The Merchant and Tavern Master

Tending His Sorrow

Ever since Takahiko brought us to the Pixie Blessing tavern, his demeanor became noticeably more reserved. It felt as if he had become somewhat harder to approach, for reasons that soon became apparent – his lingering memories of his past love, Cordelia. While I had heard about her from him before, this time, we gleaned more details from Cordelia's former colleagues. Surprisingly, Takahiko didn't seem bothered by this at all. In fact, he arranged for us to have a private room, specifically so that Miss Revina, one of the waitresses, could regale us with Cordelia's story.

Among us, Guin was the most eager to hear the tale. To her, it seemed like a narrative pulled straight from the pages of a novel. She was so engrossed in the story that she shed a few tears when Miss Revina concluded the tragic account of Cordelia's demise, just before Takahiko was to marry her. It was almost as if Guin had forgotten that I, Takahiko's fiancée, was present right there in the room. I do admit her story was tragic, but if she's still alive, most likely I will never be Takahiko's fiancée at the moment.

However, based solely on Miss Revina's narratives and the tavern master's solemn recollections, it became evident that Cordelia was indeed a remarkable woman. Even in the face of her history as a former courtesan, a fact revealed after her passing, they continued to cherish the memories she had created with those around her. It was crucial to understand that Cordelia's past as a courtesan was not of her own choosing. According to Takahiko, she had been sold by her own family due to their financial struggles. I couldn't even begin to fathom the emotions she must have experienced when her own parents sold her to the brothel. This realization made me realize my privilege, having been raised by loving parents in a relatively prosperous family.

After our dinner, Takahiko led us to a rather ominous location. The atmosphere reeked of potential danger lurking in the shadows, sending shivers down Isabelle's spine due to her past traumatic experiences of being scammed and sold to unsavory individuals. Thankfully, our destination was the Rusty Dagger, another tavern. Upon our arrival, Takahiko warmly greeted the tavern master and promptly introduced us. The tavern master was a formidable, burly man with large, powerful hands, a menacing bald head, and old scars marring his face. His presence was even more intimidating than my late father's. While the other girls appeared intimidated, I was accustomed to encountering such individuals in my father's tavern.

As I offered a brief greeting, I received unexpected praise from him. I felt a surge of pride when Takahiko informed him that I was the one he intended to marry. It seemed that he was well-acquainted with our history, starting from the time he knew my father, our initial meeting, and progressing all the way to our engagement.

Takahiko proceeded to introduce him to the other girls, explaining Mr. Rusty's important role in aiding him during the journey to secure Isabelle, and additionally, Amanda. Naturally, Guin was also included in the introduction, as she was the reason Takahiko embarked on this journey in the first place. Takahiko further mentioned that this man was a close friend of Cordelia, akin like a father to her. In fact, they had been introduced by her. Despite the tavern master's intimidating appearance, the girls quickly grasped that beneath his exterior lay a kind and caring person.

We lingered briefly at the Rusty Dagger because Takahiko had promised to introduce me as his fiancee. After Mr. Rusty bid us farewell, we made our way to Cordelia's place. Takahiko confessed that he had never taken care of Cordelia's belongings after her death, having left the city when her murderer was apprehended. The landlord, an elderly man, appeared surprised to see Takahiko and asked for his help in calming or dispelling Cordelia's supposed ghost. While Takahiko didn't believe in ghosts, he chose not to voice his skepticism. He retrieved the key, and we ventured inside together.

Upon reaching the door, a potent flowery fragrance wafted through the air, reminiscent of jasmine or something similar. It sent shivers down our spines. Guin immediately thought it was a ghost, especially after Takahiko confirmed that it was indeed Cordelia's scent. It had been three years since her passing, yet the fact that Takahiko still remembered her fragrance amazed me. Was I jealous? I used to be, but these days, that emotion seemed to have faded. I realized I didn't have to compete with Cordelia for Takahiko's attention anymore.