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"My food and water are subjected to six layers of scrutiny and protection," she said lazily. "It's to guard against certain people."
"Quite wise, though it will miss many well-wishers," Niccolo said as he sat beside her, glancing with some regret at the teacher, now reduced to being a secretary. He half-jokingly added, "But you might have to show up at events with your belly soon."
Hedy lowered her head and peeled an orange, handing him a segment. "Has Sforza written?"
"Also, Ferdinand I," Niccolo replied, taking the orange and letting out a barely audible sigh. "They are testing you."
Milan and Naples were the last two hurdles to her unified Italy.
During Lorenzo's reign, he tended to balance the relationships between over twenty small city-states, using contracts and oaths to create defensive alliances for mutual aid.
Hedy, on the other hand, closed the gap by driving the economy and advancing technology, and when the disparity was large enough, she swallowed up the small city-states, directly establishing an Italian Empire five times larger than Florence.
After the empire was established, the three leaders tacitly avoided discussing the former mutual defense treaty, and no one attempted to renew it.
Hedy understood what they were thinking.
Although the lord of Naples had only a few brief mentions in history, she was not very familiar with him.
However, she had personally met Sforza.
He was deceitful, suspicious, chauvinistic, and extremely arrogant.
He indulged and controlled his late brother’s son, raising the child to be uncontrollable and unruly from a young age.
When the news of the child's sudden death came last year, even Lady Clarice showed a “no surprise there” expression.
It was also last year that Sforza finally rose to the position of the true "Lord of Milan," though he had effectively controlled the country for many years already.
He revived the economy and education, courted the nobility and artists, but at his core, he was still a despotic, volatile hypocrite.
His mercenary father had taught him many things—such as that looting was an effective way to get things done, and that violence could make people learn to keep their mouths shut.
He also believed that women were merely playthings.
From the very beginning, Sforza had seen her as nothing more than a pawn for marriage negotiations.
But this pawn had not only masterminded several wars, held weapons of surprisingly destructive power, and allied with his former mercenaries to seize the entire Papal States, but had also transformed into the queen of this new nation.
She knew she had been underestimated, and in a way, she was thankful for it.
"They want you to choose the location for the meeting and discuss some basic cooperation matters," Niccolo said, carefully considering his words as he handed her the official document. "Perhaps that sounds more gentlemanly? But also, please note that Milan's trade status has been steadily declining. Since you removed all industries from Milan, they've lost almost all their pigment orders."
Meanwhile, Florence's dairy products and fabrics had become popular, best-selling commodities.
"The lord of Naples has used more moderate language, expressing a wish to offer a toast to you at a ball or feast," Niccolo said, a mocking smile curling his lips. "But at the same time, he wants to discuss border defense issues—he thinks you've stationed your army too close to the border."
Hedy placed the letter aside, resting her hand on her swollen belly. "As for the ball, I'll pass. I don't need to kneel to anyone."
She studied Niccolo's expression, a faint smile in her voice. "It seems you don't like Naples much?"
"Mr. Da Vinci taught me..." Niccolo muttered. "It's just another Genoa, nothing special."
Hedy then remembered the presence of a certain scribe, smiling as she waved her hand. "Leonardo, my dear Leonardo, tell me about this country."
Leonardo put down his pen and sat beside her, gently massaging her swollen legs.
"Nothing worth mentioning," he said coldly. "Just a political toy."
