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"He will," he said slowly. "After all, you are a Medici."
At that moment, Hedy belatedly sneezed and tightened the coat around her, muttering softly, "You’re leaving the day after tomorrow, and I’m a bit uneasy."
They barely had time to be together.
Even after confirming their feelings for each other, they wouldn’t have the luxury of walking hand-in-hand or whispering sweet words like most ordinary lovers.
In this world torn by war, they each carried too many responsibilities and missions on their shoulders.
They had walked this heavy road together, and even though they could rest for a brief moment now, it was only just the beginning. There was still a long... long way to go.
"Anyway, now, Mr. Leonardo... no, General Leonardo," she looked at him, "you’ve become an even more brilliant and reliable presence— I trust you."
"But no matter what, surviving is more important than anything else."
"The territories and duchies, even if we don’t capture them now, there will be countless more opportunities in the future." Her pale blue eyes held a hint of warning. "General, when you return, make sure you don’t lose any limbs or features. Fabio certainly won't be kind enough to give you a wooden nose."
Leonardo let out a soft chuckle, his eyes focused on the ground.
He remained silent for a long time before speaking in a quiet voice. "I’ve been thinking about what kind of gift I should give you as a betrothal gift."
She froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing with a soft pink.
"You will be the most beautiful bride in the world… but before proposing, I should at least have a worthy gift ready." He looked up at her, awkwardly but with the same nervousness of ayoung man asking for her hand. "Gold and silver fabrics aren’t enough."
He wanted to take this entire coastline, like a pearl necklace, and claim it as the best wedding gift, the perfect symbol for their union.
Hedy raised her hand to cover her face, pausing for a moment before murmuring, "You want..."
No... she wasn't ready yet...
"I’ll do it when I return," Leonardo leaned in and kissed her cheek, his smile mischievous. "But we’ve already had an engagement, haven’t we?"
She laughed softly, then casually added, "That line in movies isn’t usually a good omen."
He seemed to not fully understand, looking confused. "What?"
"Nothing," Hedy patted his shoulder. "I’ll be waiting here for your good news, General."
As for the wedding… perhaps now wasn’t the right time.
On the morning of September 4th, the three teams set off towards the north, and the repair of the city walls and post-war tasks began to unfold.
Michelangelo had transformed into a completely different person compared to before. While he was still quite young, and roughly the same age as Machiavelli, their areas of expertise complemented each other perfectly.
It became clear that Machiavelli's letters to strangers were not only forceful in their wording but also extremely effective, with results that were noticeable and impressive.
Niccolò Machiavelli was more adept at adjusting policies, as well as researching and guiding public opinion. Hedy gave him plenty of freedom to observe and study the lives and thoughts of the people in the city. He was like a sly and sharp fox, constantly sniffing out vulnerabilities to exploit, making surethat the policies were accepted by the people in the easiest and most favorable way possible.
As for Michelangelo, his time at the Florence Academy had clearly shaped him into a more well-rounded individual. His circumstances had also significantly improved. The Medici family continued to provide him with generous sponsorship, and although Botticelli had been traveling frequently in recent years, even his brief visits brought valuable and insightful advice.
Michelangelo made progress in painting, sculpture, mathematics, and physics, and he had read through Leonardo’s extensive manuscripts, delving deeply into them.
Now, the two of them, one skilled in the arts and the other in political strategy, were able to assist Hedy in adjusting the city’s planning and defenses while also offering reliable policy suggestions.
In fact, the people of Genoa were already gossiping in taverns, saying that the young lord was clearly keeping two young wolves by her side.
The only unfortunate thing was that young Raphael was still enjoying his childhood at the Academy of Plato. It was said that when Michelangelo left, the little guy wanted to go with him but was pulled back by Botticelli.
