The Merchant and Tavern Master

Preparation Before Leaving

With my promise to Sofia made, I can now refocus on my work. As for my feelings for Cordelia, they still linger, though not as painfully as before, and I owe this relief to Sofia's sincere and genuine affection for me. When she confessed her feelings, it took me by surprise. That's why I don't want to respond to her with any dishonesty in my heart.

When Wakahiko and Kunihiko woke up from their sleep, we shared with them what had transpired between Sofia and me. They congratulated us, and that morning, we celebrated with a small feast. I couldn't help but notice Sofia's joy whenever she heard me say, "I will marry her after 3 years," and her disappointment when I mentioned, "I still think of her like a younger sister."

"It's good that you've found your answer, brother Takahiko. Make sure both of you are happy, alright?" Kunihiko wished me well.

"I knew it from the start; you both look very well together," Wakahiko confirmed his thoughts, bringing an endless grin to Sofia's face.

"I'll be accompanying Takahiko and Sofia to Goldkorb. Today, I will make the preparations. I entrust the house to both of you, Wakahiko and Kunihiko. When the time comes for you to embark on your own journey, don't forget to inform the lord," Mother instructed my brothers.

Mother then turned to me and asked, "What is your plan for today, Takahiko?"

"I need to deliver the Lord's goods. Some of our neighbors have also placed orders, so I'll be delivering those as well. And while I'm at it, I thought of introducing Sofia to everyone. Do you mind, Sofia?"

"Of course not! I promise I'll be a good wife to you," she replied with enthusiasm, but you're not my wife yet. Please calm down.

Mother laughed joyfully, amused by Sofia's reaction.

After our delightful morning feast, we cleaned up and went about our respective duties. Wakahiko headed to the lord's field to work, taking over for mother, who was no longer able to engage in strenuous labor. He mentioned it was good for his physical training as well. On the other hand, Kunihiko would head to the village market to offer his assistance wherever needed. In this village, he was one of the rare young individuals gifted with the ability to handle more intricate calculations and bookkeeping. While most villagers could read and manage basic calculations proficiently, when it came to more complex tasks like determining tax rates, interest calculations, and accounting, they preferred to entrust such matters to talented youngsters like Kunihiko. For him, it was an opportunity to observe the flow of money and goods consumption, aiding in his future planning endeavors, he explained.

After freshening up, I accompanied Sofia to deliver the items to the lord's mansion. He had previously ordered various goods such as books, treatises, wines, clothes, and ornaments from the capital. Once we received the payment, I proceeded to the village market to sell the remaining goods, and Sofia assisted me in the process. Fortunately, by lunchtime, most of my goods were sold, leaving the carriage quite empty. Sofia expressed her desire to try dishes that were unavailable in Goldkorb, so we headed to the old man Liu's tavern. There, I ordered ramen for us, and Sofia's delight was evident as she thoroughly enjoyed the flavors.

Upon returning home, I allowed Sofia to rest while I took care of cleaning the carriage, knowing we would need it to take my mother to Goldkorb the following day.

That night, as everything was prepared, we gathered for our last dinner together. Mother instructed Wakahiko and Kunihiko to take care of the house and informed the lord of their departure. In contrast to our usual routine, we skipped our visit to uncle Liu's tavern that night and instead shared stories from our childhood with Sofia, who displayed genuine curiosity about us. As the evening came to a close, we retired to bed early, aware that an early morning awaited us for the journey ahead.

"Takahiko, would you accompany me tonight?" Sofia asked, surprising me with her unexpected request to sleep together in her room.

"Huh? Why? We're not even married yet," I replied, feeling a bit taken aback.

"What's the difference? We've spent the night outside together on our journey to this village already, just the two of us, right?" she argued playfully.

"..."

"Besides, since you still see me as a sister, you don't have to be that conscious, right?" Her playful tone was evident.

I won't be provoked, but I also couldn't find a good reason to refuse her. After all, I had no intention of doing anything inappropriate.

"Alright, but we'll sleep separately, okay?" I finally agreed.

"Of course," she smiled happily.

Once she falls asleep I can just go out to find a suitable place to rest for the night. Instead of lying on the bed, we sat together and spent the night reminiscing about our memories together, discussing the exciting things she had discovered during our journey. We ended up sleeping really late, together on the same bed, only to be awakened by my mother later. I want to make it clear that nothing indecent happened between us during the night.