Before settling into the bistro, I guided Zora through the less travelled paths of Gearlock, each turn revealing new wonders I'd carefully selected to build upon her growing enchantment. The late afternoon light painted everything in soft gold, creating the perfect backdrop for what I had planned.
"There's something you have to see first," I said, leading her toward the Clockwork Gardens. The location was strategic – intimate enough to feel special but public enough to maintain the illusion of casualness.
Zora's eyes widened as we entered the gardens, where mechanical flowers bloomed in perfect synchronisation with the setting sun. "How does it all work?" she asked, unconsciously moving closer to me as we watched a copper rose unfold its petals.
