CHAPTER 7
Hedy had seen Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts before, but she didn’t quite understand them.
The main reason was that his handwriting was encrypted, requiring a mirror to read the reflection, and one also needed to comprehend the odd mechanical diagrams.
Another issue was that, according to reports, da Vinci had thousands of pages of manuscripts, and by now had accumulated dozens of notebooks, with countless items in his workshop.
...It’s understandable why this gentleman worked so slowly when it came to painting.
"I've thought of several military engineering ideas before, like watchtowers or special-shaped trenches," da Vinci unfurled a few scrolls to show her the designs, "and this movable war machine that can crush the enemy with its weight while also spraying gunpowder in all directions."
Hedy pondered for a few seconds, wanting to tell him that this should be called a tank.
Not only did he design various siege weapons and defense formations, but he had also drawn many improved versions of weapons.
There were many designs, all containing intricate mechanisms, clearly carefully thought out.
Hedy was very engaged, even thinking about the feasibility of some of them.
With the current casting technology, it should be possible.
When she came back to her senses, she realized that da Vinci was looking at her.
"Wh—what’s wrong?"
"Very few women like to look at this kind of thing," da Vinci hesitated in his choice of words, "it's rather dull and abstract."
Hedy smiled and thoughtfully expressed her opinion.
"The existence of war is unknowable. If it erupts without preparation, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Da Vinci put away the scrolls, thinking deeply. "You mean, the nearby city-states or countries—"
The relationship between the Church and the kings was never very harmonious, and there was France nearby...
"Why didn’t you show these to the lord?"
"Because," da Vinci thought for a moment, "I wasn’t very familiar with him before."
Making these things required a lot of money and manpower, and success was not guaranteed.
He also longed to protect Florence with all his ability, but at this moment, the feasibility seemed too low.
"I’ll help you."
"What?"
"These should be shown to him." Hedy took a step forward. "I believe the lord would understand the importance of these."
She knew that in this unfamiliar world, she was rootless and had no foundation. However, since she had managed to, by chance, get close to the very heart of power and had the chance to influence the development of medicine and science in this city, she actually had limitless possibilities.
Da Vinci looked at her and nodded solemnly.
"Thank you."
Once back at the lord's palace (Palazzo Vecchio), Dechio led her to the office and explained a few things on the way.
Little Giuliano was now in good health, and the lady's health was gradually recovering. Everything was developing in a way that brought relief.
Moreover, under the lord’s orders, the servants were following her instructions, not feeding strange things to the child or the mother, and were carefully washing their hands and maintaining cleanliness.
Hedy sincerely felt relieved for the mother and child. It wasn't until they were almost at the office door that she remembered the main reason she was there. "What did you call me for?"
"It's for a reward, milady."
When she entered, Lorenzo was placing a book down on his desk.
His fingers were interlaced, and his gaze was still sharp and deep.
"You saved my wife and son," he said in a calm tone. "Please accept our family's gratitude and thanks."
Cosimo, standing nearby, approached with a tray. On it was a Medici family crest.
"This is..."
"I've arranged a new identity for you," Lorenzo slowly rose and said.
"You can still keep your name, but your identity is that of a distant relative by marriage to the Medici family and another noble family.
Three generations ago, their ancestors had a close relationship, and even the priest who performed your baptism has already confirmed your name. "
"Since you fled from the Holy Roman Empire and have long been without a background, it’s not safe for you to go anywhere without proper identity."
Hedy was momentarily stunned, and then she let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.
Was this to say… the Medici family had officially become her support?
She had been forcibly granted a family lineage and background in this era. Could she now be considered half of the nobility?
"Lord—" She still looked at him with some uncertainty, wanting to clarify a few things.
"Have you never had any doubts about me?"
This question was indeed somewhat inappropriate, but it needed to be addressed.
When she first entered the Ducal Palace of Ducayle, her identity and past were rather vague. Now, the Medici family was ignoring all of that, which didn't seem like a good sign.
Lorenzo looked at the girl and realized she seemed to be constantly alert and on guard, as if ready for anything at any moment.
"What do you want to ask?"
"Are you... completely uninterested in my past?"
A fugitive, a foreigner, an alchemist, and someone with all sorts of inexplicable skills.
