The Dragon's Paw tavern had closed its doors for the night, and the workers had returned to their dwellings. Within the tavern's comforting embrace, the pair of mother and daughter had donned their sleepwear, ready to seek solace in the realm of dreams.

"Sofia," Madam called out to her daughter.

"Yes, Mother?" Sofia replied, turning her attention to her.

"Have you noticed that Takahiko seemed to be sad today?" Madam inquired.

"Takahiko was sad?!" Sofia was taken aback. The young man she admired was usually imbued with a vibrant spirit, akin to that of her departed father.

"Yes, I did converse with him, and he disclosed that his recent journey bore a sorrowful encounter. Yet, he did not divulge further details," Madam elucidated.

"I... I was unaware..." Sofia's heart sank, feeling a pang of regret for not sensing his distress.

"You needn't burden yourself with blame, Sofia. Your heart is innocent," Madam reassured her daughter with a gentle tone. "I inquired because I wanted to ascertain something."

"And what is that, dear mother?"

"You like Takahiko aren't you?"

"Yes, of course I like him."

"As an elder sibling, or perchance as a potential suitor?"

Caught off guard, Sofia's cheeks flushed even deeper, and she fumbled for a reply. Her feelings were evident, yet she herself remained unsure.

"Wh.. what.. Why are you asking this, Mother?"

"As I ponder your reply, I must offer you guidance that could sway the course of your relationship with him. Being fifteen years of age, it is an opportune time for such considerations. Should you regard him as a sibling, there may be no need to pursue him too insistently. Instead, be a steadfast presence in his life. However, if your intentions lean towards winning his heart, a different approach may be required."

Sofia stood there in contemplative silence. She had always cherished Takahiko, as she had admitted, but the true nature of her feelings had remained a mystery until her mother posed that pivotal question.

"Dear mother, how can I distinguish between the two?" she inquired.

With a gentle smile, Madam imparted her wisdom, drawing from her own life experiences. "Imagine, my dear, if Takahiko were to come to us with a woman at his side, declaring his intention to marry her. Picture yourself in that moment and see how your heart responds."

Sofia felt a painful twist in her heart at the thought of such a rejection. The mere idea of Takahiko with another woman shattered her inner peace, leaving her heartbroken.

"Can you sincerely offer your blessing to Takahiko and the woman he loves? Be true to your heart, and you shall find your answer," Madam gently probed.

Tears welled up in Sofia's deep blue eyes, a clear reflection of the turmoil within her. The realization weighed heavily on her, stirring a whirlwind of emotions.

"Why does it hurt so much?" she questioned, struggling to understand her own feelings.

Madam observed her daughter's reaction with a tender smile, recognizing that Sofia had truly blossomed into a young maiden. She was not yet a fully-fledged woman, but she was beginning to navigate the complexities of love—the beauty and the cruelty intertwined in its embrace.

As Sofia sobbed, she began to realize that her feelings for Takahiko ran deeper than mere sibling affection. She longed to have him for herself and couldn't bear the thought of him being with another woman. It was a selfish feeling she had never known before, and she didn't want Takahiko to ever find out about it, fearing he would see it as a "bad" side of her.

"What... what should I do, Mother?" Sofia's voice trembled as she continued to sob, feeling utterly lost and overwhelmed by her emotions.

Madam compassionately cradled her daughter's head against her bosom, gently stroking her blonde hair.

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"Try to calm yourself first," she advised tenderly, offering comfort and understanding.

Madam chuckled softly, finding amusement in the fact that both she and her daughter seemed drawn to older men. "It's quite funny, isn't it? It seems to run in our blood," she mused. "Your father and I had an age difference of eleven years, and now you and Takahiko also have a ten-year gap between you."

Sofia released herself from her mother's gentle embrace, wiping away her tears with a determined expression. She took a deep breath, looking straight into her mother's eyes.

"Dear mother, please impart your wisdom upon me. I confess, I love Takahiko, not as a sibling."

Her mother listened intently, recognizing the sincerity in Sofia's words. "Are you truly certain about this, my dear? Takahiko is a traveling merchant, and his journeys will keep him away from you for long periods. Can you endure the loneliness that might come with such a life? And what if fate presents you with another chance encounter with a kind and worthy gentleman? Are you willing to forgo that opportunity?"

