Page 281 of DATE
"Yes, it's over! Now, everyone is talking about this Henry VII!"
She was momentarily stunned, wanting to say something but then suppressing her thoughts.
The drowsiness that had started to rise in her was now dispelled. Her mind began to swirl like the fog over London.
What kind of era was this— from Caesar to Henry Tudor, how many more dangerous figures were out there?
He ended the thirty-year War of the Roses and founded the Tudor dynasty, which marked the golden age of England. The red Lancaster rose and the white York rose were merged into the red-and-white Tudor rose, and this royal emblem would shine with eternal glory.
"And this ruler, when he ascended the throne last year, was only twenty-eight!" one of the men nearby sipped his beer, growing more spirited as he began discussing the legendary figure. "He was so young and was the one Merlin's prophecy spoke of. He's truly a legendary character—exiled to France at fourteen, with countless stories of his youth!"
Hedy hugged herself a little tighter, lowering her head as she continued to toast by the fire.
The night breeze in June carried the faint scent of grass and wood, and the crackling sound of the campfire, along with the muddled chatter around her, gradually began to fade.
She hadn’t had a proper rest in a long time, and now her awareness, like the tide, began to ebb slowly.
The dark clouds over the European continent, the clamor of guns, cannons, and soldiers, slowly became distant, no longer relevant to her in this moment.
Leonardo, having just finished roasting a skewer of wild fruit, suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. He realized that his lord had fallen asleep against him.
Luris, noticing that their lord had become so tired she couldn’t even hold herself upright during the prayers, shot a fierce glance at the men nearby, signaling them to lower their voices while they talked.
Leonardo allowed her to rest against his shoulder, taking the silver fox fur cloak that Dechio had brought him and draping it over her.
She slept soundly and deeply, her breathing light and peaceful.
The men continued to chatter on about the entanglements and rivalries between England and France, while a nightingale sang from the forest. Gently, Leonardo shifted her to rest on his lap, tucking the cloak more snugly around her.
He knew that if she slept too long against his shoulder, her neck would be sore the next day.
His brown eyes lingered on her face, soft and focused, just like they had always been.
"Are you her lover?" Luris asked casually, nibbling on a roasted acorn. "Or is it unrequited love?"
Leonardo raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear and whispered, "I love her."
It was a phrase he had never dared touch or discuss before, but now, speaking it softly in her ear, it felt entirely natural.
If Leonardo lowered his head just a little more, he could kiss her eyes and the tip of her nose.
But instead, he simply stared at her, not daring to overstep or disturb her, allowing her to sleep peacefully in his lap, lost in sweet dreams throughout the night.
Nearby, Zino cast him a knowing and sympathetic glance, pouring a cup of hot wine for the man who, despite seeming capable of everything, appeared somewhat lost and burdened.
This was how someone experiencing love for the first time behaved, as if the person they adored were a rose—too afraid to touch it for fear of disturbing its delicate beauty.
"Our lord is already asleep and can’t hear your confessions," Luris muttered. "You should say such things when she's awake."
"It doesn’t matter," her second brother shook his wine glass, raising an eyebrow. "Sometimes, not saying things aloud might bring two people even closer."
An owl hooted softly in the little forest, like the ancient sound of a clock’s long hand swinging in the night.
——
They trekked westward along the Apennine Mountains and easily captured Massa.
At this time, the city was still just a small town, and it only took a single cannon shot to break down its walls.
