The Merchant and Tavern Master

My Origin Place

After the fancy dinner event Takahiko brought me to, he started visiting my tavern every night near closing time. He would engage in conversations with my mother, his mother, and other patrons, just like always. As I finished cleaning up my workplace, he would lend a hand, helping me tidy up before accompanying me to the nearby public bath. We spent a significant amount of time chatting. He inquired about my day, my challenges, and if I needed assistance. Most of the time, though, I just wished for his usual pampering, which he kindly indulged me in. I should have been content with his attention, but my anxiety grew when I realized he was also mentoring Amanda as his assistant, everyday. Although I was certain Takahiko had no hidden agenda, no intention of making Amanda his girlfriend or mistress—I couldn't sense that from him—I couldn't shake off my unease. Whenever I asked him about his interactions with Amanda, he truthfully shared the details of their discussions.

However, my feelings toward Amanda were vastly different. Try as I might, I couldn't warm up to her, and I found myself wondering why. It's hard to admit, but I saw shades of my younger self in her. I couldn't ignore the fact that she was clearly vying for Takahiko's affection. If I were in her shoes, I might have resorted to every possible means to captivate Takahiko or make him care for me in some way. Her genuine affection for him complicated matters for me. If her motivations were purely materialistic, say, if she were after Takahiko's wealth, he would have sensed it and kept his distance. But her sincere feelings for him added a layer of difficulty to the situation.

"Hey, Sofia.." Guin's voice suddenly called me.

"What is it, Guin? Please don't disturb me, I'm in the middle of something important."

"Stalking your own fiance with his apprentice is more important than our kitchen?! Don't joke with me!"

Guin's pulling my clothes, forcing me to follow her back to the kitchen. Yes, we're in the middle of following Takahiko and Amanda visiting the market, as he is seemingly teaching and introducing Amanda to the many vendors in the public market. Takahiko seems serious about training Amanda to be his assistant. He has told me this several days before when they finally registered Amanda as a novice merchant. She will be following Takahiko on his next trading journey.

"Hey stop! What would you do if my cloth ripped!"

"Calm down! Break time is almost over, and you still haven't prepared the ingredients! You spend more than enough time with Takahiko in the evenings, don't you? Why are you getting jealous over a child who's only 12 or 13 years old? Do you really think Takahiko would fall for her?"

"Of course, I trusted him, but I can't trust Amanda! I was certain of that because of how infatuated she appeared with him! While I knew Takahiko regarded her as a younger sister, the way she gazed at him, that was the look of a lovestruck maiden, someone willing to do anything to achieve her desires! I recognized it because I used to be just like her!"

"So, this is your own projection, a reflection of your past actions mirroring back at you?" Guin sighed, shaking his head. "One might call it karma, don't you think?"

"But... but..." I stammered, struggling to find words to defend my case.

"Let me remind you, wasn't it yourself who asked Takahiko to treat you like a woman? You shared with me and Isabelle when we spent the night together at her place, remember?"

"Well, yes, I did.."

"And didn't Takahiko begin treating you like an adult, just as you had hoped for? You mentioned that fancy midnight dinner he took you to, and after that, he never again treated you like a child, just as you had wished. Am I correct?"

"Uh, yes..."

"So, what's the issue if he now directs his brotherly care towards another child? We've always known that Takahiko has a soft spot for young girls, due to the loss of his own younger sister in the past, right? Perhaps it's his way of coping with those regrets, you know?"