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"Even if I’m just an old lady turned young again?" she retorted. "What if tomorrow I turn into someone with gray hair?"
"Then I’ll dye my hair white too," he raised an eyebrow with a smile. "That way, we’d look even more perfect together."
"Even if I don’t belong to this time?"
"Speaking of which..." Leonardo's eyes lit up with anticipation. "Can you take me to that world? Show me what it's like?"
"…I don’t even know how I got here." She rubbed her face. "Maybe it’s just God playing a joke on me."
"Hedy." The man gently grasped her wrist and placed a soft kiss on it.
"Let’s take some time to digest and understand this information, alright?"
He held her hand again, leaning in to kiss her lips once more. "I still love you."
Don’t be afraid.
I won’t leave.
"I’ll give you a chance to escape the wedding," Hedy said playfully, though her heart was sincere. "And then I’ll bring an army to France to bring you back."
"Maybe in Milan," he laughed heartily.
They parted in front of the reception room. One went to face the noble guests with their congratulations and flattery, while the other went alone to sit by the Arno River, pondering for a long time.
He didn’t know what any of this meant. This story, like the fairy tales she once told, completely exceeded his imagination.
Five hundred years apart…
After finishing her meeting, Hedy was quickly taken away by Niccolò, followed by Dechio, who arrived carrying a pile of documents, asking for her decisions on the divisions of lands and rewards for medals.
It seemed that the Empress, on her first day of coronation, already couldn’t escape the grind of work.
When everything settled down, she lifted her head again and noticed the crescent moon high in the sky outside the window.
And there, outside the office, stood a familiar figure.
Hedy had chosen to set up her office near her old bedroom, permanently keeping Lorenzo’s study intact.
Just as he had done when she left.
The night breeze was cool, like a thin veil, passing gently around them.
As Hedy opened the door and looked at Leonardo, she hesitated, not wanting to move forward.
She couldn’t bring herself to imagine what might happen if he chose to stop, or...
The man opened his arms and smiled at her, “Come hug me.”
Her hesitant gaze instantly disappeared, and her eyes brightened.
Hedy took two or three steps and walked up to him, giving him a firm, heartfelt embrace.
They held each other tightly, their loose strands of hair tangling together.
The familiar scent of him filled the air, and she couldn’t help but inhale deeply.
“It’s honey apple,” he said, shaking the food box in his hand. “Are you hungry?”
