The Merchant and Tavern Master

Memories of Her

When the girls finished their bath and dressed, they looked marvelous. Granted, one of them is my future wife, but from an outsider's perspective, it appeared as if I had three younger sisters, all looking gorgeous. They greeted me happily, warming my heart. Yes, young girls like them should smile happily without worrying about anything. I was determined to ensure they had a good time here.

"You all look gorgeous. I'm starting to get worried if you girls walk alone at night," I commented on their appearance.

"Then you better protect us all the way, Takahiko," Sofia replied, chuckling.

"Yes, we won't go out alone if we can help it, so please make sure to escort us properly, right Takahiko?" Guin chimed in.

"I promise, I will protect you all from any harm," I said sincerely.

Isabelle and Amanda just silently grabbed my shirt as we walked to my carriage. The hour wasn't too dark yet, but I thought it was the right time to visit the Pixie Blessing tavern for our dinner. It was quite early, I knew, but we could have a late additional dinner later if necessary.

Arriving at the Pixie Blessing tavern evoked a sense of familiarity within me. Not just because this is the place where I first met Cordelia, my first love. Because thanks to her, this place became a connection point with the people working here and the fellow patrons. We shared a common experience of loss when Cordelia passed away, a bond that formed between us.

The waitress welcomed me and they were surprised as this time I brought the girls. I introduced the girls to the waitress and tavern master.

"This is Sofia, my fiancé. We will get married in about 2 years, and this is Guinevere and Isabelle, Sofia's friend. And this child is Amanda, my apprentice. In the future she might be visiting this place too, I hope you can support her in future just like you did for me. I gave a slight bow to the tavern master and the waitresses. The girls also followed suit introducing themselves in a polite manner, and gained a warm welcome from the people in this tavern.

"But I'm glad, Takahiko," one of the waitresses called out to me. "You managed to find happiness after Cordelia's loss; I'm certain she would be happy to see you now from the other side."

Somehow, the girls seemed tense when they heard her.

"Uhm, may I ask a question?" Guin raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"We never knew about the woman named Cordelia. We only heard about her from Takahiko's story. Do you mind telling us what kind of woman Cordelia was and what Takahiko's relationship was like with her?"

"Hey, Guin, I don't think it's appropriate. Sofia is here, you know?" Isabelle seemed worried about Sofia's feelings.

"No, I don't mind. I want to hear about her too," Sofia replied calmly. She genuinely wanted to know about her. I suppose that's understandable. I didn't intend to hide it anyway, so I gave the waitress a nod, granting her permission to share.

"You're Takahiko's fiancée, right? I hope you won't be jealous after hearing their story. Are you really sure?" The waitress confirmed with Sofia once again.

"Yes, rather than unanswered curiosity, I would rather hear the truth and be done with it. Also, since she was the woman my fiancé chose, I believe she must have been a good person," Sofia answered calmly, her demeanor as composed as a silent sea.

"Alright, I won't hold back then. She was a beautiful woman with red wavy hair and an enviable figure. Every man who encountered her would be charmed," The waitress started her story in a dramatic manner. I quickly realized this would take a long time and might disturb the regular business, especially as it was near dinner time.