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Was art really that addictive?
The construction of the water boiler plant was already underway. After selecting the site, craftsmen came to build the houses and pools, and the work was turning out quite well.
While Maternal and Child Encyclopedia was under review and awaiting publication, Hedy began to have new ideas.
This era didn’t have coffee, that was fine, and no whiskey either, but there should definitely be some pizza.
Strangely enough, the city of pizza was right next to Florence, yet there was no pizza in all of Italy.
Hedy went to the kitchen herself, thinking of ways to replicate the dish.
Making dough was a bit unfamiliar now, but after a couple of failed attempts, she was successful.
She placed mushrooms, meat, and cheese on the dough, then baked it in the oven until it was slightly charred. After it came out, she cut it into slices, ready to eat.
—It actually tasted quite good.
The wheat of this era was a pure, unpolluted variety, and all the vegetables were organic, making everything taste exceptional.
She had fun and baked several more, even making a double-topping one.
She sent one to the lord and his wife, one to the children, and then...
Hedy froze for a moment, thinking of a certain person who was both a genius and a madman.
Well, maybe she should check on him.
If he died in that charnel house, at least she wouldn't have to move him.
She packed a Margherita pizza, brought two bottles of wine, and followed the note to find Da Vinci’s designated coachman, letting him take her out to the outskirts.
After navigating through one forest and hill after another, Hedy finally saw a nondescript cave.
The coachman stopped at the side and didn't return immediately, clearly having been instructed beforehand.
Hedy slipped a silver coin into his hand, then approached the cave, covering her nose as she called out, "Mr. Da Vinci—"
"—Mr. Da Vinci? Are you still alive?"
Before she could call again, a figure suddenly emerged.
"Here I am, just a bit hungry."
She took a couple of steps back, clearly startled.
The man who had once been described by everyone as "handsome and gentle" and "elegant and composed" now appeared covered in strange filth, with an odd smell emanating from him.
She quickly placed the basket with the pizza and wine in front of Da Vinci, then rushed back to the coach, carefully observing him from a distance.
It was clear that Da Vinci had been here for over half a month. He had returned to the palace only once during the night to bathe and drop off his notes.
His findings here were beyond description.
From bones to textures, from the differences between men and women to the muscles around the shoulders, the sheer volumeof information had kept him blissfully immersed in his work.
"Hedy—I've confirmed something. Men and women have exactly 206 bones! No difference!"
Hedy could already picture him counting bones.
