Page 97 of DATE
From his manner and dress, he seemed more like a nouveau riche than a noble of an old family.
"Milan?"
"So you don't know about it?" The man's eyes showed some pride and self-assurance. "Milan is much larger than Florence, with a population three times that of Florence."
"More importantly, if you become my alchemist, I will offer you privileges that no one else can match."
He had heard many intriguing things.
This distant relative of the Medici family not only possessed theability to make hearts beat again but was also profound and intelligent.
Milan was in need of such a beautiful and clever young lady.
"Thank you very much—but no, thank you." Hedy stood up, trying to keep her distance from him.
"Are you afraid of Lorenzo?" The man raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't have the courage to reject me."
Her expression shifted slightly, and she was about to come up with a polite excuse to leave.
People who were so forceful and arrogant were often stubborn and inflexible.
"Hedy—so you’re here!" Suddenly, Da Vinci appeared in front of her. "The lady is looking for you. Come with me."
He had spoken halfway when he noticed the man beside her and greeted him with a smile.
Hedy quickly bowed and followed Da Vinci to the long corridor outside. She instinctively asked, "Is the lady experiencing abdominal pain again? How is she?"
"She didn’t summon you," Da Vinci turned back to confirm, then looked at her and said, "How did you end up in contact with Sforza?"
The Milanese?
"Who is he?"
"He’s—" Da Vinci frowned and looked at her. "You really don’t know who he is?"
Hedy shrugged.
"His father was one of seven illegitimate sons of a mercenary."
This was a well-known scandal.
Over twenty years ago, that illegitimate son had seized control of Milan and declared himself Duke.
After the Duke’s death, his eldest son inherited the title but was assassinated soon after, leaving a seven-year-old child to become the next Duke, though he was clearly sidelined.
"The man you were just speaking with is actually the current ruler of Milan," Da Vinci lowered his voice, his tone cautious. "He likes to squander, and he has a volatile temper. Don’t trust him easily."
Hedy felt a faint sense of relief in her heart, grateful for the warning.
Without Da Vinci as a friend, she might have walked right into danger.
These lords were more troublesome than the next.
"The assassination of the Duke of Milan actually happened just two months ago," Da Vinci sighed. "It shocked Florence, and night patrols have been much tighter since then."
It was possible that this younger brother had orchestrated it...
Hedy silently muttered to herself, then turned her gaze toward the brilliant lights in the palace.
