A Leisurely Day in the Royal Capital
The gentle morning light bathed the stone-paved streets of the Royal Capital, and the hustle and bustle of last night had settled into a peaceful warmth.
The air still carried the faint scent of fireworks from the celebration, mixed with the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries from the bakery.
Ruby a deep breath, her fiery red curls shimmering like a leaping flame in the morning light. She stretched lazily, her face radiating complete relaxation and contentment.
"Ah--! Finally, I can get some rest! No need to travel, no need to fight, this is wonderful!"
Himmel walked beside her, her blue hair gently swaying in the breeze.
Now, he has an even more refreshing, boy-next-door vibe than before.
"Hmm," he nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the shops on both sides of the street, which were gradually becoming bustling. "Where would you like to go today? Does our Ruby have any plans?"
Ruby her hands behind her back, hopped around, turned around, and walked backwards facing him, her big blue eyes blinking mischievously.
"A plan is... no plan! I'll just go with the flow! Himmel, come shopping with me!"
"Alright, alright." Himmel readily raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Today, I am Ruby Ruby's personal bodyguard and wallet, at your disposal."
"That's more like it!" Ruby satisfaction, taking a half-step ahead with light steps, and curiously looking at everything along the way.
Although he had already been welcomed as a hero, stepping out of the parade and blending into the morning in the Royal Capital as an ordinary person was a completely different and refreshing experience.
"Wow! Himmel, look at this!"
Ruby stopped in front of a stall selling handmade jewelry. The stall was filled with various hair accessories and pendants woven from colorful feathers, shells, and tiny gemstones, sparkling in the sunlight.
She picked up a hair clip woven from blue feathers and silver threads, held it up against her red hair, and looked at Himmel with sparkling eyes.
Is it pretty?
Himmel examined it carefully for a moment and nodded.
"It suits you very well. Blue complements your eyes perfectly."
The pairing of red and blue has existed since ancient times.
The stall owner, a kind-looking elderly woman, looked at the strikingly handsome young couple and said with a smile, "This young lady has excellent taste. These are made from blue Robin feathers, symbolizing kindness and good fortune. Would this handsome gentleman like to give one to you?"
Ruby blushed slightly and shyly put down her hair clip.
"Hmm... let me see..."
Himmel, however, had already naturally taken out her money pouch and said gently to the old woman, "Please help us wrap this up."
"Himmel!" Ruby protested softly, but couldn't help but smile.
"Consider it a small gift to celebrate your safe return." Himmel took the wrapped hair clip and gently placed it in Ruby's hand. "Besides, Ruby this journey."
Ruby the small gift in her palm, feeling the feathery texture tickle her heart. She lowered her head, hiding the blush on her face, her voice barely audible.
"This is something you insisted on giving me, not Ruby wanted."
"Certainly."
"... snort."
"There seems to be a famous dessert shop up ahead," Himmel said, changing the subject as she pointed towards the direction from which a rich, milky aroma wafted from. "Want to try it? I hear their honey pancakes are the Royal Capital."
"Want!"
Ruby immediately looked up, instantly regaining her energy, and grabbed Himmel's sleeve as she ran forward.
The dessert shop was filled with the warm aroma of butter and sugar. In front of Ruby sat a plate piled high with muffins, drizzled with golden honey and garnished with fresh berries.
She ate until her cheeks were bulging, like a satisfied hamster.
In front of Himmel was a cup of tea. He only took a sip occasionally, and most of the time he just watched the girl opposite him eating with a smile, his eyes hiding something.
"Eat slowly, don't choke."
"Mmm... it's so delicious!" Ruby swallowed the food in her mouth and licked the honey from the corner of her mouth. "It tastes so much better than what we roasted in the wild!"
"Of course." Himmel picked up the napkin beside her and casually reached out to gently wipe away a bit of cream that had accidentally gotten on the tip of her nose.
"A little bit got on me." Himmel withdrew her hand, her tone remaining normal.
"... Oh." Ruby lowered her head, pretending to be focused on cutting the muffin.
Other customers in the store occasionally cast kind glances at them, clearly mistaking the good-looking young couple for a sweet outing.
In the afternoon, the two strolled to the Central Park of the Royal Capital. Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, casting dappled shadows on the grass. Many citizens were leisurely walking and resting there.
They sat down on a quiet bench and watched several children chasing and playing in the distance.
Ruby swung her little feet, holding the windmill she had bought on the way, watching it spin like a child.
Perhaps they were just children to begin with.
"It's so quiet..." she whispered, "Completely different from when we were fighting the Demon King."
"Hmm," Himmel leaned back in her chair, looking up at the sky through the gaps in the leaves, "The sound of peace, isn't that it?"
A gentle breeze blew by, and a few petals drifted down, landing softly on Ruby's red hair.
Himmel turned his head to look at her quiet profile, petals adorning her hair like natural decorations. He reached out and gently brushed the petal away.
My fingertips brushed against her hair, soft and warm.
Ruby turned her head and met his gaze. The sunlight settled into a gentle ocean in his blue eyes. The surrounding sounds seemed to fade away, leaving only their soft breathing.
"... What's wrong?" Ruby's voice was much softer than usual.
"It's nothing," Himmel smiled and withdrew her hand. "I just feel that this is really nice."
Ruby laughed too, turning back to look at the playing children, her mood as bright as the clear blue sky.
She didn't say anything more, and neither did Himmel. The two sat quietly on the bench, enjoying a rare moment of undisturbed leisure.
The air was filled with the fragrance of grass and earth, as well as the comforting scent of those around me.
As the sun began to set in the west, it painted the horizon orange-red.
"It's about time we headed back." Himmel stood up and extended her hand to Ruby. "Heiter and Eisen will probably stay in the Royal Capital for a few more days after we have dinner."
Ruby placed her hand in his palm and used it to stand up.
Hmm! I wonder what delicious food we'll have tonight!
The two walked side by side on the way back, their shadows stretched long in the afterglow of the setting sun.
As Ruby passed by a bookstore, she glanced inside and saw that the shelves were crammed with books.
Himmel noticed her gaze and asked softly, "Looking for some spellbooks?"
"No way!" Ruby immediately shook her head, hugging his arm tightly as if afraid he would run away. "We agreed to only go shopping today! As for magic books and stuff... and then there's Master Serie... I'm not Frieren!"
Himmel chuckled and let her pull her forward.
"Good."
The orange sunset enveloped their figures, blending them into the warm evening crowds of the Royal Capital.