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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.