Sofia's conviction did not waver as she firmly shook her head. "No, mother. I only desire Takahiko. We have always met twice a year, and I cannot bear the thought of him being with another woman. I want to be bound to him, even if it means enduring to wait when he is on his journey."

Her mother's eyes softened with affection. "Your heart is strong, my dear," she praised gently. "But ponder this: what if Takahiko wishes for you to accompany him? Would you be prepared to relinquish your dream of running your father's tavern?"

Sofia's expression faltered, grappling with the weight of such a decision. "I... I don't know," she admitted, uncertainty creeping into her thoughts. "It would be a dream come true to have both, but I cannot say for certain."

Madam smiled warmly and continued to stroke Sofia's hair kindly. "That consideration can wait for another time, my dear, if both of you have confirmed your feelings for each other. For now, I know that Takahiko sees you as his younger sister. He once confided in me about his past, how he had a younger sister who tragically passed away when she was only two years old due to their family's poverty. They couldn't afford to provide for her, and this painful loss compelled him to become a merchant."

"I... I had no idea about his past," Sofia replied with surprise and sympathy.

"Of course, he wouldn't reveal such personal matters to you. Perhaps Takahiko sees his lost younger sister in you, I believe. The affection he shows you is that of a caring brother towards his younger sibling. And I see that you also find comfort and joy in his presence, don't you?" Madam asked knowingly.

Sofia nodded, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush. "Yes, mother. While I do cherish our sibling-like bond, I've come to realize that my feelings for him go beyond that."

"Now, as for what you should do, to be honest, I don't have many answers, except to be sincere and forthright with him," Madam contemplated, considering the best course of action.

"Huh? You mean I should just confess my feelings to him? Like, 'Please marry me?' like that?" Sofia's excitement waned as her mother's advice seemed too simple, leaving her feeling disheartened.

"I don't believe that would be a wise approach. As I mentioned, he sees you as a sister, and if you were to confess in such a direct manner, he would likely reject you immediately," Madam cautioned.

"No! I don't want that!" Sofia exclaimed in anguish, fearing the idea of facing such rejection.

"That's why you must wait for the right moment, find an opportune time when the atmosphere is right, or create a romantic setting, perhaps," Madam suggested.

"Can't you share experiences with father in the past?" Sofia inquired, hoping her mother's own experience might offer some insights.

"That... I don't think it would be of much help," Madam hesitated.

"Why not? Didn't you say that we both fell for the same kind of older men?"

Madam sighed, preparing herself to reveal a piece of her own history. "Well, it's true, but in my case, it was your father who confessed his feelings to me first!"

"What?" Sofia was taken aback by the revelation that her admired father had been the one to initiate their relationship.

"Yes, he asked me to marry him when I was only thirteen, and I thought he was so gallant and charming that I accepted right away," Madam reminisced.

Sofia was shocked to learn this unexpected facet of her parents' love story, a detail her mother had never shared before.

"He was a dazzling knight at the time, and girls at that age adored men with such careers," Madam explained, recalling the charm her husband had exuded.

"Uh, but you were just thirteen years old, right? That means father was twenty four years old at that time!? How could it be permissible for an adult man to marry such a young girl!? I can't believe father was a..." Sofia cried out in despair.

"In those days, it was indeed permissible for a girl to marry once she reached her first puberty! Of course, the new king has since forbidden such practices, as it was deemed dangerous for young girls to give birth at such a tender age." Madam clarified, trying to provide some context to her daughter's shock and discomfort.

"Fortunately, your father was not a beast. He was a gentleman. Even after we got married, we didn't immediately engage in intimate union. We took our time to get to know each other, playing games, building the tavern, cherishing the precious moments just the two of us. You do realize you were born later than expected, don't you? We had our first intimate union when I was..." Madam reminisced, her expression filled with longing.

"Nooo!! Please stop, Mother! I don't want to hear such stories from my parents!" Sofia screamed, covering her ears to block out any further details.

"Forgive me, dear. It appears I got carried away in my memories. Anyway, my suggestion to you is simply this: spend time together, be genuine, and don't force anything. The right moment to confess your feelings will reveal itself when the time is right," Madam advised.

"That doesn't sound very convincing," Sofia replied, feeling dejected.

With that, the night came to a close for the mother and daughter.