Page 209 of DATE
From the moment he arrived until they parted, he had been smiling and even telling jokes to make her laugh.
Had he... been sad?
"What happened?"
"I asked him about it," the boy said with a click of his tongue, shaking his head. "Piero wrote to him again—he's had another half-brother, and Piero made sure to tell him about it."
It was clear that Piero treated Leonardo as a mature, independent person, never considering how Leonardo might feel as his son.
Hedy instinctively gripped her handkerchief, unable to speak for a moment.
"He... was really upset today?"
"Yeah," Atalante sighed. "He sat by the window, looking down for a long time. I didn’t know how to comfort him."
"The feeling of parents remarrying and having more children, it’s probably like being abandoned."
The people who should have been the closest and most familiar to him were not only unreachable but seemed to have no connection to him.
They had the energy to raise more children, but never considered how their own son might feel.
Hedy sat there in silence for a long while, before suddenly standing up in a rush.
"I need to talk to him."
The boy, understanding, stood up and waved his hand to bid her farewell.
Leonardo had received such a terrible letter today, yet he still remembered to celebrate her birthday and cheer her up.
What kind of emotions had he been hiding behind that smile?
When Hedy rushed into the bedroom, she found Leonardo still reading the letter.
She didn’t bother with explanations, instead pulling him into a warm and strong embrace.
"Leonardo, don't think about those things anymore..." Hedy murmured. "At least I’m here with you."
The young man paused, trying to pretend he wasn’t affected. "I'm fine, you don’t have to worry about me."
She sighed and held him tightly, speaking softly. "Some things can’t be undone. We can only watch as they fall into the abyss."
"But you are worthy of love. That has nothing to do with them."
"You’re exceptional, considerate, kind, and talented. Your existence is not a mistake."
"You are not the one who was abandoned."
Leonardo remained silent for a long time, then reached out to hold her back.
"Thank you..." he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I do feel really sad."
CHAPTER 15
Leonardo quickly received a new commission—Sforza asked him to help design a castle for the court, and it was to include a double-spiral staircase.
Hedy, at the right time, decided to have a set of tools custom-made for him. Protective leather for his wrists, sharp steel files, more precise compasses, and tape measures... She was accustomed to teaching him various methods every day and was constantly inspired by him.
Recently, Hedy began preparing to write a new book, systematically discussing the operations of chemical experiments. Originally a beneficiary of modern science, she had now transformed into a foundational figure in the field.
