Page 100 of DATE
"Why are you focusing on this?"
"Because the Bible says Eve was made from Adam’s rib." Da Vinci took a sip of wine without wiping the dust off his forehead. "—That proves the Bible isn't necessarily right."
The coachman pretended to be asleep nearby, acting as if he hadn't heard a thing.
For an old man like him, it was enough to make a bit of extra money and visit a brothel once in a while. There was no point in meddling with other things.
Hedy was tempted to tell him that the Bible itself wasn't very reliable, but after thinking about it, she kept her thoughts to herself.
"So, what about the Adam's apple?"
In the Bible, men have Adam's apples because Adam was choked by the forbidden fruit.
"I always think these stories... aren't very realistic." Da Vinci ate, completely oblivious to the pizza's unique qualities.
His focus was entirely on anatomy, and even his voice was filled with excitement.
"One more thing—children’s bodies are completely different from adults' as well. So when painting, one should pay attention to this distinction."
Hedy quietly listened to his discoveries, and before she knew it, she was smiling at his enthusiasm.
Sometimes, Da Vinci’s heart was as pure as a child’s.
He cared only about the things that he deemed important, and he didn’t mind the opinions or criticisms of others.
With a personality like his, he was probably living a very happy life.
"By the way," he paused and set down what he was holding.
"Do you know how a smile is formed?"
"A smile?"
"Yes." He looked at Hedy, his tone suddenly becoming much more serious.
"This is probably one of the most complex topics."
CHAPTER 9
Smile?
Hedy's first reaction was The Mona Lisa's Smile.
She had seen the original painting, and it was much smaller than she had imagined. While she was waiting in line, there were staff members urging everyone on, so the time spent actually viewing the painting was quite brief.
But the smile in that painting was indeed mysterious, captivating enough to make one stare, as if there were some kind of magic behind it.
Wait—this question, I should be asking you, shouldn't I? Who exactly is the Mona Lisa? Why does her smile seem to hide some secret?
At the moment this thought occurred to Hedy, she subconsciously had an even stranger idea.
The Mona Lisa painting had obviously not been created yet.
Could it be... that the painting was of herself?
No, no, no, that would be like some cheesy popcorn movie.
Leonardo da Vinci washed his face and hands in the nearby stream, wiped them down with a rough cloth he carried, and began sorting through the manuscripts around him.
