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Da Vinci's procrastination had become an open secret in Florence.
His teacher Verrocchio, and he himself, certainly produced impressive works, hanging in homes, offering both style and collectible value.
However, commissioning him for a painting might simply mean paying a deposit.
Last year, he completed an order for the Medici family in just a few months, which had already become a famous anecdote.
This time, the contract from the monastery was lengthy, filling six or seven pages, all written to prevent him from disappearing halfway through the work.
The contract stipulated that he must first cover the cost of all materials, including gold leaf, and set a clear deadline of thirty months.
If the thirty months passed without him delivering the finished work, the completed part of the painting would belong to the monastery, and he would not be reimbursed for any materials.
Hedy agreed with this part of the agreement.
She had personally watched the master spend an entire afternoon playing with a piece of wood.
"But this payment method is so strange," Hedy said, pulling out a page and showing him the details.
If the order was successfully completed, Da Vinci would receive several properties near Florence.
These had been donated to the monastery by loyal followers.
Once he obtained the properties, Da Vinci could sell them back to the monastery for three hundred florins and pay one hundred and fifty florins to a young woman as her dowry.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Da Vinci said, stroking hischin. "That's how a land bequest agreement works."
Hedy wasn't familiar with these terms but emphasized, "The dowry must start being paid in installments after three months—do you have thirty florins right now?"
Da Vinci froze. "No."
"And you need to pay for all the materials in advance—paint, gold, eggs—do you have that money?"
Da Vinci tried to deny it but remained silent after a moment, swallowing his words.
"No."
The Adoration of the Magi is one of the most famous scenes in religious painting, with many renowned artists, including Botticelli, having depicted it.
The three wise men, following a star, arrived in Bethlehem to offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to the infant Jesus.
For such a scene, every color—gold, red, green, blue—would be required, and frescoes needed even more paint. For someone like Da Vinci… he might have to give up his entire workshop to the monastery.
Hedy felt she had explained everything clearly, so she neatly arranged the contract and handed it back to him. "So think it through, don't make a losing deal."
Da Vinci pondered for a moment, then stood up with the contract in hand. "I'll go talk to them."
By dusk, he returned, seemingly holding a new contract.
Hedy, listening to the distant sound of a lute while reading, noticed Da Vinci's return with a smile on his face. Suddenly, a bad premonition arose within her.
"Did you finish the discussion?"
"Yeah, the total fee is one hundred and thirty florins, no more talk about the properties," Da Vinci shook the contract in his hand. "They'll pay me fifty gold coins upfront, and I must deliver within two years. If I don't, I'll owe them two hundred gold coinsin compensation."
Hedy gasped.
She could already envision this guy's impoverished future.
