Page 42 of DATE
"What else can you do?"
In truth, Lorenzo had already made up his mind but still wore a deep, unreadable expression, enjoying the hidden fear in the girl’s eyes.
"Give me a reason to keep you."
Hedy thought he still wanted to kill her or send her to the Inquisition to be tortured to death. Her face instantly paled.
She controlled her breathing and tone as best as she could, trying to appear calm.
"I can offer you many things you need."
"Oh?" Lorenzo smiled. "When has the Medici family ever lacked anything?"
That did sound somewhat presumptuous.
"The tools you took from me are my experimental equipment for synthesizing medicines," Hedy emphasized. "If successful, they could cure countless incurable diseases, such as diphtheria and anthrax. During wartime, they could even prevent wound infections and abscesses."
Lorenzo slightly narrowed his eyes.
He could vaguely sense that she wasn’t lying.
"As for entertainment, I can create many new inventions, even a piano that plays music on its own."
Hedy turned to her two concerned friends and lowered her voice. "Even if you don’t trust me, please don’t punish them."
"They are not really acquainted with me."
"Can you turn base metal into gold?" Lorenzo asked.
… Should she lie to him?
Hedy's mind seemed to suddenly stand at a crossroads, like standing on the edge of a cliff.
If she said no, she would likely have no value to him and be sent straight to death.
But if she said yes… She knew she could never turn base metal into gold.
"No."
"That is the ultimate secret. Before I could learn it, my teacher passed away."
The atmosphere fell into an uneasy silence.
"You can stay."
Lorenzo slowly stood up.
"From today on, the Medici family hires you as the court alchemist. You will receive fifty florins per year."
"You will have a private room and plenty of attendants."
Da Vinci visibly sighed with relief and immediately sat down beside them. He had witnessed many poor women subjected to drowning and pricking, and sincerely hoped that Florence wouldn't add another tragic story to its history.
I... I haven't agreed yet.
Wait, fifty florins—does that mean fifty gold coins? How much is that worth?!
Hedy snapped back to reality, hurriedly and awkwardly performing a curtsy.
