Page 32 of DATE
After all, if she were to serve Da Vinci a couple of hamburgers, she was a bit worried that she’d be branded a witch and burned at the stake.
She had heard that there had been several plagues in Milan and Venice, and things were not peaceful outside. Many refugees were coming to Florence to seek a living.
Her wages were already quite good compared to others in the city, and she knew she needed to be more dedicated.
If someone were to steal her job and things went wrong, she might end up like Fantine, pushed into becoming a prostitute in this terrifying old era.
Hedy rubbed her temples, pushing away some strange thoughts, and focused on rubbing the beef with spices and apple cider.
Rice, dates, pomegranates, citrus, and sugar.
Various spices mixed together, then combined with some rose water to make a thick, flavorful sauce.
While stewing the beef, she quietly added a little garlic juice to remove the strong, gamey odor.
According to Aunt Sofia, this method came from the Arabs and was called Saracen cooking.
Since the Crusades, many Eastern secrets had been passed over, and alchemy had become quite fashionable as well.
—It actually smells pretty good.
Da Vinci didn’t go back to painting.
He found a small glass bottle and poured all the collected beef bile into it.
Some old pigments had also been treated with egg liquid just a moment ago.
What would happen if he added the bile?
The rich, savory aroma of the stew wafted from the kitchen, and Da Vinci couldn’t resist sniffing the air.
It smells wonderful.
Hmm... Miss Kiesler's cooking skills have really improved.
Maybe I should try a bowl first?
The chronic procrastinator thought for a long moment before noticing that the egg tempera was almost solidifying.
Wait!
Da Vinci quickly twisted open the glass cap and added a few drops of bile, stirring experimentally.
Something strange happened.
As soon as the bile dropped into the pigment, the two distinct blobs of color merged like water droplets combining, blending effortlessly together.
Not only did the fluid's consistency change, but even the colors mixed with surprising ease as he stirred.
What’s going on here?
How did this happen?
The shape of the pigment layer shifted, and the effect of applying it to paper and the painting board also changed subtly.
He stood there, stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed a few silver coins from the table and ran out.
"Mr. Da Vinci—aren't you having lunch?" Hedy asked as she brought out the hot soup, only to see him rush out the door.
