I saw Ember, her fiery red hair flowing like molten lava. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of orange resembling flickering flames, conveyed passion and determination. Her fair complexion complemented her vibrant features, and she moved gracefully as if dancing to the rhythm of fire itself.
She wore a striking scarlet dress that hugged her figure, enhancing her curves and exuding an air of royal elegance. The gown featured intricate patterns reminiscent of swirling flames, with delicate embroidery that shimmered like glowing embers. With each step, she radiated an enchanting blend of beauty and strength.
I was mesmerized by her beauty. Seeing her in such elegant attire was a stark contrast to her usual guild attendance uniform, which was much more modest. Those uniforms were made from sturdy fabric, primarily brown and green, adorned with delicate gold and silver embroidery representing the guild's prestige. They were functional, designed for comfort and mobility, quite different from the breathtaking outfit Ember was wearing now.
As I got lost in admiration, a sound brought me back to reality.
"Ahem… Mr. Doyama, don't you have something to say?" Flare prodded me with a sly grin.
I stammered for a moment, then managed to speak, "Y-yes, Ember, you look absolutely stunning. Your fiery red hair flows like rich silk, your eyes gleam like brilliant rubies, and your porcelain complexion provides a striking contrast. Your dress, a scarlet masterpiece, embodies both beauty and danger, much like the mesmerizing dance of flames. Its intricate designs, reminiscent of swirling infernos, and delicate embroidery that sparkles like flickering embers, add to your irresistible allure. You shine like a radiant red star in the night sky." My words were filled with admiration and a hint of passion.
I handed Ember the Pyrose bouquet that I had bought earlier. However, both Flare and Ember looked at me with wide, surprised eyes.
"Wh-what? Do I have something on my face?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.
"N-no, it's just that I never thought of you as the passionate type," Flare replied, still taken aback.
I gave a wry smile and said, "I-I see. Ember, this is for you. These flowers may not compare to your beauty, but they can definitely bask in it."
"I-I see, Thank you. These are my favorites how do you know?", She asked me with a puzzled expression.
I gave her a small smile and answered, "Well, I have my ways", I am definitely not gonna tell her that Cinder told me about this.
"Anyway, are you free this afternoon? If you are why don't you join me for Lunch?", I asked her.
"I am indeed free this afternoon, Sure I will join you", she told me with a mesmerizing smile.
"I see, then shall we?" I asked her while extending my hand.
"Sure, let's go," she accepted my hand, and we began to leave the smithy. However, I suddenly heard an ear-rupturing scream, "You bastard, what the hell do you think you are doing?"
I turned to the source of the voice. It was old man Owen, and he looked super pissed. His face was red with anger, and I could even see the veins popping on his forehead. He suddenly charged at me like a wild rhino.
Dammit! Not this again. "Alright old man, this time it is definitely time for combat!" I said this and got ready to fight.
"I won't let you! Flame wall!" But suddenly, Flare interrupted him again and captured him in a wall of flame using her magic.
"Mam, are you sure about this? What if something happened to him?" I asked Flare with a worried expression.
"Fu fu fu… Don't worry, he's a blacksmith, something like this is nothing to him," she told me with a gentle smile, but given the situation, it looked very scary.
"I-I see. If you say so, I don't mind," I told her while trembling in fear.
"Fu fu fu, by the way, don't you guys have somewhere to be?" Flare asked me.
"Y-yes mam, we will be leaving now," I said and bolted out of that smithy along with Ember.
As we walked, Ember asked me, "Where are we going now?" intrigued.
"Hmm… I have a place in mind, but I don't want to ruin the surprise, so why don't I show you instead," I told her with a small smile.
"I see, I am looking forward to it then," she replied with a smile of her own.
Actually, in the morning while I was looking for clothes and flowers, I also searched for Cafe Bella Vita, which is Ember's favorite restaurant according to her sister, Cinder. After a few minutes, we arrived there.
Seeing Cafe Bella Vita, Ember's eyes went wide in surprise, and she said, "Th-this is my favorite restaurant. How do you know about this?" She asked me with a puzzled look.
I gave a small smile and said, "Really? What a coincidence. This is my favorite as well. That's why I brought you here."
She looked shocked, then blushed a little, and said, "I see, what a coincidence indeed."
That's not true at all. I have never been to this place before. In fact, it's only been a few days since I came to this world, and all this time, I have only been eating at the Inn I was staying at. But I don't want to say that and ruin the moment now. I may be dumb, but I am no fool.
"Then, shall we?" I invited her inside the restaurant with me.
"Sure," she said and followed me.
We both went inside, and one of the waiters greeted us, showing us to our seats. The restaurant itself was not your typical one; it was a blend between a cafe and a restaurant.
We sat down and looked at the menu they provided us. Then, the waiter came and asked, "Good afternoon, have you guys decided what to order?" in a polite voice.
For some reason, Ember was looking at me. Is she expecting me to order her favorite food? Dammit, Cinder told me all of Ember's favorites, but she forgot to tell me about her favorite food.
It's fine; everything is not lost. Let's start with her favorite snacks.
"We'd like to start with spicy skewered meat, and as for the others, I'll leave it to the lady," I told the waiter and looked at Ember.
She looked shocked and muttered, "Even my favorite snacks," and then she looked happy for some reason and told the waiter, "We'll also have some soup and spaghetti."
Thank god, she didn't ask me to order for her. As long as she didn't think of me as a stalker, everything was fine. Now that I think about it, how is she so calm in this situation? She even looks happy for some reason.
If someone keeps doing my favorite things who is neither my family nor friends, I would definitely consider them a stalker. Maybe in this world full of monsters and demons where your life is in constant danger, something like a stalker is nothing, I guess.
After that, we made some small talk, and finally, the waiter brought all our food and said, "Here you go, enjoy your food. Please let me know if you need something else." He said that and left.
Hmm… now that I think about it, there is no sauce on the spaghetti. I called him back and asked, "Can I have some sauce?"
"165962, I don't know about others, but this is one of my favorites," He said some random numbers and said this.
"What, not that kind of sauce! I am talking about ketchup!" I told him.
"I see, sorry about that," He went somewhere and brought back the ketchup. He gave it to me and offered a small smile.
That's when it hit me, what those numbers meant. I closed my eyes, looked down a little, and made a small smile, saying, "Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well." I should definitely give him a big tip.
Ember was looking at our exchange with a confused look.
We finished our lunch, and I asked Ember, "How was it? Did you enjoy it?"
"Of course, spaghetti's my absolute favorite along with meatballs and spicy skewered meat," she told me with a bright smile.
"I see, I like Spaghetti with meatballs as well," I told her, returning her smile.
"Now that I think about it, Spaghetti with meatballs is one of the things that was introduced to this world by heroes," she said while looking very happy.
"Do you like the stories about the Heroes?" I asked her, intrigued.
"Of course, since I was a child, I always dreamt about meeting them, and I absolutely love them. That's why I also love y— Oh my, what are you making me say," she was about to say something but she interrupted herself and started to blush.
Was she just about to confess her love to me? Hmm… I am not sure how to respond to her feelings. Well, for now, let's make her day a memorable one and decide what to do later.