CHAPTER 10 #4
"But then again... why are you doing all these things?"
He was an exceptionally intelligent man.
Since he took power at the age of twenty, not being clever could easily lead to death.
This young woman before him possessed beauty, intelligence, eloquence, and knowledge.
Yet she had no interest in gold or in forming ties with any powerful figures.
—So, what exactly did she want?
Lorenzo had once briefly suspected that she, like some of the beautiful noblewomen, might be trying to get closer to him for some kind of romantic or flirtatious relationship.
But that thought, the moment it appeared, was quickly dismissed.
This woman always kept a distance from men. She never spent time alone with any male, and wherever she went, she always took a maid with her.
Even with him, she kept the distance between them in a neutral space, neither too cold nor too intimate.
Hedy understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
She took a deep breath and gave the most direct answer.
"To seek protection."
"Protection?"
"As you can see, I am someone being hunted by the Roman Curia."
"We have a common enemy."
"Why?"
"Does the Pope need a reason to kill someone?"
The answer came without hesitation, and Lorenzo laughed.
He had always admired this side of her.
Cold, thorny, and utterly untamed.
This side of her rarely showed, and she had always appeared to be an ordinary woman easily manipulated.
But there were cracks.
"Go on."
"But when I came to Florence, I realized this place... is not safe either."
Hedy felt like she was walking on a tightrope, each word potentially leading to her doom, yet she had no choice but to take the risk and speak.
She silently waited for two seconds, lifting her eyes to observe Lorenzo’s expression.
He was calm.
"You think Florence is unsafe," Lorenzo repeated.
He thought of the strange ascetic monk and his brother’s death.
She was right. This city was also unsafe.
It still was.
Hedy wanted to tell him the history she knew from the future, to share it as a prophecy.
The ways of manipulation and superstition were often enough to deceive those whose minds were weak.
Her mind raced, but ultimately, she rejected that option.
When speaking with Lorenzo, it was best to use logic.
Show him the weights on either side of the balance, show him the pros and cons of a situation—nothing would be more effective.
Hedy bowed deeply and immediately took out the map she had brought with her.
She used a brush to re-zone and color the areas, clearly outlining the sizes and relationships of the powers.
In terms of population, Florence couldn’t compare to Milan, and certainly not to Naples or France.
Militarily, it was so weak that it could barely defend itself. If a powerful enemy nation invaded, Florence would likely fall within days.
—Even the Pope had nearly brought them to the brink of destruction. If France crossed the Alps, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"But, please, take a closer look at Florence today."
She gazed into his eyes, speaking calmly and composedly.
"This city possesses countless works of art, treasures, and immense wealth that could move any nation."
"It is now at the very center of the storm."
A woman should not speak so recklessly about politics.
But she was right.
Lorenzo relaxed his posture slightly and asked, "What do you think should be done?"
Hedy realized he was willing to continue the discussion and replied cautiously, "First, we need to see your plan."
The trust between the two of them was based on the shared level of logic and understanding.
What they trusted in was each other’s position on matters of interest and a clear, sharp mind.
As a mysterious fugitive, Hedy had already proven her effectiveness in various spontaneous situations and choices.
"Stability."
"Florence is not yet stable enough internally."
Although the Medici family had been thriving for generations, in terms of bloodline and historical roots, they still lagged behind many of the local nobles.
The grand feasts and parades he held now were efforts to further solidify his family’s standing in the city.
Only with internal stability and power without gaps could he focus on external matters.
This was indeed the most fundamental step.
Her other plans would have to wait until the basic structure was stable.
Hedy nodded, paused for a moment, and then gave a succinct suggestion.
"You can create a secret communication network."
Suddenly raising armies and manufacturing weapons would certainly alert Milan and Naples.
But the timely acquisition of information could unknowingly turn the tide.
"A communication network?"
She smoothed the map and circled the most important cities in the surrounding city-states with charcoal.
Establish regular information exchanges and stables in various locations—
In the event of a major event, Florence must receive news as quickly as possible.
Lorenzo likely calculated the cost in his mind and nodded in agreement.
"As for the transfer and management of assets, please pay close attention as well."
