Page 181 of DATE
She nodded, covering her mouth, still trying to hold back the tears, and they exchanged goodnight.
As she climbed into the bed, the warmth, infused with the faint scent of fig leaves, wrapped around her like a long, comforting embrace.
Hedy felt herself relax a little, and in the next moment, she slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.
She followed through with the plan they had discussed earlier, getting up early to take care of the apothecary and workshop matters. Afterward, she went to say her goodbyes to the lady of the house and the lord.
She explained that she wished to travel and learn, as well as collect rare materials.
The lady of the house, though somewhat surprised, still handed her a large bag of gold coins with a friendly smile.
The lord remained silent, but nodded in agreement, allowing her to leave with Da Vinci.
Letting her go was the best choice.
Lorenzo watched her turn and walk away, and suddenly, he spoke up.
"We'll wait for you to come back."
I’ll wait for you to come back.
Hedy paused mid-step, turning to look at him. Her voice carried a weight of unspoken meanings.
"What if I don’t?"
Da Vinci instinctively reached out and grasped her wrist, as though offering her strength and support.
He relaxed a bit and suddenly smiled at her.
"No, you will."
——
Hedy hadn’t expected to leave so soon, nor did she expect to leave behind so much.
Both she and Lorenzo were well aware of the impulsive actions from that night, and understood that many things were now beyond repair.
What was fortunate, however, was that Lorenzo had regained his composure in time, and had not done anything rash. Not only did he watch her leave, but he also allowed her to take a portion of her assets with her as she left Florence.
Hedy’s fear had nothing to do with intimacy.
Even on the journey to Milan, the thought of what had happened still made her uneasy, like stepping on the tail of a venomous snake without realizing it.
What she had come to realize was the extreme control that this man had over himself, and her own blind confidence in her own abilities.
For someone who prided themselves on being mature and calm, discovering these two things felt akin to waking up next to a cliff’s edge.
Humans were easily consumed by their own emotions, clumsy creatures who were often swept toward the irrational abyss by a crowd of praise and admiration.
Countless compliments, repeated successes, and material wealth had gradually dulled the caution and clarity that should always be maintained.
Over the past four years, Hedy had clearly been lulled by excessive praise and adulation.
She had successfully introduced new medicines and biological studies, and effortlessly promoted the use of new weapons.
Fantastical ideas and ambitions began to spread, and she even considered using Lorenzo’s power to shift the balance of power, perhaps uniting the entire Apennine Peninsula and toppling the pope’s reign to usher in a new era.
A modern person arriving in the ancient world could easily fall into a state of arrogance, intoxicated by their wealth of information, much like a university professor finding themselves in a rural village with no gas stoves.
