The Merchant and Tavern Master

Sofia Want to Follow

After finishing my business in Goldkorb as usual, I headed to Dragon's Paw for my final dinner before embarking on my journey the next morning.

"Welcome, oh, hi Takahiko! Please have a seat," Guin greeted me with enthusiasm, guiding me to a barstool. Across the room, I noticed Madam engrossed in conversation with some patrons, so I simply waved to acknowledge her. She returned the gesture, showing that she saw me.

"Your usual, I presume?" Guin inquired, seemingly familiar with my usual order.

"Yes, please, as usual," I replied.

"Alright, please wait," she said before tending to my order.

"By the way, I haven't asked this before, but there was another girl in your group, wasn't there?" I asked her when I remembered that one particular girl.

"Oh, you mean Isabelle? Several months ago, she was proposed to by a certain wealthy merchant's son, so she was taken to be trained as a bride," Guin explained.

"I see, so she will be getting married"

"Yes, but she will undergo three years of training at her suitor's place until she turns 18, at which point they will be officially permitted to be married," Guin shared.

As I sat there, thoughts of marriage filled my mind once again, and memories of my late Cordelia came rushing back. We were so close to tying the knot before fate intervened.

"Are you not thinking about marriage, Takahiko? You seem quite ready for it," Guin unknowingly inquired, not realizing the emotions her question stirred within me. But I wasn't bothered by her curiosity.

"Well, indeed, I have considered it in the past. However, it's no longer a priority," I replied with a hint of melancholy. Guin seemed to sense that there was more to my response than I let on. Perhaps her keen female intuition was at play.

"Was it something complicated?" she asked innocently, genuinely interested in my story.

A soft smile formed on my lips. "Yes, you could say that," I said, not wanting to delve into the details at that moment.

"Adults have many troubles as well, huh. Anyway, I will get your order first, Takahiko. Please wait, okay?" Guin realized she had yet to place my order and excused herself to attend to it.

Not long after Guin had left, Sofia made her appearance.

"Good evening, Takahiko," she greeted me with her usual radiant smile.

"Hello, Sofia. Shouldn't you be in the kitchen overseeing the cooking?" I inquired about her sudden appearance.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I've already prepared your order in advance, so when your request came in, I just needed to assemble the ingredients, put them in the cauldron, and ask for help from the workers to take out your stew when it's ready," she replied confidently, displaying a sense of pride. I could see how much she had grown in comparison to last year.

"I'm delighted to witness your growth. Your stew now has its unique touch, setting it apart from your father's," I complimented her.

"Thank you, Takahiko. It's not quite at the level of my father's yet, but I will continue striving to reach that standard," Sofia responded with determination.

"I look forward to it".

"Oh, and... uh... You will depart tomorrow morning, right?" Sofia reluctantly asked.

"Yes, that's correct."

"I heard from my mother that your mother will be working in this tavern too," she continued her questions.

"Yes, that's also correct. I will be gone for about a week this time before returning here again to bring her here."

"I... I see, umm... In that case..." Sofia seemed hesitant to say something to me.

"Can I follow you to your home, Takahiko?" she asked me with a desperate voice.

"Huh? You want to follow me to my village?" I was taken aback by her request.

"Y-yes! I mean, it's not fair that you already know me and my place here, but I don't know anything about yours!" She hastily created an excuse.

"What about your duty in the kitchen? Won't they be troubled if you're not there?"

"That won't be a problem because I have already taught the workers in the kitchen to handle my tasks when I'm not available. I think they're quite capable now," she replied confidently.

"How about your mother? Will she be okay with you going out with me for seven days at least?" I asked, concerned about her mother's approval for her wish to follow me.

"Don't worry, Takahiko. I approve of it," Madam suddenly answered, as if she had been listening to our entire conversation from the beginning.

"Are you sure, Madam? I mean, you're letting your young daughter go out with a man you know?" I wanted to make sure of her decision.

"Oh, please don't act like a stranger now, Takahiko. If she's with you, I trust that she will be okay," Madam smiled warmly, emphasizing her faith in me, which I deeply appreciated.

I silently pondered the potential concerns during the journey. The route was relatively safe, with frequent patrols from the kingdom, and the journey itself would only take three days at most. Even in the worst-case scenario of encountering burglars, I believed we could manage. There seemed to be almost no disadvantage to bringing Sofia along, especially since Madam had already approved. So, why not?

"Okay, let's go together, Sofia. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, will that do?" I confirmed my decision.

Her smile widened with a joyous reply, "Yes! Thank you, Takahiko!"

We agreed on the time I would pick her up at the Dragon's Paw the next morning. Sofia and Madam exchanged a meaningful look, communicating something that seemed to pass between them without words. They gave each other thumbs up, and I couldn't help but wonder what they had discussed through their unspoken understanding.