The Merchant and Tavern Master

Meeting with the Family

"Allow me to make the introduction. This is Sofia, the daughter of the tavern master I often mentioned to you. Sofia, meet my first younger brother, Wakahiko," I said, presenting Sofia to Wakahiko with a gracious gesture.

"Greetings... My name is Sofia... I am delighted to meet you, brother Wakahiko," Sofia replied, her voice tinged with a hint of shyness.

"Hi Sofia, I'm Wakahiko. Since you're my older brother's wife, you can just call me Wakahiko," my brother beamed, misinterpreting the situation.

"Bu... but I..." Sofia attempted to clear the misunderstanding, her cheeks turning rosy with embarrassment.

"She's not my wife, just to be clear," I interjected calmly, wanting to avoid any further confusion.

Upon hearing my response, Sofia seemed to pout, displaying a hint of dissatisfaction for some unknown reason.

"Mother is inside. Come on in," Wakahiko kindly invited us into the house.

Curious about Sofia's reaction, I leaned in and whispered, "What's bothering you?"

"It's nothing," she replied, turning her face away from me, seemingly unwilling to meet my gaze. How complicated her emotions can be.

As we crossed the threshold of our home, my mother's cheerful voice welcomed us.

"Oh, Takahiko, you're back! This journey seemed longer than usual. Did something happen?" Her eyes then fell upon Sofia by my side. "And who might this young lady be?"

"Greetings, ma'am. My name is Sofia. It's a pleasure to meet you," Sofia curtsied gracefully in greeting.

"You're the daughter of the tavern master in Goldkorb, the one Takahiko often spoke about, right? It's lovely to finally meet you, dear," my mother approached Sofia, taking her hands gently and regarding her with a warm smile. "I am Takahiko's mother, my name is Ayumu. Takahiko has shared stories about you with us, and we've all been quite curious."

Sofia looked surprised. "He did? What kind of stories did Takahiko tell?" she inquired, eager to know more.

"Mother, I understand your excitement, but I think we should let her rest first. We just arrived after all," I interjected, wanting to spare Sofia from the prying questions.

"Oh, my, you're right. I apologize, dear. Come, please have a seat here." My mother led Sofia to a chair in the living room, which also served as our dining area for meals.

The warmth in my mother's reception put Sofia at ease, despite her initial flustered state. My heart softened as I watched the interaction between the two of them.

Wakahiko returned to his original task of cutting the woods, preparing the items for cooking and heating. Meanwhile, I scanned the area, seeking another young brother I had yet to encounter.

"Where's Kunihiko?" I inquired.

"I'm not sure, dear. Lately, he's been going out and returning just before dinnertime. He said he's researching something," Mother replied while preparing a refreshing drink for Sofia.

"I see. I hope he hasn't been neglecting the homework I assigned him," I said with a sigh, taking a seat beside Sofia as Mother settled in front of us.

"So, when will the ceremony take place?" she asked Sofia, continuing her line of questioning. Not again.

Sofia appeared confused, tilting her head. "What ceremony?"

"Your two wedding ceremonies, of course. Considering Takahiko's age, and my other sons being able to take care of themselves, now would be the most convenient time for Takahiko to start building his own family. Isn't that the reason why Takahiko brought you to this house?" Mother responded happily.