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Da Vinci’s expression mixed amusement and frustration, his posture almost like he was surrendering.
“No…” he murmured, “I’ve fallen in love with her.”
Botticelli almost choked on the apricot pit.
He coughed twice, wrapped the pit in his handkerchief, and jumped off his chair. “You—finally figured it out?!”
“How did this even happen? Was it a divine revelation? You actually got it?” Botticelli circled around Da Vinci like he was meeting a new person. “Are you sure it’s love? Or is it just that some new guy made you feel threatened?”
“It’s been a year,” Da Vinci said with a helpless, uncomfortable expression. “But I don’t know how to get closer to her.”
“Don’t you think you’re already close enough?” Botticelli countered. “I heard from Dechio that you’ve been living together, seeing each other every day, morning and night—are you trying to move into her bedroom?”
“Alessandro,” Da Vinci frowned, “if you’re just trying to mock me, then we can skip this and not waste each other's time.”
Botticelli sat back down, pausing for a long time before speaking again. “Are you asking me to teach you how to pursue her?”
“Mm,” Da Vinci admitted, showing an uncharacteristic patience. “I’m really not good at these things.”
“Why should I teach my rival?” Botticelli assessed Da Vinci's expression. “I like her too—though I don’t intend to take it any further, but I do like her.”
“Alessandro—”
“Looks like you’re really serious about this,” Botticelli muttered, stretching lazily. “First, you need to understand what she likes and needs.”
“If the girl likes sweet pears, and you keep giving her sour dates, you’re only pushing her further away.”
Da Vinci breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking to himself, Botticelli really understands these things, asking him was the right choice.
“Hedy likes... nature, right?” Da Vinci tried to answer the questions like a schoolboy, "Doing experiments, making potions, or helping those in need."
Botticelli rubbed his face, feeling like he was teaching a young man who had just fallen in love for the first time.
At this rate, Raphael might even be better at winning a girl’s heart than he was.
“And what else? Think a bit more?”
“She doesn’t like jewelry or drinking for fun.” Da Vinci sighed. “I had planned to bring her gifts along the way, but in the end, I only picked a bunch of daffodils.”
Botticelli chuckled and patted his shoulder, speaking slowly, “Hedy is a very unique woman.”
Smart, beautiful, but not yielding to any desires.
Even if you gave her a cartload of jewelry, she might not even raise an eyebrow.
“She’s strong,” Da Vinci smiled gently when he thought of her. “And so independent, as if she doesn’t need anyone.”
“The more a woman like that seems strong, the more fragile she might be,” Botticelli mused. “Maybe she needs rest too.”
“So... what should I do to help her more?” Da Vinci asked, a little uncertain.
“Not just that,” Botticelli shook his head. “She will only truly accept your help if she trusts you enough. Otherwise, everything is in vain.”
Da Vinci let out a long sigh and told Botticelli about the situation with Sarai.
"On my birthday, she even kissed my cheek first," Da Vinci said with frustration. "Now she’s coldly calling me ‘Mr. Da Vinci.’"
Botticelli looked at him with a complex expression. "Sounds like only you could manage that."
