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Maya huffed under her breath, but kept walking, trying to keep up with Nahyuta's pace.
She usually never wore heels, and this reminded her exactly why she prefers sandals. The back of her heels had her feeling as if she'd fall over any moment, resisting grabbing onto her date's arm to balance herself. The ladies in her village had insisted that this would make her "irresistible," whatever that's supposed to mean. All it did was make her likely to face-plant. Although it was nice to see Nahyuta literally stop in their tracks at the sight of her.
Nahyuta, far too observant, paused to let her catch up, extending their arm when she was close enough. "Are you alright, Miss Fey?"
"Y-Yes!" Maya took their arm gratefully, blushing despite herself. "And didn't I tell you to call me Maya?"
"My apologies." They looked at her in that piercing way they do, like they could see right through her. It was a little scary how on point their guesses were. "Is your footwear troubling you?"
Case in point. Maya huffed out a laugh. "How do you do that? Like, you just know what I'm thinking at any given moment."
Nahyuta gave her a small smile. "I've learnt to pay attention to details everyone else would gloss over. It has saved me many a time."
"It's an admirable trait." Their blush at the comment made her glow with pride. "My feet are a little sore, but it's nothing I can't handle." She put on her best smile. "It's easy compared to sitting under a waterfall for days."
"That is more admirable than anything I can muster." Similarly, their smile grew when she blushed and looked away. "Regardless, I wish you would be comfortable on our first date. If you'd like, we can switch shoes."
She blinked in surprise. "Wait, really?" She glanced at their boots, tall with golden engravings that practically screamed 'royal'. She bit her lip. "What if I get them dirty?"
"I have more pairs," they said nonchalantly. They grasped her arm gently, gesturing to a nearby park. "Here, let's head over to that bench."
Every moment she observed them, they only proved how right she was to give them a chance. After all the trials they had prosecuted, most people were hard-pressed to forgive them. Nahyuta worked hard all day and night to earn their forgiveness, to fix the country they'd let get away from them, and even if many would disagree, one of them being Nahyuta themself, Maya believed they were more than worth this second chance.
She tugged their arm, pulled their face close enough to press a gentle kiss to their cheek. She took it as an accomplishment when they blushed and stammered out something incomprehensible, eventually settling into a wide, genuine smile.