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A few years ago, he had danced a waltz with her at a ball. Now, having reached the age of engagement, he had traveled all the way from Rome to find her.
Hedy didn’t feel flattered. In fact, she found the situation much more complex than she had imagined.
Love at first sight and undying devotion were probably things that only existed in fairy tales. At least in her world, people—just like five hundred years from now—were driven by interests and motives, not by idealistic notions of love.
The protection given to her by the Medici family, the enthusiasm and support from the people, and the flattery and gifts from the merchants of Milan were all, in essence, driven by the greatest pursuit of self-interest.
This young man, appearing to be a pure and innocent figure, came from the notoriously infamous Borgia family, where from an early age, he had to fight his siblings for resources. He was eventually fortunate enough to come out as the winner, and there was no way he was as innocent as he looked.
The Medici family was a massive threat to the Roman church. In the two previous wars, they had gained the upper hand, and many of their family members had already infiltrated the church.
If this family continued to grow unchecked, the city emblem of Rome might eventually be changed to the fleur-de-lis.
For such a young Borgia to come here and act recklessly, there was no way she would believe that this wasn’t done with the Pope’s tacit approval.
If she married him, whether it was a political maneuver or an actual attempt to curry favor, it would create a subtle balance of power between the central and southern parts of Italy.
The second issue was the war that Caesar Borgia had directly forewarned about.
In this ancient age, intelligence was both critical and scarce. If a city was poorly developed, and the lord was incompetent, even a year’s notice about an impending French invasion wouldn’t improve the situation much.
France had more expansive territories and a stronger military force. Additionally, the Pope was effectively under their control—another complex historical legacy.
A few years ago, the "Spider King" of France had intentionally stirred chaos, instructing assassins to disguise themselves as Neapolitans during a procession to trigger riots and carry out assassinations. Hedy had witnessed the bloodshed and had been bedridden with a high fever for several days afterward.
The consequence of that event was that the old king, while recovering in his fortress, was assassinated by Medici agents. The heir, Charles VIII, was only sixteen years old and was currently under the regency of the ambitious Duke and Duchess of Bourbon.
History was unfolding earlier than she had expected.
Lorenzo didn’t rush to leave the meeting room. After some time, he directly addressed the group and discussed the war openly.
"France is in the northwest, and the Roman church is in the south."
If both sides sent armies to attack simultaneously, the situation would be much more serious than the previous wars.
"Not only that," Leonardo shook his head. "There’s also Spain to the west."
Spain, with its ties to the Borgia family, could become another major player. If they too participated in the division of interests, it would bring even more naval fleets, creating a huge burden.
"They already know about this, and they’re willing to bring the French plan forward. This is essentially a betrayal," Hedy said quietly. "The Roman church doesn’t want to remain under French control, yet it resists Florence’s influence. That’s why they’re coming here, forcing us to cooperate."
The situation of mutual destruction was enough to foster political marriages and bind interests. The sweet words of young Mr. Borgia had no power against these games of power.
"How long will it take for the French to arrive?" Botticelli suddenly asked.
"At least three to five months. It depends on whether they plan to cross the Alps or come by sea."
"That should be enough time to hold the wedding procession," Botticelli raised an eyebrow, now more relaxed as he looked at Hedy. "So, what are you planning to do?"
"Go back to Milan."
"Go back to Milan."
Both Hedy and Leonardo spoke in unison.
Lorenzo stared at Hedy and said flatly, “When war comes, Milan may not necessarily remain a sanctuary.”
“I can contact Mr. Sforza. We could strengthen our mutual defense alliance,” Da Vinci replied without hesitation. “Naples can also exert pressure on Rome.”
