The Merchant and Tavern Master

Women's Talk

"What do you mean by that? Are you talking about Takahiko?" My mother asked, curious to understand my emotions.

"That Takahiko, did he do anything inappropriate to you?" Ayumu interjected, her concern evident.

"Oh, no! No!" I panicked, quickly reassuring her, "He would never do anything harmful to me. I've known him for a long time, and I know how much he cares about my well-being." My face must have appeared flustered as I tried to explain my feelings.

"It's just that... We're betrothed, and I feel like we don't have enough time to enjoy our relationship as a couple. He still sees me as his sister, but I want him to see me as more than that, as a woman," I tried to explain my feelings.

"What do you mean by 'seeing you like a woman'?" Ayumu inquired.

"Um... like, maybe holding hands?" I mumbled, feeling embarrassed to voice it aloud.

"Didn't you two already do that since you returned from your last journey?" My mother chimed in.

"Well, I mean.. I.. I want to kiss him.." I stumbled over my word, feeling confused about how to express myself without it sounding strange.

"You're just horny, aren't you?" My mother coldly answered on my behalf.

"Mother! Can you not say it like I'm some kind of pervert?!" I retorted in frustration.

"So in the end, you just want to kiss him, right Sofia?" My mother interjected once more.

"Uh, well, is... Is that wrong?"

"Of course not. But if you're only thinking about kissing just because you're betrothed, then that's a different matter," my mother replied firmly.

"I still don't quite understand," I admitted, still puzzled by my mother's line of questioning.

"Now that we have opened ourselves to this conversation, let us not be ashamed of it any longer. Have you learned about the creation of babies?" Mother inquired.

"Yes, I have received teachings from the priestess at the temple," I replied.

"And what are your thoughts on it?"

"Well, at first, it sounded unpleasant to me."

"So, you understand that when you are married, you will also engage in such activities with Takahiko. Does it still seem unpleasant?"

"I am unsure... But I don't mind if it is with him..."

"You see, Takahiko truly loves you in his own way," my mother explained.

"By forbidding us from kissing?"

"That is correct. I understand that kissing brings happiness and pleasure when shared with someone you love dearly. However, such pleasure may lead to a desire for more intimate union."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not necessarily! When you are married, you may kiss each other as much as you desire. Every day. There will be no problem then. But if you indulge in it now, while you still have much to learn and achieve, believe me, you may become ensnared in pleasure and neglect your other responsibilities." I was startled by her words. After he granted his kiss on my forehead, I was unable to focus on my duty today.

"Let me ask you this, Sofia. What's the purpose of kissing your beloved, in your mind?" my mother inquired.

"Um... to show that I love him?" I hesitated, trying to comprehend where she was leading the conversation.

"To show that you love him, is kissing him the only way you can think of?" she probed further.

"Of course not! I mean, I can be his companion, I can cook for him, I can... I can... Er..." My words trailed off as I realized that perhaps I hadn't thought beyond these gestures. Was there more I could do to express my love for him? The question left me pondering the depths of my feelings and what it truly meant to be someone's partner.

"It is normal for a young woman to start feeling that way. Besides, we're all females here, right Ayumu? How was your experience when you were young with your late husband?" My mother redirected the conversation, bringing Ayumu into the discussion.

Why did I have to share my private desires with my mother, in the presence of the mother of the man I love? What an awkward situation this has become.

"Well, I had Takahiko when I was 22 years old, but we were married for about 5 years. We were betrothed by our parents since we were children. In a way, you could say we were like siblings back then. So, Sofia, there's no need to worry too much about it. Feelings do not always stay the same," Ayumu shared with a reassuring tone.

"Your husband and you were like siblings back then? How did you manage to make him see you as a woman?" I directed my question to Ayumu, knowing her experience would be more relevant to my situation.

"I don't think I did anything special, really. When I saw how you and Takahiko interacted, it reminded me of my late husband and me, even though our ages were not that far apart," she answered. "To be honest, I knew very little about how to love a man before we got married, so I just tried to support him in whatever ways I could. I cooked for him, pampered him whenever he felt weary, gave him space when he needed it, and took care of the house and our children while he worked. It was the little things that added up."

"And, if I may ask, how and when did you have your first kiss?" I inquired, curious about her own experience.

"Oh, my.. Well, I still remember how awkward we were back then. It was at our humble wedding ceremony. You see, we were like siblings back then, so we had never kissed before," Ayumu shared her story with a nostalgic and longing expression.

"I... I see..." I'm curious about their story.

"And for me and your father, our first intimate kiss was on my 17th birthday. Even now, I can't forget how magical it was. He took me to a hilltop, where we gazed at the breathtaking night scenery. It was incredibly romantic."

As I listened to my mother and Ayumu reminisce about their past loves, I couldn't help feeling a bit out of place. Their sorrow over lost loved ones weighed heavy on the atmosphere, and I started to wonder if it was somehow my fault.

"Oh, I miss him dearly..." My mother sighed with a hint of sadness.

"Me too... My husband passed not long after we lost our daughter, as if he wanted to go to the other side to protect her... I miss his kind soul..." Ayumu joined in, her voice filled with sorrow.

"Uh... dear mothers...?"

"Now, let's drink to ease our sorrows, Ayumu," my mother suggested, trying to lift the somber mood.

"I agree, madam Ruth. Let me pick a fine wine from the casket," Ayumu replied, falling into the familiarity of their roles.

"No, Ayumu, just call me Ruth. We'll be family after all, so there's no need for such formality. Besides, you're older than me," my mother, or rather Ruth, insisted warmly.

"I understand, Ruth," Ayumu replied, accepting the newfound closeness.

In this peculiar moment, it seemed as though my mother and Ayumu had become like sisters, bonding over shared sorrow.

"Of course, Sofia cannot join the drinks. You're not an adult yet, and certainly, you haven't had your first kiss, right?" My mother promptly excluded me from their shared bond.

"That's not true! I already had my first kiss with Takahiko when we confirmed our feelings!" I protested, met with surprised gazes from both mothers.

"Wait, he kissed you at that time?" Ayumu inquired.

"Uh... to be precise... I was the one who kissed him..." I shyly admitted.

"Sofia, I didn't know you were so brave!" My mother chuckled.

I couldn't retort to that.

"And what happened after that?" my mother asked curiously.

"Um... he said it felt like a kiss from a playful little sister..." I answered slowly, feeling a bit ashamed, which made the two women burst into laughter.

"So, that's why you're so obsessed with talking about kisses just now?" Ayumu chimed in.

What is this? Some kind of shameful punishment? I defended myself from the playful tease from both of my mothers that night.

"Just as I guessed, you were just horny in the end." my mother's words hit hard.

"NOOO!!"