You can already sense the romance. No way the author gives us a few zoomed in shots of her physic when she falls and you expect there not to me romance?
Plus in the beginning it talked about how MC was betrayed by his ex partner.
Foreshadowing if you ask me. Chances of him opening up his heart again to love ain't slim.
Okaaay but that's just assuming, there's actually lots of authors who just make fanservice without adding romance. I think having saw their interaction once (interaction that would look totally normal too if the elf was a male) and assuming they'll be romantically involved is...
Even if she ends up liking him, he could never get romantically interested in her. I think you should get worried when he starts blushing or something, since a relationship takes two people.
Please. Elf female is literally unnecessary