Veronica, a Florentine courtesan and client of Leo, navigates life with pragmatic resilience while serving as a confidant to Arte. Renowned as one of the city’s most sought-after companions, her past as a high-class prostitute established her prominence among admirers and patrons. She commissions Leo to paint her portrait—a pivotal moment launching Arte’s artistic career—and cultivates a mentorship with the young painter, blending candid counsel on societal pressures with insights into emotional vulnerability. Her striking appearance, marked by light golden-blonde curls, a beauty mark beneath her right eye, and a slender silhouette, shifts dramatically during the Italian War. Exposure to invading soldiers triggers erythroderma, ravaging her skin and costing her nose. Despite this physical toll and its effect on her self-image, her composed pragmatism endures. Beneath her shrewd professionalism lies a compassionate core, harmonizing the calculated demands of her work with loyalty to those she values. She subtly guides Arte toward acknowledging romantic feelings for Leo, though the narrative shifts focus from this thread. Her grounded perspectives, often contrasting Arte’s idealism, underscore the harsh realities confronting women in a patriarchal world. Beyond the court, Veronica channels earnings into supporting her mother and siblings, revealing a steadfast sense of duty beneath her opulent facade. Her interactions with others carry layered complexity, exemplified when she cautions Arte against sacrificing ambition for romance, illustrating her point with the tale of a destitute former courtesan. As the story progresses, her bond with Arte matures into reciprocal respect, her lived resilience shaping Arte’s understanding of independence. Later arcs depict her deteriorating health and disfigured appearance amid wartime turmoil, mirroring the sacrifices entwined with her choices. Yet even diminished, she persists as a pillar of fortitude, continuing to advise Arte with unflinching clarity as her own life transforms irrevocably.