"Everyone has secrets," Lorenzo said calmly.
"What we need from you is just your loyalty."
When Girolamo Savonarola woke up, he still felt sharp pains all over his body.
The places he had whipped with the scourge were festering, and his condition was clearly worsening.
This was a good thing.
Compared to the women who smeared themselves with makeup or the merchants covered in the stench of copper, only he—only he was devout enough.
God would ultimately witness the destruction of all this.
The ascetic monk slowly sat up, preparing to complete his prayers for the day.
A clay pot in the distance suddenly moved.
"—Who?"
He tried to turn his head, but the fatigue of his body made his reactions slow, his movements stiff and weak.
Before he could utter another word, a chill suddenly spread through his wounded chest.
So cold, so painful, what was it?
Savonarola instinctively raised his hand to his chest, only to feel something cold and hard.
Blood flowed in a steady stream, and it felt as though his chest had been pierced.
He opened his mouth, but before he could even see the assassin's face behind him, he slowly lost consciousness from the searing pain.
God... Why didn't You come to save me...
The ascetic's body was secretly placed into the straw at the back of a cart, taken out to the outskirts, and burned completely.
There was no trace of blood left in his room; it seemed as if the master had vanished from the world.
The fire, with the smell of burnt straw, consumed his body entirely, and even the bone fragments were collected and buried.
It was truly solved—without any future trouble.
When Hedy heard about the small fire in the outskirts, she was on her way to the monastery with a basket in hand.
"How did the fire start?"
"They say the owner of the cart fell asleep with a pipe in his mouth, and a spark flew onto the nearby straw."
That was quite careless, but as long as no one was hurt, it was fine.
Hedy snapped out of her thoughts and walked into the courtyard to find da Vinci.
In this era, there was no CBS, no television or radio. If one wanted to hear the latest gossip, they had to go talk to friends—everything was rather closed off.
But because of that, she had a lot of free time to check on the progress of this procrastinator’s work.
As she walked in, before she could even see anyone, she suddenly heard a melodious and expressive sound of a violin.
Who’s playing the violin?
Hedy quickened her pace, turned a corner, and entered the hall.
Da Vinci was holding an oddly shaped viola da gamba, and leaning against the wall next to him was a handsome young man. Both of them looked up at her at the same time.
The young man’s clothes were set aside, and he was only wrapped in a linen cloth, half-naked.
He—wasn’t wearing clothes?
Had they just—
"Did I interrupt something?" Hedy realized what was happening, placing her basket on the wooden table nearby. "I brought some wine, cheese, and other snacks. You two can continue."
"Wait a moment—" Da Vinci suddenly spoke, stopping her. "What do you mean by interrupt?"
"I—I didn’t mean anything else," Hedy tried to ease the atmosphere. "I didn’t know you could play the violin."
The man suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, frowning slightly. "Did they tell you those rumors too?"
Sodomy, homosexuality, blasphemy?
Hedy instinctively replied, "Those aren't sins."
"No," Da Vinci said, "As your friend, I should clarify things." He looked at her. "I’m not gay, and I don’t need to go to any government-run brothels."
"I just... despise sex, and therefore, I don’t wish to engage much with women."
"What?"
"I’ve always thought that sex is ugly, dirty," he took a deep breath. "I don’t understand why so many people are so passionate and happy because of it."
Hedy hadn't expected da Vinci to discuss such personal matters so openly—
Sometimes, expressing disgust requires more courage than expressing affection.
"...I know he's your model," she instinctively glanced at the slender, unique lines of the young man’s form before turning to da Vinci. "And I also know about the accusation they placed on you before."
"But sexual orientation and gender—they’re all things that constantly change in perception."
Hedy paused, noticing that he was still watching her, and her tone became much calmer.
"As for sex, I’m not in a position to comment, but no matter whether you’re standing next to a naked man or a naked woman, it won’t change my perception of you."
Da Vinci was momentarily stunned and repeated, "Won’t it?"
"No."
He always tried to be kind and friendly to everyone, but he couldn’t avoid being misunderstood and maligned.
Some people thought he was a blasphemer, an evil, ugly sodomite. He might not care about their opinions.