent a chill down her spine. That fateful day, Catherine confessed to Rahima, revealing that she had learned never to place her trust in any soul. With a defiant flick, she cast the tray to the floor, where it shattered. As Rahima was hastily dragged away, her laughter rang out, a mischievous tune. Catherine's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the orange clutched in Rahima's hand, a small victory stolen in the midst of chaos. A chuckle escaped her lips, a rare moment of levity in the midst of turmoil.
