Viktor softly smiled, seeing her abashed face, and asked, "What is it? Whatever it is...I am sure I will love it."
Umilia felt elated hearing his words, mitigating some of her nervousness as she slowly took out a scarf from her pocket and presented it before Viktor, "I-I knitted this for you, Master. You could use it during your travels."
Viktor was astonished to see a beautiful handwoven scarf with tri-colored stripes at both ends, dark brown at one end, dark red in the middle, and sapphire blue above it, while the rest of the scarf was silver in color.
To use these colors in such a way to make them look beautiful together was indeed an admirable skill.
"How does it look?" Umilia expectantly asked as her fingers rubbed against each other.
Viktor answered as he enjoyed how soft and warm the scarf felt, as if Umilia put her everything into weaving this scarf, "It's so beautiful...beyond any words, I can describe with."
Umilia let out a sigh of relief as she happily smiled, "Thank god. I am glad you liked it."
Viktor was puzzled and asked with a slight head shake, "When did you get the time to weave this scarf? Don't these things take too much effort?"
Umilia shook her head, "Not really. I love weaving things like these, and I have been doing it since I was a child. That is why I have a handmade loom in my cafe, which I use whenever I am free. But to weave this, I asked my employee to cover for me the whole day while I worked on this. I know I could have done this bit by bit, but whenever I start something, I always try to finish it in one go."
Viktor was impressed that she was able to weave this beautiful scarf within just a day. He was no expert in weaving, but he knew how long it would take and the hard word one has to put in to weave scarves like these.
He looked at her with an intense gaze and asked, "But...why?"
Umilia parted her lips and, after a moment of hesitation, said, "The first day you came here, you talked about how you see yourself as a monster. But I wanted to show to you that both your non-human and human side together is what makes you so beautiful, just like this scarf."
Viktor felt a mixture of emotions whirling in his heart hearing her words, not knowing how to express them.
He had only said it as a passing remark to simply beguile her, but she took it so seriously. But in the end, he felt like she saw through his casual remark and made this scarf for him.
He slowly looked at her exotic green eyes that were as exquisite and beautiful as the green daisies. He felt that he might have taken her for granted before and treated her like just another casual woman he usually meets.
At the same time, he also realized the budding feelings he had for her, which were slowly blooming, making his lips press together in a slight grimace.
Umilia saw his complicated expression and asked worriedly, "Master, did I say something wrong?"
Viktor shook his head, "Of course not. I am just moved. I don't know if I really deserve such a beautiful gift made by your pretty hands," Viktor said with a gentle smile as he held both her hands.
Umilia dipped her chin with a silly grin as her pink cheeks glowed, "Master, please don't flatter me so. T-This is nothing great for you to ask like that."
"Well…" Viktor sniffed the scarf as he said with a smile, "...I am happy that I can also smell you whenever I want...this has your scent."
Umilia's face turned beet red, seeing him sniffing the scarf while commenting about her scent.
Viktor then said with a deep and steady gaze, "But...to be honest, I love this scarf you made with your own hands, and I will treasure this. It's also great timing since I would be traveling through cold places, and I am sure this scarf would come in handy."
Umilia softly nodded, feeling her heartbeat quickening, seeing how much he loved her scarf, and felt glad that she was able to complete it yesterday after sitting for hours in a stretch, weaving this. In fact, she even forgot to have lunch because of how engrossed she was in weaving this.
Viktor knew that he couldn't let go of such a woman who was beautiful in every way. But he knew he would have to first conquer his inner demons when it came to loving someone before he could fully open his heart for Umilia.
Otherwise, he knew he might hold back subconsciously and that it wouldn't be fair for Umilia. So he was hoping to sort things out in his mind in this short trip while having some time to himself.
"Now, can you tie this scarf around my neck for me?" Viktor asked as he placed the scarf in her hands which Umilia happily took and raised her hands to tie it around his neck.
Viktor slightly bent his neck as Umilia came forward, tying the scarf around his neck while her face bloomed like a rose, feeling happy to tie this around his neck herself and seeing how his face was so close to hers as he intensely gazed at her eyes.
After tying the scarf around his neck, she slowly stepped back, but Viktor suddenly wrapped his arm around her soft waist and pulled her in for a hug, and gave her a warm kiss on the forehead.
Umilia thought he was going to give her a hot kiss on the lips but feeling his kiss on her forehead made her feel even happier because this time she felt that his kiss felt different, as if he really put his heart into it, conveying his inner feelings.
She felt her heart's temperature rising as she slowly wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the sound of his strong heartbeat and the warmth of his chest.
Viktor then said, "It's time. Hugging a beauty like you made me almost forget everything about my trip, haha. Quite the demoness, aren't you?"
Umilia stepped back with an embarrassed expression and said, "I hope you have a great time, Master, and please return safely."
"Well, the first part, I will try my best, and as for the second part, I think I don't have to try," Viktor said with a wink.
Umilia grinned sheepishly, seeing his smugness. Still, she couldn't help but say it.
Viktor picked up his duffel bag as Umilia followed behind, "I will see you out, Master."