Hedy explained many of the related concepts to him, and before leaving, she bowed deeply.
He silently watched her leave, his gaze retracting once the door closed behind her.
By mid-February, when Leonardo came to see her again, over a month had passed.
During this time, they had all been incredibly busy.
Hedy had spent nearly every day in the library, studying the history of the Roman Empire, working hard to immerse herself in the role of this era.
She needed to understand the power struggles and alliances of each country, and memorize the territorial claims and development statuses of different nations.
Botticelli's Spring was finally completed, and he seemed to have started working on another piece inspired by pagan mythology.
Leonardo continued to refine the automatic playing mechanism, even inviting many talented musicians to create new works.
And then, right in the midst of it all, the carnival began.
The citizens donned masks made from different materials, wandering in groups along the long streets.
Some wore wreaths and painted decorations, singing strange love songs and satirical ballads.
What was even more exciting was that Lorenzo had hired many artists to design floats and costumes for the performers.
What had once been a spontaneous tradition was now more vibrant and prosperous, thanks to official endorsement.
Hedy, as usual, helped Leonardo decorate the float, even painting a robin on it.
Her strokes were crooked and a bit reminiscent of modern comic styles.
This year, the carnival float parade had a theme, and it was set to be The Triumph of Bacchus.
As the time arrived, joyful music played, and people of all ages crowded along the sides of the streets, craning their necks to watch.
A row of colorful floats and a procession of knights approached, looking both luxurious and romantic.
The floats and horses were laden with young men dressed in finery, their muscular bodies balanced and their smiles captivating, surrounded by heaps of flowers.
The boy playing Bacchus wore a crown made of grapevines, and even the harp he held was adorned with bunches of grapes.
Hedy stood at a distance, watching, and suddenly recognized him as the handsome boy who had come to learn the lyre from Leonardo.
The long procession moved from the palace all the way to the square in front of the cathedral, where the prepared choir began to sing loudly.
"May Bacchus live on, ever lasting!
Let the wild dance and singing begin,
Let sweet love's fire ignite the heart..."
The melody was indeed cheerful and passionate, and many people began to sway and dance along.
The knights started fencing, and small vendors and farm women walked the streets, selling flowers and pastries from their baskets.
The children learned quickly and soon joined in, singing loudly.
—When the time comes, it shall come. Pay no heed to what fate awaits!
Leonardo, holding a small notebook, began sketching again, while Hedy listened quietly beside him for quite some time.
"Isn't it beautiful?" he asked, glancing at her.
"Hmm?" Hedy was still looking at the float, which carried a large wine bottle. "It's a passionate love song. Did Ghirlandaio write it?"
"Wrong guess," he smiled at her. "It was written by our lord himself."
"What? The stern and serious lord?" Hedy laughed, a little surprised. "How is that possible?"
"He’s written many romantic and fiery love poems, and he was famous in Florence for them many years ago." He patted her shoulder and gestured toward the soaring doves. "Once you've been here long enough, you'll become a poet, too."
A few days after the carnival ended, Leonardo came to visit again.
"Hedy—would you like to come with me to Milan?"
Hedy was packing away her experimental tools when she heard the invitation, a bit confused. "So suddenly?"
"The Sforzas in Milan invited me to host a grand ball for the young duke," he waved the design draft in his hand. "I’ve decided to call it 'The Feast of Heaven.'"
"If I remember correctly, the young duke is only about four or five years old, right?" she thought for a moment. "Is it safe if I go?"
"You can pretend to be my maid," Leonardo observed her face and added, "Wrap your hair in a coarse cloth, take off all your jewelry, and add some freckles and shadows to your face. As long as you look a bit uglier, not many people will notice you."
Hedy hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed.
She explained the situation briefly to Lorenzo, who nodded readily in approval.
Milan and Florence were now allies in peaceful relations, so there were no concerns about trouble.
After two years, she was finally leaving the small city and could breathe a sigh of relief.
The caravan included not only several attendants but also the little Bacchus, Atalante.
Leonardo had already calculated the journey in advance and claimed that the distance from Florence to Milan was about 180 miles.