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“No, there’s a better way.” Hedy took a deep breath. “I can provide more mercenaries.”
Da Vinci smiled knowingly, while the other men in the room looked somewhat surprised.
“Miss Hedy,” Lorenzo's voice was smooth and low. “Please repeat what you just said.”
“My financial resources are now enough to hire an entire mercenary company.” Hedy sat up straighter, her gaze still calm and resolute. “Since war is inevitable, it’s better to confront it head-on.”
“Ah, so you’ve begun engaging in usury?” Lorenzo frowned. “This is not a simple expense.”
“Actually, from Florence to Milan, I now own more than twenty workshops in different fields and sizes.” Hedy knew that she and he were standing in the core of the most significant power circle. Some things were better laid out in the open.
—Of course, those twenty-some workshops were only under her Medici surname. If you included the businesses she secretly acquired with her Kiesler surname and the help of the Atalante clan, it added up to more than forty.
Botticelli looked genuinely surprised, and even Lorenzo seemed caught off guard by the turn of events.
His impression of this young woman was that of a wise and composed scholar, but in the two or three years since their last meeting, she had transformed into someone entirely different.
—More than twenty businesses?! And she can afford a mercenary company?!
“I’ll go back with Da Vinci to reinforce the forces. You all keep an eye on movements to the south. At least in the northwest, we’ll be there to respond.” She stood up, a smile forming on her face. “At least for Mr. Sforza, Milan’s prosperity and stability will likely be more important than the light-hearted approval of the church.”
A mercenary’s son who had seized power through rebellion would never have reached this position if he still feared so-called God and Heaven.
“War is not such an easy game,” Botticelli said, his tone turning serious. “And the Borgia family has years of poisoning history. You must be cautious about everything.”
“I’ll be with her,” Leonardo said without hesitation. “Even if we face war directly, she’ll be in the rear, coordinating and commanding. She won’t be touched a hair.”
“I hope so.” Lorenzo furrowed his brow. “You shouldn’t have to go through all of this.”
“Hide in the Palazzo Pitti and watch the fires of war rage?” Hedy smiled, her expression as mature and perceptive as in her past life. “The story of Troy is not interesting.”
The lord stood up and looked toward Botticelli.
"It seems that a certain wealthy employer has already made up her mind." His voice was calm and indifferent. “We should let her have a good conversation with her fiancé.”
Leonardo froze for a moment, realizing the doubts that Caesar Borgia had expressed earlier.
"I’ll go with Botticelli to stall for time. You all change into the servants’ clothes as quickly as possible. There are wagons carrying supplies and barrels of wine coming through the side door not far from here. The convoy for the north gate is five miles out." As the lord reached the door, he paused for a moment, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Remember to come back alive and thank me."
The door slammed shut with a loud bang. Dechio retrieved the servant clothes from the hidden compartment in the side elevator and gestured for them to change quickly and leave.
Hedy took the familiar maid's outfit, thinking to herself that in both of her lifetimes, she seemed inescapably tied to war.
They turned their backs to each other to change, with Dechio assisting on either side, helping with the fastenings.
“Hedy—” Leonardo said, his voice tentative as he donned his boots. “I didn’t mean to offend you with what I said this afternoon.”
At the time, he had simply acted on instinct, trying to shield her from that arrogant and conceited man.
“Hmm?” Hedy put on her gloves and removed the jewelry from around her neck and ears, her voice calm. “We’re already engaged, after all.”
“Wait—really?!” Da Vinci nearly ripped a button off his coat, his voice shaky. “You’ve really made up your mind?”
“Prepare for the worst,” she replied.
If they were truly defeated, and she were taken by the French or the Romans, she would have enough reasons to refuse the marriage in front of the Pope.
For now, Leonardo was her best option, especially since she already had some affection for him.
