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The long hall was covered in vibrant silk, and large bouquets of irises and tulips were placed along the window ledges. Musicians played with great enthusiasm, holding strange-looking instruments.
“—Now, let us all enjoy a performance presented by the master Leonardo da Vinci from Florence!”
With the poet Bellincioni's loud call, a line of masked actors emerged from all directions, singing and chanting prayers in unison.
The little duke slowly appeared in the center of the hall, wearing his coronation robes, with a smug smile on his face.
Next, actors representing different countries began to appear one by one, surrounding him, singing, offering flowers, bowing, or making faces.
The costumes, shining with gold, silver, and powder, were all designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself, making it easy for the audience to recognize their origins.
Poland, Spain, Hungary—
Each time an actor from a different country appeared, the dance around the little duke would change in harmony, as coordinated and unified as a swarm of bees.
The scenery behind the little duke changed repeatedly, even the snow on the Alps looked quite realistic.
Poet Bellincioni raised his wine cup and, amidst the noisy music, shouted again, “Next, the most dazzling performance—The Planet Masquerade!”
The guests dancing with the actors stopped and looked up at the slowly rising curtain.
The dome had been painted to resemble heaven, and the gold powder shimmered even more brightly under the lights.
Behind the curtain, Leonardo da Vinci lit a torch, and the dancing flame quickly followed its pre-arranged path, lighting up the zodiac signs painted on the backdrop.
In that moment, half the hall seemed to burst into fiery brilliance.
The actors portraying the seven planets appeared simultaneously from the lift, beginning their orbit and rotation.
Angels slowly descended, and the Three Graces followed one by one.
Everyone in the audience was transfixed, their applause growing louder and louder.
The ball didn’t end until midnight, with people celebrating for various reasons.
Hedy, wearing a rather plain dress, leaned against a pillar in an inconspicuous corner, sipping a half cup of malt beer.
As a modern woman, she had witnessed many grand scenes at MGM.
But she could never have imagined that such a spectacular and magnificent scene would be so vividly enacted five hundred years ago.
These things cannot be preserved or influenced, much like lighting a flower on fire—
Once the flame fades, everything returns to silence.
Yet Leonardo, the man who has illuminated art history with countless sparks, also had such great works in this realm.
From the snake charmer from Turkey to the halos and wings of angels, all of these were designed by his very hands.
By the time she finished her drink, she could hear several young women eagerly discussing his name.
Leonardo...
In the next moment, the man with brown hair and eyes appeared before her.
"Would you care to dance?"
She lifted her head to look at him, instinctively raising a smile.
