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—That affection wasn’t the kind of intense, passionate love, but it was a kind of liking that she had never felt for any other man.
He was smart, cheerful, and open-minded about many things.
More importantly, he posed no hidden threat to her.
Once they had finished changing, they made their way to the hidden staircase used for moving goods, descending one after the other from the high tower.
Cosimo was waiting downstairs. When he saw them, he didn’t have time for much explanation and quickly opened the lid of a vintage wine barrel on the carriage, gesturing for them to get inside.
The old ox gave a long, slow bellow before it started moving outside.
There was no suspicion from anyone along the way.
Hedy spent the entire journey reflecting on what had happened that afternoon.
Was Lorenzo implying that, as a bishop, he had already acknowledged their engagement?
In an era without computers or formal records, even an engagement was just a verbal contract, yet it was more binding and serious than any written agreement could be.
They had awkwardly swapped to another carriage on the outskirts of the city, both of them covered in wine stains, with a faint smell of fermentation lingering in the air.
Hedy removed bits of crushed grape skins from her hair and sighed deeply. "If you had kissed me back then, things might have been much simpler."
Da Vinci’s face turned red, and he awkwardly cleared his throat.
CHAPTER 19
Caesar sat in the reception room, leisurely sipping half a glass of wine.
As the door opened, Lorenzo strode in: "Good afternoon, Mr. Borgia."
The young man looked up at him, a smile lingering on his lips, "She's already gone, hasn't she?"
"You seem a bit too impatient," Lorenzo said, sitting across from him, his tone still calm and unhurried. "Patience is a virtue."
"Mr. Medici, rumors outside say you are a successful businessman, who revived the vast family business a few years ago." Caesar put down his wine glass, his expression no longer as innocent as it had been in front of Hedy, instead showing the sophistication of an adult. "But you're indifferent to this nearly guaranteed transaction. That really isn't very wise."
The man lowered his eyes, observing the boy with a face as beautiful as an angel's, and slowly said, "It seems the Pope has taught you quite a lot."
"There are grand parades and theatrical performances in Florence," he stood up, his tone calm and unperturbed. "If you wish to stay for Christmas, Palazzo Pitti will always welcome you."
"Wait a minute—" The young man emphasized his words. "Is this your choice?"
"To disregard the lives of the Florentine people, to overlook the honor within reach, to let the chance to reconcile with the Church slip away?" Caesar sneered, then asked, "Or do you think you have absolute certainty in this war, so much so that you don't need any external help?"
Lorenzo stopped in his tracks, turned around to glance at him, and gave a faint smile.
"Children should stay away from politics," he said lightly. "Being too young isn't always an advantage."
Hedy, on the way back, did not dare to rest. Even when washing up by a small river, she did so as quickly as possible.
Due to the potential outbreak of war, the two young children stayed in Florence to ensure they could keep in touch with their parents in case of a crisis.
Along the way, they were settling their assets and expenses, as well as calculating the time needed to produce various weapons.
Fortunately, six months ago, Atalante had written to inform them that the four blacksmiths and carpenters' shops had already been purchased, and the business was doing quite well.
The initial purpose of acquiring these shops was to produce farming tools and pastoral equipment at a lower cost, continually widening the price gap between their own agricultural products and those of other ranchers.
