Page 287 of DATE
The aging face, the criticized works, every false lover...
Was it possible, could it all finally be laid to rest?
At least, Leonardo and everyone else were different, right?
He was so pure, despite witnessing so much ugliness and bloodshed over the years, he still retained a certain innocence about the world.
He was not like those who had slandered, speculated, or insulted her. He had been by her side through it all, his palm as warm as his gaze, making her want to cry.
Even if one day she grew old and frail again, Leonardo would probably never retreat a step.
For her, trust was even more precious than love.
"Why are you about to cry..." Leonardo sighed and gently wiped the side of her face.
They were so close now, he could see the tears she was trying to hold back in her eyes.
The next moment, he lowered his head and kissed her.
This kiss was eight years overdue.
If he could, Leonardo would have wanted to go back to the very first time he met her, even before she was a young woman, when she was still a little girl.
Every day he spent with her was filled with joy. All his talents and ambitions were no longer just fleeting whispers in the wind, but were embraced and warmed by the deepest feelings in his heart.
Just thinking of her, even when he was so tired that his eyes could barely stay open, he could never bring himself to fall into a deep sleep.
The kiss was warm and slow, each touch and withdrawal so gentle and cautious.
Da Vinci did it almost instinctively, and at the very moment his lips met hers, he began to think about what kind of wedding gown he should design for her, or which city they should hold a grand celebration in.
Hedy… His Hedy… His lady…
He desperately wished that time and life would stop in that moment of kissing her, and that he would never have to leave her.
"I'm sorry," he realized she had shed a tear, and, flustered, he wanted to wipe it away. "Did I offend you...?"
The cold tear fell into his palm, like another gentle kiss.
"No," she whispered.
Leonardo didn’t know what to do after the kiss, worried he might upset her.
He wanted to hold her close, grasp her hand, apologize again, or kiss her rose-soft lips once more.
"…I love you," he said dryly.
Hedy lifted her gaze, suddenly smiling.
"I know," she said, pulling him tight, burying her face in his chest, surrendering the last of her burdens and fatigue.
"Leonardo…" she murmured, "I can’t live without you anymore."
She had always avoided and resisted emotions by nature, but she had still fallen into his embrace.
Every time she caught the faint scent of figs, it allowed her to relax completely, like returning to the safest place in the world.
Leonardo gently stroked her long hair and sighed softly.
